Yes. Over time, the battery will not hold the same amount of charge as when it was new. This is natural, and is true of all lithium ion batteries. This slow degradation will not affect, or be noticed by, most users. However, based on usage, environmental factors, and many other variables, some heavy users may notice a greater degradation than others.

How much playing time should I get out of my iPod battery? (What is the playing time for different iPod models?)

Apple's specifications specify a battery life of 10 hours for the 1st and 2nd generation iPod, 8 hours for the 3rd generation iPod and 1st generation iPod mini, 12 hours for the 4th and 5th generation iPod and iPod shuffle, 15 hours for iPod photo, and 18 hours for the 2nd generation iPod mini. Many factors can, of course, influence this. Under good conditions, you should indeed get around the specified hours of battery life on a new iPod.

Answer: The easiest way is to connect it to the Apple iPod Power Adapter. You can also charge it by connecting iPod to your computer or putting it in its optional dock. For additional information, see "Charging iPod's internal battery" Answer: You don't need to empty the battery before charging it. Lithium-based batteries, like those used in iPod, have none of the memory effects seen in nickel-based rechargeable batteries.

There are several ways to approach this question. First note that many of the larger manufacturers are offering 20 year warranties on their modules. The warranties are typically against complete failure, not against slowly falling output. Some companies warranty 90% of rated output for N years and 80% for M years, with various M and N. Second there are the results of lab tests. TISO in Switzerland is one of the few organizations I know who have posted material on the subject.

Answer: iPod and iPod mini have built-in, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. For more information about this battery technology, see the Apple Batteries website.

Answer: The standby time is 1 month when fully charged. After a month of not being used, the battery will likely be fully discharged. You may find that the battery is empty before then, and that's normal. Even when it's not being used, iPod uses a small amount of battery power. Lithium-ion batteries need to be used for maximum performance. If you don't use your device often, be sure to complete a charge cycle at least once per month.

Answer: You can perform a simple test to tell if your battery is working properly. Follow the steps in "iPod's battery indicator is approximate".

Answer: See "Tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPod's battery" for information on how to extend your battery life. Answer: Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. As with other rechargeable batteries, you may eventually need to replace your battery.

Excellent question. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever - except death and taxes. The short answer is that no one knows for certain because DVDs have been around for such a relatively short time - less than 20 years. Current research indicates that the chemical dye layers holding the video and audio in DVDs do degrade over time, but to what extent is not known.

Read about how to troubleshoot performance degradation in BEA JRockit's Performance is Degrading Over Time.

The reflector is polished and sealed by a special chemical process that assures it will last for the life of the light without

Answer: The battery indicator is only an approximation of the amount of power that's left. For more information, see "iPod's battery indicator is approximate".

Yes. Apple has an official battery replacement program for $59. The program requires that you send in your iPod (any model), and Apple will replace the battery and return it to you for $59 plus shipping and handling (technically, Apple actually replaces your whole iPod with an equivalent new or refurbished model). AppleCare programs for iPod are also available in some markets outside the US, and are expected soon in other markets.

A dead battery would result in a "BD" grading from our testing department, and your iPod would be disqualified.

To charge your iPod's battery completely takes approximately 3 hours. In general to charge 80% it takes just one hour.

Yes! We have a whole slew of them. Watch one of our technicians replace an iPod battery using one of our kits.

Yes! Although our battery replacement instructions are very detailed, we realize that some people just don't feel comfortable cracking open their iPod and messing with circuit boards and power connectors. ipodjuice.com offers several options depending on your level of urgency.

The Apple Support Site provides "Tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPod's battery". This document offers some useful information including updating to the latest version of the iPod software, setting the Hold switch to the Hold position when the iPod is not in use, and keeping the iPod at room temperature, among others. Generally, keeping the iPod from becoming completely discharged also may prolong the life of the battery. BatteryUniversity.

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If the iPod is out of warranty, Apple will replace the battery in your iPod or iPod shuffle for US$59. A variety of third-party services are also available. Often, companies other than Apple will provide batteries with greater capacity (runtime) at a lower price and are well worth consideration. It is not particularly easy, and potentially not even cost-effective, to replace the battery in the iPod nano or iPod shuffle models, as the battery has leads soldered to the logic board.

Reset your iPod: To reset your iPod, toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.) Next, press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons until the Apple/iPod logo appears, for about six to ten seconds. You may need to repeat this step. For more information on resetting your iPod, please visit http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61705/.

The short answer is yes. The slightly longer answer is that it depends on how comfortable you are with opening electronic devices, fiddling with wires, and moving around tiny components. For the most recent iPod models, changing the battery is not rocket science, but it's not as simple as, say, adding memory to a computer. Even some of my tech-savvy friends were a bit worried when changing batteries in their iPods. (As for me, I've never done it yet...) Before you leap, why not look.

You bet! Plus, we'll even give you a super-special discount on the battery replacement, since we're already working on your iPod. Just ask your iResQ Technician for this special when contacted about your repair.

Warning: When running restore, be sure to do a backup of all your songs. When you do a restore you are erasing all of the songs currently on your iPod.

Yes. Apple has an official out-of-warranty battery replacement program for $59 + $6.95 shipping in the United States (see also: Europe and Canada pricing). The program requires that you send in your iPod (any model), and Apple will replace the battery and return it to you for $59 plus shipping and handling.

A1: Yes and no. The iPod's case is not designed to be opened, so, in that respect, it's not what would generally be referred to as "user-replaceable". However, with the right set of tools and instructions from one of the following vendors, you can replace the battery yourself and avoid all the hassle by going through Apple: iPodJuice.com has high-quality iPod batteries (starting at US$25; all iPods; do-it-yourself and mail-in) * Recommended

If your iPod requires service only because the battery’s ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will replace your iPod for a service fee of $59, plus $6.95 shipping. Be sure to follow these instructions for optimizing battery life and troubleshooting battery charging issues before submitting your iPod for battery replacement.

The iPod uses a lithium ion battery. The first and second generation ("non-dockable") iPods use a Sony UP325385 A4H 3.7V 1230mAh lithium ion polymer battery. The third generation ("dockable") iPods use a 3.7V 850mAh lithium ion battery. The iPod mini uses a Sanyo EC003 lithium ion battery.