Apple doesn't make it easy to replace its battery. First, pry open the Nano with two plastic tools that came with the battery and, if that fails, try the tip of a paring knife — until finally accessing the motherboard.

Then use a soldering iron to remove the old battery leads from the motherboard, before securing the new battery. Lost you at the soldering iron? Here's the easy way out: Snip the other end of the three lead wires, close to the original battery, leaving the soldered ends in place. Strip some covering off the wires, then twist them together with the corresponding leads of the new battery. Wrap each in electrician's tape and the iPod's reborn.

OK, let's just say it can be done. Newer iPods are much more difficult (thank you, Mother Apple). For the Touch, don't even think DIY. It'll cost $79 if returned to Apple, though there are plenty of less-expensive options; Juice Your iPod (ipodjuice.com) will do it for $32, RapidRepair (rapidrepair.com) for $50.

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Here are some tips, most of them Apple-approved and many apply to other MP3 players as well:

1. Use it or lose it. Do not leave an iPod dormant for months. Run the battery down, though not necessarily out.

2. Keep iTunes software up to date. You'll find it via iTunes when connecting the iPod to a computer with Internet access.

3. Use small audio files. The bigger ones (WAV, AIFF or Apple Lossless) sound much better when played through your home's audio system, but they're tough on the iPod's battery-driven hard drive. The smaller audio files (MP3 or AAC) are less taxing on both the hard drive and the battery. A lot more smaller-file songs fit on the iPod, too.

4. Switch the iPod into Hold mode. If you carry around an iPod in a pocket or purse, you could accidentally activate it and drain the battery.

5. Check the settings. If you don't need something, turn it off. Backlighting while listening to music?  Deactivate the equalizer by setting it to "flat." Turn off Sound Check.

7. Create iTunes playlists instead of using the iPod's "shuffle" mode.

8. Don't overuse the "next" and "previous" functions.

9. For the Touch, reduce the brightness setting. Turn off auto-brightness and "ask to join networks." Turn off Wi-Fi when not in use, too. Use the sleep/wake button instead of on/off if you'll return to the Touch soon. (Turning on the Touch uses more power than simply waking it.) Under "fetch new data," which automatically imports e-mail, turn off "push" and set "fetch" to manual.Turn "fetch" mail to the manual setting.

10. Keep the iPod, and its battery, at room temperature when possible. Extreme cold, below freezing, will make the iPod sluggish. Extreme heat, above 95 degrees, could damage the battery.

With proper care, an iPod battery should last about 400 charges. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Taken from, iPod Batteries: The Inside Story
Kevin Hunt | The Electronic Jungle | Hartford Courant
April 5, 2009