iPod Touch screen problems, Negative Black Effect [Updated]
Posted on September 15th, 2007 in iPod Touch |
[Update 10:10pm Sept 15,2007] Just came home with the second iPod touch and guess what?! Surprise, surprise the problem still exists! This has to be a widespread problem and not isolated as I’d hoped.
There’s nothing worse than coming home with your shiny new toy to find a major problem with it — in the case of the iPod touch, the screen is defective. There seems to be what is called the negative black effect. It’s hard to explain so I’ve put together a sample video with the iPod touch next to the iPhone playing the same video.
Click over for more pictures and a demo video.
I’m really trying my best to not bash Apple for letting this crap slip through QA. Their supplier or suppliers of the screen ought to be a damn ashamed for making Apple look bad. In case you don’t remember, I had to trade out my iPhone three freaking times before I got one that would hold a decent battery charge!
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Written by: Vincent Nguyen
102 Responses
Apple innovates better than anyone else. Their industrial design and user interface are second to none. If Apple ever ever (ever) masters quality control issues, they will be unstoppable.
mm that sucks, someone told me the ones from Best Buy are ok though
I got my ipod touch thursday night and noticed the issue right away after syncing and loading up some videos. I don’t have an iphone so I thought all the screens, including iphone screens, were like this. I’m bummed about this and I don’t know how long it will take before apple addresses the issue–if ever.
[...] out a sampling of reports from Apple-Touch, Tech.Blorge, Gizmodo and [...]
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I got one of the first ones from Best Buy, and I have this problem. I didn’t think it was a problem at first, because the negative effect goes away if I tilt the iPod, but really, I should be able to watch without tilting…
I will wait and see before I return mine for exchange, though. I hope this gets fixed.
[...] You can read the entire article, complete with videos and more pictures, on Apple Touch. [...]
I have read reports that units from BestBuy also have screen issues.
i bet they just changed some settings around so it would be darker so that they could make it more energy efficient because a lighter color on a screen it brighter
God my iPod Touch from NorthPark center in Dallas Friday morning.
The weird dark colors was one of the first things that I immediately noticed when playing video. Then I went to the Apple discussion boards and found out that lots of people have the same problem.
Have you ever seen those 3D images on the cover of a magazine or your credit card? It’s kind of like that effect. The light shade occurs on the upper side (or left) of the ipod so your left eye sees the problem, but your right eye doesn’t. Put the two together and your brain is confused into thinking it’s a 3D image of some sort. It’s a weird effect.
You know what’s really funny? There’s this one guy on the Apple discussion board who bought 3 touches (2 for his two sons) and all three have different degrees of dark problems. One’s severe, one doesn’t have it, and one’s in between. So basically, it’s a lottery right now as to who has a good one and who has a bad one.
same problem - bought at Michigan Apple store
Heres another example of the problem. The lower one a nano in an ugly homemade case and the top is the Touch.
YouTube: iPod Nano vs Touch - Moving Comparison Shot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYxlrsReUEU
YouTube: iPod Nano vs Touch - Straight Shot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbTb5jvuhE
Reply
That video quality is awful. It looks like a (software solvable) contrast issue, but if it’s not, then hardware could be at fault. The best way to guarantee action and make a statement to Apple, would be to return it for a full refund. You can always buy another later, if and when the issue is fixed.
I just came home with my new iPod Touch from Best Buy, and it has the same dark video problem. I’m not sure if it is the screen, or some restriction/setting within hte unit itself. outside of video, the screen doesn’t seem to have an issue at all.
I’m hoping this is something apple can release with a firmware/software update.
Hmmm… maybe just stick to movies with less black people in them?
Apple is only second to their own products.. iPod touch screen is slightly inferior than the current iPhone screen.
Georgina @ http://www.prankvideoz.com
[...] read more | digg story [...]
Apple innovate - but often make basic UI mistakes - that they eventually fix - it has taken them to the latest iPods to fix the fundamental flaws that existed on the large memory iPods as the interface developed was never developed to be scalable past a few hundred albums or songs…
They also probably produce the worst HCI hardware around - their keyboards are always poorly designed, non-ergonomic, non-responsive, and don’t get me onto the mice - they have yet to produce a non-crippling mouse.
The worst is that in most of their interfaces you need to combine a mouse click with a slap of the keyboard (multiple key presses) to get anything done…
well duh… youre buying the downgraded iphone, what do you expect?
I don’t have an iPod touch yet (glad I held off) but I’ve been noticing a severe drop in the quality of LCDs used in Apple products lately.
I bought a Macbook Pro in August that had 7 dead pixels and a very uneven backlight (which was supposed to be impossible with LED backlighting) which I immediately returned to the online store. Bought another from the Apple Store in Soho and it had 4 dead pixels and appeared very, very dim. Returned it as well and now I’m without a laptop. If I didn’t need the flexibility of using both OSX and Windows I’d just get a PC … several PC manufactures guarantee their screens and have zero-dead-pixel policies.
I know it’s good news that Apple is selling more and having to ramp up production to meet demand, but the quality control of late really seems to suffer.
Guess I’ll just opt for a PSP … was torn between the iPod touch and the slimmer PSP, and this issue cements it.
