iPod Classic 160GB randmonly pauses while listening to music.

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iPod Classic 160GB randmonly pauses while listening to music.

So I thought it may be that I keep accidentaly knocking the pause button when it is in my jacket pocket, but then I picked it up and hit play, and it froze right away. Did this 5 times in around 20 seconds, so I restarted it. Now it will just randomly freeze whenever. I figured I would put it on hold and see if that would help, maybe the pause button is just sensative or something. Well, all was going well then it happened, froze.

By the way, when I say freeze, I mean it pauses, like I am hitting the pause button, but I am not. I haven't reset it yet through my computer because I am in a Foreign country (europe actually), but I will do that when I get home.

Could it be the headphone jack, and something is loose inside, and sometimes it thinks the headphones come out? because I know yanking the headphones out will pause the iPod after about 2 seconds, but I am not pulling them out.

Any advise? I have a service plan through Futureshop, but seriously, the last time I sent it in (my old 30GB), apple said nothing was wrong with it, sent me it back, and it was still broken. And my options dont seem good if it is broken, send it in and they send me back a crappy refurb, or I get a brand new one, and considering they dont make the 160 anymore, I dont want a 120. I bought a 160 because I want the 160GB, I need that much!! 120 is too little.

/rant

Dell, Windows XP

Posted on Oct 21, 2008 2:28 PM

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Answer 1

shieber

Level 1

20 points

Oct 31, 2008 5:20 AM in response to JPeeper

A problem with the Classic models is that ocassionally they pause for about 2 seconds while playing. It will happen even with the latest version of the software installed. The prob seems to be reported more often with the 160GB model than the 80GB. Most folks attribute it to the small size of the read-ahead cache. A bigger cache would probably prevent the problem while shortening battery life since a large cache would use more energy. Apple's cure was to discontinue the 160gb, a draconian cure although Apple probably had other reasons too such as the Ipod price point compared to the Itouch. . .

But it doesn't seem likely that Apple will do anything about the issue.

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Answer 2

Oct 31, 2008 5:45 AM in response to JPeeper

I'm having the same problem too. Sometimes it is a problem with the headphone jack when it gets moved it sometimes pauses itself thinkign that the headphones have been removed, but earlier it did it when I had my ipod connected up to my stereo. Ok, it is connected by the headphone jack but nothing had even touched it and nothing had moved it because the ipod was right next to me. So I have a feeling there might also be a problem with the firmware...

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Answer 3

shieber

Level 1

20 points

Oct 31, 2008 6:01 AM in response to uvebeenvezzified

There could be more than one problem but the one most often reported has nothing to do with what you touch or which version the firmware, the Ipod just behaves as if, ocassionally, it can't keep up with the music. If it is a cache size problem, it's unlikely that a firmware revision would fix it. More importantly, it doens't appear that that Apple intends to attemp a fix via firmware or it would have done so by now -- these units have been on the street for well over a year now.

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Answer 4

Oct 31, 2008 1:50 PM in response to shieber

Actually a larger cache would not just be better for avoiding skipping but will improve batter life too because it takes much lower power to keep the memory alive than to spin the hard drive more often. The only downside is that the profit will be few cents lower for Apple because more cache costs more... So that's why we have to take 2-3 seconds pauses while we try to listen to music using iPod Classic: because of the costs/profits. A decision that lost lots of customers. I wonder where the profit is after all.

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Answer 5

Nov 2, 2008 6:28 AM in response to shieber

Actually IMO it is easily fixable via a firmware update. Classic works like this (from what I understand): when the buffer empties, it spins de HDD to fetch more data and refill the buffer. If the software is well written, it won't miss a condition like "buffer at 10%, I need data" and will spin the HDD in time to get enough data without a pause. Buffer should never reach an almost empty state because the HDD takes time to spin up. The problem is not that cannot keep with the stream of data, not by far (since the HDD is idle most of the time). It is just that the software doesn't get WHEN to spin the HDD and in occasions it misses the point where it is already too late to spin the HDD because the buffer is empty. The problem may be completely different however since we have no way to put a breakpoint in code and see exactly what the condition is but the problem is clearly in code and it is fixable. It just takes a developer to fix it... something that it seems too much for us to get.

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Answer 6

Nov 8, 2008 9:44 PM in response to userksky007

Hi
Ive been having this problem as well. My music will be playing and the ipod will just randomly pause. It doesn't come back after 2-3 seconds though, it just stays paused. I have to take it off hold and press play again. Has anyone found anything that might help? I have an 80G Classic by the way.

Thanks

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Answer 7

shieber

Level 1

20 points

Nov 9, 2008 6:49 AM in response to Emerald_Elphaba

If you are within the warranty period, definitely go to an apple store or contact apple about a replacement. Apple doesn't actually do repairs on individual ipods but replaces them with rebuilts. All the defective ones are shipped back to China and rebuilt or parts salvaged in bulk. But a repalcemetn is better than one that doesn't work.

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Answer 8

Dec 2, 2008 12:20 AM in response to JPeeper

Mine is suffering from the same disease, it pauses randomly for 1 to 3 seconds even if it just begun playing. I don't think it has anything to do with the cache size, but maybe with a hard drive freezing. It doesn't happen when I use it in my car. Weird, huh? I'm gonna wait for a while before taking it to the store. It has been used only for 2 months now. So I'm waiting for a new firmware or return it to the store later. It has 10 more months warranty anyway. The longer I wait the better.

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Answer 9

razor45

Level 1

10 points

Dec 2, 2008 6:26 AM in response to JPeeper

I have a 160 and no problem so far, but it has only been probably juat a week.

I got a new 160 after I bought an exhibit and it didn't charge.

Have you tried to use the "hold" button, to see if something is wrong with your click wheel and start/pause button?

I noticed the headphone pulling maybe you should try different earphones, I have never used the apple ones.

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Answer 10

razor45

Level 1

10 points

Dec 2, 2008 6:51 AM in response to shieber

The 160 has more power than the 120

Up to 40 hours of music playback; up to 7 hours of video playback
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP15

120
Playback time
Music playback time: Up to 36 hours when fully charged

Video playback time: Up to 6 hours when fully charged
http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic/specs.html

I think the 160 has a bigger battery, 850ma and the others have 500ma or so

Message was edited by: razor45

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Answer 11

jrm923

Level 1

0 points

Dec 23, 2008 4:24 PM in response to JPeeper

this has recently begun to happen to me aswell and god knows how many times ive reset or restored my ipod. I have an appointment with the apple store near me tomorrow so ill post whatever they tell me but i did give my ipod to best buy for 2weeks only to have them tell me they couldnt duplicate the problem at their apple service station, so basically they did nothing and wanted me to pay 15 bucks, luckily i complained and the guy at geek squad deleted the charge. its gonna be christmas in 2 days and the only thing i want is a frikn ipod that works, so i hope your listening apple cuz the economy is bad and people dont like shelving out 350 big ones for defective products. If u truly had your customers at heart u would fix this now.......

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Answer 12

Dec 24, 2008 4:44 AM in response to jrm923

Sorry to disappoint you but some of us here have this problem (reported repeatedly) for over a year now with absolutely no effect or reaction. I lost hope, there is really nothing to be hopped from such an arrogant company like Apple. Sad.

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