iPod battery life sucks... Apple lied to me

tidelwav · August 14, 2005 2:27PM

I got a free iPod with my iBook, and the guy told me the battery would last 18 hours at a shot. HAHAHAHAHA!! My wife is lucky to get 4 hours on it and she only plays it at low volume.

Not that it's really a big deal, since it's quite convenient to have the USB recharger.... but still... why would they be so far off?

g_warren · August 14, 2005 2:45PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tidelwav

I got a free iPod with my iBook, and the guy told me the battery would last 18 hours at a shot. HAHAHAHAHA!! My wife is lucky to get 4 hours on it and she only plays it at low volume.

Not that it's really a big deal, since it's quite convenient to have the USB recharger.... but still... why would they be so far off?

Take it back. I get 18 hours or so from my iPod mini, mostly listened to at full volume.

tidelwav · August 14, 2005 3:57PM

Oh really??

I will take it back then.

Thanks for the info.

gene clean · August 14, 2005 7:48PM

Might have been a refurb that somebody else returned for the same reason.

tidelwav · August 14, 2005 8:40PM

Don't they have to tell you if it's a refurb?

gene clean · August 14, 2005 8:52PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tidelwav

Don't they have to tell you if it's a refurb?

They do - that was either 1) a mistake or b) they just gave it to you.

Or it was just a bad apple (no pun intended).

ishawn · August 14, 2005 10:20PM

Might seem stupid - but are you letting it fully recharge?

tidelwav · August 15, 2005 6:29PM

Yes, i am. Until it says "charged".

I called them. They will ship me a new one.

gene clean · August 15, 2005 10:10PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tidelwav

I called them. They will ship me a new one.

That's how it works.

smircle · August 16, 2005 6:00AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tidelwav

My wife is lucky to get 4 hours on it and she only plays it at low volume.

Disable the equalizer.

kesh · August 16, 2005 3:56PM

Also, be sure you're using 128 AAC or something similar. Higher bitrates = bigger files trying to cram into the iPod's memory = more hard drive access = less battery life.

Try loading Apple Lossless files onto the thing and you'll kill it in no time.

engine joe · August 17, 2005 8:51AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kesh

Also, be sure you're using 128 AAC or something similar. Higher bitrates = bigger files trying to cram into the iPod's memory = more hard drive access = less battery life.

Try loading Apple Lossless files onto the thing and you'll kill it in no time.

I was just about to make this point. So instead I'll just note that average song length plays some role in this, too (but really just in how it relates to your encoding bitrate) - if you've got a lot of 20 minute pieces in there (classical, prog, whatever your flavor), the iPod has to access the drive more often "per song." Couple this with higher bitrates, and you'll lose battery life.

My 60G iPod is good for maybe 7-8 hours. But then again, half my library is at 320 kbps, so I consider getting that much time out of it to be pretty good.

danmacman · August 17, 2005 10:01AM

Also if you use the equalizer presets and/or sound check, your battery life will go way down.

tidelwav · August 17, 2005 10:41AM

She wasn't using the equalizer, and all the songs were either from iTunes or ripped at 128.

flounder · August 17, 2005 12:48PM

Has the replacement mini arrived yet?

tidelwav · August 17, 2005 5:25PM

Nope. It should be in tomorrow though.

flail · August 20, 2005 9:31PM

I've also found that the battery is consumed much faster with the backlight on, you can get 50% or more life with it off.

mikef · August 20, 2005 10:12PM

I wouldn't be leaving the backlight on for extended periods. It's not meant for that and will eventually burn out (although I don't know what sort of lifespan it has)

_ alliance _ · August 23, 2005 9:34PM

anyone else noticed that having it set on "hold" will kill the battery?? i have no idea why, but when i leave it on hold for a day or two it will end up dead. if i leave it while not on hold it will still have some juice. no more holding for me...

waronsex · August 23, 2005 10:43PM

Quote:

Originally posted by _ alliance _

anyone else noticed that having it set on "hold" will kill the battery?? i have no idea why, but when i leave it on hold for a day or two it will end up dead. if i leave it while not on hold it will still have some juice. no more holding for me...

Hold doesn't "kill" the battery, in fact. Dead batteries (the rechargeable kind) can be brought back to life... did you not get an AC Adapter and a charger unit with your iPod? Read the little book, if you can find it... or go online and hit the iPod tab, then Support... all is not lost.

I really don't understand all the fuss about these batteries. My little guy (2003 20 Gb) has died and been reborn three or four times (after a good 'drain' and a charge. And you can plug him into your Firewire port to recharge also. Patience and care will keep you going!

(Proposed Apple motto: We designed it. You figure it out.)

_ alliance _ · August 24, 2005 5:22PM

Quote:

Originally posted by waronsex

Hold doesn't "kill" the battery, in fact. Dead batteries (the rechargeable kind) can be brought back to life... did you not get an AC Adapter and a charger unit with your iPod? Read the little book, if you can find it... or go online and hit the iPod tab, then Support... all is not lost.

don't be stupid. the battery will still have charge after a few days of no use without having it on hold. however, when it's on hold it wont have any charge in a day. nice first post, smart-assed POS.

iPod battery life sucks... Apple lied to me

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