Friday, April 23, 2004 1:42:27 PM
OT: Troubleshooting the iPod and iPod mini
Friday, April 23 2004 @ 06:45 AM PDT
Data loss
Distorted iPod mini sound
iSight interference
iPod not showing up in iTunes
iPod batteries
Mac freezes when going to sleep with iPod connected
iPod mini audiobook issues
iTunes crash on iPod connection; solutions
Resetting a frozen iPod
AppleCare for iPods
iPod preferences not sticking
Cracked LCD Screens
Repair difficult, replacement often cheaper
Warning about Windows DRM and the iPod
Complaints about iPod earbud quality
Extracting files from the iPod
iPod Remote Control Protocol
Data loss
There is a fairly widespread problem where the iPod mini loses access to all data stored on its internal hard drive - though the storage space still appears to be occupied.
Joe Paolino's case is typical of the reports we've received so far "After charging my mini overnight, I found that the next morning all of my songs and playlists were missing. I went to the About setting in my iPod and found that the available capacity was the same as it had been the previous day. After connecting to iTunes, the capacity indicator at the bottom of the screen also showed that something was still on my iPod. However, iTunes detected no music or playlists either. Out of curiosity, I loaded one song on the iPod to see if it would show up in iTunes list. The song loaded fine, but then did not appear in iTunes when I had the iPod selected or when I disconnected it and scrolled through the iPod directly.
"I also noticed one more interesting thing. I opened the iPod in the finder to see folders for contacts, notes, etc. As I clicked on each folder to look their respective contents, the folders disappeared."
Third party devices involved? One report of iPod mini data loss concerned a reader whose songs were lost while an iTrip (an FM transmitter manufactured by Griffin Technolgy) was attached. There are a handful of other data loss (or data becoming invisible) reports indicating that a third party device - the iTrip in two separate cases - was attached when the problem occurred, though a firm connection hasn't been established.
David Calica writes "I had a similar problem. I leave my Itrip attached to my Ipod and leave it in the dock. One day I tried use my Ipod. All of my playlists and music were gone and I was not able to access the unit via Itunes. I reloaded the Ipod software and was able to use the iPod."
Matt Fusfield adds "I've had the same problem once, while I was using the iTrip as well. Removing the iTrip and then resetting the iPod restored all my music. I didn't think much of it at the time, it has only occurred once thus far but it is interesting to hear I'm not the only one who has had the problem."
Manual reset Aside from formatting the iPod mini and reloading all songs (which some readers have been forced to do), resetting the iPod mini seems to be the only successful workaround we've discovered so far:
MacFixIt reader Mike O'Neil "I had an experience with my iPod Mini losing all of its songs. I turned it on and noticed none of my browse categories had anything in them. I went to the info area of the iPod interface and it said '0 songs' and Volume Format 'Unknown' almost as if the hard disk had died, but I suppose the interface wouldn't work at all if that were the case. Anyways, before I completely panicked I did the "menu+select" reset option and all of my music was magically back."
Instructions for resetting the iPod mini (from Apple) are as follows:
Connect iPod mini to the iPod Power Adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet.
Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Set it to hold, then turn it off again.)
Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 seconds.
Robert Goulet was one of the unfortunate readers who had to format and re-establish all data on his iPod mini:
"I had a similar problem when I was downloading an audio book and connected my iPod mini. It didn't show any music and as I would push on the right button it would look like it was spinning to my on the go playlist but would just continue to read on the go without showing the music. When I connected to the computer it would show how much storage but wouldn't show songs. Resetting did nothing. The only source was to download ipod mini restore and place all my music and references back in. Since then it's worked better than before."
The iPod one-year limited warranty states, "Apple is not liable for any damage to or loss of any programs, data, or other information stored on any media contained within the iPod or iSight product, or any non-Apple product or part not covered by this warranty. Recovery or reinstallation of programs, data or other information is not covered under this Limited Warranty.
Distorted iPod mini sound
After as little as two weeks of use some iPod minis develop heavily distorted sound with extreme sensitivity to touch.
Irakli Loladze thinks he has found the reason behind the problem:
"My silver iPOD mini after two weeks of gentle use started to make horrible static noises. Any pressure, as small as thumb pressure anywhere on iPod mini, would make horrific sounds to come back. Resetting iPod did not help.
"I was just curious what caused such unbelievable distortion. I carefully disassembled by iPod. Then I started to play the iPod and disconnected the wheel, then the hard drive, but my iPod was still playing (out of 25 min flash memory) and still distorting sound.
"Eventually, I narrowed the problem to a small little part that contains the headphone jack and the hold switch.
"This small part attaches to the main iPod board only via a small black connector. This is an Apple oversight!
"The small part with the headphone jack attaches via screws to the aluminium case, but does not screw to the main board. Because of this any pressure on iPOD case, dock connector, or simply plugging in and out headphones, creates tension between the small part and the main board.
"Since only the black connector sits between these two parts, it wears out. What is even worse is that the black connector is attached to the main board via ten very fragile copper pins that stick out of the main board. With regular use, contacts get loose and slightest pressure on iPod creates nasty squeaky static type noises killing all the joy the iPod brings. [...]
"To rely on ten tiny fragile pins is just plain silly. Using inflexible black connector is puzzling, because in the current design the battery, hard drive, wheal, and screen all use flexible cables.
"Apple needs to change iPod mini's design ASAP and attach 'the headphone jack/hold switch part' to the Main Board via a flexible cable.
NOTE: You should never take apart your iPod mini. Doing so will void the one-year limited warranty.
Some users have found that minimizing the number of times they plug in/out headphones and not pushing harsh pressure on the mini's case reduces the incidence of sound distortion.
iSight interference
There is a relatively widespread issue where Apple's iSight interferes with the operation of other FireWire devices. One of the devices most susceptible to this problem is the iPod. For some users, when the iSight is connected and capturing video, their iPod disappears from the Desktop and from the iTunes playlist, while the iPod status screen cycles from the Apple logo to a "Do not Disconnect" message over and over.
The problems also include a slowdown of transfer rates. One reader writes "With the iSight connected, it takes forever to update files on my iPod (30+ mins for 70 tracks) and the whole system runs slowly. [The problem is solved] by disconnecting the iSight; iTunes update now takes seconds."
Bruce Nofrey has a particularly bad case of iPod/iSight interference "Like other users, I have also had problems updating my iPod with the iSight camera connected. The iPod would continue to have the "do not disconnect" sign displayed - then the iPod would freeze ( clock not being updated) and finally my G4 tower would freeze. I have replaced one iPod and have talked to tech support when the second one did the same thing. We could not get the RESTORE function of the iPod Updater to recognize the iPod. Unplugging the iSight firewire cable from the computer will allow the iPod to be updated correctly.
Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader Richard has two interesting theories on what might be causing the iSight interference issue:
"Different Mac models have different power availability on their firewire ports: current portables around 7 W peak, iMac LCD around 8 W shared over all ports and PowerMac cases around 15 W shared over all ports, thus limiting particular models to ability to support numerous bus powered devices and certainly restricting the length of any attached chain to significantly less than the theoretical 63 devices, where a bus powered device is attached (in my experience). So available bus power could be an issue for some FireWire device users."
"The iSight could well be using up all the bandwidth on the bus. Apple describe its as a 640 x 480, 30 FPS (frames per second), 24 bit color device conforming to the IIDC/DCAM specification. Checking this table suggests that up to 96% of the bandwidth on a 400 MBps (megabits per second) FireWire connection would be consumed, if running at full specification."
Workarounds For those who are having serious system problems when FireWire drives and the iSight are in use simultaneously, simply disconnecting FireWire drives during iSight usage is a hassling but complete workaround.
And for a number of users, updating to version 1.0.2 of the iSight software alleviates major issues:
Tom Schuman "Prior to the iSight 1.0.2 updater my three daisy-chained external firewire hard drives (plugged into one of the firewire ports on a dual 1.42 GHz Power Mac G4) disappeared when an iSight camera was plugged into a firewire hub that is plugged into the other firewire port on the Power Mac G4. After some hassle I was able to mount the drives again with the iSight unplugged; I did not lose any data on the hard drives. The only way to avoid the drives from disappearing when the iSight was plugged in was to dismount each firewire drive and disconnect the drives from the firewire port on the Power Mac G4 prior to plugging in the iSight camera. After installing the iSight 1.0.2 updater the problem did not occur again. However the first time I plugged in the iSight camera after I upgraded to 10.3.3 one of the three hard drives (the oldest, about 4 years old) disappeared. I was able to remount it and no data was lost. Until a new fix is released, I'm back to my prior procedure of dismounting and unplugging the external firewire drives before I plug in the iSight camera."
As documented by Knowledge Base article #93705, the iSight 1.0.2 software is highly recommended "if you also use iPod mini, or more than one FireWire drive, including an iPod."
One solution that has worked for a number of users is the addition a new FireWire interface PCI card, which allows the user to connect the iSight to its own separate bridge.
Some users have also had success attaching an externally powered FireWire hub, reinforcing the notion that the iSight/FireWire 400 drive conflict is somehow power (lack thereof) related.
iPod not showing up in iTunes
Several users have reported a problem with the iPod not being visible to iTunes after the Mac OS X 10.3.3 update, for which we have since received confirmation from several users.
MacFixIt reader Glyn suggests a twelve step process that resolved the situation in his case:
Download Cocktail and set invisible items ( found under interface->finder tabs within Cocktail) to be visible
Navigate to the top level of the iPod.
Copy the contents of the iPod_Control folder to your local desktop
Trash the iPodPrefs and the contents of the iTunes folder but not the folder itself. Also I think I may have trashed the device/preferences file but I am not sure
Trash the contents of the Music folder which should be already be copied to your local drive.
Unmount and unplug the iPod
Reset the iPod by Toggling the Hold switch on and off. (Set it to Hold, then turn it off again.), Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons until the Apple/iPod logo appears. as per Apple Knowledge Base article #61705)
Mount the iPod on the desktop.
Startup iTunes. The iPod should appear now
copy the individual folder contents of the Music folder you copied earlier onto your iPod.
The music is back and you can start iTuning again
Do not forget to reset the finder with invisible items turned off using Cocktail.
iPod batteries
Several users have experienced a problem where the iPod's battery becomes drained while the host Mac (charger) is sleeping. The fact that batteries are routinely being completely discharged then recharged (a full, or "deep" cycle) in this manner may have something to do with the large number of short-lived (16-18 months) iPod battery complaints.
Some precursors regarding this issue:
As previously mentioned, Apple's documentation merely states that the iPod will not charge while the connected Mac is sleeping, not that the unit will discharge during this period of time. Knowledge Base article #61127 says "To charge iPod's battery, simply connect iPod to your Macintosh. The computer must be turned on, and iPod won't charge if the computer goes into sleep mode."
Most readers report that the iPod drains more quickly when it is connected to an off or sleeping Mac than if it is not connected and sitting idle (however, these measurements may be inaccurate - see below). Some have noticed that the iPod's hard drive sometimes spins while connected to a sleeping Mac. Thus it would appear that the iPod remains active while connected to a sleeping Mac, and is perhaps using more power to stay active than is being drawn from the FireWire port.
What's odd is that some readers have reported that the drain occurs even while an iPod is dock-connected to a Mac that is turned off. This would appear to indicate that the iPod is constantly "listening" for a signal from the Dock, depleting its battery in the process. This notion is reinforced by the fact that it is not necessary to turn the iPod on when docking it for an update; even if the "hold" switch is active and the iPod is off, placing the unit in the dock will cause an automatic transfer.
For most, the discharge problem is not persistent, occurring once every few sleep sessions.
Some older models not affected Several readers have reported an absence of this problem with older (first and second generation) iPods connected via a FireWire cable; not the dock.
Ryan La Riviere writes: "I have a second generation (non-dock-based) 10GB iPod. I have, on several occasions, actually used my sleeping (and plugged into an outlet) TiBook to charge my iPod via Firewire. If I wanted to charge the iPod while the TiBook was not plugged into an outlet, the TiBook would have to be awake."
John Merritt writes "I have this problem with my wife's newer 10 GB iPod, but not with my older 10 GB, (pre-dock) iPod."
Another reader writes "I have noticed the same problem with my latest generation iPod but not my second generation iPod."
Using an external FireWire hub allows sleep charging Aside from simply using the AC adapter, the only way to continue charging some iPods while your Mac sleeps is to use an externally powered FireWire hub. This way you can still use a single connection for power and data transfer.
MacFixIt reader Eric Westby writes "I ended up using a powered FireWire hub to solve the problem -- since the hub continues to send power to the iPod/dock even when my G4 is asleep, the iPod is fully charged in the morning even though my G4 has spent the night asleep."
AC adaptor may more fully charge iPod batteries Besides not discharging, the iPod AC adaptor may be able to more fully charge an iPod battery relative to the dock in some cases.
"I have a 10GB second generation iPod. I normally charge by hooking the iPod to my laptop or desktop. Around early Jan of this year it would appear that my iPod would not hold a charge. When hooked up to a computer it would seem like it could never reach full charge on the display. If it did, then it wouldn't hold its charge for more than a couple of hours. I thought the battery was toast. On a fluke, I connected it to the wall charger. After it reached full charge, I was again able to get about 8 hours of playing time. Its like having a new iPod!"
Setting startup time to three hours prior for maximum charge Knowledge Base article #61127 also notes that the iPod is "80 percent charged in about an hour, and fully charged in about 3 hours."
