Magnet Killed my iPod and Apple should be responsible!!

Question

Level 1

16 points

Magnet Killed my iPod and Apple should be responsible!!

I am not sure if I have posted in the right forum. Anyway, this is what happened to my iPod:

I have a leather case to store my earphones, the case uses magnet to open and close the case.
It totally makes sense for a person will place the a pair of earphones nearby a music player device (iPod)
One day, I placed the ipod on top of the earphone case and I see the iPod was stuck to the earphone case (due to the magnet I assume)
When I try to ipod again, it totally failed, my iPod is dead...everytime I tried to turn it on, i just hear some strange mechanical sound inside the ipod. googled "ipod+ magnet" and many users have similar dead ipod issues. I can't imagine apple doesn't put such a caution line in their manual after so many years the iPod has been released to warn about magnet+ipod = dead ipod!!

My iPod is out of warranty, it's aobut 1.5years old. but I think apple should still be responsible for what happens to my iPod. There is nowhere in the instruction manual saying that an ipod shouldn't be placed near an item with magnet, especially that it is so lethal to an ipod. It did mention about caution in wet area and water in the user manual but it mentioned nothing about magnet!! You see, even if you drop the ipod in water, it might not kill it immediately, but the magnet just instantly killed the ipod! Shouldn't that be Apple's responsibility not to mention that Magnet is such a lethal substance to ipod???? Like most people will try to avoid using electrical stuff near wet area or water. But who on earth will know ipod can be killed by a magnet instantly??? If I know a magnet can kill an iPod instantly, I will never put one near it.

I contacted Apple center in Hong Kong and all they said is that this is an accident plus my ipod is out of warranty, so Apple shouldn't be responsible at all!! So, should Toyota not be responsible for their faulty cars even after the warranty period??

You see, I have been a very loyal iPod customer, I have been buying almost every generation of iPod since the 1st iPod which is compatible to Windows (the 10GB ipod with remote was my 1st ipod> ipod20GB> ipod photo30GB> ipod video > ipod classic). I have been a very happy iPod user until now!

Any Apple representative here who have read this topic, please contact me by email or phone, it is in my account info.

Thanks for reading and I hope I will get a satisfying response from Apple.

Custom built, Windows 7

Posted on Jun 21, 2010 7:18 PM

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Answer 1

otaku@apple Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 22, 2010 3:32 AM in response to desioner

Maybe my words are misleading. I didn't mean my earphones killed the ipod. But the leather pouch that killed my ipod...the leather pouch has a magnet inside for close the pouch cover.

this is what the pouch looks like:

http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/images/catalog/klipsch-image-x5-contents-400x260 .jpg

shouldn't apple be responsible not telling the user that magnet is lethal to the ipod???

When the leather pouch get in contact with the ipod, the pouch is actually stuck on the ipod because of the magnet inside. and I can see my ipod died immediately.

Are there actually any Apple representative that can give me a satisfying response?

Message was edited by: otaku@apple

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Answer 2

Jun 22, 2010 8:52 AM in response to otaku@apple

otaku@apple wrote:
I am sure it's the magnet that killed the ipod, because i was listening to it, put it down, and saw it stuck to the leather pouch with magnet, then it just wont turn on again.

Correlation does not prove causality.

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Answer 3

desioner

Level 1

45 points

Jun 22, 2010 12:01 AM in response to otaku@apple

The magnets in any pair of earphones world never kill an iPod. I wrap my ear phones and headphones around my iPod all the time and there has never been any damage caused. It's not mentioned in the manual because it's not a problem. A very large and strong magnet yes, would render an iPod useless but you described an average pair of earphones.
I can guarantee you that this is not the problem. Also asserting that Apple is responsible is unfair on your part. The product worked fine for the limited time that it's under warranty. If you had purchased the extended Apple Care plan then you'd be able to get it repaired/replaced. I'm not sure what did cause the hardware to malfunction but better problem solving is required.

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Answer 4

Jun 22, 2010 5:24 AM in response to otaku@apple

otaku@apple wrote:
My iPod is out of warranty, it's aobut 1.5years old. but I think apple should still be responsible for what happens to my iPod. There is nowhere in the instruction manual saying that an ipod shouldn't be placed near an item with magnet, especially that it is so lethal to an ipod. It did mention about caution in wet area and water in the user manual but it mentioned nothing about magnet!!

I doubt the instructions mentioned that getting run over by a bus or put in a microwave would be bad for your iPod, either. If your iPod were to be damaged by being crushed, this would hardly be considered a defect. Same with magnets.

Strong magnets can be hazardus to anything with a hard drive. However, the kind of magents one finds in such cases are unlikely to have any effect.

This is a user-to-user forum. Apple representatives do not respond here.

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Answer 5

the fiend

Level 7

23,466 points

Jun 22, 2010 6:55 AM in response to otaku@apple

It would have to be a very strong magnet to affect the iPod and I doubt that the Klipsch case has a strong magnet. (I own several Klipsch products.)

In actual fact, you don't know that the magnet - or any magnet - has caused your iPod to stop working, you have simply jumped to a conclusion. Have you tried anything to fix your iPod, such as resetting it or restoring it, or even following the 5Rs?

Or even making sure that it's fully charged?

Phil

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Answer 6

otaku@apple Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 22, 2010 8:48 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

well, don't talk to me like i am stupid please. you are just insulting me. even a 3year old kid will know having a trunk running over an ipod will damage. beside, the ipod manual did mention "Proper handling Do not bend, drop, crush, puncture, incinerate, or open iPod."

