No blue backlight on new ipod (and other backlight matters)

Turn on the backlight in the dark... it's blue (well, it's bluish).

Yeah I noticed that too. It is quite different than the pic shown on the side of the box. Sounds like grounds for a false advertising suit to me! ;)

Let us know what the Apple store tells you!

Hey, I would be happy with a $50 credit for not having a certain color of screen, but that's just me. I completely understand your point of view, I just feel like worse things have happened. I am much more concerned about the enormous number of bugs in the iPod's firmware...

i live in the UK and i just got a new 15gb ipod today from the shipment that was sent out from the factory last week. It DEFINATELY does not look as blue as what they advertise on the box. It does have a blue tint in the dark however.

My new 30 gig is 100% white. No blue-ish or anything. Totally white. I was disappointed it has to be said. Return iPod for newer revision or what?

the bottom line is, the screen isn?t really blue! that?s an artistic rendering. i?m moving this to the ipod general section, since it?s not really a problem.

i also like the white better. the pictures with the blue light look like my watch or something. white is sooo much classier.

brian

I agree with mongoos' previous post. I like the classy white with hint of blue. My Sprint cellphone has full on blue. Gets old after a while. :rolleyes:

Don't be so superficial. Think about the great thing this tiny iPod can do. No more lugging around CDs. Be happy with that.

I personally LOVE the current display colour. I would not want a overwhelming blue screen.

I can't believe it, Apple is actually LYING to their loyal customers now? Hmmm...but nevertheless, it is only a backlight...perhaps if you squint your eyes you can make out a bluish hue or sorts... ;)

Yep, I have a high end digital camera. It is all involved with the white balance.

I just saw the article and was really baffled...i know some white LED's have a bluish tint to them. I turned on my backlight to my ipod in the dark and I saw it was white., but then I thought...the Apple Employee was in full florescent light in the store...I then turned on my light and then looked at the backlight...sure enough...it was bluish (and this is in regular lightbulb situations)...I think the backlight tends to look bluer in florescent lighting situations...ie: when you by a shirt at a store the colors look brighter then when you take it home or see it out in the sun. I'm sure under the massive usage the ipods recieve at the stores...the backlight might fade...of course a new ipod will look brighter than an old one that been on display in the public's hand. Although...it still could be up for debate...and as far as the picture goes...dont trust it unless you see it with your own eyes. Everyone try out the backlight in the dark then in the light and see if it looks bluer under lit conditions or not.

I just got the new 15 gig ipod.. the screen appears more bluish than my old 10 gig, but not as blue as the advertisements.

What I did notice though, is that the contrast is way off. If you have the level in the middle.. you can't see the writing, it's so black. I have to adjust the contrast so its way over on the left hand side of the bar.. and then it makes the writing lighter.. and not as readable as my old 10 gig.

Anyone else having these problems?

I wouldn't blame Apple for "lying" to their customers. I agree that they should've used the real pictures instead of artist's rendering, but I also agree that white back-light looks better than indiglo backlight. All companies use "rendered" pictures for ads and promos. I'm personally glad that they went with white. I just hope I get my ipod soon.

Uhhhhh...
http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html
http://www.apple.com/
http://www.apple.com/ipod/
http://www.apple.com/ipod/beyondmusic.html

Those all have the same color backlight as mine has, its not like apple is only showing the blue backlight. I like white more anyway.

I remember a while back that someone actually made their screen orange...pics anyone?

On apple's website you can preview what the backlight will look at by clicking on the ipod (in the ahead of the curve section on the left half of the page). For whatever the reason is, my computer won't let me do it. I am just curious as to what color the backlight turns. Here is the link (http://www.apple.com/ipod/) .

Originally posted by Phil
Well, I'm at an Apple Store right now and will sovle this debate!

There are 5 ipods in the store, 4 15GB and 1 30GB models. And, they all have different backlight colors. On the 15GB models, 1 is pretty white, 2 are purplish, one is blue, and 1 is a mix between white and blue. The 30GB model is a strange bluish green color. My 30GB ipod has is a mix between blue and white. It's also dimmer than all of the others.

There are no differences as far as I can tell between the screens. They all look the same with the backlight off. With the backlight on, the blue screens appear clearer, but I think that's just because the background is blue and is easier to read with black text.