If you want to keep your iPod docked overnight (or for another long, unattended period of time), you can use a utility like iBeeZz to automatically wake your Mac up three hours before you'd like to begin using the iPod. This will provide a full charge - based on Apple's claims - in spite of discharging.
Slow charging because of other devices Several users have noticed slow charging when other FireWire devices are connected. Bob Sutryk writes:
"One other issue that frustrated me for months: Shortly after I put Mac OS X 10.3 on my computer the iPod seemed outrageously slow to charge. After months of dealing with this and sending the iPod in to be fixed, a sharp Apple tech finally discovered that my iSight camera was pulling too much power for both Firewire appliances to handle. Once I unhooked the iSight, the iPod ran like new."
Some iPods display an inaccurate battery measurement, though MacFixIt Jed and points out that this phenomenon is common with other devices as well:
"The battery meter is often inaccurate. I've found this to be true on my Palm as well: after charging, the battery meter continues to show low charge for a while, gradually increasing over time.’
Meanwhile, Ron Skinner notes that, typical of Li-Ion batteries, inaccuracy may increase with time and the constant use of "shallow charges" :
"Devices equipped with Li-Ion charge indicators--such as the iPod--become increasingly inaccurate when they are shallow charged. All that is required to re-calibrate the gauges is to fully discharge the battery before recharging. However, routinely fully discharging these batteries should be avoided. Their useful life is greatest when subjected to shallow charge cycles."
Apple explains how to extend battery life Apple has updated its Knowledge Base article (#61434) explaining how to extend the life of your iPod's battery to the maximum. Among the tips:
Pause iPod when unattended If you leave iPod unattended, press Play/Pause to pause the song. If left playing, iPod will continue to play songs until the battery is drained--particularly if the repeat setting is set to One or All.
Backlighting Backlighting can use a lot of battery power. If you don't need to use backlighting, turn it off. Choose: Settings > Backlight Timer > Off.
Mac freezes when going to sleep with iPod connected
A problem with charging from the dock, noted in Apple Knowledge Base article #60929, is that "your computer may stop responding ('freeze') if it goes to sleep with an iPod connected to it."
The only suggested resolutions for this issue are:
Restart your Mac
Turn off sleep in Energy Saver
"Do not put your Mac to sleep when the iPod is connected"
iPod mini audiobook issues
There are some reports of minor problems with Apple's newly shipping iPod mini.
MacFixIt reader Craig Spirko writes "Bought a silver iPod mini on Friday and while I love it, I’ve found two software bugs: When listening to a book-on-tape ('The da Vinci Code' bought from iTunes) I’ve found that if you’re more than 35 minutes into the track and press the FF button (and hold) the iPod rewinds instead of fast forwarding. On four other books I had the same problem.
"The bug seems to only happen on long tracks (more than an hour) and only on AAC files. AIFF files play normally, and one of the guys on the Apple discussion board reports his copy of 'The da Vinci Code' worked properly, but he downloaded it directly from Audible.com and I’m guessing they provide mp3s. The nice people at “The Grove” Apple Store traded me for another brand-new iPod and I’ve got the same problem.
"The other bug is that when the iPod is shut off (or goes off automatically) on an audiobook, it automatically rewinds a minute when you press “play” and then it begins to play. This may be a “feature” but it means you have to listen to the same part of the book twice, and since the FF isn’t working it’s kind of a pain."
iTunes crash on iPod connection; solutions
Several users are affected by an issue where iTunes 4.2 crashes shortly after connecting an iPod (under Mac OS X 10.3.x)
MacFixIt reader Rory Cooney summarizes the problem:
"Longtime users of iPods of various pedigree and size, after upgrading to Panther, are finding that attempting to synch their iPod to iTunes crashes iTunes. The crash results both in the iPod not getting updated and a force-quit required to iTunes. I myself spent 3 hours on the phone with Apple support yesterday, and after troubleshooting every aspect of iTunes, I was told to do an archive and install. Today, the problem persists."
Some users have had success disconnecting all other external peripherals - particularly FireWire devices other than the iPod (and USB components), but for others the problem persists under the same conditions.
In some cases, users are able to transfer only a few songs - usually less than 10 - before iTunes hangs.
So far, reverting to Mac OS X 10.2.x seems to be the only thorough solution for users experiencing this problem.
The crash generally results both in the iPod not getting updated and a force-quit required for iTunes.
Some users have had success disconnecting all other external peripherals - particularly FireWire devices other than the iPod (and USB components), but for others the problem persists under the same conditions. Reverting to Mac OS X 10.2.x also alleviates the problem.
In some cases, users are able to transfer only a few songs - usually less than 10 - before iTunes hangs.
Now MacFixIt reader Doug Mitchell offers a different solution that involves deleting streaming references in the iPod master library (streaming references include iTunes' radio stations and other streaming source files):
"I just bought a new 20 gig iPod and initially I suffered the same disasters others are referring to. I solved my problems through a variety of steps. First I plugged my dock for the iPod directly into one of the firewire ports in my G4. Secondly I noticed that there were a number of streaming references in the master library for iTunes. When I deleted these items from the library all music transfers went smoothly. I have had no problems since. I am running OS 10.3.2 and iPod software 2.1 as well as iTunes 4.2."
Resetting a frozen iPod
Generally when your iPod becomes "frozen," (the iPod either stops responding or will not wake from sleep), Apple recommends a few simple procedures including leaving the unit unplugged for 24 hours. For some users, however, none of the suggested solutions restore normal functionality, and units are sent in for repair.
MacFixIt reader Robert Snell, however, found that temporarily opening the case and disconnecting the battery for a short period of time worked:
"Before sending it back for service, I decided to try resetting the unit by opening the case and disconnecting the battery for a short period of time. After reconnecting the battery, the Apple logo appeared and operation was returned to normal. Measuring the battery voltage revealed it to be fully charged.
"Also, be very careful NOT to accidently short out the battery when disconnecting it. Since the "off" battery discharge time is about one month, I would have waited a long time for the power down reset to occur."
"This occurred after returning from a trip where my iPod had been through several X-Ray inspection machines and it was fully charged before I left."
AppleCare for iPods
Apple's highly recommended AppleCare premium warranty service is available for the iPod. The plan is priced at US$59 for two years of protection.
One caveat, however: "The AppleCare Protection Plan cannot be sold to consumers residing in Florida. 'Consumers' are persons who use their computers primarily for personal, family, or household purposes."
iPod preferences not sticking
Several users upgrading to Mac OS X 10.3.x have found that their iPods are no longer capable of remembering preferences set through iPod, such as which playlists to synchronize.
MacFixIt reader Brian Romanchuk writes "Ever since upgrading to Panther, I've noticed that I can't change my iPod preferences. When my iPod has mounted and finished syncing, I choose the preferences and try and deselect a playlist that I have set to synchronize. It deselects and the dialog box hangs there for about 10 -20 seconds and then disappears. No updating takes place. When I bring the iPod preferences back up again nothing was changed. Same holds true for trying to switch on the Firewire Disk option. I've tried trashing all the preferences related to iTunes and ipod and nothing works."
