When I wirk I leave my ipod in my pocket, hooked up to a charger in my truck and have the tunes blasting over the truck stereo. Is it bad to charge it all the time. Thanks --zen-->
Well, I don't want to just get a new one I want this one to last. But it is bad? How often should I change it?
I thik charging all the time is bad because it keeps on using your charge cycles and you only can charge about 300-500 times before your battery will not work well, so it may be bad depending on what you think, but I just charge my 30GB iPod Video whenever the battery is in the red zone or before I'm going on a trip.
Hmmmmm. I wasn't aware of that. Some times when it is low on battery though it doesn't transmit thru my fm transmetter.
Well... I am not sure but I have heard its better to have it fully charged instead of letting the Battery completely die... I will look into this since my iPod is in its dock all the time while I am sitting at my Computer! Lethal what do you think? ~Domreis
So the battery on the iPod WILL eventually run out!!!??? If so where do I go to get a new battery and how much would it cost??? Thanks
You will have to talk to the folks at the Apple Store to get a new battery if you need one. Letting your iPod completely run out of battery then fully charging it will [bold]increase[/bold] your battery life, not harm it in any way. Charging it when it is not low on battery won't harm battery either. It will not do any harm whatsoever.
KhmerKing, there are many websites that will replace your battery and do the installation, but they will charge aa high price too like over $100. But you can also buy the battery and install it yourself for a third of the price. I also on an iPod Video 30GB and am worried about the battery problem so when I have 1 month left on my apple warranty I am going to extend the service to an extra 2 years (totaling 3 years) so within those 2 years if my battery doesn't have a good performance, Apple will just replace the battery, or iPod. The Apple Protection Plan is $50-$60 depending on where you get it. Hope this has been of some assistance.
APPLE WILL ALSO DO IT!!! http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/service/battery/ Here you go its $65 from apple, you can do it yourself for about $20... google 'iPod battery' ~Domreis
I'd rather get the Protection Package from apple because that way they will replace your battery for 2 years and solve some other problems too.
See, I read in my manual that it is not nessicary to let your battery run down, but if it is in the charger at all times is it using a charge or just running off the power source?
I'm pretty sure that it isn't using charge cycles, unless you are running the battery down and charging it, It shoudn't be taking up the cycles.
Found all this at Apple.com Accurately determine your iPod battery life If you feel you aren't getting the most out of your iPod battery, perform the simple test below before considering battery service or replacement. This test will help you determine how much life (playback time) you are truly getting from your battery. You may find that all you need to do to increase your battery’s performance is to follow the guidelines on the iPod battery website. Note: The iPod battery indicator shows approximately how much charge is left in the battery. In some iPods, you may find that the battery indicator shows some charge left, but your iPod stops playing because the battery is, in fact, empty. In other cases, the battery indicator may show less than a full charge even though you've fully charged it. Additionally, the battery meter may not update to show a full charge (after you've charged it) until after the iPod hard disk spins up. This does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your iPod battery. iPod Battery Test Instructions 1. Download the latest iPod Software Updater for your iPod model, and update your iPod software. 2. Open iTunes. 3. Insert an audio CD that contains average length songs (3 to 8 minutes), and import the songs into your iTunes library using the MP3 Encoder set at 160 kbps, or the AAC Encoder set at 128 kbps. (See "iTunes 6: How to Choose Import Options" for instructions.) 4. Fully charge your iPod by connecting it to the Apple iPod Power Adapter, or to your computer's FireWire or USB port using the cable that came with iPod. 5. Once it's fully charged, connect your iPod to your computer (if it isn't already) and update it with the album you just imported into iTunes. 