I had the same problem too with my first iPod Touch. Had problems with a dead area which is not responsive to anything. I sent it back to where I bought and got a one-to-one replacement the same day.

Potential buyers, please make sure you test it out before going home. But that'll ultimately depends on the reseller's policy when it comes to exchange after purchase.

Yes agreed with that attitude. You see, the first time things were pretty sweet. I went to the shop, spent some amount of time browsing their products (cause I was waiting for someone anyway). Then I bought it. Like everyone else, I happily walk out the shop feeling satisfied as I had something I've been wanting all along.

Went home, took it out. I actually had a video on the whole unpacking thing! Hahaha! Then bam! I couldn't type a complete sentence because of that problem. It was a pretty bad show-stopper. So I went straight to bed thinking about it. The next day, I went back to the shop. They tested it in every possible way then gave up to give me a new replacement.

This time I ain't taking chances. I don't want to keep coming down every day just to make sure I had a good working unit. The staffs deserve an A for service. They actually advised me to open it up and then do a full testing until I'm satisfied and bring it home.

So that was the whole idea about it. Hehe! Of course not every shop would let you do that or would feel good about you doing that. It'll depend on their store policy. Apple products are like buy off the shelves supermarket concept. You just don't open it up because they work. You go home and do that. Of course with exception to their larger items like iMacs, etc. They expect iPods to just work out of the box.

Update: Come to think of it. They don't just work out of the box... not always though. The first incident was about iPods with 'preloaded' viruses. Then another guy in LowYat who posted about an iPod Classic with wrong labellings on the turn wheel. You don't really about know these problems until you've opened it up. Kekekekeke!

This post has been edited by davidmak: Oct 24 2007, 09:01 AM

Yes, in this case only the iPod Touch device itself is being replacement. And replacement of the box also cause your serial number must tally with your new iPod Touch's serial number. A new receipt is generated to reflect on the new changes so bring along your old receipt for reference.

The included accessories aren't replacement because they do not contain serial numbers to match the box set. In addition, they come in a disposable strip bag. They don't want to accept an opened bag, do they? Unless you're complaining of a faulty accessory item.

When you start to use your iPod Touch, you probably have gone through a registration process. I'm not too sure what happens with that first registration. I guess when the rejected iPod Touch reaches Apple's support centre, they'll probably revoke the registration.

Yes modern batteries with all the safeguards in place do not usually overcharge their batteries. One thing to note is that battery do not always reaches 100% (as in physical 100% tip top, filled to the brim). Most charging circuits uses a constant voltage and constant current method. It'll usually take 1-2hours to charge a lithium battery to more than 85%. This is the time where the charging circuits and battery is very hot. From there to more than 95%, it'll take a longer time because as the battery voltage increases, it'll lower the amount of current to it. You don't want to overcharge it. What happens here is that the charging circuit will constant trickle charge it with small amounts energy until it reaches a level the engineers are satisfied with. Of course they must be satisfied with the time it takes too. Once the battery is full, it'll implement a negative dBV cutoff (depending on implementation). Some will cutoff when it hits an overshot in temperature as safety measure. The battery indicator is just an estimation and a level perceived by the firmware of the device.

The problem are lithium batteries' characteristics. Lithium batteries cannot be over-discharged and overcharged. Meaning, you do not treat it like a NiCD of the olden days. You do not discharge it until empty before charging it. And also you do not charge it for extended periods of time. But this is usually taken care of because the charging controller will prevent this from happening. But you do not want to run the charging circuits extended period of time too. You'll want to prevent it from being overused so that it'll do its job.

So there's a trade off here and there. For me, I'll pick the charge anytime, disconnect when finished approach. Hope this helps you.

I cannot say your device is defective as I do not know. But I'll do a complete restore and run it stock for a few days just to monitor the level of drain before concluding anything.

David.

Yes absolutely will. An 'almost' reality if you want to be safe.

We know that most of the components inside iPod Touch especially the memory modules are from Samsung. (Correct me if you know otherwise). Samsung is on the front page of the semiconductor news regarding the 32GB and 64GB NAND Flash development. All thanks to the sudden mad rush with Hybrid HDD and SSD development.

I would anticipate Apple to include a 32GB model in the next major product refresh if the price has stabilizes by then. Then again, Apple wouldn't want to maintain so many variations on one modal. There are mostly 2 variants in one model. For example, iPod Nano with 4GB and 8GB, iPod Classic with 80GB and 160GB, iPod Touch with 8GB and 16GB and of course the iPhone with 4GB and 8GB.

So I would also anticipate Apple to drop the 8GB iPod Touch. Let the 16GB take its place at the same price point. Then introduce a newer 32GB version. This has to be done during a major product refresh with slight re-design on the mechanical aspects of the iPod Touch to reflect the much anticipated 2nd Generation product syndrome. If 3 months down the road, Apple drops the 8GB and let the 16GB take its place. I think we're going to have a massacre at Apple.

I did say on the development side of things did I? If they do make into production by next year, I guess its just in time for Apple's next major product refresh. Also I didn't say that will happen soon did I? Since Apple already released their new products recently. It'll take awhile before this could happen.

Thats a big IF though.

UPDATE:

It's already been done before and it will be done again. In the case of Apple, look what happened with iPod Nano second generation. They now put the 4GB variant as the entry of the model for the 3rd generation. They also added in video playback, a new screen, a new UI and a new form factor. Look at the price. It was reduced! Slightly lower than the 2GB 2nd generation iPod Nano. I can't stress more with other examples happening with Apple's product range.

We're always paying the price for opting first generation products and then these are paid into a better second generation or later products. These are the R&D approach opted by companies now. Design in modules, design in platforms. To reduce R&D from a cost centered unit to a profit racking one. If you think I'm discouraging from buying, then think again. We're always buying electronics, sooner or later. They are made and designed to be obsolete, either wasting themselves in the can or running out of replacement components or simply no support for them to work anymore. Manufacturers want them to die when the appropriate time comes and they want us to buy. If you buy now, you get to use it now, you extract the goodness of it now, well... the value is there.

This post has been edited by davidmak: Oct 31 2007, 03:24 PM