One workaround for this issue that appears to be working for some is as follows:
Perform a "Restore" process (erases the iPod's hard disk and restores the device to its original factory condition) using the iPod Software Updater application.
Go to iTunes and access the iPod preference pane. Check the box marked "Enable Firewire Disk Use" (not check by default) and leave it check.
Synchronization should now occur normally until you uncheck the "Enable FireWire Disk Use" option.
Note that without performing a "Restore" process, no preferences - including the FireWire Disk Use option - will stick. It seems that after a "Restore," the iPod preferences will be recognized for one synchronization, giving you a chance to enable the FireWire Disk Use option and leave it on.
Also, note that while the FireWire Disk Use option is in effect, your iPod will mount like any other volume, and be subject to a "Device improperly removed" error message if disconnected on the fly.
Cracked LCD Screens
iPodhead.com has some rather gruesome photos of an iPod mini with cracked LCD.
The owner of the broken iPod mini said "My son just got an ipod mini last week. (He) had it in his pocket, sat down and cracked the display. I took it to the Apple store in Houston. They told me it would cost less to buy a new one ($249)!"
She went on to say that "This is going to be happening all the time because the minis are much thinner and relatively flexible."
As stated in Apple's iPod one-year limited warranty, coverage does not include "damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, misapplication, or non-Apple products"
Another MacFixIt reader writes:
"I bought a 15Gig IPod for my son a month ago. He loved it! But yesterday it got banged in his bag and the screen was damaged, so it won't work now. When I asked how to get it repaired, I was told it would be a $249 charge. I fully expected to pay for the repair, but Apple is essentially saying that they will not support the product and to just buy a new one. At these prices, Apple should provide reasonable repair service and support their products."
Repair difficult, replacement often cheaper
As evidenced by the "Cracked LCD Screens" section of this report, iPod's are difficult and expensive to repair. Most authorized repair centers will recommend a replacement if your iPod is not turning on due to an electrical problem, the screen is broken, or a variety of other problems occur.
As such, many users have chosen to enroll in the US$59 iPod AppleCare protection program, which provides a greater umbrella of repair/replacement options, and also provides a quicker turnaround than the standard Apple warranty.
Meanwhile, MacResQ offers a flat-fee repair service for Apple iPods. The service will purportedly offer 24-hour turnaround on repairs and nationwide, as well as overnight pickup and delivery at the user's location. The cost of the iPodResQ 24-Hour Repair Service is US$29 This includes the 3-way overnight shipping, the initial diagnostic service, and the iBox, which the customer may keep for future use. The "iQ" Battery Replacement priced at US $79. More.
Warning about Windows DRM and the iPod
A Stereophile Magazine article notes the potential problems caused for iPod users by recording companies' use of digital rights management technology from Microsoft on some new CDs:
"One major drawback of the restricted disks, however, is non-compatibility with the Apple iPod. Since the new discs are based on SunnComm's MediaMax, which itself is rooted in Microsoft's Digital Rights Management (DRM) applications, the brochure leaves it up to iPod owners to read between the lines, explaining only, "It will play on any device that supports Windows Media DRM. These include Creative Labs Nomad players, Compaq iPAQ personal audio players, RCA personal audio players, Sanyo personal audio players, RIO personal audio players, and eDigital personal audio players."
Complaints about iPod earbud quality
Simone Manganelli describes a problem with making his iPod's earbud headphones that developed over time and eventually ruined their functionality:
"I've had a perpetual issue with my iPod earbuds, and I'd like to see if anyone else has had this problem.
"I've had 3 pairs of iPod headphones (the original version that came with the original 5 GB iPod, and 2 pairs of the new version that came in the $30 box with the remote). All three pairs have now gone down the same path -- where the 2 wires that go to the separate earbuds converge into one wire, the plastic comes out of the little plastic (part) that holds the two wires together. The result is that the actual wires that go to the earbuds get exposed, and after a while get frayed, and then the earbuds stop working and I have to get a new set.
"I really like the iPod earbuds, and I can't possibly carry around regular headphones. I talked to a genius at the Palo Alto Apple Store a few days ago, and he said that the headphones are 'accidental damage' and so are not covered under warranty. It seems to me that they haven't really made the earbuds that well if they keep fraying for me. Today I talked to a second tier Apple specialist through Apple's technical support line (1-800-275-2273), and they basically said the same thing."
A Wall Street Journal article [paid subscription required] notes some users' dissatisfaction with the earbuds, and offers a variety of alternative headphones with prices ranging up to US$500.
Extracting files from the iPod
There are several shareware and freeware utilities that are for the purpose of extracting music and other files from an iPod to your Mac. They include:
Escape Pod 1.0
Ollie's iPod Extractor 2.1
Pod Manager 2.0
Podpourri 0.2
While some of these tools offer extra features like Podpourri's ability to generate XML and PDF files that can contain clickable URLs linked to the songs on your iPod, there are two other basic ways of directly accessing these files:.
First you can use the Terminal and type:
cd /Volumes/(id of iPod)/iPod_Control
then type:
cp -r music /Users/(userid)/desktop
This will directly copy the files. Alternatively, you can continue navigating in the Terminal to select specific files.
MacFixIt reader James Reffner reports another method:
"Run an FTP server (I use CrushFTP) and set it up to allow access to your iPod (put the iPod in disk mode). Then use an FTP client (I use Transmit) that can utilize Rendezvous to connect to the FTP server app and then access the ipod from within your FTP client. That's it. Copy the files you want from your iPod over to your Mac.
"I realize that there are many applications to extract he music, but this method will also allow you to get your iTunes database file, contacts, calendar, notes, many different preferences, etc. You'll also notice that the audio files are not structured as they are on your drive, but a least you can get them back if you loose the ones on your Mac."
Using invisible file tools We previously noted several solutions for extracting files from an iPod, including the array of shareware offerings, setting up an FTP Server, and others. One MacFixIt reader writes:
"Why bother with Terminal or FTP or anything like that ... when there is a simpler and more Mac-like user-friendly solution? All you need to do is use a utility that temporarily makes invisible files visible in the Finder (such as Invisibles or TinkerTool). You can then navigate directly to the iPod_Control folder on the iPod volume. From here, you can copy whatever you want - from a single music file to everything - just as you would with any other external volume mounted in the Finder."
Invisible Finder is one such tool.
iPod Remote Control Protocol
MacFixIt reader John has posted a reverse engineering document of the second-generation iPod remote (the version that has the touch-sensitive scroll wheel). "The remote probably works exactly as-is with the first generation iPod (with the mechanical scroll wheel). The newest ipods (thinner, rounder, and with 4 buttons in-line) has a similar remote, but with a different square 4-pin remote connector -- I don't know the new pinout, and suspect that it has microphone-in and/or line-in capabilities." More.