And, apparently there are several differences within the new ipods. Several of them are much whiter than the others in the plastic part - some are off white while others are white. Very strange. What's even more strange is that the scroll wheel is different too. On one of the 15GB models with the bluish backlight, the center button is noticably smaller than the others, so that the scroll wheel part is considerably wider.

that?s really, really weird.

could you post a link, please?

about as blue as jaguar?s post on page 2.

it doesn't really matter to me personally what color the backlight is. but if the screen is any clearer (as in contrast...resolution hasnn't changed!) then i'd be all for that.

however, if the backlight were blue on mine, that'd probably make it a bit more "patriotic" erm...:rolleyes:

Originally posted by iamaustin
BTW, this is a picture of my backlight:

http://ww2.aaiserv.com:8081/backlight.JPG

That's exactly how mine looks. New 15gig and 30 gig.

It all looks white to me. This thread is the first that's made me think to look at the box and realise that it's not the right colour. Not that I care or anything. White is a lot better for what the backlight is trying to achieve (legibility).

:-)

Yeah i love 50 cent, even though i pretty much only like punk rock.

50 cent, eminem, ludacris, and jay-z are like the only rappers i like.

Originally posted by iamaustin
:-)

Yeah i love 50 cent, even though i pretty much only like punk rock.

50 cent, eminem, ludacris, and jay-z are like the only rappers i like.
Well we have the same exact taste in music. :p

How's this blue? http://www.stanc.net/ipod2/6.jpg

This question was asked 5 days ago and I posted the reason for the blue appearance of the iPod screen here ( http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=571) but it seems to have been over looked completely in your rush to take your iPods back!
:rolleyes:

Originally posted by MadPict
This question was asked 5 days ago and I posted the reason for the blue appearance of the iPod screen here (http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=571) but it seems to have been over looked completely in your rush to take your iPods back!
:rolleyes:

Photographs of the ipods can change the backlight color due to white balance. But if you look at a bunch of ipods (like at an Apple Store) where they are all under the same lighting (and in the Apple Store all at one stand), there are a variety of color variations. I didn't see one as blue as the one in the pic, but I did see one or two that was nearly as blue. But then again I also saw purplish colors (which would be really bright white) and a blueish green color too.

No Kidding...This thread has legs. I can't believe it's stretched to 4 pages! It's only a backlight.

Everybody's camera makes it look different so the color is in the eye of the beholder. Actually my backlight is brilliant red. Oops...that was just a neon sign I walked by. Oh well. ;)

Just got my 15gb today, and compared it with my two mate's 15gbs which arrived a week ago. Definetly a difference in the displays, but not a difference in backlight, just the hue of the screens. Their's are definitely much more 'white', but the bluey tinge to mine does look cool. :)

Haven't had to reboot mine yet though... ;)

hmmm... I dont mind the difference in colour of backlights, but if there is actually a difference in quality of iPods, I'll be very very upset:mad:.

I was one of the people here who bought the iPod when they first came out, and although my problems arent as severe as some of the people on this board, I have been prone to the iPod resetting itself after a day or two of being unused, and a high pitched sound being emitted when the battery is low.

If the 'newer' new iPods are higher quality, I think I might send my pod back.

Some of the new iPods have blue backlights and some have white. Attached to this is a picture of my 30GB (blue screen) next to my son's 10GB (White screen). I might also add that mine has already been replaced. My original 30GB had the white screen and required 4-6 resets per day. My replacement has the blue screen and works flawlessly. I personally think there are a bad batch of iPods out there. Maybe Apple is using a couple different manufacturers or something.

Mine is plain white and I like it. I hadn't seen any pictures of blue so I wasn't dissapointed at all, i'd MUCH rather have white.

The thought I had was is it to do with the colour of the iPod, I mean the picture on the side of the box of mine was of a black iPod and that had the blue screen.

Looking at dpbaker's comparison of a blue vs. white ipod, it seems to me that the "blue" ipod backlight produces "blotchy" and inconsistent lighting so that one can see where the individual LEDs are placed. The "white" ipod on the other hand looks much smoother. I have the "white" ipod and have similar smooth lighting results.

http://www.casualh4x0r.com/ccblue.jpg

http://www.casualh4x0r.com/ccblue2.jpg

Looks clearly blue to the naked eye

I've seen/had a blue backlight iPod, just like the pics above. I'll say I think they're awful. The blue color is nice and bright, and the LCD background is crystal clear (not sandy like the white backlight screen) and a bit easier to read with the backlight off.

