Apple examines iPod warranties

APPLE Computer is considering striking a deal with disillusioned customers over an embarrassing glitch with batteries in its iconic iPod digital music player.

The company had been trying to gloss over consumer anger about failures of non-replaceable power packs in the device but now appears to have acknowledged the problem.

It is deciding whether to extend warranties and issue credits to consumers who had battery problems with older versions of the iPod.

It has been propelled toward a deal by a proposed class-action settlement, which potentially covers an estimated two million consumers who bought a first, second, or third generation iPod on or before 31 May last year, according to Eric Gibbs, the lead lawyer in the lawsuit.

Angry iPod users who bought third generation iPods between April 2003 and July 2004 were told the device would play for eight hours on a single charge but many claim performance fell well short of that.

Gibbs said that under the proposed deal, consumers who experienced battery failure can make a claim for a new iPod, have their current player fixed or receive a $50 (£27) credit for Apple products.