Apple's iPod classic experiencing issues of its own?

If you were considering picking up one of Apple's capacious new iPod classics whilst casually snickering at those poor saps dealing with faulty screens on the iPod touch, you could be in for problems of your own. According to a number of reports around the web, users are experience a myriad issues with the new player, including high processor utilization, excruciatingly long connect / disconnect times, and random crashes that seemed to occur when the device attempted to "display preview images taken from album cover art." Some users are also reporting that iTunes will actually "freeze up and stop responding" after the classic is plugged in, and attempts to install firmware updates have apparently not remedied the issues. So, dear readers, how's your iPod classic faring? Are these quibbles legit, or is the intarweb working itself into an unsubstantiated frenzy?

[Thanks, Rahul B.]
Read - One new iPod classic, two new iPod bugs
Read - Mysterious problems with new iPod classic
Read - Discussions about iPod classic troubles

[redtornado @ Sep 25th 2007 6:26PM]

crap!

[Derry Quinn @ Sep 25th 2007 2:24PM]

Oh apple...

[JohnTitor @ Sep 25th 2007 2:36PM]

funny, I've always not like iPods for the lack of features and stuff, but now that's actually problems, I almost feel sorry for Apple

[Joseph @ Sep 25th 2007 5:57PM]

Funny...
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/gameplay/discreplacement-program.htm

I guess "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

[Vexx @ Sep 25th 2007 9:30PM]

Woah. Surely you did not just post an Xbox link in a desperate attempt to make yourself feel better for Apple's problems.

Fanboys amaze me.

[smbogan @ Sep 25th 2007 9:59PM]

Funny, I don't recall Microsoft saying anything about this...so, I guess no stone was cast...was it?

Eventually, people are going to realize that Apple is creating a pattern of inferior testing standards. That, coupled with a poor warranty, doesn't bode well for customers.

[randy @ Sep 25th 2007 11:43PM]

Unfortunately these sorts of BLATANT BUGS and other annoying software snafus are TYPICAL of Apple. This is just typical of them. Apple makes the most intelligent software in the world, but they DON'T FREAKING TEST IT!! Anybody who uses Mac OS 10.4 on a daily basis KNOWS what I'm talking about. And it's excruciatingly irritating that a BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY allows their software to remain so buggy. Maybe Jonathan Ives or Steve Jobs could get by with one less acre on their Aspen estates and use the cash to pull together a proper QA department instead.

[RedBull Runner @ Sep 27th 2007 6:10AM]

Sorry, I've been using 10.4 for around a year now... What bugs are you talking about?

I have had more problems on my windows machines at work in the past 2 months, then I have in the past year on my Mac.

[ilh @ Sep 25th 2007 2:26PM]

I call this justice for the hype train engadget and all the other sites have been shoveling out for Apple lately.

[Saketbash @ Sep 25th 2007 2:33PM]

Its not like Apple has taken forever fixing any issue. Things happen but they are quick to react and fix it. The bigger the company gets the more issues might slip out with a product but Apple has and will be known by its quick reaction to customer issues regarding their products.

At least this is true in my experiences. I have the iPod Touch (Week 38) and it works great with no screen issues. It took Apple no more than 2 1/2 weeks to fix that issue. That says alot about the company.

[ilh @ Sep 25th 2007 2:42PM]

Might get fixes out quickly but that's because the bigger a company gets, the more people they have to fix things. More importantly, the bigger a company gets, the more people they have to test/quality control things so they shouldn't have more slip ups, especially when the classic isn't that much different to the 5/5.5G which is how old now?

[derek @ Sep 25th 2007 5:04PM]

With tons of sales, there are going to be more units that could be defective. And people aeren't going to take the time to say EVERYTHING'S WORKING GREAT!, they are just going to say their problems (if they have any).

[narco @ Sep 25th 2007 6:48PM]

This is my 9th iPod since 2001 and it's by far the worst. I am glad I can finally carry all 160GB of music with me, but so far, that's the only benefit. I bought $20 worth of games that don't even work (even though their website shows certain games working on the Classic), iTunes freezes up and takes FOREVER to do anything, it takes 5-10 seconds just to go through the menus, there's only one way to display coverflow so it organizes by artists, not album which makes it impossible to scroll through 30,000+ songs.

This is by far the worst Apple experience I have ever had since OS 10.0. I really hope Apple fixes these issues soon. I've been waiting for the 120GB+ iPod for a year and I'm having a hard time wondering how Apple can turn such an awesome product into a piece of shit.

Fishes,
narco.

[Jose @ Sep 25th 2007 3:11PM]

Yea the connection and disconnection time is very slow. Navigating through the menus is alot slower than the previous iPod Video but the iTunes crashes and iPod crashes have yet to occur for me. The only time iTunes has crashed with the Classic connected was the initial sync which took about 3 hours because of all the items being synced. I'm very very happy with my iPod Classic

[Christopher Brent @ Sep 25th 2007 2:29PM]

I have the 160GB and it won't undock. I have to shut the PC down everytime I sync. It doesn't seem to corrupt the Ipod, but it doesn't undock correctly at all.... I also have noticed it takes a while to undock after i shut the PC down. I hope a fireware update will be coming soon....