Friday, April 23 2004 @ 06:45 AM PDT
Data loss
Distorted iPod mini sound
iSight interference
iPod not showing up in iTunes
iPod batteries
Mac freezes when going to sleep with iPod connected
iPod mini audiobook issues
iTunes crash on iPod connection; solutions
Resetting a frozen iPod
AppleCare for iPods
iPod preferences not sticking
Cracked LCD Screens
Repair difficult, replacement often cheaper
Warning about Windows DRM and the iPod
Complaints about iPod earbud quality
Extracting files from the iPod
iPod Remote Control Protocol
Data loss
There is a fairly widespread problem where the iPod mini loses access to all data stored on its internal hard drive - though the storage space still appears to be occupied.
Joe Paolino's case is typical of the reports we've received so far "After charging my mini overnight, I found that the next morning all of my songs and playlists were missing. I went to the About setting in my iPod and found that the available capacity was the same as it had been the previous day. After connecting to iTunes, the capacity indicator at the bottom of the screen also showed that something was still on my iPod. However, iTunes detected no music or playlists either. Out of curiosity, I loaded one song on the iPod to see if it would show up in iTunes list. The song loaded fine, but then did not appear in iTunes when I had the iPod selected or when I disconnected it and scrolled through the iPod directly.
"I also noticed one more interesting thing. I opened the iPod in the finder to see folders for contacts, notes, etc. As I clicked on each folder to look their respective contents, the folders disappeared."
Third party devices involved? One report of iPod mini data loss concerned a reader whose songs were lost while an iTrip (an FM transmitter manufactured by Griffin Technolgy) was attached. There are a handful of other data loss (or data becoming invisible) reports indicating that a third party device - the iTrip in two separate cases - was attached when the problem occurred, though a firm connection hasn't been established.
David Calica writes "I had a similar problem. I leave my Itrip attached to my Ipod and leave it in the dock. One day I tried use my Ipod. All of my playlists and music were gone and I was not able to access the unit via Itunes. I reloaded the Ipod software and was able to use the iPod."
Matt Fusfield adds "I've had the same problem once, while I was using the iTrip as well. Removing the iTrip and then resetting the iPod restored all my music. I didn't think much of it at the time, it has only occurred once thus far but it is interesting to hear I'm not the only one who has had the problem."
Manual reset Aside from formatting the iPod mini and reloading all songs (which some readers have been forced to do), resetting the iPod mini seems to be the only successful workaround we've discovered so far:
MacFixIt reader Mike O'Neil "I had an experience with my iPod Mini losing all of its songs. I turned it on and noticed none of my browse categories had anything in them. I went to the info area of the iPod interface and it said '0 songs' and Volume Format 'Unknown' almost as if the hard disk had died, but I suppose the interface wouldn't work at all if that were the case. Anyways, before I completely panicked I did the "menu+select" reset option and all of my music was magically back."
Instructions for resetting the iPod mini (from Apple) are as follows:
Connect iPod mini to the iPod Power Adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet.
Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Set it to hold, then turn it off again.)
Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 seconds.
Robert Goulet was one of the unfortunate readers who had to format and re-establish all data on his iPod mini:
"I had a similar problem when I was downloading an audio book and connected my iPod mini. It didn't show any music and as I would push on the right button it would look like it was spinning to my on the go playlist but would just continue to read on the go without showing the music. When I connected to the computer it would show how much storage but wouldn't show songs. Resetting did nothing. The only source was to download ipod mini restore and place all my music and references back in. Since then it's worked better than before."
The iPod one-year limited warranty states, "Apple is not liable for any damage to or loss of any programs, data, or other information stored on any media contained within the iPod or iSight product, or any non-Apple product or part not covered by this warranty. Recovery or reinstallation of programs, data or other information is not covered under this Limited Warranty.
Distorted iPod mini sound
After as little as two weeks of use some iPod minis develop heavily distorted sound with extreme sensitivity to touch.
Irakli Loladze thinks he has found the reason behind the problem:
"My silver iPOD mini after two weeks of gentle use started to make horrible static noises. Any pressure, as small as thumb pressure anywhere on iPod mini, would make horrific sounds to come back. Resetting iPod did not help.
"I was just curious what caused such unbelievable distortion. I carefully disassembled by iPod. Then I started to play the iPod and disconnected the wheel, then the hard drive, but my iPod was still playing (out of 25 min flash memory) and still distorting sound.
"Eventually, I narrowed the problem to a small little part that contains the headphone jack and the hold switch.
"This small part attaches to the main iPod board only via a small black connector. This is an Apple oversight!
"The small part with the headphone jack attaches via screws to the aluminium case, but does not screw to the main board. Because of this any pressure on iPOD case, dock connector, or simply plugging in and out headphones, creates tension between the small part and the main board.
"Since only the black connector sits between these two parts, it wears out. What is even worse is that the black connector is attached to the main board via ten very fragile copper pins that stick out of the main board. With regular use, contacts get loose and slightest pressure on iPod creates nasty squeaky static type noises killing all the joy the iPod brings. [...]
"To rely on ten tiny fragile pins is just plain silly. Using inflexible black connector is puzzling, because in the current design the battery, hard drive, wheal, and screen all use flexible cables.
"Apple needs to change iPod mini's design ASAP and attach 'the headphone jack/hold switch part' to the Main Board via a flexible cable.
NOTE: You should never take apart your iPod mini. Doing so will void the one-year limited warranty.
Some users have found that minimizing the number of times they plug in/out headphones and not pushing harsh pressure on the mini's case reduces the incidence of sound distortion.
iSight interference
There is a relatively widespread issue where Apple's iSight interferes with the operation of other FireWire devices. One of the devices most susceptible to this problem is the iPod. For some users, when the iSight is connected and capturing video, their iPod disappears from the Desktop and from the iTunes playlist, while the iPod status screen cycles from the Apple logo to a "Do not Disconnect" message over and over.
The problems also include a slowdown of transfer rates. One reader writes "With the iSight connected, it takes forever to update files on my iPod (30+ mins for 70 tracks) and the whole system runs slowly. [The problem is solved] by disconnecting the iSight; iTunes update now takes seconds."
Bruce Nofrey has a particularly bad case of iPod/iSight interference "Like other users, I have also had problems updating my iPod with the iSight camera connected. The iPod would continue to have the "do not disconnect" sign displayed - then the iPod would freeze ( clock not being updated) and finally my G4 tower would freeze. I have replaced one iPod and have talked to tech support when the second one did the same thing. We could not get the RESTORE function of the iPod Updater to recognize the iPod. Unplugging the iSight firewire cable from the computer will allow the iPod to be updated correctly.
Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader Richard has two interesting theories on what might be causing the iSight interference issue:
"Different Mac models have different power availability on their firewire ports: current portables around 7 W peak, iMac LCD around 8 W shared over all ports and PowerMac cases around 15 W shared over all ports, thus limiting particular models to ability to support numerous bus powered devices and certainly restricting the length of any attached chain to significantly less than the theoretical 63 devices, where a bus powered device is attached (in my experience). So available bus power could be an issue for some FireWire device users."
"The iSight could well be using up all the bandwidth on the bus. Apple describe its as a 640 x 480, 30 FPS (frames per second), 24 bit color device conforming to the IIDC/DCAM specification. Checking this table suggests that up to 96% of the bandwidth on a 400 MBps (megabits per second) FireWire connection would be consumed, if running at full specification."
Workarounds For those who are having serious system problems when FireWire drives and the iSight are in use simultaneously, simply disconnecting FireWire drives during iSight usage is a hassling but complete workaround.
And for a number of users, updating to version 1.0.2 of the iSight software alleviates major issues:
Tom Schuman "Prior to the iSight 1.0.2 updater my three daisy-chained external firewire hard drives (plugged into one of the firewire ports on a dual 1.42 GHz Power Mac G4) disappeared when an iSight camera was plugged into a firewire hub that is plugged into the other firewire port on the Power Mac G4. After some hassle I was able to mount the drives again with the iSight unplugged; I did not lose any data on the hard drives. The only way to avoid the drives from disappearing when the iSight was plugged in was to dismount each firewire drive and disconnect the drives from the firewire port on the Power Mac G4 prior to plugging in the iSight camera. After installing the iSight 1.0.2 updater the problem did not occur again. However the first time I plugged in the iSight camera after I upgraded to 10.3.3 one of the three hard drives (the oldest, about 4 years old) disappeared. I was able to remount it and no data was lost. Until a new fix is released, I'm back to my prior procedure of dismounting and unplugging the external firewire drives before I plug in the iSight camera."
As documented by Knowledge Base article #93705, the iSight 1.0.2 software is highly recommended "if you also use iPod mini, or more than one FireWire drive, including an iPod."
One solution that has worked for a number of users is the addition a new FireWire interface PCI card, which allows the user to connect the iSight to its own separate bridge.
Some users have also had success attaching an externally powered FireWire hub, reinforcing the notion that the iSight/FireWire 400 drive conflict is somehow power (lack thereof) related.
iPod not showing up in iTunes
Several users have reported a problem with the iPod not being visible to iTunes after the Mac OS X 10.3.3 update, for which we have since received confirmation from several users.
MacFixIt reader Glyn suggests a twelve step process that resolved the situation in his case:
Download Cocktail and set invisible items ( found under interface->finder tabs within Cocktail) to be visible
Navigate to the top level of the iPod.
Copy the contents of the iPod_Control folder to your local desktop
Trash the iPodPrefs and the contents of the iTunes folder but not the folder itself. Also I think I may have trashed the device/preferences file but I am not sure
Trash the contents of the Music folder which should be already be copied to your local drive.
Unmount and unplug the iPod
Reset the iPod by Toggling the Hold switch on and off. (Set it to Hold, then turn it off again.), Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons until the Apple/iPod logo appears. as per Apple Knowledge Base article #61705)
Mount the iPod on the desktop.
Startup iTunes. The iPod should appear now
copy the individual folder contents of the Music folder you copied earlier onto your iPod.
The music is back and you can start iTuning again
Do not forget to reset the finder with invisible items turned off using Cocktail.
iPod batteries
Several users have experienced a problem where the iPod's battery becomes drained while the host Mac (charger) is sleeping. The fact that batteries are routinely being completely discharged then recharged (a full, or "deep" cycle) in this manner may have something to do with the large number of short-lived (16-18 months) iPod battery complaints.
Some precursors regarding this issue:
As previously mentioned, Apple's documentation merely states that the iPod will not charge while the connected Mac is sleeping, not that the unit will discharge during this period of time. Knowledge Base article #61127 says "To charge iPod's battery, simply connect iPod to your Macintosh. The computer must be turned on, and iPod won't charge if the computer goes into sleep mode."
Most readers report that the iPod drains more quickly when it is connected to an off or sleeping Mac than if it is not connected and sitting idle (however, these measurements may be inaccurate - see below). Some have noticed that the iPod's hard drive sometimes spins while connected to a sleeping Mac. Thus it would appear that the iPod remains active while connected to a sleeping Mac, and is perhaps using more power to stay active than is being drawn from the FireWire port.
What's odd is that some readers have reported that the drain occurs even while an iPod is dock-connected to a Mac that is turned off. This would appear to indicate that the iPod is constantly "listening" for a signal from the Dock, depleting its battery in the process. This notion is reinforced by the fact that it is not necessary to turn the iPod on when docking it for an update; even if the "hold" switch is active and the iPod is off, placing the unit in the dock will cause an automatic transfer.
For most, the discharge problem is not persistent, occurring once every few sleep sessions.
Some older models not affected Several readers have reported an absence of this problem with older (first and second generation) iPods connected via a FireWire cable; not the dock.
Ryan La Riviere writes: "I have a second generation (non-dock-based) 10GB iPod. I have, on several occasions, actually used my sleeping (and plugged into an outlet) TiBook to charge my iPod via Firewire. If I wanted to charge the iPod while the TiBook was not plugged into an outlet, the TiBook would have to be awake."
John Merritt writes "I have this problem with my wife's newer 10 GB iPod, but not with my older 10 GB, (pre-dock) iPod."
Another reader writes "I have noticed the same problem with my latest generation iPod but not my second generation iPod."
Using an external FireWire hub allows sleep charging Aside from simply using the AC adapter, the only way to continue charging some iPods while your Mac sleeps is to use an externally powered FireWire hub. This way you can still use a single connection for power and data transfer.
MacFixIt reader Eric Westby writes "I ended up using a powered FireWire hub to solve the problem -- since the hub continues to send power to the iPod/dock even when my G4 is asleep, the iPod is fully charged in the morning even though my G4 has spent the night asleep."
AC adaptor may more fully charge iPod batteries Besides not discharging, the iPod AC adaptor may be able to more fully charge an iPod battery relative to the dock in some cases.
"I have a 10GB second generation iPod. I normally charge by hooking the iPod to my laptop or desktop. Around early Jan of this year it would appear that my iPod would not hold a charge. When hooked up to a computer it would seem like it could never reach full charge on the display. If it did, then it wouldn't hold its charge for more than a couple of hours. I thought the battery was toast. On a fluke, I connected it to the wall charger. After it reached full charge, I was again able to get about 8 hours of playing time. Its like having a new iPod!"
Setting startup time to three hours prior for maximum charge Knowledge Base article #61127 also notes that the iPod is "80 percent charged in about an hour, and fully charged in about 3 hours."
If you want to keep your iPod docked overnight (or for another long, unattended period of time), you can use a utility like iBeeZz to automatically wake your Mac up three hours before you'd like to begin using the iPod. This will provide a full charge - based on Apple's claims - in spite of discharging.