BUT...The light distribution on the screen was awful, like the first picture shows. The blue LEDs shine very sharply in a spotlight pattern from the left, so that the left two corners are dark since less light shines there. The upper, right, and bottom borders of the LCD have are shaded or have "shadows" (like in the first and second pics). When the ipod is asleep, you can see red "borders" around the display area where the shadows appear when the LCD and LED are on. Basically, the entire screen was unevenly lit, and ajusting the contrast couldn't fix the problem. If the contrast was turned down, the blotchy-ness went away but so did the text on the screen. When the contrast was turned up, the shadowy border around the screen got darker (like the fist pic).

On the other hand, the white LED screens are perfectly and evenly lit. Not blotchy at all. And I think it's actually easier to read with the backlight on.

Ok well...I've got a brand new 10gb (straight from Taiwan factory--i kno this cuz apple replaced it for an old 5gb that had just too many problems and I'd had it replaced already too many times)

I trackedf it from Taiwan to alaska to Los angeles to my house

Now, mine seems rather reliable, only 2 resets since the day I got it about 1 week ago...although I do have the left/right channel swapping and clicks btwn tracks. The backlight is WHITE as an egg :)

Just to tell u

It is to do with the White LEDs some having a blueish tint and others being very white. If your lucky yours will have a nice tint, else not!

I'm glad my Pod's backlight is semi blue (very light only obvious in the dark - like at the cinema). Its an iPod not a Nokia ;P

www.bsodmike.com/stuff/ipodreview/ipodreview.html

Mike

Originally posted by thadoggfather22
you guys i am very lucky and proud to announce i got an entirely blue backlight its not slight its all the way!! in the dark or not!!! i am sooo happy!!! just unwrapped it two minutes ago!! what should i do to prevent scratches before i get hardcore use out of this bad boy?

Well I'm glad you like the blueness, because I would have had a fit had I gotton a blue-backlighted iPod! You see blue backlights everywhere, (my cell phone, PDA, beeper) and I think the white is awesome. Anyway glad you're happy.
As for protecting the iPod, you can wrap that sucker in saran wrap, though its hard to get a tight fit. I used shipping masking tape (completely clear) and it provides great protection. Also you cannot even tell it is there unlike the PDA screen protectors. Also I peeled mine off after having it on for a few months and there is no residue. It really is the only way to go. Congrats on your iPod!

Are there still blue backlight ipods around? I had a blue backlight ipod (and it was the truly blue kind), and the screen, both the LCD and LEDs, was awful awful awful. (I described it earlier in this thread.) The hard drive was bad and I got another one with a LATER serial number, and its backlight is nice egg shell white. Under some lighting conditions, such as an Apple Store, it's really blue.

There are three FACTS to all this blue business:

(1) Some ipods have white backlights.
(2) Of those white backlights, there are variations in the shade of blue.
(3) Some ipods have true blue backlights.

I've seen them all, and there is no debate about the above. Camera effects and the above account for arguments over (2), but there are actual blue backlight ipods.

The actual LCD of the blue backlight ipods is also different from the white ones. The good: they're a bit easier to read when light isn't shining directly at it, the background color isn't dark and sandy, the background is slightly red when the display is on. The bad: they have red edges around the upper, lower, and right edges that cause uneven backlight reflection causing ugly shadows, they don't reflect light well and have uneven lighting on the left side where the LEDs shine.

In short, IMHO, those blue backlight ipods look better in a picture than in real life.

Its very odd, I had a clear as the sky blue light, but now its starting to look whiter

Tomjwright, one of them is with the backlight on the other is with it off. Look at the color of the buttons. Do you know what something looks like in the dark? It will look black or dark.

People at this forum are not comparing the iPod to the illustration on the front of the box which depicts an ipod with some shaddow effects. They are comparing it to various pictures posted on this forum. They know that the box is just an illustration. Your post is pretty off topic.