[chezzo @ Sep 25th 2007 3:36PM]

My 80GB is absolutely fine.
Well, when I say fine, I mean "functions as it is expected to"...

[tigs @ Sep 25th 2007 3:39PM]

I HAD a classic 160GB...returned it yesterday. Itunes would constantly freeze up when trying to sync or eject the classic. Coverflow was spotty and slow, with album art loading like I was downloading the images with a dial-up modem.

But the REAL thing that made me send it back was the fact that in order to use TV out I needed to buy Apple A/V cables and a new Apple Dock (I have one from my 4th gen ipod photo, but apparently that doesn't have the appropriate 'authentication chip').

Instead I've bought a 5.5 gen - which I'll use with my existing dock and cables. And I'll learn to deal with *only* 80GB.

[wetworker @ Sep 25th 2007 2:31PM]

7 years of ipods and hey can't get this right.lol
my zune has never crashed and i have it almost 10 month.
This is classic :)

[josejuan05 @ Sep 25th 2007 2:35PM]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Classic! HAHAHAHAHA! This reply is hilarious on so many levels...

[wetworker @ Sep 25th 2007 2:39PM]

:)

[Ricardo @ Sep 25th 2007 2:57PM]

jeje...funny..so funny.

[Daniel Ordonez @ Sep 25th 2007 5:04PM]

You may not have had problems with your Zune but how is that Zune software working?

I remember I tried to install the media player for Zune and I couldnt even get it to install. It would crash and when it was up and working it was very slow and would freeze up.

I don’t think any product is perfect I just think Apple is getting bashed because a few people have problems and sites like Engadget make it seem like the world is going and the entire line of products is defective.

Way to go Engadget! Reminds me of when Engadget posted the fake Apple internal newsletter and caused Apples stock to take a hit.

Maybe we should focus on real news and not what your sisters brothers sons wife told you because she has no idea what’s she is doing. I’m getting tired of all the hearsay Engadget has been posting lately.

Sorry for the rant.

[dUN @ Sep 25th 2007 3:22PM]

I agree~so funny~~made my day!

[Paul @ Sep 25th 2007 4:48PM]

@Daniel, no I think Apple is getting bashed because their products don't match their marketing (it just works), their products are less than what the consumers wanted (and yes, were achievable), and their attention to money over customer satisfaction is mirroring that of Microsoft.

[Joseph @ Sep 25th 2007 4:54PM]

In apples unending quest to provide a better product for the market, Apple changed some of the hardware inside of the ipod over the past 7 years. If they didnt do this then the ipod would be huge, it would be the size of....well...a zune. Apple has owned a lot of these issues and has promised an update within the week.

The initial reaction of zune/HP/Dell owners is that they are getting screwed, because many of those companies say TS you bought it. Apple takes the steps neccesary to correct the problem. As an apple product owner and fanboy (Mind you, i run the IT at work here) these kind of issues dont worry me in the slightest. I know they will make good.

[Ron @ Sep 25th 2007 2:29PM]

Defective iPhone's - Check
Defective iPod Touch - Check
Defective iPod Nano's - Check
Defective iPod Classics's Check

Apple is on a roll..

[Douché @ Sep 25th 2007 2:36PM]

The next Microsoft, you might say!

[Scott G. @ Sep 25th 2007 2:41PM]

Maybe I didn't know about other models and their deficiencies, but this doesn't seem like the best product launch we've ever seen.

[paloooz @ Sep 25th 2007 2:42PM]

My iPhone and 160GB classic work perfectly fine ... there are bound to be problems with at least a few of any product. With high-hype items like iPhones and iPods, the problems are also hyped...

By the way, plural for "iPod" is "iPods" ... there is no apostrophe.

@Summary author - your usage of "myriad" is atrocious. Either say "myriad issues" or "a myriad of issues" but never say "a myriad issues" ...

[Eric @ Sep 25th 2007 2:59PM]

you can't compare apple to Micro$oft, that is like comparing Apple$ to Oranges....wait, maybe we can now.

[Rob @ Sep 25th 2007 3:04PM]

haha. like i've always said...apple sucks

[Phil Ringsmuth @ Sep 25th 2007 3:21PM]

Defective use of the apostrophe - Check.

[Dan Vallance @ Sep 25th 2007 3:55PM]

defect blackberrys
defect alienware pc's
defect sony viao.

To name but a few gadgets of mine that have gone wrong from launch.... its not just Apple, losers!

[Justin @ Sep 25th 2007 4:04PM]

Never said it was.

