Want music while you jog? No sweat, just get the new iPod Shuffle!

Actually, what I really mean is that you should only get the new iPod Shuffle if you really don't sweat at all. It won't work otherwise.

I've owned a new iPod Shuffle (3rd Generation) for a little over a month and have generally been very pleased with it. It's small (tiny), light, easy to use and has convenient controls on the ear phones.

So far so good.

I was naturally disappointed when the iPod failed during a 15-minute session on the treadmill last week. The volume controls stopped working and shortly afterwards the main button (actually, the only button on the Shuffle) stopped working too. Of course I still have the receipt so I just assumed I'd have to return it to the Apple Store and get a new set. However, it started working again a couple of hours later, although it seemed a little intermittent. A day later it was much improved, but still failed after about ten minutes. Now it's just working again, so do I bother replacing it or not? I don't go to town much and it would be a hassle to make an unnecessary trip.

I searched the main Apple site to see if I could troubleshoot the issue myself. Maybe it was a firmware issue? Unfortunately the support site didn't describe my issue. Maybe the problem is only hitting me?

However, it's always worth doing the odd Google search to see if anyone else has reported it. After a few searches I found: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1985153&start=90&tstart=0. This thread describes the exact same issue: moisture on the headphones causes the buttons to fail. It's comforting to know that loads of people are experiencing the same issue and there is evidence that Apple has to an extent acknowledged the issue and is giving out replacements on a case by case basis. I'm slightly annoyed that I had to find this myself and it wasn't evident from Apple support pages. This appears to be a case of concealing the embarrassing truth that the new iPod Shuffle doesn't function correctly when used during exercise.

I would have thought it appropriate for an Apple customer service representative to respond to the forum with advice on how current Shuffle owners should deal with the problem and what Apple are trying to do to remedy the situation.

As suggested on one of the forum responses I have left my feedback on http://www.apple.com/feedback/ reporting the issue and asking them what the official suggestion from Apple was. I'm not too hopeful that I'll get a response given that upon submission the following message comes up: "We cannot respond to you personally, but please know that your message has been received and will be reviewed by the iPod shuffle Team". Great!

I still don't know what to do. If I happen to be passing the Apple Store I'll pop in and get their advice. Otherwise, I might just see if I can live with it. I don't do that much jogging so I shouldn't be impacted a great deal, but it does make me wonder whether it will stop working when I get caught out in the rain, or on a particularly humid day?

Ironically, I bought an iPod after having gone through two Sony mp3 players, each failing with the same headphone jack problem and there was no obvious way of fixing it). I assumed that a company of Apple's reputation would be a better bet.

I was wrong.

I will, however, redeem Apple if they:

1) acknowledge the problem on their support website
2) fix the problem and offer all iPod Shuffle owners a replacement set of earphones