iPod Touch skips songs and makes weird shrieking noise, what gives?
December 29, 2009 1:18 AM Subscribe
What's wrong with my iPod Touch?
I have a first-gen ipod touch that I got on sale when the second-gen ones came out. I have been great about taking care of it, treating it nicely, keeping it up to date etc. The apps and everything all work correctly, but recently, it has been doing this thing where it will skip during songs. It will start playing the song, then emit a shrieking noise and jump to the next one. If it is a playlist on shuffle, the next song it plays will be 'song 1' even if it was further into the numbers by then. It does not always skip on the same song and sometimes will skip more than one song. Also, a song that skips one time may not skip the next time it comes up, so I don't think the problem is with the music files themselves...
I am not a huge music listener, but I do have some audio routines I use when walking, and I do enjoy podcasts so I am concerned about this issue. I am not sure if I need a new ipod as the apps and everything else are working correctly. I am reluctant to take it to the Apple store because they will charge me for it and I suspect any repairs would be cost-prohibitive given the cost of a new ipod. But I am at the same time reluctant to buy a new ipod since I am not a huge music listener and the apps all work correctly.
Any ideas what might be going on here and how to fix it? Or is this problem a fatal flaw and I need to suck it up and buy a new ipod?
I have a first-gen ipod touch that I got on sale when the second-gen ones came out. I have been great about taking care of it, treating it nicely, keeping it up to date etc. The apps and everything all work correctly, but recently, it has been doing this thing where it will skip during songs. It will start playing the song, then emit a shrieking noise and jump to the next one. If it is a playlist on shuffle, the next song it plays will be 'song 1' even if it was further into the numbers by then. It does not always skip on the same song and sometimes will skip more than one song. Also, a song that skips one time may not skip the next time it comes up, so I don't think the problem is with the music files themselves...
I am not a huge music listener, but I do have some audio routines I use when walking, and I do enjoy podcasts so I am concerned about this issue. I am not sure if I need a new ipod as the apps and everything else are working correctly. I am reluctant to take it to the Apple store because they will charge me for it and I suspect any repairs would be cost-prohibitive given the cost of a new ipod. But I am at the same time reluctant to buy a new ipod since I am not a huge music listener and the apps all work correctly.
Any ideas what might be going on here and how to fix it? Or is this problem a fatal flaw and I need to suck it up and buy a new ipod?
And do check back with us once you've tried restoring it so we know whether you need further help or not.
posted by dunkadunc at 3:34 AM on December 29, 2009
posted by dunkadunc at 3:34 AM on December 29, 2009
The Apple store Genius Bar shouldn't charge you just to take a look at it. Even if something is out of warranty, they'll usually let you know what is wrong and how much it would cost to fix it. If there's a free quick software fix, they'll tell you about that as well. Also, especially with the iPod line, they have an interest in you keeping the device in good working order as it's the "razor that sells the blades" (blades, in this case, being stuff you buy off the app store and iTunes). I've had great experiences with Genius Bar people so if there's an Apple Store near you I definitely recommend taking your iTouch in to have it looked at.
posted by tractorfeed at 3:37 AM on December 29, 2009
posted by tractorfeed at 3:37 AM on December 29, 2009
You can find an apple store near you and even make a Genius bar appointment at apple.com/retail.
But the first think they'll ask is if you've tried restoring it.
posted by sleeping bear at 5:52 AM on December 29, 2009
But the first think they'll ask is if you've tried restoring it.
posted by sleeping bear at 5:52 AM on December 29, 2009
Check your settings and make sure that it's not set to shake to shuffle. If that's not causing any trouble, then the next thing you'll need to do is the aforementioned system restore. If you aren't running the latest OS, you should download and install that as well. (If you're on OS 2.x, it will probably cost you $10 to upgrade, but I found the upgrade to be worth it.)
Good luck!
/this answer sent from a first-gen iPod Touch.
posted by azpenguin at 6:47 AM on December 29, 2009
Good luck!
/this answer sent from a first-gen iPod Touch.
posted by azpenguin at 6:47 AM on December 29, 2009
Best answer: Did you recently upgrade to OS 3.0? Because when you do, it automatically turns on the "Shake to Shuffle" feature, which means that every time the iPod twitches the song changes.
Maybe this isn't the problem, but it's worth checking. Look here for directions on how to turn it off.
I've found OS 3.0 to be more or less a Vista-level disaster, and this is one of the reasons why.
posted by hiteleven at 7:18 AM on December 29, 2009
Maybe this isn't the problem, but it's worth checking. Look here for directions on how to turn it off.
I've found OS 3.0 to be more or less a Vista-level disaster, and this is one of the reasons why.
posted by hiteleven at 7:18 AM on December 29, 2009
Seconding the OS 3.0 theory (although calling it a "Vista-level disaster" is overstating things a bit, I think). I ran into the shake-to-shuffle thing when I was going for walks; it would happen after I put my iPhone back into its case.
The solution was quite easy: I hit the power switch after selecting and starting the music, and although the iPhone seemed to turn off, the music kept playing, and would until I turned it back on and hit the pause button or pulled the earphone plug out of the jack.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:30 AM on December 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
The solution was quite easy: I hit the power switch after selecting and starting the music, and although the iPhone seemed to turn off, the music kept playing, and would until I turned it back on and hit the pause button or pulled the earphone plug out of the jack.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:30 AM on December 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yep, I would venture a guess that shake to shuffle is the culprit.
posted by mcarlson85 at 8:32 AM on December 29, 2009
posted by mcarlson85 at 8:32 AM on December 29, 2009
Response by poster: Thank you, I checked the settings and sure enough this shake to shuffle feature was activated! I have turned it off and if the problem persists I will take it in. Whew! I am so relieved I don't have to buy another ipod. I never would have figured this out using just Google (I tried). Thanks, everyone!
posted by JoannaC at 9:00 AM on December 29, 2009
posted by JoannaC at 9:00 AM on December 29, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Open iTunes, click on Devices > Your iPod Touch > Summary Tab > Restore
posted by starzero at 1:50 AM on December 29, 2009