Hi My Name is Bill

A Broken iPod Nano Update

I wanted to give a quick update on the status of my most recent iPod Nano I’ve been using since my broken ones.

I really thought that the bouncing from jogging was the damaging factor that kept breaking these things on me… But, it turns out that the big fix, was to stop clipping it in a spot that would allow it to be drenched in sweat.

Lately, I’ve been clipping it to the neck of my shirt, and so far I’m having no issues at all. It’s not even that uncomfortable to have the Nano clipped on that spot of my body.

I’m glad that I was able to fix this without having to purchase an additional case, or watch holder that would send me right back to draping a headphone wire across my bicep or wrist, and body.

Broken iPod Nano

Just like any other day, I went out for a 45 minute jog. But this time, when I was done, I unclipped my iPod nano from my underpants (yes, I do mean underpants… the clip is not wide enough to stay firm on my jogging shorts, so I always have to attach the thing to the band on my underpants) and when I looked at it, I was staring at this.

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A white screen, with a pale hint of what should be displaying behind it. So, I started doing that thing where you hold the sleep button and the volume button at the same time for twelve and a half seconds, like everyone on the internet tells you to do. And, believe it or not… that did not help.

The next day, when I went to grab for my nano again… to my surprise, the white screen had gone away, and it was completely back to normal. That, and every following day, the iPod was perfect. Until about a week later, when I received the white screen at the end of my jog  again. This was a little troubling to me, but I never did anything about it, because it was always fine the next day when I went to use it again.

This pattern continued for a few months, until last week when the display went not white, but completely dark and unresponsive. The iPod would sync with iTunes, but would not display a thing on the screen. I tried restoring the software and resetting the thing, but nothing worked. So, it was time to head to the Genius Bar.

When I was at the Apple store, the Genius (Scott) reached for about four or five of those unlabeled, what I think are refurbished iPods, but he informed me that none of those were working, so they would have to swap my device out for a nano out of their retail inventory. No complaints from me. Not only do I get a brand new device out of the box, but I also get a new warranty, and am covered for another full year.

Awesome. Problem solved… right? Nope. I brought the new nano home, synced it up and used it once… got the white screen again. Then I went to use it today… and to my surprise, I was looking down at an unresponsive blank screen. 

Looks like it’s back to the Genius Bar for another visit this weekend.

The only thing I can possibly think of that is causing this, is that never before, until recently had I left the Nike+ receiver attached to the Nano over night. If and when I get this one replaced. I’m going to make sure to always remove it when it’s not in use. I can deal with seeing a white screen now and then, as long as I don’t have to go for another one of these jogs where I’m stuck listening to the sounds of nature.