I am sure many ipod users in this world doesn't know a magnet will be lethal will be lethal to an ipod with harddrive, not to mention that not every one of them are computer geek who knows which ipod uses HDD and which ones are using SSD...

I am sure it's the magnet that killed the ipod, because i was listening to it, put it down, and saw it stuck to the leather pouch with magnet, then it just wont turn on again.

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Answer 7

otaku@apple Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 22, 2010 8:51 AM in response to the fiend

I tried everything, the ipod is fully charged. I have tried resetting it.

And I am pretty sure a functional ipod wouldn't give out strange sound from the unit.

You might think I have jumped to an conclusion directly but I didn't. I just simply see the magnet killed the ipod instantly, just like someone witnessed somebody being killed by a gun shot. I was listening to the ipod, put it down, and see it's stuck on the leather pouch with magnet, then when i try to turn it on and listen to it again, it's dead...

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Answer 8

otaku@apple Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 22, 2010 8:54 AM in response to CDJunkie

how long was that magnet stuck on ur ipod?

I actually saw the leather pouch stuck on the ipod. and after i moved the ipod away from the pouch, it's dead. the ipod is probably placed on the pouch for about 10seconds.

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Answer 9

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jun 22, 2010 3:23 PM in response to otaku@apple

No sympathy I'm afraid... +Even if+ your analysis is correct, you should be directing your anger at the case manufacturer who has sold you a product designed to be used with an iPod that is capable of damaging it, and save a little for youself for not having the common sense to know that magnets and mechanical objects don't mix well.

tt2

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Answer 10

otaku@apple Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 23, 2010 12:16 AM in response to turingtest2

look at what apple wrote in their ipod manual"Water and wet locations Do not use iPod in rain, or near washbasins or other wet
locations. Take care not to spill any food or liquid into iPod. In case iPod gets wet,
unplug all cables, turn iPod off, and slide the Hold switch (if available) to HOLD before
cleaning, and allow it to dry thoroughly before turning it on again."

I am pretty sure that water + electrical object don't mix well is more common sense than magnets + mechanical object, right?

Then why is apple putting this "water warning" in their manual but not the warning related to magnet?

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Answer 11

ACESUS

Level 1

0 points

Jun 23, 2010 3:55 AM in response to otaku@apple

Sorry but apple run a million safety and hazard tests on their products, I've tried putting a magnet on my iPod... nothing happened. Its and old floppy drive magnet... so its not exactly weak. Maybe you should've asked other people if they've had the same problem first.

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Answer 12

Jun 23, 2010 5:15 AM in response to otaku@apple

otaku@apple wrote:
Maybe I should take my pouch and do the same to a few apple showroom ipod classic to prove causality, I wish I was wrong too.

That will not change the fact that it is out of warranty and Apple has no responsibility to repair the device even if it had been a manufacturer's defect.

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Answer 13

Wright1

Level 1

0 points

Jul 11, 2010 4:44 PM in response to otaku@apple

I cannot believe how everyone is so quick to dismiss your claim concerning the magnet. No one simply wants to believe it. I came across the discussion, because I was using my MacBook and decided to lay my magnetic ballpoint pen I was using on my laptop. And to my surprise, the laptop didn't go dead; but the screen completely blacked out. Noe at this moment in time, I did not make the connection with the magnet. I just thought something internally was going on and decided to call my company's helpdesk. We went through countless of scenarios and he advised I send it in for repair. By the time I got to FedEx to send out, the computer mysteriously start working. It wasn't until about 20 minutes ago, I put the pen there again (and lord and behold the same exact thing happened). This time I realized, OH MY GOD, IT IS THE MAGNET. So, I, like you, was completely oblivious to the fact that a magnet could affect an Apple product to this magnitude. And to my surprise, an extensive google search has supported this claim. And I have no doubt if a magnetic ball point pen can cause this level of interruption with a MacBook; then I have no doubt one can shut down an IPOD. So, even though everyone else is trying to make you feel like you are crazy; I have seen it happen for myself. If I were you, I would contact Apple again and ask to speak to a supervisor. Typically, the higher level leadership is not as concerned with making it about you as making it about customer loyal. Hope this helped.

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Answer 14

rjo3491

Level 1

20 points

Jul 11, 2010 8:19 PM in response to otaku@apple

I don't think the magnet in your case is the problem (it's simply not powerful enough). Bare in mind that a strong magnet will ERASE data from a hard drive, I don't know if it will affect it's functionality.

If you want to try something medieval (this will work with a sticking hard drive for a computer), try GENTLY tapping your iPod case with the handle side of a screwdriver (don't use a hammer). This will occasionally restore functionality and has worked for me.

Good luck!!

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Answer 15

Rinmaru

Level 1

4 points

Jul 13, 2010 3:35 PM in response to otaku@apple

Seriously dude, there are 3 conditions in which a magnet would kill an IPOD.

First of, was the magnet on the back of the ipod.
If so, the magnet intensity would be amplified by a factor of 1.33x.

Second, if the magnet was on the screen, the screen needs to undergo a degaussing, or a removial of magnetisism. Easy enough to do, and even Apple Store will do something to that extent as a test before determining if the IPOD is dead. That's what happened to me.

Third and finally, in the user's manual for my ipod it clearly states "DO NOT KEEP MAGNETS NEAR AN IPOD, KEEP ALL MAGNETS AT LEAST 5 to 10 CM AWAY FROM THE DEVICE." Thus if 1 inch = 2.54 cm, then 10 cm ~ 3 - 4 inches away.

But then again they don't provide the user's manual out of the box, it's provided online, or at least with mine.

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