First of all, sorry if someone already said this but I couldn't bear to read through every single post. Here is a primer on color for those of you who want the REAL skinny on monitors and color. In case you're wondering about my credentials, I work for a well-known photographer and am well-versed in the field of color management. So here it is:

First, "white" can be any color on a monitor. Pure white is theoretical and is limited by the actual, physical components that are being asked to render white. Therefore, every white displayed by a monitor will have a certain color cast to it, known as its "color temperature". Variations in manufacturing, even on the same day and same model, can and do occur. Not only do monitors vary out of the box, but they vary over time.

The iPod monitor is an LCD, and therefore is subject to less variation than CRTs as LCDs tend to be more stable (although this is still disputed by experts). If yours looks blueish, then yours happens to have the variation of being a cooler color temperature because of the specific components of your unit as well as its age, possible instances of slight damage, ambient temperature, etc.

Think of this like eyesight: everyone sees things differently because we all have differences in the physical structure of our eyes, as well as how our brain interpets things. Well, every monitor displays things differently as well. The problem with iPods, unlike actual computer monitors, is that you can't apply "vision correction" to them because they can't be calibrated (measured) or profiled (described), at least not with currently available consumer products.

The net result is that some iPods will have a blueish tint just because of slight manufacturing differences. Add to this the fact that no two people see color the same way (what looks greenish to you might look blueish to me), and you have room for a load of variation. This is not false advertising on Apple's part at all...it's just the way it is.

>I own TWO 30 GB iPods which I bought at the same time from the same >place and the screens are completely different from each other - one is blue >and the other is white

So, did you not read what I just wrote? That some people have a blue-tinted screen is not in dispute here, at least not by me. But I do challenge the notion that Apple somehow misrepresented the iPod's display.

Your iPod's screen looks blue because it happens to have that natural variation in color temperature. Assuming that Apple's telling the truth about it being a white LED (and I have no reason to believe they're not), then this is the only explanation that makes sense. It's not a mistake on their part. It's natural variance.

Well, that answers the age old debate then... there ARE two kinds of displays...with variations here and there.

That was very cool Rothgarr.........!

I just can't get an official comment from Apple. They won't confirm that there are two different screens in circulation - and I've read many messages about people getting either the blue or the white (mostly the white).

The BEST comment I got when calling 1-800-MY-APPLE was when the tech guy told me to do a factory reset on the device...

HUH? "You've got to be kidding me", I said and gave up. Click.

Has anyone else gotten or tried to get a comment from Apple? I may just have to drive 90 minutes to get to an Apple retail store and show them. But I'd be surprised if they didn't already know.

There is no color temp difference explanation for blue vs. white.
There's simply white (like eggshell) LED's and blue (like sky blue) LED's. And to top that off, the LCD is different on blue and white backlight screens, with the screen from the blue backlight being slightly better. In other words, the LED and LCD's are completely different.

Whatever the case, the manufacturing is very weird and inconsistent. It would be like one day you buy a $2000 Apple Cinema Display, and the next week Apple updates the display to match their new towers in appearance, when in reality they also upgraded the backlight or the entire display to make the screen brighter and whiter (which has happened I think from what I remember reading!).

The color temp idea only applies to variations in the color of the white backlight, which is never really blue like the blue backlight.

Rothgarr - If you could take pics of blue vs white with upclose shots and the contrast set to an appropriate level on both ipods, it would diminish the difference between blue vs white and make it less of an issue.

That's the color temp explanation or ambient light explanation. The problem is that there are actually blue backlights, not just variations in shades of white.

yes i understand there are true blue backlighted ipods. and that's why i said my post was a little off topic and wasn't meant to try to explain this variance in backlight colors.

Phil,

Unless you've cracked an iPod with a blue display and determined that there are actual BLUE LEDs in there, then my explanation stands (as much as anyone else's). White light can appear VERY blue depending on its color temperature.

who gives a crap really? i mean, false advertising on packaging is everywhere! be happy that 1) you own an ipod in the first place and 2) it works right!! SHEESH!

My girlfriend and I both have the same model iPods (new 15gb ones). Mine was bought in Vancouver, BC and hers was bought off Ebay (seller actually got it as a give away on the Oprah show). Anyhow, hers has a blue backlight and mine has the white one. Personally I like the blue better, but like previous posts have mentioned, the light isn't as evenly distributed on the blue backlight. I've included an attachment of a picture taken of both iPods side by side with the backlights on in the dark. Sorry if the pic doesn't work. This is my first post, so I'm not exactly sure how to post pics. There were some better pics posted on some of the previous pages.