Slow charging because of other devices Several users have noticed slow charging when other FireWire devices are connected. Bob Sutryk writes:
"One other issue that frustrated me for months: Shortly after I put Mac OS X 10.3 on my computer the iPod seemed outrageously slow to charge. After months of dealing with this and sending the iPod in to be fixed, a sharp Apple tech finally discovered that my iSight camera was pulling too much power for both Firewire appliances to handle. Once I unhooked the iSight, the iPod ran like new."
Some iPods display an inaccurate battery measurement, though MacFixIt Jed and points out that this phenomenon is common with other devices as well:
"The battery meter is often inaccurate. I've found this to be true on my Palm as well: after charging, the battery meter continues to show low charge for a while, gradually increasing over time.’
Meanwhile, Ron Skinner notes that, typical of Li-Ion batteries, inaccuracy may increase with time and the constant use of "shallow charges" :
"Devices equipped with Li-Ion charge indicators--such as the iPod--become increasingly inaccurate when they are shallow charged. All that is required to re-calibrate the gauges is to fully discharge the battery before recharging. However, routinely fully discharging these batteries should be avoided. Their useful life is greatest when subjected to shallow charge cycles."
Apple explains how to extend battery life Apple has updated its Knowledge Base article (#61434) explaining how to extend the life of your iPod's battery to the maximum. Among the tips:
Pause iPod when unattended If you leave iPod unattended, press Play/Pause to pause the song. If left playing, iPod will continue to play songs until the battery is drained--particularly if the repeat setting is set to One or All.
Backlighting Backlighting can use a lot of battery power. If you don't need to use backlighting, turn it off. Choose: Settings > Backlight Timer > Off.
Mac freezes when going to sleep with iPod connected
A problem with charging from the dock, noted in Apple Knowledge Base article #60929, is that "your computer may stop responding ('freeze') if it goes to sleep with an iPod connected to it."
The only suggested resolutions for this issue are:
Restart your Mac
Turn off sleep in Energy Saver
"Do not put your Mac to sleep when the iPod is connected"
iPod mini audiobook issues
There are some reports of minor problems with Apple's newly shipping iPod mini.
MacFixIt reader Craig Spirko writes "Bought a silver iPod mini on Friday and while I love it, I’ve found two software bugs: When listening to a book-on-tape ('The da Vinci Code' bought from iTunes) I’ve found that if you’re more than 35 minutes into the track and press the FF button (and hold) the iPod rewinds instead of fast forwarding. On four other books I had the same problem.
"The bug seems to only happen on long tracks (more than an hour) and only on AAC files. AIFF files play normally, and one of the guys on the Apple discussion board reports his copy of 'The da Vinci Code' worked properly, but he downloaded it directly from Audible.com and I’m guessing they provide mp3s. The nice people at “The Grove” Apple Store traded me for another brand-new iPod and I’ve got the same problem.
"The other bug is that when the iPod is shut off (or goes off automatically) on an audiobook, it automatically rewinds a minute when you press “play” and then it begins to play. This may be a “feature” but it means you have to listen to the same part of the book twice, and since the FF isn’t working it’s kind of a pain."
iTunes crash on iPod connection; solutions
Several users are affected by an issue where iTunes 4.2 crashes shortly after connecting an iPod (under Mac OS X 10.3.x)
MacFixIt reader Rory Cooney summarizes the problem:
"Longtime users of iPods of various pedigree and size, after upgrading to Panther, are finding that attempting to synch their iPod to iTunes crashes iTunes. The crash results both in the iPod not getting updated and a force-quit required to iTunes. I myself spent 3 hours on the phone with Apple support yesterday, and after troubleshooting every aspect of iTunes, I was told to do an archive and install. Today, the problem persists."
Some users have had success disconnecting all other external peripherals - particularly FireWire devices other than the iPod (and USB components), but for others the problem persists under the same conditions.
In some cases, users are able to transfer only a few songs - usually less than 10 - before iTunes hangs.
So far, reverting to Mac OS X 10.2.x seems to be the only thorough solution for users experiencing this problem.
The crash generally results both in the iPod not getting updated and a force-quit required for iTunes.
Some users have had success disconnecting all other external peripherals - particularly FireWire devices other than the iPod (and USB components), but for others the problem persists under the same conditions. Reverting to Mac OS X 10.2.x also alleviates the problem.
In some cases, users are able to transfer only a few songs - usually less than 10 - before iTunes hangs.
Now MacFixIt reader Doug Mitchell offers a different solution that involves deleting streaming references in the iPod master library (streaming references include iTunes' radio stations and other streaming source files):
"I just bought a new 20 gig iPod and initially I suffered the same disasters others are referring to. I solved my problems through a variety of steps. First I plugged my dock for the iPod directly into one of the firewire ports in my G4. Secondly I noticed that there were a number of streaming references in the master library for iTunes. When I deleted these items from the library all music transfers went smoothly. I have had no problems since. I am running OS 10.3.2 and iPod software 2.1 as well as iTunes 4.2."
Resetting a frozen iPod
Generally when your iPod becomes "frozen," (the iPod either stops responding or will not wake from sleep), Apple recommends a few simple procedures including leaving the unit unplugged for 24 hours. For some users, however, none of the suggested solutions restore normal functionality, and units are sent in for repair.
MacFixIt reader Robert Snell, however, found that temporarily opening the case and disconnecting the battery for a short period of time worked:
"Before sending it back for service, I decided to try resetting the unit by opening the case and disconnecting the battery for a short period of time. After reconnecting the battery, the Apple logo appeared and operation was returned to normal. Measuring the battery voltage revealed it to be fully charged.
"Also, be very careful NOT to accidently short out the battery when disconnecting it. Since the "off" battery discharge time is about one month, I would have waited a long time for the power down reset to occur."
"This occurred after returning from a trip where my iPod had been through several X-Ray inspection machines and it was fully charged before I left."
AppleCare for iPods
Apple's highly recommended AppleCare premium warranty service is available for the iPod. The plan is priced at US$59 for two years of protection.
One caveat, however: "The AppleCare Protection Plan cannot be sold to consumers residing in Florida. 'Consumers' are persons who use their computers primarily for personal, family, or household purposes."
iPod preferences not sticking
Several users upgrading to Mac OS X 10.3.x have found that their iPods are no longer capable of remembering preferences set through iPod, such as which playlists to synchronize.
MacFixIt reader Brian Romanchuk writes "Ever since upgrading to Panther, I've noticed that I can't change my iPod preferences. When my iPod has mounted and finished syncing, I choose the preferences and try and deselect a playlist that I have set to synchronize. It deselects and the dialog box hangs there for about 10 -20 seconds and then disappears. No updating takes place. When I bring the iPod preferences back up again nothing was changed. Same holds true for trying to switch on the Firewire Disk option. I've tried trashing all the preferences related to iTunes and ipod and nothing works."
