iPod Classic hit with endless disk-spinning bug?

The tubes are buzzing this morning with reports that the recent iPod classic 1.0.2 update has a nasty bug in it that causes the drive to constantly spin -- a glitch that's a little more troubling than those freezing issues we heard about, since bumping a spinning platter is a sure way to kill your drive dead. Most users see the problem manifest as the battery draining much more quickly than it should, and it seems to be particularly a problem when using CoverFlow, but others say it's totally random and that replacement iPods with 1.0.2 loaded don't exhibit any symptoms. In any event, iPod Classic owners who haven't updated should probably hold off, and those who have should see how their devices are holding up.

Read -- Apple support thread #1
Read -- Apple support thread #2
Read -- iLounge forum thread

[Jesus Christ @ Oct 18th 2007 3:52PM]

Oh Apple...

[Khris @ Oct 18th 2007 5:59PM]

Good thing Apple products "Just Work".

If Apple were in the automobile business your seat would be installed so you were looking out the windshield at an angle.....that is assuming you could ever get into it because Apple had it locked up so tight. Once you got in and started it, it would rev full bore regardless whether or not you were driving.

[Jonhimslf @ Oct 18th 2007 7:58PM]

@ Khris
That's a pretty weak comparison.. and by pretty weak I mean really bad

[Brian @ Oct 18th 2007 11:13PM]

Yup... as if it were bad enough upgrading to the new iPod (buying all new accessories, etc), Apple is now going to FORCE you to upgrade to the new iPod... by bricking yours!

Nice one, Apple.

Khris: You're dead on.

[ScOObyDoo @ Oct 18th 2007 3:52PM]

I've got the same problem :(

It also gets mighty hot when its spinning this much. Between the crappy coverflow performance and the video out bug (both resolved) I have to say this really is a departure from their usual high quality. I wonder if they put too many resources into the iPhone development?

[jus10 @ Oct 18th 2007 4:24PM]

Apple is notorious for having a hard time with their Rev A releases of any hardware product. This is why God created the refurbished store.

*hugs his refurbished Macbook and 4th Gen iPod*

Although I want a Nano or iPhone.

[Preston @ Oct 18th 2007 5:09PM]

I'll sell you my 8gig 2G Red nano.

[CT A @ Oct 18th 2007 3:54PM]

I think Apple is intentionally sabotaging iPod with hard drives so people will move on to flash.

[Nick Catalano @ Oct 18th 2007 3:58PM]

I took mine back because the touchpad wasn't being responsive enough. I'm holding off on iPods for the moment.

[RDH @ Oct 18th 2007 4:21PM]

Well done! Finally someone reporting the fact that this iPod is a dog. Apple needs to be bought to book over this. It has been ridden with problems from the start and is a shoddy piece of hardware with equally shoddy and poorly tested software. Apple is in complete denial and as far as they're concerned the public are stupid. I have had 2 and neither were fit for purpose. Apples staff claim there are no known issues and try and blame user error. Nothing less than an admission of the problem, an appology, a total recall and a fix will do! I and many others have wasted hours of our time trying to get this to work. Disgraceful!!!

[Dale @ Oct 18th 2007 5:47PM]

RDH, perhaps instead of spending your money on technology, you should buy some Xanax.

[Brad @ Oct 19th 2007 3:34PM]

@RDH: Lets be real here. I dislike the iPod as much as the next rational consumer, but the first job of support is to determine if it is, in fact, user error (or over-extended user expectation). Given the tremendous range of iPod users (7 year olds through 90, broad educational backgrounds), it is unsurprising that someone with your attitude was told by Apple Support that it was probably user error. In their position, I'd probably agree. There's a saying in medical school: if you hear hoofs, don't look for a zebra.

The hardware isn't shoddy, there are hundreds of thousands that perform as expected. Their Software QA could certainly use a brush-up, but really it's cheaper to let the consumer do the Hardware QA for you these days. Get your manufacturing to >99.9% yield, and yeah, maybe a few thousand get out into the world that don't work, but the cost of catching that remaining .1% is incredibly high, and it's cheaper to just replace them at the retail level, especially with Apple where most people take them directly to a local Apple store when they have problems (or ship direct to Apple Care).

If you want to complain about the iPod, complain about it for the hundreds of legitimate reasons, not because they let a small fraction out into the field that don't work perfectly. Everyone does this, it's the reason your iPod doesn't cost a thousand dollars.

[tumnasgt @ Oct 18th 2007 4:10PM]

Mine keeps on accessing the HDD in coverflow, I thought it was just it caching the images? Coverflow was better in 1.0.1

[Josh L @ Oct 18th 2007 4:11PM]

I had that problem with the first and only Apple product I've ever owned: the 2nd Generation iPod. It would die within an hour or two of playback from a full charge and get super hot.

I see Apple is maintaining their usual sub-par quality status quo, and my decision to never buy another of their products is continually vindicated.

[jon @ Oct 18th 2007 4:19PM]

my gen 5 had the same problem, it wasnt until my 3rd or 5th one that started working. Now I own a zune and never looked back(only had to get 1)

[Reid B. @ Oct 18th 2007 4:15PM]

Apple's Usual High Quality?

