Apple Computer is investigating complaints that its popular iPod mini is prone to static and other sound distortions when playing back music.
The diminutive music players, which have been shipping since February, sometimes generate the noise when users touch areas around the headphone jack, according to a handful of reports posted at iPodlounge.com and Apple’s own discussion forums.
”Apple is aware of a few isolated reports online of iPod mini audio static and is looking into it,” Apple spokesperson Natalie Sequeira said on Tuesday. She urged users with any problems to contact the company’s technical support centre.
The devices come with a one-year warranty. Last month, Apple delayed the gadget’s international release to the end of July, citing extremely strong demand in the United States. In February, the company reported receiving more than 100 000 pre-orders for the $249 mini machine since its launch in January.
The waiting list is now between one and five weeks, Sequeira said. The company is expected to reveal more information when it posts its latest financial results on Wednesday.
The iPod minis, which weigh less than most cell phones and are slightly larger than a business card, have a tiny 4-gigabyte hard drive and are available in a variety of colors. Apple also continues to sell its regular iPods, which are physically larger
and have drives up to 40 gigabytes. – Sapa-AP