ipod shuffle 3rd gen headphones problem

I actually bought the belkin adapter and now use a different headset with the shuffle 3rd gen. Haven't had an issue since I changed out the headphones. Belkin adapter has the controller near the unit itself, and works just fine. It's $19.99 at Best Buy or online. Good luck!

I had the same problem, voice over comes on, songs skip.
I've been using the Scosche Tapline adapter rather than Scosche headphones. This moves the controls close to the shuffle itself - and further away from your head and sweat.
I bought this before I started having any sweat problems with the apple headphones, because I simply liked my other headphones better.
- To be safe for my race coming up - I'm uninstalling voice over, and putting a drip loop in the headphone cord above the adapter.
I agree a simple rubberized sleeve over the controls would most like fix the problem.

So I just talked to apple and they Do admit to the moisture problem in the controls. The suggestion is to (when i get the new headset) to cover it in protective wrap sort of a condom for the controls. In fact condom material will be perfect waterproof material, and i can use electrical tape or superglue to cap off the ends and make it watertight.
I just can't believe apple hasn't addressed this issue directly with a new product offering, i would be willing to pay more for "sweat ready" wear. They must not sell many of these, yet i see people struggling with nano's all the time in the gym, too big!

I haven't read this entire thread, so maybe someone has already discovered this, but after careful testing, the dirty little secret is this:

*It's the unit itself, NOT the headphone controls.*

Yes really. But I can plug it USB into your computer, and it works fine with iTunes?? - you say. It appears that that allows just enough time for sufficient evaporation in the jack(or circuitry) and/or the communication needs for the USB connection are lesser/different.

Try keeping the unit away from the moisture (usually your waist, arm, or neck), and see what happens. If you get it moist, try taking the headphone miniplug out of the unit's jack for a minute or so, and see what happens. Keep in mind, you don't need running drops of sweat - just slight condensation will do it.

Does Apple know? Most likely, but what are they going to do at this point - recall all 3rd Gen iPod Shuffles? It will probably be hard to design a unit that can dissapate heat while also being sealed against all moisture. After all, it may not, in fact, be the minijack connection, but rather the cicuitry inside. Perhaps they can somehow better seal that actual internal board while still allowing a heat conduit.

I, for one, have learned to live with it (keep it away from the body). Once Apple has a design fix, my guess is that they will release it quitely into the dealer channel and hope that warranties run out on the majority of the lemon units, then begin swapping-out those that they are still responsible for.

Hope it helps. Good Luck,


Z-

So I have been experimenting a bit, and below is what I have found. Some people have said they recon the moisture is getting into the headphone jack of the iPod and thats where the fault is, but I disagree with that.

*Experiment 1*
I ran with my iPod Shuffle, 5kms. First 15mins into it, it started giving problems as described in this thread. I switched it off

*Experiment 2*
Swapped my 2nd gen iPod Shuffle headphones on to my 3rd gen. I then just let the songs play as I ran. Sucked, because I couldnt skip songs. Had no problems at all the whole 5km run. iPod was on same place as experiment 1 (touching my skin).

So it looks like its definitely the headphones, and if you have a problem with the iPod itself, it has noting to do with moisture getting in. You just have a dud iPod and should get it swapped out.

There ya go...its the headphones, and no mositure issue inside the actual iPod. So Apple, when are you getting off your fat-*******-cat-Im-a-rich-*****-tick-infested-scrotum-and-dont-care-about-my-** stomers *** and doing something about this?

Like many of you, I've encounter the same exact issues and it is really annoying....i bought the 3rd gen shuffle soon after its release and experienced these issues not long after....went to apple, they gave me new headphones and a few days later, same issue...I than came on these forums and read about this sweating issue....i know a few people are using tape, and i just wanted to share what i used....Glad press and seal plastic wrap works pretty well, kinda allows you to create a inclosure for the controls without disabling its functions....anyway its ridiculous that you would have to even do this in the first place....hmm apple, you design a great product for running, working out, ect. but you dont expect people to sweat?? and still after numerous complaints and replacements you still have yet to fix the issue? I even had to buy a new shuffle a few days ago after misplacing mine and i figured they would have fixed this issue with the release of the newer models , but i was wrong, guess ill have to go back to glad press and seal.....shame on you apple

UPDATE:

http://www.apple.com/support/headphones/replacementprogram/

It looks like Apple is finally acknowledging this issue. I have no information on design changes made to the replacement headphones. The hope would be that the replacement headphones are improved in some way to prevent this issue from re-appearing.

Hiya whylord

I feel the same as you about the ipod shuffle as this was my first ever apple product - simply bought to use at the gym.

I went back to the apple store, took in the print out of the serial numbers apple know to be faulty and stayed there until i got one that i was happy with serial No: xx0151xxxxxx. At present it has had two gym outings and has been fine 🙂 Hopefully i won't get the same problems.

WEll looking bck at the other two shuffles earphones i had noticed on the right earphone the cable had a slight nick in it - so this is possibly where the sweat/moisture is getting into the wiring and making the earphones play up. As I said last time look at your serial numbers then take back to APPLE STORE and get a new one.

There is. http://www.apple.com/support/headphones/replacementprogram/

We have had the same problem with the earphones and have been back to Apple store three times (first a clean install, then a replacement ipod with earphones, and then just replacement earphones). The trick is keeping them dry. The plastic and tape is a kluge at best. Has anyone tried any of the third party head phones, like the ones by Scosche?

