Apple released a firmware update for the video iPod recently. Their site said the update addressed some common problems and fixed a bunch of bugs. I wasn’t experiencing any problems that prevented me from rocking out, but I didn’t figure it would hurt much. I figured wrong. One of the issues the update did fix, was the scrolling lag problem when going through your library. Unfortunately it also screws up video playback. I can’t help but wonder what the hell Apple did to test this patch. I would assume as video playback is the key feature of the video iPod, that would be the first thing they tested. Guess I was wrong. I’m guessing they only tested it on the 30Gb model and assumed the 60Gb would react the same. My googling brought me to this particular iLounge thread that lists the various problems many people are having with the upgrade.
Here’s a list of issues they’ve heard:
- This problem only seems to affect the 5G 60Gb iPod
- There have been no reports of this problem occurring on the 5G 30Gb iPod
- The problem does not occur with content purchased from iTunes
- The problem does not occur with content encoded with QuickTime and/or iTunes.
- The problem only seems to occur with large video files (in excess of 100Mb)
- The problem seems to occur most frequently with content encoded with Videora on PC, although other applications have shown this problem as well.
- There have been few to no reports of this problem occurring for Mac users encoding with Handbrake.
These are definitely the same issues I’m having. I have the 60Gb, and mostly all my videos were encoded using Videora. My videos are mostly DVDs and greatly pass the 100Mb mark. I haven’t tested the videos, mostly episodes of The Office, that I’ve purchased from iTunes, so I’m not sure if it’s getting me there yet.
Apple is apparently aware of this issue and working on a fix. My only options right now are to downgrade to the 1.0 firmware that I previously had, or wait for Apple to come out with a fix. If I roll back the firmware, the iPod gets wiped clean. I’m able to back all the music up to my computer, but it’s not worth the work. My music still plays, and although I can’t find my headphones right now, I should be alright until the fix comes out.
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Where did you hear that apple was working on a fix? I actually heard the opposite- they’re operating from the position that there’s nothing wrong with the update. it’s been over a month since the update was released, and still no fix in sight.
Posted 15 Feb 2006 at 11:49 pm ¶I actually read it on the iLounge thread I linked. I haven’t been keeping up with it much, so things could have changed. Worst case scenario, I’ll just roll the firmware back. I need a good cleaning of it anyway.
Posted 16 Feb 2006 at 7:04 pm ¶Yeah, I ran into this problem tooyou can get the audio to play off and on, but it will randomly start, you can ffd and rwd to hear the bits you missed, but not worth the effort.
Posted 20 Feb 2006 at 3:46 pm ¶Here We Go!
The Update does help with some things, but for the DVD’s and Movies made with Videora and PQ DVD and so on……
Apple has the Firnware to only correctly notice iTunes and Apple Data only.
Your Shows and movies that have been Downloaded from the iStore are LEGIT copies as Apple would think, that way you have to buy their Video Clips to properly watch them on your iPod!
I cought this before I updated my 30 and 60 Gig 5G’s so that I would not have this problem.
Flappz
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 3:46 pm ¶If you re-multiplex the movies using Quicktime Pro (export->mp4, set both video and audio to passthrough), they’ll work fine again.
Posted 26 Feb 2006 at 12:23 pm ¶F@#K iPOD and Apple!
Posted 07 Mar 2006 at 4:51 pm ¶I’m sorry, but usually I wouldn’t mind and I don’t use the F word, but iPOD and Apple’s attitude to the entier iPOD concept made me crazy mad.
To make a long story short - iPOD is the biggest disappointment I had from the fruity company. I’m a graphic designer and I used MAC’s before, and I guess I should have learned the lesson and never touch one of their products again.
I own the 60Gb iPOD video and in the last 5 month been disappointed by this STUPID thing on a daily basis.
From the impossibility of getting stuff out of the iPOD to the stupid video format, and now this…
Sorry world, but I’m selling my iPOD, moving on to ARCHOS and long live any-file-type-DRAG-and-DROP!!!
I purchased an iPod 5G 60GB and cannot play audio part of the file. I phoned Apple and spoke to three diffrent individuals including Matt from production.
Here is the bried of the conversation:
- The is no problems with the iPod it is working just like it is designed
- iPod is designed to play with Apple only software (re Sherman Act)
- Apple nowhere claims that it will play ripped DVD
- This is the first time Apple has heard of the problem but dont regard it a problem because I could purchase a Mac if I wanted it to work
- firmware upgrade may or may not include bug fixes and a new firmware may or may not be produced to correct the probelm
- firmware upgrades are company secrets and the cannot divulge when such an upgrade to firmware would occure next
- The problem is my fault because I was doing something illigal (no I was not)
- Since I could purchase corrective software from Apple this is not a problem as there are several solutions open to me
Thnaks Apple for the rotten Apple iPod.
Posted 11 Mar 2006 at 1:10 pm ¶Man, i am trying to downgrade, and when it does downgrade my ipod does not show up in itunes. It shows that it is connected but does not diplay in itunes. I dont know what to do any more. My Ipod came with the 1.1 which obviously does not allow videos to play properly, can someone please help me!!!!! you can e-mail me athar_jafri@hotmail.com
Posted 17 Apr 2006 at 12:18 pm ¶The latest update seems to solve the videora problem, I have all my movies encoded using that software, so download the latest update and it should be better.
Posted 05 May 2006 at 10:50 am ¶I believe the best thing to do is wait till Apple comes with a solution. A downgrade of the software can make the problem bigger!
Posted 14 Jul 2006 at 4:45 am ¶How about this for a problem? I did the upgrade thinking that it would be the right thing to do and now it locks up constantly! it’s a 30gig 5G and I have no idea how to downgrade the firmware back to the original…I have already done the restore and that did nothing because it still has the current upgraded system on it. I even sent it off to the apple store and they sent it back having done absolutely nothing. I’m going to end up smashing this thing because I have to restart it numerous times in a day!! How do you downgrade the software? That is the only thing left to do!!
Posted 02 Oct 2006 at 1:27 pm ¶can not turn on after fw upgrade
Posted 20 Dec 2006 at 2:36 am ¶i cannot it on the system hang whats seems to be the cause and problem?
Posted 25 Jan 2007 at 3:52 pm ¶i don’t find a search option in the ipod of my series, whereas my cousin has that option. i just bought my one a month earlier she bought her. i dont know why, i couldn’t find any firmware update for that. i want a firmware update to be mailed to me asap
Posted 09 Mar 2007 at 2:31 am ¶Post a Comment
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