That ended a while ago. Especially with software. Apparently, they don't know how to do basic quality control let alone code properly outside of their tiny Apple Hardware subset.

[tf @ Oct 18th 2007 4:29PM]

I purchased one ipod before the update that had this issue and one that i updated after returning the first. Both had this issue and both were returned to target with the drives still spinning away.
I'm actually thinking about just dropping a new battery in my ol' 40gig 3rd gen. I'm tired of these bugs.

[Tom T. @ Oct 18th 2007 5:14PM]

I have the same problem. This is the 3rd time since my update that my iPod battery drained completely for just sitting there untouched for a few hours. I was really concerned, but after reading this, I guess it makes some sense now. :(

[TIMMAH! @ Oct 18th 2007 4:35PM]

Okay, who's in for a class action?

[procopio @ Oct 18th 2007 4:37PM]

I'm glad I returned mine and kept my 5.5G, the classic is the "worst ipod ever".

[anuj @ Oct 18th 2007 4:49PM]

it made my ipod damn hot...New buyers caution!

[SteveSucks @ Oct 18th 2007 4:50PM]

I don't understand why you people keep buying their half assed products. For godsakes, they couldn't even put a DVD drive that didn't eat all my girlfriend's dvds when she got a MacBook (which I told her not to do). They make shit products under the guise of "beauty". And then it's not even beautiful, it's boring.

[Joe @ Oct 18th 2007 4:54PM]

oh yeah... that HP of yours is "spectacular"..

Can someone help keep the 'tards off the board

[Jason @ Oct 18th 2007 4:59PM]

Nice blanket statement based off a bad experience. ;)

That said, it seems to be some kind of coverflow issue. IMO coverflow is being over-used and has no place on every ipod - especially hard drive based ones.

[Gareth Burleigh @ Oct 18th 2007 4:50PM]

Bummer for those with affected iPods but touch wood, mine is working just fine although a little sluggish moving from menus at times.
Saying that however if it wasnt for the fact I needed a new iPod I usually know better than to buy Rev A Apple products

Gareth

[Dragod @ Oct 18th 2007 5:03PM]

Honestly, can anything else go wrong with the new iPods?

"New iPod bug causes music to be muted"?

So much for "It just works".

[JAmerican @ Oct 18th 2007 5:05PM]

Sure it was a bug, it's there way of making sure your iPod dies in a year so that you have to buy another. Jobs said it himself... http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/26/jobs-you-have-to-buy-a-new-ipod-at-least-once-a-year/

[BrettB @ Oct 18th 2007 5:12PM]

I don't know how Apple can keep being the "cool" choice if they keep this up. My father-in-law bought a new nano for the wife but when we opened it up, it had the infamous tilted screen. No problem, I thought. He bought it at the local Apple store so I took it back for them. The Apple employees acted shocked about it.
Apple Guy--"This it the first one I've ever seen that has this problem."
Me--"I've heard it's a pretty big issue affecting lots of them"
Apple Guy--"It's less than 1% of all nanos"
Me--"Ok, well can I get it replaced?"
Time elapses as they make an appointment for me on the computer, then sign me in as being there, then I wait for 5 minutes for someone to help me at the "Genius Bar."
2nd Apple Guy--"What's the problem?"
I explain the whole story again
2nd Apple Guy--"OK, let's get that replaced"
Goes and gets another nano.
I look at the screen. The new one is also tilted.
I show the guy.
2nd Apple Guy--"you can't see it without the screen turned on."
Me--"I can see it"
He goes and gets every one in the same color in the store. They all have tilted screen. I ask for a different color. Those all have the tilted screen as well. I find the one with the least tilted screen in the store, and exchange it.
I honestly don't know how they can sell these things with a straight face. I'd expect this kind of nonchalance and ignorance at a Target or WalMart, but not at the Apple Store. Pretty sad.
They need to get their act together, and pronto...

[Carlos @ Oct 18th 2007 5:38PM]

could it be that you have an incorrect interpretation of what the tilted screen looks like and the apple folks were just trying to be nice to the crazy guy opening up all the nanos in their store.

Really doubt that every single nano in the store had a 'tilted screen'

[suv4x4 @ Oct 18th 2007 7:48PM]

"Really doubt that every single nano in the store had a 'tilted screen'"

That it affects a small part of the entire production doesn't mean it doesn't affect whole batches of it. I had the same problem with an AOC CRT Monitor 6 years ago.

I bought the unit, 17 inch AOC, and when I went home, I noticed the image is bent and this can't be fixed well despite all the controls at my disposal (barrel, shift, stretch and so on). I returned it, first thing, the rep tried his best to convince me "this is how all CRT-s are"... I was on the verge of bursting in laughter as he kept convincing me.

We tried few other monitors from the ones they had. I picked them randomly from all they had in stock. They *ALL HAD THE EXACT SAME DEFFECT*.

I returned it, and 5 weeks later, the same model, in the same shop (another batch) looked fine.

