iPod battery swap surprisingly easy. Mark Frauenfelder: Plenty of people have swapped a new battery into their iPod, so the fact that I did it, too, is nothing new. But the fact that someone as clumsy as I am did it in about ten minutes without destroying the iPod is surprising. If you're as fumbled fingered as I am and have been afraid to open your iPod, I hope this gives you the courage to take action.

Here's what happened: Last year, I gave my six-year-old daughter my old 10 Gig old-style iPod, because I got a 20 Gig model. Last month, she started complaining that the battery wasn't holding a charge. This is a known problem with iPods. Last week, her iPod was dying after running for just a few minutes. It was time to crack it open.

Using Froogle, I searched on "iPod battery" and found this replacement unit for $30. The shipping was around $6 and it arrived via 2-day UPS.

(Click images for enlargement)

When it arrived (on time), I opened it and found the battery, some instructions (the same ones found here), and a cute-as-a-button miniature screwdriver with a little clip on it so you can insert it in a shirt pocket. Following the instructions, I carefully inserted the screwdriver into the crack between the metal case and clear plastic lid. But the screwdriver's blade was way too thick to get into the seam. I ended up gouging the plastic.

I set the screwdriver aside and grabbed a kitchen knife. It took about three or four minutes of tentative probing before I could get the knife blade worked in far enough to give me enough leverage to start to separate the top from the bottom. Once I got it started, though, I was able to use the adorable little screwdriver to pry the iPod the rest of the way open.

The old battery was attached to the hard drive with a couple of strips of padded, double-sided tape. I tore the tape a little while removed the old battery, and one of the strips got stuck to itself, but it wasn't a big deal. The battery has a couple of wires coming out of it, ending in a tiny white plug that goes into a socket. It was easy to unplug. I took the new battery and stuck it onto the sticky tape. Then I plugged it in the little socket. The cover snapped right on.

After charging it overnight, I gave it to my daughter and it has been running for hours. Mission accomplished! [Boing Boing]

10:24:51 PM    

The Kerry surge. He's on the comeback, baby. First on the list, check... [Daily Kos]

This is a must-read. Ever since the Republican Party Rally (think Triumph of the Will) the national press has all but handed Bush victory in November, continuing to bleet about his alleged 11 point lead right after the convention as if that guarantees victory, and even Slate sez the race is now Bush's to lose.  Well, maybe he just will - lose, that is.  Read on....

2:09:13 PM