iPod Nano 3rd gen freezing/crashing on connect

This is extremely frustrating.

My Nano (8gb, 3rd gen) recently started freezing whenever I connect it to the computer (iMac 20"). I have to reset it (lock on/off and depress menu/select simultaneously and hold for a few seconds).

I currently have iPod firmware (1.1.3) installed.

I was having no problems with it until recently - and here's what changed:

-I finally registered my iPod after being tired of seeing the screen pop up everytime I connected to iTunes.
-I upgraded to the latest version of iTunes (8.1).

Now, I don't know if either of these are coincidence or related to my crashing iPod... but it was interesting that I just registered the unit and started experiencing issues. Again, could be the iTunes software. Who knows. I surely don't.

I also noticed that the iPod (once reset and if not frozen) also will show connected only for a few seconds if iTunes is launched (suddenly the iPod shows on the desktop), indicates a sync is in progress, and then disconnects. Is this normal? This didn't do this before either.

I tried just about everything suggested on the forums to no avail (make sure you're not playing any tunes when connected, uncoil the cable, etc).

I know there are several posts on this issue, but I have yet to see one that resolves it adequately, or without having to sprinkle pixie dust and jump on one foot. I don't believe the cable has suddenly gone bad or is getting too many Gaussian rays from being coiled up. It's just too strange that this started happening when it did, when nothing else changed but what I stated.

Has this been fixed??? If not...

Apple - please fix it... *blowing out the candles*.