iPod Classic firmware update improves Cover Flow performance

Apple has already seen fit to give the new iPod Classics a firmware update, which according to the company does nothing but fix bugs. Members of iLounge's forum know otherwise, with members reporting that it improves previously sluggish menu and CoverFlow performance: one of the few gripes with the updated iPod. Notice anything else? Let loose in the comments.

P.S. Sick of all the fruit-related news? Don't moan, just check this out.

[Thanks, Julian]

[Ben @ Sep 15th 2007 4:13PM]

"ipod releases new sticker for ipod products...picture gallery awaits"

thanks for the update engadget!!!

[Xavier Gill @ Sep 15th 2007 4:21PM]

Since you guys like to report everytime someone presses 'play' on their iPod why not report this:
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/09/14/new-ipods-reengineer.html

Apple blocking 3rd part apps from synching with the new iPod's which means anyone who doesnt want to use iTunes, or can't (Linux and some Vista users) now cant

[Ellianth @ Sep 15th 2007 4:46PM]

This just in: Sticker will NOT be user replaceable.

[Josh Warner @ Sep 15th 2007 5:50PM]

Actually, the new iSticker(tm) is said to improve the audio quality to "Beyond Audiophile" levels! His Steveness himself has thrown away his comparatively inferior, audiophile separate sources in favor of listening to 128kbit AAC files through the new Apple(tm) iPod(tm) Classic(tm) with the iSticker(tm) upgrade! The new iSticker(tm) is a fantastic, highest quality product made with only the best materials available. Scientific research* has been done to ensure that the iSticker(tm) will adhere permanently to the back of your Apple(tm) iPod(tm). In fact, similarly to the Apple(tm) iPod(tm)'s soldered and non-replaceable batteries the iSticker(tm) creates a permanent bond that cannot be removed by normal means.**

Notes:
1) The iSticker(tm) is incompatible with Linux; penguins scare the iSticker(tm), and use with a Linux system will result in immediate, irreversible detachment of the iSticker(tm) that may or may not be repairable. If this has happened to you, for a nominal $40 fee we will evaluate the possibility of reattaching another iSticker(tm).

2) To repair any damage to your iSticker(tm) you must send the product in for servicing by a qualified technician, who will, at our discretion, restore your iSticker(tm) to like new condition or replace the iSticker(tm) with one of equivalent or lesser value.


Fine Print:
* This a complete lie.
** Normal means do not include a cursory search on Ebay for a replacement kit w/instructions.

[Bumpman @ Sep 15th 2007 4:15PM]

I hear the next firmware update is going to make the screen an inch larger.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 16th 2007 1:08AM]

Has anyone upgraded their iPod Classic's firmware yet?

-Noticed there is the letter "P" on top of the display when I'm synced now. Was that supposed to read "iPod"?
-No Cover Flow improvement for me, didn't notice anything after upgrading

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 16th 2007 1:33AM]

The "P" will go away if you turn "time in title" off. Some kind of bug it seems.

[Ben @ Sep 15th 2007 4:15PM]

ooops, i ment "apple releases..."

doh

[Fernando @ Sep 15th 2007 4:17PM]

On thing I had with my classic, is that I disabled the photos menu in settings, and after a sync it would come back, that seems to have solved it, for now.

[Michael @ Sep 15th 2007 4:18PM]

I don't think people are so much tired of the fruit related news as they are the fruit related bias in the news.

[Stylze @ Sep 15th 2007 5:29PM]

Well said

[Big John @ Sep 15th 2007 10:29PM]

I'm sorry, is this site a news wire service? It's a freaking tech (gadget) blog. Get over yourselves already. This is a big deal in the tech world. Who else is making this kind noise right now, reintroducing a product line that essentially resurrected the company?

I'll wait for an answer.*

*No, I won't. I'm just sick to death of posts like these.

