iPod Mini battery problem

Here's some info, all together in one post that might help
first: articles
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61434
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=62018
and for the battery testing
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61475

battery replacement program is at http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/service/battery/
if none of that helps. If your ipod is still in warranty, battery replacement is free (if it's past 6 months you have to pay S&H) Also, if it's in warranty, an Applecare Protection Plan for it will cover the battery and the rest of the ipod (plus free phone support)for an extra year-for the price of one battery replacement

You need to get a new battery and if you ask me you are lucky it has lasted two year.

Well, I tried Jorndan's tip today too, and it didn't work. But I think I've narrowed down some of what causes the problem. I use the sleep timer quite a bit and it seems like the next time it's used after it's turned off from the sleep timer then it won't wake up unless you hard reset it, then sometimes won't even reset and just shows the low battery warning, even though it was just recharged. Definitely sounds like a software or firmware problem.

Joel, I agree it must be software or firmware. I am wondering if there are any commonalities here. For instance, I use a Mac with my iPod, and I have only recently had this problem. I thought my battery was worn out until I came here and saw that the problem is widespread even on new iPods. Also, I noticed that some people even got new batteries which did not solve the problem. I am wondering if my latest software update caused the problem!

I found this website last night, and I think it has excellent advice. I have left my charger cord connected in my car, but not plugged in. I charged mine last night, and I am playing it now to see how it works. Seems better. Read this!

http://www.vsa.cape.com/~danh/ipod.htm#really

Ah, thanks for the tip Jordan. I hope that works. My wife's mini has been doing the same thing. She'll charge it up all the way. She plays it for a half hour, and it says it still has full battery, then the next morning it won't turn on because it says low battery. So I just replaced the battery, and it worked fine for a couple days, and now it's doing it again, so it's got to be something messed up with the software or firmware. This reset of yours is something I haven't tried yet, so I'll give it a whirl. Where did you hear about it?

sometimes whaen i charge my ipod over night when i unplug it it says da battery is only half full. then if i plug the charger bk in and take it out it will b 3/4 of da way done so i keep doin dat till its full.

Ne 1 else got dis problem?

Jordan,

Thanks for the tip. I reset my mini iPod as you described and took it to the gym. Immediately, it told me that my battery was dead. Then I brought it home and plugged it back into the charger, and it said the battery was full. Then I did another reset. It seems to be working now, but who knows if it will last? This does not seem to be a battery problem because it is so widespread. I wonder if Apple has thought of addressing it. I am wondering if it is caused by one of the software upgrades.

I am thinking of buying a shuffle instead of spending money on the battery replacement if this problem is not resolved. Maybe that is why they are not addressing it...to sell more iPods!!!

Just an update on my situation. I have taken the advice of the link in one of my previous posts. I was able to get 2 hours and 15 minutes out of my iPod last night before I did a "calibration." Now I have given it a complete charge. The only problem is that I do not use it on battery until I go to the gym, and I won't be going until tomorrow. So, I will just have to see how it goes. I could live with 2 hours at a time if it will maintain. I don't exercise for more than 2 hours. I have decided to leave the iPod on the charger almost always when not in use just to see if that helps, too.

Francoise - I'm seeing the same symptoms on my ipod mini and I wonder if you are right about the software as it seems to coincide with the last software upgrade 2005-09-23. The day before the upgrade I got at least 3 hours continuous play on a transatlantic flight (more like 4). The day after it ran flat after 1 hour. I'm going to try some of the ideas in this thread and will let you know..... (my warranty is out of date by 1 month, even though I'm on my 2nd replacement ipod which is only 6 months old... sems like a great product)

HELP!

I have the same exact problem! I sent it into apple and they said nothing was wrong with it and then sent it back. I got excited, thinking maybe they reprogramed it or something- but alas, NO! It still doesn't work! Please tell me what I can do if you find out good info.

Jordan: I have the exact same problem. I've tried resetting it also but the problem persists. My issue is that it shuts itself off about every 5 minutes while I'm exercising, but so far, when I've had it sitting on my desk (not plugged into anything), it plays on and on. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with being jossled around during a workout? I'm really dejected to learn that I could possibly send it in, pay for a new battery, be without it for a week or two, only to get it back and still have the problem!

Ok, this is getting annoying. I charge up my iPod on the iPod Dock. It shows a full charge when I take it out. I can play games and other things as usual, wihtout any problems. But whenever I try to play an audio file, it flags the message that the iPod is out of battery power and that I should connect it to the power. I am not paying Apple $70 just to fix their problem. This is their problem, not mine, so I shouldn't have to do anything. I should either get my battery replaced or get the entire iPod replaced at no cost, or I will not be buying any more products from Apple. I have had this iPod for, what, a year or two, and just because my warrenty expires or my battery dies, shouldn't mean I have to pay to get a new one. I did NOT spend $270 for something that will only last TWO YEARS. I paid for something that will last as long as I want it to. And just because a warrenty expires doesn't mean that this product wans't made by Apple and that they should not assume that they can no longer be responsible for their own products just because they don't work. I am getting this product FIXED or REPLACED. And I am NOT paying any money. I already paid for this product, and I expect it to work.

-Joseph Tannenbaum

EXACTLY the same here - 11 months and it's un-usable. i'm sending mine off in the next couple of days. really hope they fix it.