[BrettB @ Oct 18th 2007 11:47PM]

First of all, if the screen is tilted, it is tilted. There's not much room for error. Either it is or isn't. It's pretty basic. As long as you have good eyesight and a decent idea of what to look for, it's pretty easy to tell if the screens are tilted. And I wasn't opening them up, I didn't need to as the packaging is clear plastic and allows for you to see whether the screen is tilted or not. Without powering it on, you do have to look pretty close to see the tilt, but luckily Apple Stores are well lit. I was mostly upset at the way the Apple employees were acting as if nothing was wrong, when I was standing there showing them a serious problem with all the nanos that they brought out for me to choose from. I told them point blank that the items had a problem, and that I wasn't satisfied. It was obvious that the problem existed (as I could see the issue just fine on all the units--maybe they don't know what to look for but I pointed it out as best I could). What makes me upset is that they weren't going to contact someone higher up and explain that they had batches with a serious issue. Rather, they were going to keep selling them to every chump that walks in the store as if there wasn't a problem. That's bad business and I'm calling Apple out on that. As for the spinning hard drive issue, hopefully it can be fixed with software, but either way, Apple needs to get control of quality over there in China or else it's going to start hurting customer loyalty and their bottom line.

[Alex R @ Oct 18th 2007 5:31PM]

Detailed instructions on how to downgrade here: http://tinyurl.com/2k6pp3

Boo Apple!

[Adrian Williams @ Oct 18th 2007 5:50PM]

I was afraid to open that link but it's cool

[Alex R @ Oct 18th 2007 5:52PM]

TinyURL came in handy, as the original URL was pretty darn long.

Anyhow, I guess this means that the iPod death clock is gonna need some tweaking after this incident!

[spidernik84 @ Oct 19th 2007 7:09AM]

That's just a common business-strategy, Apple has been following it:

1st: you produce super-high quality products and sell them at an high price
2nd: you gain a good market share and customers, especially "faithful" users, mostly unable to judge you objectively
3rd: playing on this "blindness", you lower your products' quality, still selling them at the same price. Your profits are increased thanks to cheaper products. Considering you created something "loved" by people, they will still be buying without seeing you cheated them.
4th: after some time you get back making high-quality products. And the wheel keeps spinning this way...

Welcome to the real world

[Brad @ Oct 19th 2007 3:35PM]

Examples: Please see the American automotive and airline industries.

[Alex M @ Oct 18th 2007 6:10PM]

no surprise here. You'd think 250 for an 80gb and 350 for a 160gb perfect(or something like that for pricing)! Well its still an ipod and the screen is 2.5". And its not high quality like Archos, Cowon, IRiver, and the new ZEN.

[Jeremy Kemp @ Oct 18th 2007 6:01PM]

Yes, I know that's it's usually only the people having problems that complain. I'll throw in my experience and say that both my and my wife's iPod Classics have had absolutely no problems, even after upgrading to 1.0.2.

[Alex R @ Oct 18th 2007 6:03PM]

I haven't noticed the issue with mine yet, however, if/when I do I'll definitely be downgrading until a fix appears.

[Someone @ Oct 18th 2007 6:08PM]

My beloved 5.5gen. *Hugs iPod* Thank you rockbox and ipodlinux.

[adrian @ Oct 18th 2007 6:12PM]

Apple's quality control is getting worse, and are thinking about moving further into general consumer electronics?. In this area people expect their products to work day in day out. I can't see Apple coping with that task for a while yet, Not like they use to in the past with their computers.

[chezzo @ Oct 18th 2007 6:23PM]

Mine's absolutely fine!

[aidin @ Oct 18th 2007 10:10PM]

mine too... and i hope it continues to be fine

[Yours Smugly @ Oct 19th 2007 5:45AM]

No problems here either. My 80 Gb classic is spinning just fine, and its overall performance definitely got speedier after the 1.0.2 update. But let's hope this isn't too widespread.

[Jay @ Oct 18th 2007 7:28PM]

OMG! Another Microsoft product released with bugs. Those guys are terrible.

Oh, wait...it's Apple. Must just be an added feature.

[Twitchy @ Oct 18th 2007 7:26PM]

I'm getting me a flash based player, stores enough songs for the 26 hour flight from NZ to Europe, doesn't use that much juice, and doesn't have moving bits.

I don't understand why so many people feel the need to carry tens of thousands of songs in their pocket, more than you'd ever listen to without docking to your computer in between.

Flash memory FTW.

[Bob C. @ Oct 19th 2007 10:21AM]

Dude, it's about choice. It's about having my whole music library at my disposal wherever I happen to be. Seems logical to me.

[Jamar0303 @ Oct 19th 2007 10:32AM]

Heh, at least my knockoff doesn't have such an issue.

[DS @ Oct 18th 2007 10:56PM]

I guess it's good that I decided to skip this iPod generation. It feels like another .5 Generation. The only thing fresh is the iPod Touch and it's just a stripped down iPhone.

[John @ Oct 18th 2007 10:58PM]

I think Apple's QA started to go out the window the moment they released that safari "beta" for windows. Since then, it's been bug after bug