iPod Battery working like a Zombie?
Most of our electronic devices from cell phones to iBooks, not to mention the very popular iPods use rechargeable lithium-based batteries for power. But with so much demand of these electronic devices that use this type of battery, does any one really take the time to find out how to maximize the life of these batteries? You take the time to buy these electronic devices every day and take the time to learn how to properly use them. So the question then remains, do you actually take the time to learn how to properly make the life of the battery work as long as you can before you have to break down and buy a replacement battery? In addition, as everyone knows, most of these rechargeable batteries are not cheap.
It is actually more economical to learn right from the beginning the proper steps in extending the life of the battery.
Some of the first iPods models introduced did not have a battery pack that could easily be replaced by the consumer. It came with an enclosed battery pack that made it only possible to open by breaking your iPod. Many other iPod knock offs also had similar enclosed battery packs. As you can imagine this became a problem for some consumers, Apple, the maker of the iPod, would not even consider replacing these worn out batteries. The solution Apple had in place was that the consumer should buy either a brand new iPod or a used one.
This is where third-party battery replacement kits hit the market. Apple, being competitive as they usually are, decides to announce a program that would replace worn out batteries. But, of course, with all the third party competition out there that are selling these battery replacement kits, this makes it very possible for the consumer to not only find new replacement batteries, but to also find it cheaper than they would through Apple. This is not to mention the fact that it would have more capacity than the standard battery that Apple originally came with.
How much to replace your iPod battery you ask? Apple will replace your iPod for a service fee of $59, plus $6.95 shipping (06/25/06). Apple now also offers the replacement service via Apple Retail locations in addition to the original mail-in method.
When extending the life of your iPod batteries consider the following.
- You want to make sure that the most current iPod software installed.
- You want to only use the “hold” switch.
- You want to make sure to keep it at room temperature.
You want to only use the “hold” switch.
In addition, you want to make sure that your “hold” switch is set on your iPod and the remote when it is not in use. So, if any of the buttons are accidentally bumped if it’s in your pocket or a bag, it will not come on.
You want to make sure to keep it at room temperature.
One of the biggest issues is keeping your iPod at room temperature as much as possible. If, for some reason, it ever gets left out in the cold, make sure it is completely warmed up first before turning it back on. If you find that your iPod still won’t come on, plug it into power adaptor and press the menu button and play/pause button until the Apple logo appears onto the screen.
The iPod should also never be left in a vehicle in extremely hot weather or one that is parked directly in sunlight. Also along with that the iPod should never be left in any kind of direct sunlight, doing this for any long period of time could really ruin your day.
Even charging the battery can affect the life of the battery. Lithium batteries are rechargeable but are generally only good for 300-to 500-charge/discharge cycles.
A brand new battery is going to hold a much better charge for a longer period of time compared to a slightly older battery but most users won’t even really notice this because it is such a gradual decrease.
Now let’s talk a little about fast charging your iPod battery. A fast charge will get your batter back up to 80% of its capacity in about an hour whereas a full charge will take more like 4 hours. When the iPod is in sleep mode it is still using current and will slowly drain your battery. If the iPod is kept at the recommended temperatures, the battery should empty in about 14 to 28 days.
There are a couple of tips people do not even think will affect the battery but do. One is charging your iPod while in its carrying case or cover. Also, always fully charge the battery even if it isn’t going to be used right away. Make sure to always use pause when not in use because if you decide to leave it playing, the iPod will keep playing until the battery is completely dead. It’s smart to use the sleep mode to save the life of your battery and you can set up this feature by simply pressing the play button till the iPod quietly goes to sleep.
Backlighting, although cool, is also a feature that can use up a lot of battery life. You really should try to avoid using this feature. In fact do yourself a favor and set it up so it won’t be used. You can do this by choosing the settings and then going to backlight timer and choosing off. While you’re in settings you may notice the equalizer setting, it is also another feature that will drain your battery unfortunately. As with the backlighting if you want to save on the battery set this to off also. To do this choose settings, then equalizer and then off.
If you can avoid changing tracks by pressing the previous/rewind buttons or the next/fast forward buttons, this will also help retain the life of your battery. When you change audio tracks by using these buttons the iPod has to turn on its hard drive and open songs. This uses a lot of juice. Try to only use compressed songs. They seem to work the best. If these files are large and not compressed, you may want to compress them or change them to a different file format. When importing songs into your iTunes you will find that MP3’s or AAC files will work the best.