6. Eject iPod. 7. Disconnect the FireWire or USB cable from iPod. 8. For iPod shuffle: 1. Turn iPod shuffle on by selecting either playlist mode or shuffle mode. 2. Press the Play button to play the album over and over until the battery is depleted. For all other iPod models: 1. From the main menu, select Settings > Repeat and select the Repeat options until it says All. 2. Select Settings > Backlight Timer, then select Off. 3. Select Settings > EQ, then select Off. 4. Select the album you imported in the step 3, select any song, then press the Play button. The album should play over and over until the battery is depleted. 9. Make note of the time you first began playing a song on your iPod. When your battery depletes and iPod stops playing, jot down that time too. iPod playback times by model Using the start and end times you noted, calculate how long your iPod battery lasted. Then compare it with the playback times for your iPod model below. (If you're not sure which iPod model you have, this article will help you identify your iPod.) * Fifth Generation iPod (iPod with video) 30 GB: o Music playback time: Up to 14 hours when fully charged1. o Photo slideshow with music viewing time: Up to 3 hours when fully charged. o Video playback time: Up to 2 hours when fully charged. * Fifth Generation iPod (iPod with video) 60 GB: o Music playback time: Up to 20 hours when fully charged1. o Photo slideshow with music viewing time: Up to 4 hours when fully charged. o Video playback time: Up to 3 hours when fully charged. * iPod nano o Up to 14 hours of music playtime when fully charged1. o Up to 4 hours of photo slideshow with music viewing time when fully charged1. * iPod with color display: Up to 15 hours of continuous playback time1. * iPod mini (Second Generation): Up to 18 hours of continuous playback time1. * iPod (Click Wheel) and iPod shuffle: Up to 12 hours of continuous playback time1. * iPod mini: Up to 8 hours of continuous playback time1. * Older iPod models, including iPod (scroll wheel), iPod (touch wheel), and iPod (dock connector): Up to 8 hours of continuous playback time1. If your test indicates that your iPod battery's playback time is significantly less than the times stated above, try these tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPod battery. Then test again. If you still feel that you are getting significantly less than the expected amount of play from the battery, you can arrange for service on the iPod Service Request site. When you request service, we will ask you for your results of this test. If your iPod is no longer covered by the limited warranty or an AppleCare Protection Plan, we also offer a battery replacement program. Notes 1. Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. 2. The iPod uses a lithium-ion battery and does not need to be conditioned. Lithium-ion Batteries Rechargeable Lithium-based technology currently provides the best performance for your Apple notebook computer or iPod. You can also find this standard battery technology in devices such as cell phones and PDAs. Apple batteries share the characteristics common to Lithium-based technology found in other devices. Like other rechargeable batteries, these batteries may eventually require replacement. Standard Technology Lithium-ion batteries pack in a higher power density than Nickel-based batteries. This gives you a longer battery life in a lighter package, as Lithium is the lightest metal. You can also recharge a Lithium-ion battery whenever convenient, without the full charge or discharge cycle necessary to keep Nickel-based batteries at peak performance. (Over time, crystals build up in Nickel-based batteries and prevent you from charging them completely, necessitating an inconvenient full discharge). Standard Charging Most Lithium-ion batteries use a fast charge to charge your device to 80% battery capacity, then switch to trickle charging. That’s about two hours charge time to power iPod to 80% capacity, then another two hours to fully charge iPod, if you are not using iPod while charging. You can charge all Lithium-ion batteries a large but finite number of times, as defined by charge cycle. A charge cycle means using all of the battery’s power, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a single charge. For instance, you could listen to your iPod for a few hours one day, using half its power, and then recharge it fully. If you did the same thing the next day, it would count as one charge cycle, not two, so you may take several days to complete a cycle. Each time you complete a charge cycle, it diminishes battery capacity slightly, but you can put both notebook and iPod batteries through many charge cycles before they will only hold 80% of original battery capacity. As with other rechargeable batteries, you may eventually need to replace your battery. How to Maximize Power Use The length of time your battery will power your device depends on how you use it. For instance, watching a DVD will use up your notebook battery’s power more quickly than simple word processing. You can follow some simple steps