AppleInsider StaffSeveral iPod touch customers have reported that their 16GB players exhibit an issue where playback of dark video scenes is almost unwatchable, and have further suggested that Apple may have equipped the new players with screens that are inferior in quality to those used in the iPhone.
"[S]some early iPod Touch units have had defective screens, where images appeared too dark," the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg revealed in his own review of the player published Thursday. "Apple says this problem affected a small number of units and is being remedied."
Like AppleInsider's review unit, which appears to be one of the unaffected units, Mossberg said his two iPod touch test units "displayed beautiful images." He did, however, take issue with the player's battery life, which failed to meet Apple's claims in his own tests.
Watch Mossberg's 7-minute iPod touch video review
It's presently unclear how widespread the iPod touch display issue may be or what remedial action Apple will offer to customers who own affected units. Such information will be published once it becomes available.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
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Apple this week confirmed reports that some of its new iPod touch players left its manufacturing facilities with defective screens and said the company is actively working to remedy the issue.
Several iPod touch customers have reported that their 16GB players exhibit an issue where playback of dark video scenes is almost unwatchable, and have further suggested that Apple may have equipped the new players with screens that are inferior in quality to those used in the iPhone.
"[S]some early iPod Touch units have had defective screens, where images appeared too dark," the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg revealed in his own review of the player published Thursday. "Apple says this problem affected a small number of units and is being remedied."
Like AppleInsider's review unit, which appears to be one of the unaffected units, Mossberg said his two iPod touch test units "displayed beautiful images." He did, however, take issue with the player's battery life, which failed to meet Apple's claims in his own tests.
Watch Mossberg's 7-minute iPod touch video review
It's presently unclear how widespread the iPod touch display issue may be or what remedial action Apple will offer to customers who own affected units. Such information will be published once it becomes available.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
Good video review by Walt. I agree 100% with him.
Good video review by Walt. I agree 100% with him.
Yep, seemed pretty accurate. It's a good media player, but has the downside of lack of 'real' buttons and perhaps slightly more limited battery life than expected (though better than my 2G iPod Nano!)...
I totally agree with Walt. I've yet to push the battery to see how close mine is to the Apple specs.
My first touch had the negative black problem, I too it back to the Easton Apple Store here in Columbus. The Genius gave me a new one, and even went so far as to plug it in, load a couple videos off my original to test the new one's display.
Very happy Apple fangirl.
It will be interesting to see how Apple actually 'remedy' the issue.
Will they contact all the owners who registered their iPod touch?
They must be able to identify the 'problem' batch by Serial number.
Maybe they can fix via software update, but if as it states it is 'defective screens' then I guess we can expect our devices to be exchanged.
I wait with bated breath to hear from Apple on which batch is faulty and how we arrange for an exchange.
Mine does have the problem by the way, very poor when watching dark movies. Mine is a 9C737 batch, one of the first I think. Which is week beginning 2nd Sept, made not that long ago!
Ian
That explains why not everyone claimed to see the same problem. It appears Apple is listening or at least paying attention.