November 21, 2005 12:15 PM PST

Fifth-generation iPod (with video) [#8]: More on cell phone interference

by CNET staff

Last week we reported on an issue fifth-generation iPods (with video), apparently suffer from erratic functioning due to interference from cellular phones and potentially other radio-emitting handheld devices.

We've since received a handful of corroborating reports.

MacFixIt reader Hai Woo Tan writes:

"I have a 60G iPod and a Treo 650, at work I always place them side by side, with my iPod dock in Altec Lansing's InMotion speakers, I didn't notice this earlier until the night when I read about Engadget's report, then I realized earlier that day I left my iPod charged but unlocked, then a few SMS messages came into my Treo, and simultaneously my iPod's screen lit up and showed the main menu page from the 'charged battery icon' (screen unlit).

"Then that night when I was traveling home, on the bus at least twice my iPod's (in my bag) volume went crazy, from very loud to very soft, like someone suddenly 'jerked' the clickwheel (I left it on 'unlock' so I could change songs easily) My Treo was just beside the iPod, I thought my bag may have shifted to cause this, but my iPod is fit tightly in a new grey iPod sock, and with a transparent shield -- making the clickwheel rather hard to move about.

"I can only attribute this to phone signal interference, taking note that if the iPod is locked, none of this would happen.

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know -- including your mobile device type and iPod model.

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