iPod Shuffle Moisture problem / Sweat Malfunction / Headphones do not work

I have the same problem, after I start sweating the inline control malfunctions and starts telling me the names of the playlist without me touching anything. It also decreases volume by itself and none of the button commands have any effect on the music.

i've been having this problem with the apple in-ear headphones, which i paid like $40 for... gets about 28 minutes in and starts repeating song titles, etc.

lufgtuf

Message was edited by: tkdfilipe

hiya guys

Same problem with my earphones - had my first shuffle exchanged, but now my ipod 4gb has started with the same problem taking it back on sunday to the store> If you want to check out this link www.apple.com/support/headphone/replacementprogram it tells you which ipods are affected by these earphones- Apple have kindly listed the range of serial numbers of ipod shuffles affected.

Hope this helps!!!!!!

Recently purchased the 3rd Generation iPod Shuffle (Not a serial number included in the replacement program). I have not been able to get through one workout with this product without it failing due to moisture. I bought this shuffle to replace a Nano that never failed during a workout but required the use of an armband. There is clearly something wrong with this product as this is the first iPod, Walkman, Rio, Portable CD player I've ever had that failed during a workout. I was drawn to the small size and I assume most others also purchased this product for exercising. I have also tried both the Belkin Adaptor ($20) and the iLuv Adaptor ($10) and both failed during the first workout as well... usually about 30 minutes before it flakes out. Do not buy this product if you intend to use it exercise with! This is a lemon and should be avoided.

ok - so my wife and i started running over the winter, and everything was great until it started getting hot out. as many of you have stated, the newer iphone/ipod headphones with volume and remote control start to malfunction when they get sweaty. it's maddening to run to and if you're using Nike+, it makes you want to throw your phone 50 yards. i did research and experimentation on this problem over the weekend, and here's what i've found...

the remote/mic "box" is like a long thin rectangle on the right earbud. it has a line running down both long sides of it. if you use a knife, you can gently snap the back of this "box" off (the part with the mic hole, NOT the volume buttons). underneath is a small circuit board held down on 2 (very small) plastic posts. use the very thin part of the knife's blade to lift the circuit board off these posts. next, wipe everything down with a Q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol (top of the board, underneath, bottom of board, etc.) once it's thoroughly cleaned, re-assemble and give it a try. if that doesn't work (it didn't for me). disassemble again, this time soak the entire assembly in rubbing alcohol for 10 seconds. swish it around as best you can. i used a tiny bowl. let it completely air dry and reassemble. this soaking trick worked for me and i preformed a little victory dance.

the very next thing i did was cut the corner from a sandwich baggie, slipped it over the right earbud, and secured the triangular shape of the baggie about an inch above the mic/remote and secured it with electrical tape. as i wound the baggie and tape, it created a nice cone-shaped cover over the assembly, thus keeping it from getting wet. my baggie protection goes about an inch past the bottom of the assembly.

this morning i tested it during a hot, 3 mile run. all functions worked and i am once again a happy runner. hopefully this helps others who have the same problem.

I just started using by brand new Shuffle 3G. I am a runner and run mostly outdoors. I experienced the same problem due to sweat. First, the shuffle began announcing the song title and artist, and then the playlists, all without my not touching the controls. Then the volume went down to a whisper and I could not change it. Given the control buttons are sitting on or touching your neck when you are upright, they will be in contact with sweat if you are sweating. To me the primary purpuse of having such a small player is that it is light enough for workouts. Apple needs to waterproof the controls and offer replacement earphones. I have a Iphone 3G, and had used previous generations of the shuffle up to this point. I am a stauch Apple supporter, but they need to get this fixed right or it will turn me and many other users off.

Thanks a bunch, 0Ari0! Glad to find your helpful post among the many, many, many, repetitive complaints. Received my replacement pair the very next day. Let's hope these hold up! lol

So that is why my ipod shuffle won't shuffle. Exactly the same problems as listed above - no volume control, the songs won't shuffle and the voice repeatedly telling me the name of the song over and over again. I was so happy to get this for my 50th birthday last March and it made a big difference in my running speed. It makes no sense that Apple would not have figured that many people who use this product will be sweating/exercising while listening to music.
Am I entitled for a free replacement set of headphones??
I sure hope so!!

I was thinking of getting the new ipad but with the problems I have had with this Ipod Shuffle gen 3 I have lost some faith in Apple and their ability to sort out this simple issue that is affecting so many people. what I don't understand is there are no real alternatives - it seems no 34d party company has come up with a decent solution to this problem and apple have just put their head in the sand.

I just bought my Ipod shuffle today and was unaware of this huge issue until now! This is really concerning me. I am wondering if I should just bite the bullet and buy the Swimman waterproof headphones for $40 or the Scosche control case for $20 but then I have to buy another pair of headphones.... Ughhh I am so mad at Apple right now! They really need to fix this! Who would buy this product for a purpose other than running?? Are they kidding me?? This is a problem that should have been caught in the research stage- not now!

My first headphones stopped working after a work out, the volume controls didnt work, even after leaving it for ages and trying again. I got them replaced bt Apple, I did stress to the person on the phone that I didnt want this to happen again, they said it wouldnt. Guess what, I've just applied to have my second set returned. The volume controls didnt work again. Then after a while they did. Then they stopped again, this happened a few times, now the stop button doesnt work either. Do you think my replacement pair will be any better?
Dont thse things get Tested? I think this is a "Show Stopper" defect and the product should not have been release - sack the tester.

My wife has encountered the same problem as all of you have described. The most recent pair of heaphones didn't make it one week. The irony of this is I own a pair of Sony headphones that have worked virtually flawless and are half the price of the Apple set. If you can afford it I recommend the Sony's. The only reason I bought the Apple headphones is nothing else was available when I ordered her shuffle.

I have never had to use Apple support before but it is not going well.

• Bought iPod Shuffle 1st December 2009
• Headphone volume stopped working August 2010
• Went to Trafford Centre store. Was told to go onto website.
• Went onto website and was told to submit proof of purchase. Did so and go this terse reply which really irritated me:

Dear Apple Customer,

Product Serial Number: 5E913xxxxxx
Case ID: xxx

Thank you for sending your product's proof of purchase to Apple.

Apple has reviewed your proof of purchase and your request to update the purchase date in our records. Your request was carefully considered. We regret to inform you that your request has been denied.

Your request was denied because the receipt does not reflect the original retail purchase.

Your product has the following date of purchase in our records: 20/06/2009

Sincerely,

AppleCare Agreement Administration


So now I have to waste my lunchhour driving back to the Apple store tomorrow, with printouts of their 2 year replacement statement, proof of purchase and no doubt they'll fob me off.

All this for a pair of headphones with an inherent design fault which costs about 50p to manufacture.

You're lucky Alexis, my wife returned 4 in 8 months. Though I bought hers online our local Apple store gave her a credit in the form of a gift card and she bought a pair of Scosche earphones at the store. I use Sony earphones and haven't had a bit of trouble to date. Both brands have better design for preventing sweat from penetrating into the circuitry.