I overcame the sweat problem using electrical tape. I taped over the remote with a single piece, pulled it quite tight over the controls so I could still use them, then taped over the sliding button (again quite tight). It's not an elegant solution but it does work (one benefit is that the shuffle looks quite badass and Mad Max-ish now) and it's definitely a design oversight on apples part, I only use my shuffle for running so it gets a fair amount of "opportunistic" sweat. I think this problem is compounded by the fact that there just isn't much of an accessory ecosystem for the shuffle, there just isn't much to accessorize!

Message was edited by: dqm67

dqm67 wrote:
I overcame the sweat problem using electrical tape. I taped over the remote with a single piece, pulled it quite tight over the controls so I could still use them, then taped over the sliding button (again quite tight).

You shouldn't have had to have done that if Apple had gotten the design right in the first place.

There is a solution out there, but it will cost you $40 (including shipping).

http://scosche.com/products/sfID1/210/sfID2/343/productID/1848


Once I started using this I did not have any more problems with headphones and I could use non-apple headphones too.

During the summer of 2009 I realized Apple was not going to fix the problem. I routinely run and cycle (indoors) with the unit. Despite my sweat, it does not affect the unit. I highly recommend.

Good luck!

OK-

Sorry for the delay in responding to this site-been really busy, but here's the skinny so far, from Apple and my own research as well; shortly after my last submission I went and took apart my headphones and cleaned them out with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol-that worked until the next workout session; I also found that even though my shuffle was only one day old, therefore under warranty, the Apple site stated that I would have to pay $30(est.) for a 'single incident service fee' to talk to a service rep; seriously??? I went to Apple's site and found that they recommend other makers' headphones for the shuffle and it's iCrap counterparts(sorry, getting angry just writing about this, and I haven't even gotten to the good part)......I tried out the Skullcandy set, but they only control Volume, not what I need. I next tried the Sony set w/full controls; great sound, a little softer on the max volume than the Apple iBuds, but at less than half the price, they were definitely worth the dough, until, yes, they also crapped out, but after a week of 1-2 hr workout sessions indoors. PAY ATTENTION TO THIS NEXT BIT-ESPECIALLY OF YOU'RE AN APPLE REP, BECAUSE I AM COMPLETELY HONEST AND SERIOUS CONCERNING WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. I have just returned from Chicago where I spent the past week working, and had my Sony earphones die the hard death; I went strolling down Chicago's Magnificent Mile, and what to my eyes should appear but a giant, trendy APPLE STORE!!!! Complete with lighted Lucite(tm) stairs, indoors theater of some sort, and that whole 'be one with us' kind of vibe. I must have looked ready to argue, as the Customer Service Reps on the floor looked a bit tentative about approaching me. When one finally did approach, I was professional yet straightand to the point, describing this webpage, our plight, and the sheer volume of people having issues with their product. I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING, BY AN HONEST-TO-GOD UNIFORMED APPLE SERVICE REP. 1) He was 'genuinely' surprised that Apple has not made any attempt to address the problem w/the headphones directly to this site or in another manner, as the iPhone 3.0 upgrades were a direct result of information taken from these pages. 2) You're not going to believe this-he went on to state that, and I QUOTE; "Sir, as far as the headphones shorting out is concerned, you must understand that none of the Apple Components are designed to withstand any(????) contact with moisture; all I can do is offer you a set of waterproof headphones at a discount or replace your defective set with a replacement pair." My answer to this was that if what he was saying was true, the headphones he was offering me required an adapter, of which they only sold the cheaper version which has it's own lifespan problems, as listed under Apple's product review pages concerning said item. I went on to explain that they must have searched long and hard to find enough people without sweat glands to jump around and dance, etc, for their iPod commercials, as there couldn't have been any moisture near those devices, now could there???? The cap to all this is I just received an email today from Apple concerning my 'recent iPod purchase'-they want feedback....OK, here you are, plus this-I view your(Apple Computers, Inc.) marketing of a defective product to the general public without any form of recompense in the manner of a replacement of the proven defective part WITH AN UPGRADED VERSION of same item, for free, as a gross display of customer negligence on your behalf; that you offer a site to list any problems with your products would be commendable had your staff actually taken the minimal time required to draft a legally sterile document protecting you from litigation while at least giving your customer base the illusion of making an effort to rectify your errors, not the least being quality control and an obviously out-of-touch R&D department in the realm of portable MP3 platforms. Based upon your own representative's statements in the city of Chicago on 26 FEB 2010, I feel there is enough to warrant forwarding this as well as several other posts, if not the entire link, to the Better Business Bureau. I feel that your business practices, especially your service packages border on being Machiavellian as far as the end user is concerned. To charge a long-time customer a fee for assistance with a product that could not function as advertised for more than 24 hours shows a decidedly negative view of customer support in your firm. I do not wish ill upon your company, but I do believe that your practices need to be brought under review and your loyal, long-suffering advocates should find some recompense, if only in an upgraded, functional, moisture-resistant pair of earphones to be issued upon receipt of recalled units. I am submitting this to your 'Feedback' Dept. as well as the BBB upon completion of this document. I hope to hear from you in a positive manner that will allow us, your users, to work with you to create a truly enjoyable fitness-enhancing device. Thank you for your time.

My shuffle failed on my first run in December. Since then its been a battle to keep the controls dry. The Belkin adapter works, but if you get one, tape the 2 ends together to provide stress relief on the control pod. Mine eventually broke due to 3' of ear bud cable tugging on it. My complaints and feedback to Apple have fallen on deaf ears. I enjoy the shuffle now only for indoor non-exercise use. With Apple I have voted with my feet. As long the ear-bud issue is unresolved, I don't consider any of their other products and any itunes content shall go unpurchased.