[Julian Bond @ Sep 25th 2007 5:14PM]

DefectiveByDesign iPhones - Check
DefectiveByDesign iPod Touch - Check
DefectiveByDesign iPod Nanos - Check
DefectiveByDesign iPod Classics - Check

Shiny Whiteness - Priceless

[Pelicanadian @ Sep 26th 2007 12:26AM]

When something is pluralized you do NOT use an apostrophe. Just put an "s" on the end and be done with it. Think of all the time you can save over your lifetime by not adding an unnecessary and wrong item of punctuation to plural words! And another generous time saver...

lose = not win
loose = not tight

[jere @ Sep 26th 2007 10:42PM]

Well people act like these products are completely broken. Sure I'm not saying apple couldn't have done better, but I mean realistically, of course in a week or two there will be firmware updates for this. These problems aren't going to plague these new ipods throughout there entire duration as a product. Like with any new product, they'll make them work well eventually.

[tcc3 @ Sep 25th 2007 2:29PM]

Thats why people like Apple products. They "just work"

[Khris @ Sep 25th 2007 2:41PM]

I think you're putting emphasis on the wrong word.

It should be......They JUST (barely) work!

[Simon @ Sep 25th 2007 9:01PM]

My 160GB classic works exactly as it should. No problems and it's a great device. Battery life is very impressive for a HDD based device.

Maybe if more than a few people had bought a Zune we would hear about their QA issues. I am sure M$ aren't perfect.

[tcc3 @ Sep 25th 2007 11:02PM]

MS not perfect? What vile slander!

I suppose now you're telling me the sky is blue, too huh buddy?

Apple talks a lot of shit about how they are the magic bullet for computer users and how everything "just works." When you state your purpose that way, then get sloppy, expect people to call you on it.

[Fletcher Kasmer @ Sep 25th 2007 3:25PM]

i would agree with the comment about disconnect times, it sometimes takes close to a minute to disconnect, which seems a bit excessive

[Xzavier @ Sep 25th 2007 2:39PM]

Boy, it looks like Apple is having issues all over the place, iPhone, iPod Touch, Classic iPod, new keyboard issues, new iMac LCD issues, Leopard delays...

Maybe they have little gremlins running around their facilities *virus* and they are not fessing up to anything (can't afford to tarnish that shinny image of theirs!)

Even I don’t have that many issues on windows no matter what version I’m running. OK Apple... what gives???

[Joshua @ Sep 25th 2007 2:32PM]

Definitely a problem... I connect and sync and iTunes will still say "syncing" while the ipod does not... have to kill iTunes a lot to remedy. Disconnect takes FOREVER. When syncing, my ipod classic has a "p" located at the top of the screen which I thought was wierd.

[Jason Coleman @ Sep 25th 2007 3:42PM]

My 80GB iPod Classic works okay for me. I do think the "eject" time is a bit long (maybe 60 seconds), but not excessive. I find the CoverFlow interface fairly sluggish, but that wasn't a shock to me when I bought it nor does it bother me. It would be nice if these were polished in a future firmware update but they're nothing that prevents me from enjoying using it.

[Michael Rose @ Sep 25th 2007 3:55PM]

if you turn "time in the title" off the lone "p" should stop showing up. atleast it did for me.

but yeah. when i first plug my 80GB classic in to sync iTunes appears to freeze up. it'll eventually let me regain control over it just seems to take forever while it's syncing. lame!

coverflow and the menus are slow while it pulls in album art, but not that slow.

anyone figure out how to turn off the huge digital clock/battery meter that pops up when the iPod idles? it doesn't happen if the backlight is switched to remain on always...i don't want a dumb clock hijacking my Now Playing screen.

[bigusfickes @ Sep 25th 2007 3:41PM]

I have the 160 classic and I have all of these problems. I did install the 1.0.1 update, but the pain did not go away. It took me almost a complete week to get 130g loaded on this ipod. So far I'm just happy that I'm not using my 2nd gen 20g ipod.

The only other issue you didn't mention is how slow this is to play anything. I played one video on it and it crashed. Awesome!

[c_r @ Sep 25th 2007 2:32PM]

I have an 80GB Classic and mine is working flawlessly.

[paloooz @ Sep 25th 2007 2:45PM]

I just wish I could turn off the floating artwork thing. It's quite pointless and annoying. Other than that, it works fine. When moving to a menu with said floating artwork, it lags slightly before going to the menu. The side menu is pretty annoying...

Hopefully they add a feature to turn the album art off. I can handle it in coverflow or the albums menu, but not elsewhere.

[insertAlias @ Sep 25th 2007 2:33PM]

I don't know if this is just people jumping on the "Let's bash Apple" bandwagon, but if it's not...
...then that would mean that *EVERY ONE* of Apple's new iPod line has had some quality control issue! This is just disgusting. I'm not one to bash any specific company, and I love my iPhone and Mac mini, but there seems to be a severe quality assurance issue at Apple. I'm scared to buy anything else from them, because we can't go for a week without hearing about what else they screwed up!

I want to like Apple, I really do. I bought the Mac Mini just to try them out, but these issues have made me scared to buy any more of their hardware. When we can go a month without hearing about QA issues, then I might buy some more from them.