iPod touch Very confused about what I was told at the Apple store.

[amycishere]

I went to the Apple store today and I am quite confused so maybe someone here can help me.

Here is a description of my problems that I gave the ipod specialists:

Hello. This hopefully explains the issues that I have been having with my 2g ipod touch. This unit has never been dropped or damaged. I always take it out of the case when charging and syncing. After I first fully charged the ipod, it only gave me about 1 1/2 battery life while playing video. I then made sure I had the newest software and charged again. This time I tried just playing music. It only gave me four to five hours on battery. I then tried the apple battery test. I turn the backlight off, the Wifi off, the EQ off, the Push off, The battery was fully charged I started the ipod touch with just music with all of these specifications off at 10: 30 AM and the battery had less than 10 percent before 7:30 pm that same day. I then called Apple and they told me to recharge the ipod touch another 6 hours on my macbook and then restore. Did both of those and did the same battery test and started battery at 10:30 and had 10 percent left before 7:30 pm that same day. Always updated with the newest software as well. Also, it has been giving me white screens where it completely freezes and I have to turn it completely off while using the ipod on battery. I purchased this ipod maybe two weeks after the new 2g came out. I just kept on thinking the issue would resolve itself with new software, maybe another charge. etc. I was also in the middle of my final college internship and was extremely busy and unable to have it looked at until now. Thank you for your time. It is greatly appreciated.

They replaced my ipod with a new one. Although they didn't give me one in a box or anything so how do I know it is new? I guess if it is refurbished at least hopefully I won't have all the problems I had with my other one.

Had an appointment at 11:45 and didn't leave the store until 1 PM. Once again ipod was never dropped or damaged and I am very careful with my ipod. I was basically told by the ipod specialist that my brand new sony clock radio that was told by apple that is compatible was the 2g and it even says so on apple.com. This ipod genius told me that the docking system was overcharging my ipod touch and doesn't stop charging once the ipod is fully charged. He says that this fries the battery and if I wanted to keep the speaker system I would need to get a special cord so the system won't charge it. He asked me if I keep the ipod touch in it 24/7 because he said most people do. I said I would take it out when finished listening to it and was very careful not to keep it in 24/7 but he still said that was the reason for my defective battery.

Here is the system: http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR979LL/A?mco=MTIxODk3Mw

He left to go replace my ipod. We talked to two other ipod specialists while he was away. They said that ipod batteries are set up in such a way that once the battery is fully charged it will send a signal to whatever is charging it and stop it. They told me that particular speaker dock was selling very well and have heard no problems with it with ipod touch 2g. When I told them what another specialist had told me and my problems. They made a face and said it sounded like I definitely had a defective ipod.

I am just very confused at the moment. Thank you. Amy

 

[dubhe]

I am sure your Sony will not overcharge your iPod, I think you have just been unlucky with your iPods which have both been defective.

 

[aethelbert]

The people at the Apple store, even the "geniuses," are quite often idiots. I've often received excuses for defective hardware that don't make any sense. They once blamed a dead battery in my powerbook on a wired mouse... Sounds like you've just had two defective iPods. I wouldn't really get concerned about what you were told there; batteries don't overcharge anymore as they're made out of different kinds of metals now. Hopefully this one is better for you. Good luck.

 

[bruinsrme]

Amy,
It sounds like you have a defective unit.

I am going out on a leg here but when men talk to women about technology there seems to be a condensending conversation. I can't countthe number of times I have helped women out after they were bum doped by a salesman.
Perfect example is the $100 HDMI cable.

Anyway, my recommendation is if you are not satisfied with the service, explanaiton, and resolution to this problem the easiest way to resolve it is to drag the manager into the situation. Their level of BS will diminish and the desired outcome will result.

I personally HATE, I mean HATE, when the BS starts spewing from their mouths.

The devices have an overcharge protection built in as do phones, mp3 players, notebooks and so on.

I have to say the best thing I have seen was at BB trying to return a defective iopd touch. The salesman told the customer that they needed to purchase a $40 charger because it was a well know fact that the chargers that come wth apple products are junk. You should have seen the heads turn. It wasn't long before she left with a new touch and a complimentary $20 itunes card.

Something you might try is to run the battery all the way down and charge it with the apple charger. If the problem goes away then the Sony might be to blame.

 

[TheJut]

Hi Amy,

Although I do not have a for-sure answer about your problem, I've never heard about that system overcharging the battery. I only say that because I have the same thing in my house. I am also a little hesitant to say that its not an issue of overcharging, because I am not an expert in the subject matter. As I recall it, (again, nothing to back this up, just drawing from memory), rechargeable batteries have a fail-safe on them that stops them from being overcharged (it bypasses the battery, or breaks the connection in some way). I would continue using the dock, but just to be on the safe side, make sure the first charge on your new iPod is a full one from a USB cable. Then, if your iPod tends to only charge to 10% afterwards, it is an issue with your dock.

As far as the refurbished iPod thing goes, no idea.

Cheers.

 

[firestarter]

Here is the system: http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR979LL/A?mco=MTIxODk3Mw

If the overcharging issue was true and known by Apple, then they should warn about it or remove the system from the store surely?

I tried an internet search and couldn't find any reference to overcharging.

The story sounds suspect to me.

 

[amycishere]

Thank you all for your very quick response. It is greatly appreciated! This is why I love being a member of these forums! Hopefully this one will be no problem. I really like my docking system so very happy I get to keep it. I didn't end up buying any of the extra things he told me I needed.

So as far as my first charge goes, before I do anything I need to charge 4-6 hours from my USB correct?

 

[ZMacintosh]

sounds like some really bad luck with those ipods.

how frustrating! like many said the charging mechanism is smart enough to stop the flow of electrons to place power in the battery itself, the battery has a capacity it reaches and doesnt allow any more flow of charge to come through....this is true of almost all rechargable electronics. if it weren tht ecase wed be dealing with a much larger issue at hand...

its very similar to how youd fuel a car, if oyu hold hte latch on the gas pump and let it auto fill a pressure mechanism inside the fuel tank will release when it starts to reach max capacity....

i dont think itm atters if you let it charge before you start applying music or apps to your ipod, but maybe to allow it to soak in, itd be a good idea to try and charge it until its full and start adding music to it.

goodluck and hope it works out for you!