I went running with my new shuffle this morning, and after about 25 minutes the volume maxed out. I think it's because some sweat got into the headphone controls and shorted the volume increase button. Has anybody else had an issue like this?
Me too. This stinks. I tried to replace the headphones with the ones with the mic from the Apple store, and they lasted even less time. I feel like Apple has ripped me off for $110.
Sorry to hear your having so many problems. I normally like to use my own sealed headset but because of this design, not only are we all facing the moisture issue but we cant even use our own sealed headsets unless we purchase an adapter which IMO may potentially have the same exposure to moisture issue..
As certain people in this forum have directed me to submitting feedback to Apple or getting an adapter for use with my own headset because of problems with Apple's. I too am disappointed with Apple and welcome any design changes in the future. Put the controls back on the Shuffle Apple and eliminate the moisture problem.
In the meantime, as others on this forum would suggest.. If you don't like Apple's headset, purchase an adapter and good luck using it.. Never know, it might work out.. and in that case, you just had to spend another extra 20 dollars more than you should have had to.. Good luck and sorry your having so many problems...
PS.. I went back an got a refurb 2G shuffle at Apple.com and it is working fine on my daily run...
Just got it primarily for workouts and after a couple of rides remote no longer controls volume. I can skip tracks and so forth with middle button but the volume buttons do absolutely nothing.
I think i managed to fix it (my buttons work now) but havent tested with another workout yet to know if it will come back.
If anyones wondering i pulled the back off the remote (very gently), peeled up the two metallic buttons (with a very sharp knife) and found a heap of corrosion on the terminals. Cleaned it off and put it all back together and it works again. I took pictures if anyone is interested, however not being an electronics wizz im not sure what i can do to permanently solve the problem.. i think the moisture must get in from where the back of the remote clips on so maybe there is like some goo you can put in there lightly to keep moisture out?
got the same problem and will try to impermiabilize the control. actually, i'm going thru my 3rd set of earphones... always the same problem.
actually, I was hoping for apple to be producing some answer/replacement, but now that i learn that this problem is ongoing since march... well... i'll work out with my old mp3!
Dear Apple,
You are going to hate me for this but hears the truth and the solution.
I was inspecting the iPod Shuffle 3G and I see that the headphone jack is acting as the core intake for everything (+Remote).
Either a create new headphone jack or make that area sealed BETTER so that nothing use that Very dependent jack
Now the Remote should have compressible rubber where there are air gaps, reducing all moisture to affect the chip inside.
(The mic is a problem that really cant be solved, since at times it can be useful)
A New line of headphones (still white... that's signiture) has long been over due.
this is so true. mine gave up twice and the new replacement head-set just gave way after a 30 minute run on a tread mill. The headset quality is so bad, this product is so not for sports!, please tell all your friends not to even consider buying the product, i'm so disappointed with Apple for releasing a product without properly testing the product.
I have kind of similar problem- I have in-ear earphones with mic and I noticed sometimes iPod keeps decreasing the volume to minimum (music is barely heard), although it's not covered by sweat- it happens when I sit for example in the bus... The remote is 100% functional- I think it's the iPod...
I am shocked that Apple would release a product like this without testing it! It would have taken 1 person to run with this useless device for about 30 minutes before it stopped functioning! I mean seriously, with all of Apples cutting edge engineers, how hard is it to make the Shuffle water resistant, if not water proof? Or forget water resistance, just make it so it doesn't stop functioning when it's too humid outside. This product is Apple's worst product ever! I'm just glad I didn't spring $100 for the stainless steel one!
This has been happening to me since the first day I got the in-the-ear buds from Apple. Today at the gym while running, the volume maxed out and about blew me onto the other treadmill.
It's not only the moisture of the sweat, but the conductive part is the salt in your sweat. So that means that the salt will eventually corrode the internal components and we'll all end up buying new ear buds as well. I think I got about 20 minutes into the run before I had to quit with ringing ears.
I believe that moisture is getting into the small hole on the back of the ear buds or at the microphone on the control. The ear hole is used to equalize the pressure when you put them in your ears. Some one might try covering up this hole and see if it makes any difference. If you don't use the microphone might want to try covering that one up too. Obviously, this was missed during testing. If there was any testing.
Lastly, a very small amount of Vasaline around the outside of the ear bud and on the edge of the control will repel any sweat away so it doesn't get into any of the cracks around the ear bud or the controls. I'm still experimenting on a fix.
Agreed,
The only reason to buy a shuffle is to use it when you work out. Not only do the included headphones fail soon after coming in contact with any sweat, but it's also impossible to use the 3rd Gen shuffle with any other set of spare headphones because you cant control your music! Absolutely TERRIBLE design!
Yes, terrible design! I'm frustrated with spending more and more money on my shuffle just so it works when I'm running. I've been looking around for something else I can use, if anyone knows anything about this company in California called Swimman I'd be interested, they're saying they have a solution, it looks good on their website, I'm just not sure. I want this to be the last headset I have to buy for a while.
I have a solution but you won't like it. I've been running with my 2nd gen shuffle for two years now and the controls have never failed, sweaty or not. You can still buy a 2GB 2nd gen shuffle from Apple direct, albeit refurbished. Price? $59, same as 2GB 3rd gen shuffle! But, IMHO, a better running machine. Period. Wouldn't you think the brand new 2GB shuffle would cost more than a refurb old model? Apple is telling us something here.