[Michael @ Sep 16th 2007 2:28AM]

I wouldn't say a thing if this were just an informative site about gadgets in the world, but it's a website devoted to the latest news about gadgets in the world. Really, I have no problem with the Apple related news, I just take issue when it's obvious that blue Zunes (mythical or not) are openly scorned on the blog's frontpage, while seemingly trivial iPod news is glamorized. I also notice that when people see this and point out that bit of shame, they're told to stop moaning.

[Kei @ Sep 15th 2007 4:20PM]

couldn't improvement of performance be DUE to a bug fix... :S

[Fundi @ Sep 15th 2007 5:10PM]

Yeah thats what I was thinking when I read that part.

[farfisa @ Sep 15th 2007 9:04PM]

Yeah I thought that too, maybe "bad performance" counts as a bug. I mean, if they fixed it so quickly, they probably didn't mean for it to suck in the first place, eh?

[CT A @ Sep 15th 2007 4:36PM]

That's only for the iPhone.. I can still see fruit in the pipes!!

[WamBam @ Sep 15th 2007 4:37PM]

Maybe if we make up fruit related rumors, engadget will post them, Apple's stock will go down and eventually the company will go broke. With Apple out of business, we'll finally get a breather from the iwhatever 'news' items.

I heard that this Apple employee kept the ipod touch in his pocket, too close to his 'twigs and berries', and now he can only satisfy himself by paying itunes $1.99. I'm telling you, folks, Steve Jobs is out to make you pay for everything!

[Ellianth @ Sep 15th 2007 4:44PM]

YES IT'S TRUE!! 100% true.

I can verify this. The guy that this happened to was: My boyfriend's girlfriend's (yes he cheats)sister's ex-cousin's brother's twin uncle. I feel so sorry for the guy. Rumor also has it that his family is gonna sue!!

[Alan Partridge @ Sep 15th 2007 5:49PM]

I heard the Touch's wifi causes goats milk to go sour...

[jim @ Sep 15th 2007 4:37PM]

Anyone have any info on the Universal Dock and the iPhone

[Dragod @ Sep 15th 2007 4:37PM]

"I just bought my 6th iPod!
...
I just bought my 6th iPod..."

[Big John @ Sep 15th 2007 10:32PM]

It's a device that allows you to plug your iPhone in to connect to your computer via a 'stand' instead of just a cable. It's amazing and available now.

Sorry, sorry but cmon man... check the product page first.

[Michael @ Sep 15th 2007 7:47PM]

Hahaha

[Dom @ Sep 15th 2007 4:38PM]

I'm actually seeing decreased performance on my Nano with the new firmware. Now cover art just doesn't load at all in Cover Flow for about 20% of my songs.

[hestermofet @ Sep 15th 2007 4:54PM]

Quit your moaning. Engadget couldn't have made it easier to opt out of fruit-related news.

[Cody S. @ Sep 15th 2007 5:41PM]

Yeah they could have.
Gizmodo has a nice "not" tag feature so you are able to view the site in it's entirety (minus whatever you dont want to see) without having use a RSS feed.

Engadget has TUAW as a subsidiary, I think they should use it more. Not every bit of news about the DS gets posted on at engadget, why should every tidbit of apple stuff get posted here? That is what the sister sites are for.

I don't dislike apple THAT particularly much, infact I like to read the ocassional story on a new product etc. Lately it's been ridiculous you must admit.

[bruckwine @ Sep 15th 2007 9:04PM]

well said Cody S.

[farfisa @ Sep 15th 2007 9:08PM]

Maybe if you'd stop calling them "sister sites." I mean who'd trust somebody's sister for important gadget news?

[Scott Levitt @ Sep 15th 2007 5:16PM]

Firmware update is available for Nano as well.

[chezzo @ Sep 15th 2007 5:25PM]

They haven't fixed the absence of a "Compilations" setting like on all the old ones though (so that songs classified as being from a compilation are left out of the artists list so they don't clutter it up).
I can't imagine what was going though their heads over at Cupertino when they decided to get rid of it :(
And I wish I'd known before I bought my Classic... And the fact that videos and audiobooks can only be displayed in alphabetical order rather than by episode/album/track or anything else moderately useful.
On the upside, menus etc do seem a bit slicker, still a bit sluggish though.

