I got a 40 GB iPod at Christmas and love it. But during the past couple days, I've had horrible static and popping while I'm walking around, to the point of being essentially unbearable.
Via the scientific method, I've traced the problem to my clothing! Since it's been so cold here in the Northeast lately, I've been wearing wool sweaters and a wool winter coat. When I shed these articles, my iPod's sound goes back to normal.
Here's some further information. I usually clip the iPod to my belt, so the metallic portions of it would brush against my coat. So I tried stuffing the iPod down into my jeans pocket so it wouldn't come into contact with the wool, but the problem is the same. Basically, as long as the coat/sweater is on and the iPod is somewhere on my person, I experience that awful noise. Maybe I should get a pair of more electrically-insulated pants?
Also, the noise distortion occurs with both the Apple-supplied white headphones and another pair of headphones I have, so I'm pretty sure the static problem is either on the metal surface of the iPod itself, or at the interface between the iPod and the headphone at the jack.
I called Apple -- the gentleman I spoke to told me he wasn't aware of any such problem, and that my only options were to go looking at online discussion boards (the reason I'm here), or to go to my nearest official Apple store and reproduce the problem for them. Would that I could do the latter, but I'm a poor student with no car to get to my nearest Apple Store anytime soon.
So, I'm hoping someone out there can commiserate and offer a suggestion. Yes, I know I could get a new coat, but perhaps this is an abnormality confined to my iPod and wouldn't be an issue on another unit. I don't want to resign myself to awkward or expensive possible solutions (like carrying my iPod around in a ziplock-bag or buying a new rubberized case for it) until I see if anyone else out there has experienced this.
All help appreciated!! Thanks!!!
Matthew
Via the scientific method, I've traced the problem to my clothing! Since it's been so cold here in the Northeast lately, I've been wearing wool sweaters and a wool winter coat. When I shed these articles, my iPod's sound goes back to normal.
Here's some further information. I usually clip the iPod to my belt, so the metallic portions of it would brush against my coat. So I tried stuffing the iPod down into my jeans pocket so it wouldn't come into contact with the wool, but the problem is the same. Basically, as long as the coat/sweater is on and the iPod is somewhere on my person, I experience that awful noise. Maybe I should get a pair of more electrically-insulated pants?
Also, the noise distortion occurs with both the Apple-supplied white headphones and another pair of headphones I have, so I'm pretty sure the static problem is either on the metal surface of the iPod itself, or at the interface between the iPod and the headphone at the jack.I called Apple -- the gentleman I spoke to told me he wasn't aware of any such problem, and that my only options were to go looking at online discussion boards (the reason I'm here), or to go to my nearest official Apple store and reproduce the problem for them. Would that I could do the latter, but I'm a poor student with no car to get to my nearest Apple Store anytime soon.
So, I'm hoping someone out there can commiserate and offer a suggestion. Yes, I know I could get a new coat, but perhaps this is an abnormality confined to my iPod and wouldn't be an issue on another unit. I don't want to resign myself to awkward or expensive possible solutions (like carrying my iPod around in a ziplock-bag or buying a new rubberized case for it) until I see if anyone else out there has experienced this.
All help appreciated!! Thanks!!!
Matthew
