strike u as normal...?
Hi all,
I've only recently purchased my ipod (couple days ago), and i wanted to see how long the battery lasts in normal use. Basically, the battery died after 5hrs and 50 mins. When i say "normal use" i mean i flipped tracks from album to album all the time, and i think i did about 3 or 4 transfers from itunes > ipod.
Do you think that's about right, or have i got reason to be peeved?
Thx
[434 byte] By [
Xplosiv] at [2007-11-9 17:44:11]
# 1 Re: strike u as normal...?
So you were transfering songs from itunes to the ipod? If so, i'd say that you are definately getting the best from your battery. That sort of use really sucks up alot of battery.. Once you have your iPod for a while you'll probably find that you're not transfering songs as much and the batterty will last longer.. If you're flipping from album to album alot AND transfering music, your hardrive was probably spinning all the time... I'd say that that sort of use would extend past "normal use." As to whether or not you should be peeved, Ig uess it comes down to this:
Are you going to be transfering new music to your ipod 3 or 4 times a day?
Are you going to be flipping from album to album constantly?
If so, does six hours of battery use fit your needs?
After you use your ipod for a while, i think you will find that you depend on random playlists more and more, and that you update songs less and less... so your battery life will be a little longer...If the ipod's batteries doesn't fit your needs, consider another mp3 player. I do wish that the iPod gave me more battery life, but I can only recall one time in three months of use that I have actually run out of battery..
Try to plug your iPod in to charge whenever you're around your charger, and you shouldn't have a problem..
Eric
PS I hope this post made sense, it's pretty late here and I am a bit scatterbrained :-)
# 2 Re: strike u as normal...?
Thank you for your post - it made a lot of sence.
As i mentioned, i only got my iopd the other day, so i've been putting all my music on there (i've probably transfered about 400ish tracks so far). So I guess you're right - that probably does take a bit of battery life up. As for usage, i'm sure that I wont run out of battery power hardly ever as long as i charge it at night. I suppose when i'm on holiday and i want to play it through speakers i can just plug it into a power supply anyway.
My main concern was to make sure that i dont have a dud battery. I might well do the battery-challenge i.e. put an album on repeat and see if it runs for 7 hours or more. Fingers crossed it will cause i seem to be jinxed with electrical purchases - always end up taking it back!
Thanks again.
# 3 Re: strike u as normal...?
I've had my iPod for about a week now but haven't bothered checking how long the battery lasts. I supose if it suddenly dies on me it'll be the first thing I do!
# 4 Re: strike u as normal...?
Originally posted by Xplosiv
My main concern was to make sure that i dont have a dud battery. I might well do the battery-challenge i.e. put an album on repeat and see if it runs for 7 hours or more.
A more accurate test would be to create a large Playlist in iTunes with all of your songs, load that into the iPod and start playing the Playlist. This will minimize the hard-drive usage compared to repeating one song or an entire album over and over.
AndyH at 2007-11-15 14:11:06 >
# 5 Re: strike u as normal...?
Originally posted by AndyH
A more accurate test would be to create a large Playlist in iTunes with all of your songs, load that into the iPod and start playing the Playlist. This will minimize the hard-drive usage compared to repeating one song or an entire album over and over.
That's right. Also, if you're going to run a battery test, turn off the clock and the EQ, those effect your battery's life a little bit..
Eric
# 6 Re: strike u as normal...?
yes, i'll do a big play list and put it on repeat. I have to say that i'm not entirely convinced that my iopd will last the distance in this test. Take today, for instance: i've used it for about 2 hours - admittedly i've been flicking from album to album and did 1 itunes transfer - but the energy bar is almost on half way already! That cant be good can it?
Like i say, i'm going to undertake the charge-challenge whilst at work tomorrow to put this matter to rest once and for all. I will report back the results tomorrow in either glorious contentment, or with more than a hint of depression in my text.
# 7 Re: strike u as normal...?
oh, and one more thing - does using the volume adjustment make the ipod use extra power when playing music, even if you have the volume turned down low? I've made the tracks louder on a lot of my tunes but I'm assuming by turning the volume down to almost the minimum level it will stop any extra power-usage...
# 8 Re: strike u as normal...?
well the louder your iPod, the more battery it is using, but really the effect (especially with stock headphones) shouldn't be noticable...
Also... DISREGARD THE BATTERY INDICATOR :-) It is extremely unreliable. keep listening and I suspect that your battery will last as long as it should...
If you don't "pass" the battery test, then you should get your iPod serviced... It should be free and you'll be alot happier with your iPod,
but don't worry, from what you have said I'm pretty sure your iPod is fine...
Eric
# 9 Re: strike u as normal...?
Originally posted by jahwork328
If you don't "pass" the battery test, then you should get your iPod serviced... It should be free and you'll be alot happier with your iPod
Actually, with the battery life that he's reporting I highly doubt Apple will "service" his iPod.
Apple's web site states the battery life of the iPod Mini as 8 hours per charge, but then as a footnote they mention: "Battery life varies by use."
AndyH at 2007-11-15 14:16:10 >
# 10 Re: strike u as normal...?
Well, if his unit is defective, I'm pretty sure they'd service it. I just had to fill out a service application for headphones, and battery was one of the options.... If the unit is brand new and the battery only gives you three hours of life, it's broken, and somebody better be taking it back!
I guess you could always get a replacement..Maybe that's what the "battery" option was for on the service request form, the 100 dollar battery replacement thing...
But I'd be suprised if they wouldn't replace the battery on a brand new defective unit for free... you know, beyond the realm of varying by use...
EDIT: I've heard people talk about how they had to go through three ipods before they got a working battery... I'm sure they didn't just buy three different ipods.
# 11 Re: strike u as normal...?
If my ipod doens't last at LEAST 6 and a half hours continuous play then it's definately going back; apple certainly arn't exempt from consumer law nomatter what little get-out clauses they might put in the small-print! I bought my iopd from a shop, as opposed to over the net, partially because if something goes wrong you can slap it down on the counter and cause a stink if need be.
# 12 Re: strike u as normal...?
Well the results are in. I got 8 hours continuous play out of my ipod today using the testing criteria mentioned above. That means i wont be taking it back and i'll just hafta be content with the battery life. I'm sure i'll survive with 5 hours (ish) of normal usage. It was really hard having to listen to tracks i'd usually skip!
# 13 Re: strike u as normal...?
Maybe you should consider buying the belkin battery pack? There are also rumors of a rechargable battery back that should add up to 40 hours of life to the iPod...
Of course, these things kind of defeat the purpose, don't they?
-Eric