to maximize your notebook’s or iPod’s battery life. iPod Family Paying attention to just a few common sense pointers will pay off with a longer battery lifespan and battery life for your iPod. The most important thing is to keep your iPod out of the sun or a hot car (even the glove box). Heat will degrade your battery’s performance the most. Some Terms You Need to Understand “Battery life” means the time your iPod will run before it must be recharged (sometimes this is also called “playtime” or “runtime”). “Battery lifespan” means the total amount of time your battery will last before it must be replaced. Your iPod works best from 32° to 95°F iPod Temperate Zone. Your iPod works best from 32° to 95°F. You should store it in environments of -4° to 113°. That’s 0° to 35°C and -20° to 45° for the metrically inclined. Keeping your iPod as near room temperature as possible (22°C) is ideal. Software Update Update to the Latest Software Always make sure iPod has the latest software from Apple, as engineers may find new ways to optimize battery performance. For instance, early model iPods without a dock connector benefit from update 1.3 or later. If you are a Mac owner, iPod updates will appear via Software Update. Both Mac and Windows users can download software from the Apple support site for iPod. Once downloaded, put your iPod in its dock or plug it into your computer, then run the update software. Use iPod Regularly For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Be sure to go through at least one charge cycle per month. If you use your iPod infrequently (gasp), you might want to add a reminder to your calendar program. Battery icon Extend Your Battery Life If you want to extend the battery life of your iPod for any given charge cycle, you may conserve power by following these tips. Hold and Pause It may seem obvious, but set iPod’s hold switch when you aren’t using it. This will prevent iPod controls from inadvertently waking up iPod and using unnecessary power. Also, if you are not listening to iPod, pause it, or turn it off by pressing the play button for two seconds. iPod menu screen Optimize Your Settings There are a few features that use your iPod battery more quickly. If you don’t use these features, your iPod will play tunes longer. * Backlight: Setting the backlight to “always on” will significantly reduce your battery life. Only use the backlight when necessary. * Equalizer: Adding EQs to playback uses more of your iPod processor, since they aren’t encoded in the song. Turn EQ off if you don’t use it. If, however, you’ve added EQ to tracks in iTunes, you’ll need to set EQ to “flat” in order to have the effect of “off,” because iPod keeps your iTunes settings intact. Maximize Your Memory iPod plays music out of a solid-state memory cache to provide skip-free playback and maximize battery life. iPod spins its hard drive to fill this cache, which uses power. There are a couple of factors which affect how often this happens, and if you minimize these factors, you’ll extend battery life. * Fast Forward: If you fast forward through your playlist, iPod will need to fill its cache more frequently, thus accessing the hard drive more often and using more power. This will decrease overall battery life. By creating great playlists in iTunes that cater to your personal taste, you can decrease your need to fast forward. Using the shuffle feature may also help to minimize your use of the fast forward feature. * Use Compressed Songs: iPod’s cache works most efficiently with songs of average file sizes (less than 9 MB). If your audio files are large or uncompressed (including AIFF or WAV format), you may want to compress them, or use a different compression method, such as AAC or MP3, when importing them into iTunes. Also, consider breaking very long songs or tracks into shorter tracks that have smaller file sizes. If you encode your music at 128 Kbps, your iPod will fill its cache about every 25 minutes.
Found this at Apple.com [bold]Question: Do I need to completely empty the battery before charging it, and does doing this prevent the so-called "memory effect"? Answer: You don't need to empty the battery before charging it. Lithium-based batteries, like those used in iPod, have none of the memory effects seen in nickel-based rechargeable batteries.[/bold]
Ok, let me pose this question. Why, when I left my ipod at work for four days, when I came back it was dead dead dead? The hold was not on or anything.
You must have left it on, as the hold switch being on would preserve battery life rather than harm it ;-)
Not necessarily. If your iPod is playing music continually, its' battery life will deplete very quickly ;-)
Ya, I play the bejesus out of it. Maybe I will have to buy a new bat'trey soon. Thanks to everyone. ---zen--->