Originally posted by Jackonicko
<snip>
On the box, I thought the iPod looked black. Anyone moaning and whining that it's still white, and that Apple have misled them?

I believe someone did!!:D

Except that the actual LCD (read: the part that displays stuff) is also different between blue and white ipods, with the blue backlight LCD always being better than the white one. The white backlight never appears on the better LCD. So it's more than just a different batch of LEDs, a difference which might be more important than the backlight color because the better LCD is easier to read in all lighting.

Just got my ipod yesterday. Well, I first looked at it under florescent lights, and it looked VERY blue. Unfortunatly, when I later took it home, it had turned white. It's almost as if it changed from blue to white. I'll see what happens when I put it under florescent lights again.

Here's the easy way to tell if you have the blue (which to me appeared slightly purple too) or white backlight ipod. Look at the background of the display. If it's sandy or looks textured like sand, then it's the white backlight. If the background is crystal clear green, then it's the white backlight.

Those of you who noticed your backlight looks a different color depending on where you are, that's because you're in different lighting situations. The iPod's monitor itself is most likely not shifting in color. If you're worried it might actually be changing, you'll have to keep viewing it consistently in the same light...preferably indirect sunlight, which is the "purest". And if you're using sunlight as your reference, make sure you're viewing in the same spot at the same time of day during the same season.

Or, you know, not. *g*

As for the whole LCD/LED issue...the only thing that will affect the color, internally that is, is whatever's emitting the light and whatever it's being filtered through on its way to your eyes. Therefore if the LCDs vary-yep, that could affect the color too. I agree that the quality of the LCD is much more important, assuming the LEDs are putting out enough light to make everything nice and visible.

Originally posted by nickpod
Yeah, I have had the same experience.
I had a first one, that had a very grainy LCD, and the contrast was not very good. I would have called this a very early generation or poor LCD. And, the backlight was clearly white when illuminated.
So, I ordered another one and it has a very smooth LCD, and when I turned it on the black to background contrast was very high. Very distinct edges, the black was very sharp and the background was smooth and not grainy.

Not too surprisingly, the backlight is blue blue blue. I thin that the white backlight, the contrast is better when illuminated. But during normal viewing, it actually does not look as sharp, ala, the contrast is poor. The blue backlight version, the normal contast is best and when blue, great, but not as good as the white backlit version. Also, the blue one seems to have some little dark spots on the left side, three. I have seen this in many pictures which you can view in the links above.

I'm keeping the blue one though, since the contrast is so much better when no backlit

yes this ipod's LCD is much cleaner than my first one and i'm glad. and therefore i must conclude that it's "blue". i also have the dark spots on the left of the screen, actually 4. it's simply the area in between the LEDS that backlight the LCD. the white backlight LCDS don't have this, and are very smooth and you can't tell where the light's coming from. o well... we can't have it all.

I have seen it, it is not a myth anymore but truth. there are 2 kinds of backlight for the 3rd generation of ipod, a blue one and a white one. my 10gb 3g ipod was a white one, really white, not a single trace of blue, totally different from the poster and pic on box. when i went to fry's electronics last week, there is the 10gb 3g ipod on display like mine, EXCEPT that the light is blue, and i mean BLUE, sooooo blue. (sorry if im going crazy here) Friends listen to me, the white light is BETTER than the blue, trust me, i have seen both and the white is better, blue SUX. thanks for looking at this thread, if u already know this, just ignore my stupidity, dont post and criticize me plz. if u do not know this, then waaahllllllaaaah, here u go. thanks for looking everyone.

yes, i have seen both, they are different, no doubt about it, one is blue one is white.

Originally posted by thesexybeast
yes, i have seen both, they are different, no doubt about it, one is blue one is white.

one question, when you were in fry's electronics, did you have YOUR ipod with you? i'm willing to bet that if you did, you'd see that your ipod's backlight would be just as blue.

i'm not doubting that there are two differnt color of backlights, but retail stores usually use flouresecnt lights that make the whitest of white backlights, blue.

