"Small Number" of iPod Touch Screens Faulty

Thu Sep 20, 2007 3:59PM EDT

See Comments (108)

Apple has admitted that a "small number" of the screens on its new iPod Touch have trouble displaying dark images. Now let's see if Cupertino takes the next step and replaces the glitchy Touches free of charge.

In his review of the Touch, Wall Street Journal tech guru Walt Mossberg notes that some "early" units of the Touch (although not his pair of review units, apparently) suffered from faulty screens; indeed, I could barely make out the dark scenes in "The Hunt for Red October" on my test Touch, and several other reviewers have pointed out the problem as well. Mossberg reports that Apple has admitted to the problems, adding that only a "small number of units" were affected and that the issue is "being remedied."

I'm glad to see that Apple has owned up to the Touch's bum screen (or at least, to the "small number" of Touches with faulty LCDs). Of course, I'd be even happier if Apple offered to replace the defective iPods for free. If you happen to be one of the unlucky few (that is, assuming the "small number" figure is correct), call Apple customer support, read the excerpt from the Mossberg review and demand a replacement; hopefully, they'll oblige.

Related:
Apple's iPod Touch Is a Beauty of a Player Short on Battery Life [Wall Street Journal]
Apple Admits To Faulty iPod Touch Screens, Fixing Problem Now [CrunchGear]

Comments on "Small Number" of iPod Touch Screens Faulty

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  • 46 Posted by acruz742003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I like my ipod screen better than the iphone and also I wouldn't know how to use the iphone and touch screen if I ever bought them.

  • 47 Posted by donnie_leandro on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Every tech company has problems,this ben patterson reporter guy,i think has a thing against APPLE...APPLE is a very good comp,why dont u report other company problems like of dell or microsoft,this reporter guy is NOT good,hey yahoo HIRE another reporter please,im starting to see a pattern,HEY BEN PATTERSON... STOP HATING AGAINST APPLE-I GOT MY EYE ON YOU!

  • 48 Posted by balisarius on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have heard that people would bring them back to the Apple store, customer service would refuse to acknowledge the problem, even when being shown firsthand, and would force the customers to pay the $40 restocking fee. I had always thought that Apple ripped people off with premium prices, now we know they don't even make premium products anymore.

  • 49 Posted by nicole_f33 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have experienced the Touch's poor video quality "negative effect". I went to return it to the Apple store to swap it out for a new one, only to be turned away. I made a phone call to Apple corporate, followed by one to Apple Care, yet both stated that they were not willing to swap out my defective unit for a new one. I stayed in the store for over an hour, demanding something be done- no one was willing to help out AT ALL!!! Finally, they gave me a full refund (including the 10% restocking fee) just to get me out of the store. If your Touch is experiencing this problem, be strong- demand they swap it out!! I have heard that the models with the image of Macy Gray on the cover have a better video quality, as compared to my early model. Check the serial number- if it is #9C738 (etc.) or higher the video quality should be improved. If it is one like mine with serial number #9C737 (etc.) or lower, check to see if your screen has the same problem. Good luck with swapping out the faulty Touches!!

  • 51 Posted by wild4nuttin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Someone said that Apple stole the "Flip Screen" technology. No, they didn't. They never said they invented it, only that they applied it to the iPhone. That technology has been around for years on digital cameras. Anyone who says otherwise is simply mis-informed. Also, Apple has been lacking as of late. Oh wait, sorry, they have been producing more and more things to push the limits of comsumer technology and missed a couple things. @Nicole- Good tactic. I know the Apple store in PA is a little lacking. However, I still would have waited until the issue became more widely known. It could be that Apple issued a command to its stores to try not to accept returns, but not promise a solution. Good luck, though. Yes, I am an Apple fanboy. They converted me from microsoft, though, so they have to be doing something right!

  • 52 Posted by jaredthomas8 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    its nothing. It will be fixed/replaced. Apple is the best.

  • 53 Posted by bdavis5bball on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    i think that the itouch is the best product ever made by apple and is better then the new nano and the new update on the ipod and i thnk that people think itsux but really it is the best ipod ever made by far because of wyfy internet which allows u to get itunes on the actual ipod

  • 54 Posted by pileggeddog on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's a good thing everybody's out to get Apple. God forbid anyone objectively compare this product to the products its competitors have to offer. Oh, I forgot! Apple's pretty much peerless. Most people just like to take down the biggest product to prove their individuality. If you want a good product, Apple practically guarantees it. The iPod had its flaws too, but that didn't stop it from crushing competition. How did Apple come to be seen as an evil corporation? Oh, I remember. When it became successful. So go get a Microsoft™ Zune or a Motorola™ Razr if you're so antiestablishmentarian. You won't see any articles about those ----- ty products unless the article is called "The Whiny ----- 's Alternative to Apple List 2007"

  • 55 Posted by bluewoodz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    My IPHONE has been GREAT! I have had no problems at all with it. Every new tech device ha some with problems... Computers, Xbox's, Ps3's, shoot even operating systems, but since APPLE is at the forefront of technology they always seem to be a target.

  • 56 Posted by dtnelson1966 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Of course, you can tell the photo of the two ipods is a fake. It's a photo of two normal iPods, and the iPod touch on the right has be darkened in a photoshop-type program. The silver edges, and the on/off button are darkened too giving it away. It might be nice to see an actual iPod with the problem to know what they are talking about.

  • 58 Posted by jayco125 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    I believe Apple will provide free replacements. I had a faulty iMac and was able to get a new one to replace the it.

  • 59 Posted by stevfusion on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    ya apples way of making money is by releasing a new product like every month, and it seems lately, that they're sacrificing quality for speedy productivity... hopefully they'll start losing enough customer loyalty, that they'll realize that a computer company like apple isnt a fast food restaraunt, and they need to spend a little more time to get things right, instead of trying to get us to buy a new ipod every month

  • 60 Posted by chichix on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    yahoo front page articles tend to be very bias and anti-apple.

  • 61 Posted by stacyu2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm just SOOOOOO MAD at apple for getting rid of the apple nano 2nd generation I HATE APPLE!

  • 62 Posted by stevfusion on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    i agree with dtnelson... you can tell the second one is faked, cause the whole ipod is darkened rather than just the screen... notice the power button.... the two power buttons are too different in brightness for it to just be blamed as the ambient lighting...

  • 63 Posted by southcali.girl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    how do u know exactly if u have one of the bad ones. i have one it is a little to hard to see dark images when outdoors and in the sun . but thought that was typical.

  • 64 Posted by kimsara@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Agh, they need to rethink what they have reproduced, and they probably WON'T refund you.

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