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Spliff · May 4, 2003, 06:49 PM

There's already a long thread over at Apple's discussion forums about this. Almost everyone, it seems, is hearing an audible "tick" between tracks on the new iPods.

Is anyone hearing this on the old iPods with the most recent firmware update?

If this is a hardware problem with the new iPods, Apple could be facing a lot of angry iPod owners.

MaxPower2k3 · May 4, 2003, 06:57 PM

i heard it when i was listening to my friend's iPod, and thought it was weird. didnt know it was a common problem

edit: that was a new 15 gig

SupahCoolX · May 4, 2003, 10:37 PM

Originally posted by Spliff:

Is anyone hearing this on the old iPods with the most recent firmware update?

No.

I haven't had a chance to play with a new iPod yet, but is it a bad sounding click? Maybe it's just some sort of feature and not an actual problem or bug to get all concerned about?

MaxPower2k3 · May 4, 2003, 10:44 PM

it's more like a faint speaker pop, like you'd hear in a movie soundtrack. it wouldn't be noticable while music is playing, but since it's during the silence between tracks it's noticable

Robster1958 · May 4, 2003, 11:22 PM

this what i was afraid of: cost reduction is always one goal with revisions. is it posssible apple skimped on audio cicuitry designed to minimize noise? i love my current 10 gig for the vert reason that it has a very low noise floor...virtually silent...vastly improving the music experience for me.

also to me, the redesigned casing looks a bit more chintzy...in the same way as the newest iBooks. no more clear covering to the front of the iPod. in a way, its almost too light also; i equate density with quality, i guess.

mmurray · May 6, 2003, 06:41 AM

Has anyone else noticed this ? I was thinking about buying an iPod but this is making me hesitate.

Thanks - Michael

AssassyN · May 6, 2003, 07:19 AM

This is clearly a common issue on the newly re-designed iPods, just like the warping and excessive heat was/is an issue on the first wave of 12" AlBooks.

I've updated my Gen.2 10gig iPod to 1.3, and I have never, and still do not, hear any ticks or clicks, or anything whatsoever between track changes.

mmurray, I picked up my Gen2. 10gig iPod 2 weeks before the new ones came out, and I knew new ones were on the way. I couldn't be more pleased. My iPod doesn't have these early revision issues, it has a plethora of cases to choose from, which is very important if you care about how the rear chrome casing looks, is uses a standard FireWire cable that can be used on any FireWire device, and it can be attached to my Mac while still in the case. The new ones, when docked, have to be removed from any cases they may be in just to fit.

Granted, the new ones provide some nice stuff, but many are already complaining that the "On-The-Go Playlists" don't work nearly as well as advertised, battery life is shorter, and when it comes to looks it's a matter of personal opinion, but I think the older iPods look much more "Apple-like", more classy, and less "space-y".

If I were still in the market for an iPod, I'd certainly head right to the "Marketplace" forums or eBay and nab myself a 10 or 20gig Gen.2 iPod (whichever amount of space you'd need) for a really good price.

starman · May 6, 2003, 09:04 AM

Happens to me. Friggin' annoying.

Mike

codywalton · May 6, 2003, 09:13 AM

I just got a 30. I only notice this when using it in my car, and even then I don't find it that big of a deal. easily ignored, and I'm sure will be fixed with later software and/or firmware updates.

KaosDG · May 6, 2003, 09:34 AM

I got the new 15gb, I notice it.

Its really not that bad, and I just tried it LOUD with a pair of studio headphones.

Its more like a little bit of static, when the track is over and a new track is loading up.

(my gf's nomad Zen does this too, and even louder when the EAX is on)

They could easily fix this in software by putting a fast crossfade in-between tracks (like setting iTunes crossfade ON and to the lowest setting)

that would be a cool feature to add to the software anyhow, I kind of like it.

(hint hint, Apple!)

Yoda's Erotic Piggyback · May 6, 2003, 10:45 AM

Well it had DAMN WELL BETTER be a software problem and not a hardware one.

The new iPods are filled with bugs, you can see a list of them here:

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...32#post1384132

mmurray · May 7, 2003, 06:43 AM

You can hear the click here

http://www.eyezonmusic.com/ipodclick/

Michael

n~s · May 7, 2003, 08:22 AM

I can hear it on my new 15 GB, but I had to turn the volume way up and really listen for it. I didn't notice it at all during normal use over the last few days.

Minor imperfection, not a big deal, but I hope it is addressed. I'm more concerned about the unstable iPod software. I've had it since Friday and have had to reset it three times because it either locked up or went to sleep and wouldn't wake up.

I turned it on yesterday morning and had to wait about 20 minutes before I could sync...it was showing a spinning disc and a magnifying glass in the window, something that the manual didn't have an explanation for.

Not the user experience I expect from Apple products.

schk · May 7, 2003, 08:26 AM

i just picked up my new ipod 15gb yesterday and after reading stuff about clicking noises between tracks among other things, i was hesitant to buy one. well, i'm not sure how loud most of you listen to your music, but on mine you really have to crank it up to hear the tick between songs. at "normal" volume levels, it's not very noticeable. so for those of you who were hesitant to buy it, don't worry about it. granted it does exist, but it's nowhere near as bad as people are making it seem, at least on my ipod. hopefully this will be fixed in a firmware update shortly.

Yoda's Erotic Piggyback · May 7, 2003, 12:23 PM

The click is the least of the 20 new Ipod bugs that bothers me.