My friend has a brand new 10 gig iPod like mine and mine is way more blue than his. He's bringing them both to the Apple store and try to make them exchange his. It REALLY noticable. Mine is blue while his is grey/white. Weird.

Well my iPod (which looks blue) looks white by itself. It only looks blue when compared to my friend's iPod.

N-I-N-E pages already exist on this topic here, so what happens, someone decides to start another thread dedicated to the blue/white display debate.
Sorry but I'm merging this thread - please post any further comments about display colour to this thread

sorry but i have to post this, i have done some "experiment" on the 2 kinds of light, my white light (at least thats what i think it is) when turn contrast all the way down, u cannot see any of the words anymore (which i think is correct). on the other hand, the blue light, when turned contrast all the way down, is still the same as contrast at 50%, u can still see everything (weird but true). and when u turn the contrast to 100% on a blue light, the whole screen is really really really blue, which told me that the screen is blue under any light condition.

Originally posted by thesexybeast
sorry but i have to post this, i have done some "experiment" on the 2 kinds of light, my white light (at least thats what i think it is) when turn contrast all the way down, u cannot see any of the words anymore (which i think is correct). on the other hand, the blue light, when turned contrast all the way down, is still the same as contrast at 50%, u can still see everything (weird but true). and when u turn the contrast to 100% on a blue light, the whole screen is really really really blue, which told me that the screen is blue under any light condition.

This is true. I did the same test. No matter how you set the contrast on either one, the words are easier to see with the "blue" screen.

Originally posted by MicFlash
I'm just going to throw my 2 cents in. My 30gig Gen 3 had a 'normal' backlight color when i first bought it. after updating to the new firmware, it is significantly much 'bluer' than before. My roommate, who is addicted to my iPod but does not have one of his own, made the casual comment of "how did you change the color of the light?" the first time he saw it after I updated the firmware.

cheers

wow that's odd. i don't see how a software change could change the color of the leds...weird.

As long as you can set the contrast to a good level on either ipod with either backlight, then what does it matter what the contrast is at 0%.

On a side note, early ipods with the white backlight had need the contrast turned up to 75%. All blue backlight ipods need the contrast turned down to ~20%. Then white backlight ipods made after the early ones also needed the contrast down at 20%.

thesexybeast - look on page 7 of this thread or at this pic http://www.prwmusic.com/misc/ipod/dark-big.jpg . The only bad thing about it is that the white contrast is turned too high so it looks bad, where in reality it doesn't.

Originally posted by thesexybeast
yes, finally a picture, look at the picture from last post made by phil, those of u out there crying lighting affect backlight is wrong. take a look, blue and white is DIFFERENT. thanks phil.

have you ready ANY of my posts? i agreed that THERE ARE 2 different color backlights: white, and blue. my first ipod was a white backlight, and my second one has a blue backlight. now, i think i would have a little better understanding of this issue than you. secondly, besdies there being two different color backlights, under flourescent lighting, 95% of the WHITE backlighted ipods will look just as blue as the blue backlighted ipods look under ambient or natural light.

do you understand? or do we have to knock the sense into you?

Please, keep the conversation on a civil level otherwise this will not see 11 pages. ;)

im not attacking anyone, mr. administrator, and how am i stubborn to see that you are aware of something, why would i care what u r aware of, im making my own comments to those who care, not directing only at you, jeez

I guess you mean you do not have the blue light. Really, I am somewhat amazed at how much of a fuss people are putting up over this.

If you aren't happy with the "color" of your ipod display then just go ahead and return it, geez.

I don't think people are fussing about the color per se, but the inconsistency of the backlight colors on the iPods Apple is currently shipping.

And Ha! We're on page 11!

personally, i think white is better than blue, although it sounds cooler than white, when u actually have both to compare, you will probably choose the white, blue one the display is a bit greyish instead of black on white light, just my personal opinion.

anyway, with all the responses in this thread, i thought it'd be a good idea to make a poll of how many have blue, white, in between, or other color backlights. please vote here ( http://ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=30567)

thanks

Yeah my IPod (30gb gen3 UK) looks blue like that,

I like it

Too bad you got the blue backlight...I think the blue is a cliche...my watch, cell phone, clock is all blue, and I would be pretty ticked off if my iPod's backlight was blue...tough luck!