Battery Drains While Updating
I have 30G iPOD formatted for Windows. I've got about 20G of music on Music Match that I want to sync to my iPOD. The problem is that even with the iPOD battery fully charged, I run out of battery power on the iPOD to complete the sync before it's done. I know that the HD is spinning full-speed-ahead during the whole sync, but come on, how can it run out of a full charge before a one-hour (or so) sync is accomplished?
Anybody else out there with this problem? I'm thinking that the new FireJuice device coming out from SIK (they can't say when it's coming out for sure ... a supplier problem) might be the answer.
Your thoughts, comments, questions? Thanks.
[709 byte] By [
fbuechner] at [2007-11-9 12:43:04]
# 1 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
I take it you're not using firewire or if you are you're on a laptop?
An hour is about right when syncing. Remember, it's doing hardly any spinning when it's playing.
Can you get a powered firewire card, or go to USB 2.0 w/the external power supply?
It's really a challenge not having the 'pod powered during sync. If you're not careful you can lose power in the middle of upload and due to corrupted disks you need to reformat entirely. A pain indeed.
Adam
# 2 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
Thanks for your note. Yes, I'm on a Windows laptop using a four-pin firewire connection not a USB 2.0 ... so nothing is powered during the sync. Have you heard about the powered SIK Firejuice connection that is coming out? I wish there were an easier fix.
# 3 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
I've just gotten my 3g 15GB ipod and am having the same problem. I'm using the 4 pin firewire on my Windows laptop. I synched 10GB in one go directly after it was fully charged. It completed the sync in about an hour or so. After I took it out of the dock and pressed Menu it died immediately. To say the least it is REALLY annoying when this happens, as it ruins the whole sync and go theory.
I just checked the SIK website and still no word about the new Firejuice yet. Against my better judgement I signed up to their mailing list with my real email and am hoping to hear about the 3G compatible Firejuice soon.
pie at 2007-11-15 17:08:27 >
# 4 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
I would really recommend trying to do a sync while powered either by using 6pin firewire or USB2.0 and plugged in at same time.
But if this is not an option then maybe you could try syncing a little at a time? Progressively add more of your collection to the library, then sync, charge and repeat.
Yeah it may be a pain, but I guess once the 'big' sync is over it will only ever be small sync's to update the music.
Anyways just some suggestions, good luck...
mulgar at 2007-11-15 17:09:27 >
# 5 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
Thanks for your suggestion.
I have just purchased a PowerBook G4 12" and transfered my music library from my PC to my new Apple. Now I can sync with power. I wanted to get the new Apple and so this need pushed me over the top. Thanks for the suggestions friends.
Gregg Lamm
# 6 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
I was excited when I found this thread... Thought I'd find an answer for this problem, but it appears the thread has died. Please revive! Can anyone offer some fixes/suggestions on this issue? For background: Using a Dell 8200 w/WinXP Home and a USB2 card; 15GB iPod for Win - purchased 2 weeks ago. MMJB cannot detect iPod (XP & computer does recognize, however), so after about 15-20 mins, the battery dies, even if fully charged OR in the docking station with the dual charging adaptor cable plugged into the station (it will not charge at all when it is plugged into the docking station--another issue).
Also perplexing is that sometimes MMJB will recognize the iPod, and sometimes it won't. On the few occasions where MMJB has recognized iPod, I can transfer music to it which has taken me 30 or more minutes to organize & transfer, but the battery has not died during this procedure. Does anyone have any input on this? Thank you!
GQ1 at 2007-11-15 17:11:25 >
# 7 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
GQ1:
Doesn't sound right. You say that you have the Apple USB/Firewire cable and you've got the firewire portion of the cable plugged into the AC adaptor? And it still loses power? Is the battery meter indicating that it's receiving a charge (look for a little lightning bolt) on the iPod?
Regarding MMJB, can't help you there. I highly recommend that you dump it for one of the other programs. They are all better options. I prefer MC9 (Media Center 9), but Xplay and ephpod all work great.
Adam
# 8 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
Hi Adam, thank you for replying... No, there is no lightning bolt when it's plugged into the dock/cable; I see no charge activity at all. Bought the cable from an Apple store here in town & the dock of course came w/the iPod.
For MMJB, I would love to do just that, dump it! I've installed ephpod, but the program doesn't always work. Some strange things have happened since I installed iPod, ephpod, and the MMJB version that came w/iPod, such as the Task Manager not staying open and ephpod attempting to open, but also won't stay open, etc. I haven't dumped MMJB yet because I was able to transfer some of my music to iPod when it's decided to allow it. Thanks again for any ideas.
Gina
GQ1 at 2007-11-15 17:13:33 >
# 9 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
For windows laptop users here is the charging solution that I arrived at after having had similar problems:
Bought a pcmcia firewire card (unpowered, 2 port) from ebay (?22)
Bought a 6pin - 6 pin firewire cable (?5)
Plug the new firewire cable into the ipod mains adapter and the other end into the firewire card
Plug the ipod into the firewire card
Et voila! The ipod can now be powered when hooked up to your pc!
# 10 Re: Battery Drains While Updating
Gina:
A couple of suggestions. If you want to use ephpod, make sure to uninstall the MMJB iPod Plugin. It is a menace. I also recommend uninstalling iPod Manager as it can cause connection problems and all sorts of wackiness. It's not needed. You can and should leave the iPod Updater program installed in case you ever need to restore your iPod.
Then try ephpod and see how it goes.
Adam
