Section 51. About the Care and Feeding of Your iPod


51. About the Care and Feeding of Your iPod

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Just jump right in!


The iPod is arguably the most desirable piece of consumer electronics in the world today; millions of people own them, and millions more pine for them. People who would never otherwise have considered buying an Apple product are discovering that there's simply no arguing with the iPod's ease of use, quality of production, or the ineffable "cool factor" of those white headphone cords and the device's iconic shape.

Yet reality sometimes doesn't mirror the fantasy created by the hype. The iPod is a piece of technology with electronic and mechanical components just like any computer accessory ; likewise, it's prone to failures and degradation over time. Apple even engineered the iPod with several assumptions in mind, namely that people's music collections would grow fast enough to obligate them to buy new and larger iPods within a few years . This assumption permitted the Apple engineers to make design decisions that some people find controversial , such as making the battery non- replaceable , and using that great-looking (but scratch-prone) stainless- steel rear cover. The idea is that you'll want a bigger iPod before your battery becomes unusable or your iPod's back cover becomes too scratched up.

These observations perhaps betray a cynical outlook toward Apple's motives in designing the iPod, and more recent generations of the iPod show improvements in the technology that indicate that there's no malice aforethought in Apple's design decisions. The iPod is consistently rated very high in consumer reports that rank its initial quality and support; the company provides service that often goes above and beyond what the basic warranty would seem to guarantee, such as replacing iPods in-store with brand new units with no questions asked. Some original-generation iPods that were sold in the fall of 2001 are still going strong. Yet there's always the possibility of units that degrade faster than you think they ought to do, and it's hard under those circumstances to keep from wondering whatif anythingyou did wrong.

If you've spent hundreds of dollars on an iPod, you're going to want to make sure you get your money's worthyou'll still look cool if you carry around an iPod that doesn't work, but obviously looks aren't everything. You want to ensure that your iPod will last as long as your interest in digital music does, even if that means keeping it in action for years and years, outliving Apple's own predictions for how long it should survive.

The following set of tips should help ensure that your iPod remains in top working order for a long time.

  • Keep the iPod's battery charged to its maximum capacity at all times. The iPod uses a lithium-polymer or lithiumion (Li-ion) battery that has somewhat different characteristics from the nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries you might be accustomed to in camera or laptop devices. Whereas NiCd batteries last longest if you discharge them completely (running them down to the point where they're completely out of juice ) before recharging them, lithium-polymer and lithiumion batteries (such as those used in the iPod) last longer if you keep them topped up as much as possible. These are known as shallow discharge characteristics, as opposed to the deep discharge characteristics of nickel-cadmium batteries.

    KEY TERM

    Deep discharge Battery characteristics where optimum longevity and performance result from discharging the battery completely before recharging it.

    Shallow discharge Battery characteristics where optimum longevity and performance result from keeping the battery's charge "topped up" at all times and preventing the charge from running down all the way.


    Don't allow the iPod's charge to dip below 50% if you can help it. Whenever the iPod is not in use, keep it in its Dock or connected to a power source such as a computer or the external power supply. If you use the iPod in the car, try to use a power adapter that connects the iPod to the car's cigarette lighter or power outlet, thus ensuring that the batteries aren't being drained during normal use.

    Use additional common-sense precautions such as making sure that the iPod isn't playing music endlessly when you leave it unattended (use the Hold switch to ensure that the iPod doesn't wake up and start playing music in response to a jostle while it's in your backpack ). Make sure that the backlight isn't on all the time (the backlight can use a lot of power). The same is true of any operations that cause frequent hard drive access, such as skipping songs randomly or playing the Music Quiz game (see 81 Play iPod Games ).

    WEB RESOURCE

    http://www.ipodbatteryfaq.com

    The iPod Battery FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions list) is an excellent source of answers to any questions you might have about how to improve your iPod's battery life. The site also has links to resources that will help you replace a dead battery for a small cost, as well as news on class-action lawsuits that Apple has settled with owners of older iPods with defective batteries.


  • Purchase an AppleCare extended warranty for your iPod. You get 90 days of free tech support and a year of free service with your iPod purchase, but those months go by fast. For an extra $59, you can extend both service and support coverage to two years from the purchase date. This coverage protects not just your iPod, but any accessories that come with itthe headphones or earbuds, the Dock, the battery, and so on. You can pick up the AppleCare plan anytime within the iPod's first complimentary year of service coverage. With the service coverage in effect, if anything goes wrong with your iPoda battery that runs down too fast, a headphone jack or Dock connector that becomes loose, an LCD screen that flickers, or even a back cover that doesn't quite fit rightjust bring it in to any Apple Store, and you'll walk out the door with a brand-new unit. You can also call the AppleCare number to set up an exchange through the mail. It's quite a bargainespecially considering that any replacement unit you get comes with its own fresh year of coverage. Taking advantage of these warranty options means that the only reason you ever have to buy a new iPod is if your music collection outgrows it.

    WEB RESOURCE

    http://store.apple.com

    Visit the online Apple Store at this URL or go into any Apple Store to buy an AppleCare plan.


  • Invest in some protective gear for your iPod. It might be tempting to keep your iPod loose in your shirt pocket or hold it in your hand so that everyone can see it, but that's just asking for troublemicroscopic dust can wreak havoc on the iPod's polished back surface, and before you know it, it'll be scuffed and ugly. Prevent this problem by getting a good belt clip or carrying pouch that has a soft backing surface without any protruding edges or creases that can trap dust. Apple also sells "iPod socks" through the online Apple Store or retail locations. These little multicolored fabric sleeves might look silly, but they get the job done: They keep the back from getting scuffed and also cushion the iPod in case of a fall.

    If your iPod's back cover becomes scuffed or scratched, all is not lost: see 101 Turn a Scratched iPod into a Brushed Metal iPod for an idea that might help make it look nice again.

iPod socks come in a variety of colors. Don't laughthey work!



iPod + iTunes for Windows and Mac in a Snap
iPod + iTunes for Windows and Mac in a Snap (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 0672328992
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 152
Authors: Brian Tiemann

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