[chezzo @ Sep 15th 2007 5:57PM]

The big charging icon of a battery that comes up if you have it plugged in but turned off now has a bar which goes up it in a "charging" sort of way... Before it was permanently full.

[Slvrgun @ Sep 15th 2007 6:01PM]

I agree they should use TUAW more. It seems like every post is Apple related. It's nothing wrong with hearing Apple news but when it's 2-3 a day of bias information its kinda of like "what gives"?

[Scott H @ Sep 15th 2007 6:25PM]

My 5th gen video iPod does not have coverflow, does not have search, etc. I wish they would update my software to give me all the goodies that everyone else talks about but I know it'll never happen.

[Rob @ Sep 15th 2007 6:54PM]

That is what I was curious about. I suppose there is no way that a 6th gen firmware will work on a 5th gen, but if it was possible, why doesn't somebody alter it so it does work?

[Joe_Templeman @ Sep 15th 2007 8:06PM]

Its more than likely that the 6th generation ipod is more powerful and hence able to use coverflow.

[unkone @ Sep 17th 2007 3:20PM]

5th Gen does have search.

[Scott H @ Sep 17th 2007 3:45PM]

Unfortunately the one I have does not have search and I never recieved an updated

[Carlos @ Sep 30th 2007 11:15AM]

5.5 gen has search, 5.0 does not.

[Scott H @ Sep 30th 2007 1:00PM]

Is there any way to get 5.5 on 5.0?

[John Doe @ Sep 15th 2007 7:00PM]

Your alternate link for non-Apple related is all well and fine. The problem is when I'm not on my laptop there is no way in hell I'm going to remember that link. How about http://nonapple.engadget.com ?

[Andrew @ Sep 15th 2007 7:15PM]

I've noticed that the battery animation when my iPod is charging now works, before it was just solid and and said "charging".

[Andrew @ Sep 15th 2007 7:55PM]

I have a 5.5 gen video iPod. Will there be a firmware update to include coverflow?

[Slvrgun @ Sep 15th 2007 8:12PM]

No Steve Jobs has determined that you must buy an ipod classic in order to take advantage of the new exciting features like aluminum casing, bad sound quality, and coverflow. Really, stop playing around with your obsolete ipod and fork over the money.

[Daniel @ Sep 15th 2007 8:56PM]

But the sound quality still sucks! Why doesn't anyone know about this?
http://homepage.mac.com/marc.heijligers/audio/ipod/comparison/measurements/measurements.html

[Big John @ Sep 15th 2007 10:35PM]

We're talking MP3s for the majority here, not lossless files (even though yes, I KNOW, the iPod supports lossless). If you're seriously trying to use an iPod for audiophile level work, you really need to re-examine your approach to audio.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 16th 2007 1:39AM]

No, it doesn't suck. Give me a break. He's talking about minor differences! One of his most damning graphs measures differences at the 0.01dB level. This is far from audible.

You're plugging this into earbuds with truly horrible signal response.

Don't sweat this stuff, it's nothing. Don't let some tube amp knucklehead on the internet tell you something doesn't have "3D imaging".

[andyo @ Sep 16th 2007 5:08PM]

Yep, that post hits all the "audiophile" bullshit flags.

"lacks 3D image"... check.

"At first, this might sound like an improvement... but when listening more carefully..."... check.

"becomes fatiguing after a while"... check.

"electronic haze/sound"... check.

And best for last: "HARMONIC INFORMATION"... check.

[dave lemke @ Sep 15th 2007 11:10PM]

josh warner = genius. file under highlarious

[zounds Padang @ Sep 16th 2007 1:46AM]

The update also seems to make my click wheel more responsive.