One workaround for this issue that appears to be working for some is as follows:
Perform a "Restore" process (erases the iPod's hard disk and restores the device to its original factory condition) using the iPod Software Updater application.
Go to iTunes and access the iPod preference pane. Check the box marked "Enable Firewire Disk Use" (not check by default) and leave it check.
Synchronization should now occur normally until you uncheck the "Enable FireWire Disk Use" option.
Note that without performing a "Restore" process, no preferences - including the FireWire Disk Use option - will stick. It seems that after a "Restore," the iPod preferences will be recognized for one synchronization, giving you a chance to enable the FireWire Disk Use option and leave it on.
Also, note that while the FireWire Disk Use option is in effect, your iPod will mount like any other volume, and be subject to a "Device improperly removed" error message if disconnected on the fly.
Cracked LCD Screens
iPodhead.com has some rather gruesome photos of an iPod mini with cracked LCD.
The owner of the broken iPod mini said "My son just got an ipod mini last week. (He) had it in his pocket, sat down and cracked the display. I took it to the Apple store in Houston. They told me it would cost less to buy a new one ($249)!"
She went on to say that "This is going to be happening all the time because the minis are much thinner and relatively flexible."
As stated in Apple's iPod one-year limited warranty, coverage does not include "damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, misapplication, or non-Apple products"
Another MacFixIt reader writes:
"I bought a 15Gig IPod for my son a month ago. He loved it! But yesterday it got banged in his bag and the screen was damaged, so it won't work now. When I asked how to get it repaired, I was told it would be a $249 charge. I fully expected to pay for the repair, but Apple is essentially saying that they will not support the product and to just buy a new one. At these prices, Apple should provide reasonable repair service and support their products."
Repair difficult, replacement often cheaper
As evidenced by the "Cracked LCD Screens" section of this report, iPod's are difficult and expensive to repair. Most authorized repair centers will recommend a replacement if your iPod is not turning on due to an electrical problem, the screen is broken, or a variety of other problems occur.
As such, many users have chosen to enroll in the US$59 iPod AppleCare protection program, which provides a greater umbrella of repair/replacement options, and also provides a quicker turnaround than the standard Apple warranty.
Meanwhile, MacResQ offers a flat-fee repair service for Apple iPods. The service will purportedly offer 24-hour turnaround on repairs and nationwide, as well as overnight pickup and delivery at the user's location. The cost of the iPodResQ 24-Hour Repair Service is US$29 This includes the 3-way overnight shipping, the initial diagnostic service, and the iBox, which the customer may keep for future use. The "iQ" Battery Replacement priced at US $79. More.
Warning about Windows DRM and the iPod
A Stereophile Magazine article notes the potential problems caused for iPod users by recording companies' use of digital rights management technology from Microsoft on some new CDs:
"One major drawback of the restricted disks, however, is non-compatibility with the Apple iPod. Since the new discs are based on SunnComm's MediaMax, which itself is rooted in Microsoft's Digital Rights Management (DRM) applications, the brochure leaves it up to iPod owners to read between the lines, explaining only, "It will play on any device that supports Windows Media DRM. These include Creative Labs Nomad players, Compaq iPAQ personal audio players, RCA personal audio players, Sanyo personal audio players, RIO personal audio players, and eDigital personal audio players."
Complaints about iPod earbud quality
Simone Manganelli describes a problem with making his iPod's earbud headphones that developed over time and eventually ruined their functionality:
"I've had a perpetual issue with my iPod earbuds, and I'd like to see if anyone else has had this problem.
"I've had 3 pairs of iPod headphones (the original version that came with the original 5 GB iPod, and 2 pairs of the new version that came in the $30 box with the remote). All three pairs have now gone down the same path -- where the 2 wires that go to the separate earbuds converge into one wire, the plastic comes out of the little plastic (part) that holds the two wires together. The result is that the actual wires that go to the earbuds get exposed, and after a while get frayed, and then the earbuds stop working and I have to get a new set.
"I really like the iPod earbuds, and I can't possibly carry around regular headphones. I talked to a genius at the Palo Alto Apple Store a few days ago, and he said that the headphones are 'accidental damage' and so are not covered under warranty. It seems to me that they haven't really made the earbuds that well if they keep fraying for me. Today I talked to a second tier Apple specialist through Apple's technical support line (1-800-275-2273), and they basically said the same thing."
A Wall Street Journal article [paid subscription required] notes some users' dissatisfaction with the earbuds, and offers a variety of alternative headphones with prices ranging up to US$500.
Extracting files from the iPod
There are several shareware and freeware utilities that are for the purpose of extracting music and other files from an iPod to your Mac. They include:
Escape Pod 1.0
Ollie's iPod Extractor 2.1
Pod Manager 2.0
Podpourri 0.2
While some of these tools offer extra features like Podpourri's ability to generate XML and PDF files that can contain clickable URLs linked to the songs on your iPod, there are two other basic ways of directly accessing these files:.
First you can use the Terminal and type:
cd /Volumes/(id of iPod)/iPod_Control
then type:
cp -r music /Users/(userid)/desktop
This will directly copy the files. Alternatively, you can continue navigating in the Terminal to select specific files.
MacFixIt reader James Reffner reports another method:
"Run an FTP server (I use CrushFTP) and set it up to allow access to your iPod (put the iPod in disk mode). Then use an FTP client (I use Transmit) that can utilize Rendezvous to connect to the FTP server app and then access the ipod from within your FTP client. That's it. Copy the files you want from your iPod over to your Mac.
"I realize that there are many applications to extract he music, but this method will also allow you to get your iTunes database file, contacts, calendar, notes, many different preferences, etc. You'll also notice that the audio files are not structured as they are on your drive, but a least you can get them back if you loose the ones on your Mac."
Using invisible file tools We previously noted several solutions for extracting files from an iPod, including the array of shareware offerings, setting up an FTP Server, and others. One MacFixIt reader writes:
"Why bother with Terminal or FTP or anything like that ... when there is a simpler and more Mac-like user-friendly solution? All you need to do is use a utility that temporarily makes invisible files visible in the Finder (such as Invisibles or TinkerTool). You can then navigate directly to the iPod_Control folder on the iPod volume. From here, you can copy whatever you want - from a single music file to everything - just as you would with any other external volume mounted in the Finder."
Invisible Finder is one such tool.
iPod Remote Control Protocol
MacFixIt reader John has posted a reverse engineering document of the second-generation iPod remote (the version that has the touch-sensitive scroll wheel). "The remote probably works exactly as-is with the first generation iPod (with the mechanical scroll wheel). The newest ipods (thinner, rounder, and with 4 buttons in-line) has a similar remote, but with a different square 4-pin remote connector -- I don't know the new pinout, and suspect that it has microphone-in and/or line-in capabilities." More.
Join the InvestorsHub Community
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