It looks like a photo with the contrast turned up higher than the screen can handle.
Can you adjust the contrast on the ipod touch?
If so try lowering the contrast.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed on any of your iPod Touches yet, but if you turn the brightness all the way down the screen has a really hard time keeping the level right even with the auto brightness turned off. It really had the issue in a dark room…
@tenbaum
***Apple innovates better than anyone else.***
Not really. A lot of what Apple creates is just polished derivatives. However, they certainly put a more energy into marketing than most. Perhaps that explains your belief that Apple is more innovative than many other companies.
***Their industrial design and user interface are second to none.***
Not sure how one can objectively come to such a conclusion. However, as someone who has studied in several different design disciplines and who also works as a product designer, I find Apple’s design generally reduces usability in favor of pandering, generic and fleeting style.
***If Apple ever ever (ever) masters quality control issues, they will be unstoppable.***
I thought Apple was perfect to all of its fan boys — what happened?
BTW, thank you for using a company name as a collective, singular noun.
Clearly the phones are tilted in the video as well - making the touch look worse than it is.
My Macbook has exactly this issue, to the degree that I won’t watch dvds on it.
Look, if there is an angle where you can see perfectly the screen with both eyes, then is a problem with the design of the screen. LCD screen are designed to be seen from certain angle, the effect that “KungFu-tse” describes is caused by viewing the screen while an eye is inside the range of the LCD and the other is not, so the image looks pretty weird.
If the ipod touch has a LCD screen that must be seen vertically, not horizontally, or at certain tricky angle, then, my friends, the ipod touch is a piece of trash…
I’m huge apple fan and i bought a touch ipod on thursday at 5th ave store. It has over a dozen tiny tiny dead pixels on it. And also this negative black effect. Apple is replacing it for me though. Genius bar was very pleasant. Although i didn’t get the replacement on the spot they said they will be contacting me when they get replacement ipod touches.
But yes it should have been pristine out of the box. At least apple is replacming mine though.
hey guys, are you using a black guy as an example to the “negative black effect” ? very dumb…
You Apple fanboys are amazing. When Apple decides to rape you for $1 more for ringtones, you blame the RIAA. When Apple puts out the iPod touch which has a shitty screen, you blame the manufacturer. You people realize all of this is within the sphere of Apple’s control right? This isn’t anyone else’s fault. It’s ALL Apple. But you people don’t care about the truth anyway. You want to live in this land of sunshine and puppies where you blow Steve Jobs all day. Let me ask you guys something. What percentage of his money does Steve Jobs give to charities? Not NEARLY as much as Bill Gates. You guys are backing the wrong horse.
Does anyone know if this is something that can be fixed via a firmware update? Or is the issue within the hardware?
For anyone who doesn’t notice what the problem is, look at the second still, the one with 6:40 on the left, and look at the eyebrow and beard of the man pictured. They are a light gray color that stands out from the natural colors of the face in the background.
Welcome to the $249.99 refurb model
I’ll get one of those!
I think may be caused by the angle of the camera, but just maybe
I see what you’re talking about, and you’re right, it looks horrible. But your video if the iPhone shows the lighter / brighter colors completely washed out and white looking.
look especially at the bed covers. on the iPhone they look white and on the iPod touch they look blue.
I don’t like either.
There is definitely an issue with the default contrast levels set to maximum as well. The shadowed areas just fill in solid black with no detail (you can’t even see Foreman’s eyes) while the light areas are burning out (on the pillow in the foreground). If there’s no way for the user to adjust the contrast to acceptable levels, they should never have released it like this and should stop shipping/selling it until it’s fixed.
Looks like the gamma, brightness and contrast settings for the video player need to be tweaked. This is an easy software update. No biggie.
Looks to me like the iPhone is a bit TOO bright, too. But, you’re right, the iPod touch shouldn’t be this dark.
Maybe apple is racist! Like the whole OJ Simpson magazine cover!!
[...] iPod Touches have crappier screens then the iPhone. That’s right. Lest you doubt, there is in fact video proof. Now wait a tick. You make a product that is basically an iPhone without a cellular radio and in a [...]
I was just headed out to buy one one at bestbuy, thought i’d check DIGG before leaving- glad i did. Anyway i sympathize with you who have bought one- I went through (4) 2nd Gen Nanos before everything worked.
I’m shocked that you had to use a black man to emphasize the point….
Good catch. Maybe Apple will fire one of their designers, and hire you? =P
-impuLsive
http://cheatingnetwork.net
thanks for help. i was on the fence, now I’ll wait for either 3g iphone or
a solid touch pod. cheers,
How else are you supposed to demonstrate the “black effect” than to use a black person. What the f^&K? Do you think an albino would show the effect better? You’re a stupid, dumb ass liberal.
Al sharpton will surely complain about this.
[...] (Via: Apple-Touch.com) [...]
I have a feeling it is not that the iPods have different screens. It appears to be an issue with the polarity of the glass or another layer between the glass and the screen that is screwing up the polarity.
Great examples of the stupid comments that people leave on the internet.
People! Your stupidity is amazing! “It’s the angle” “We are race intolerant” etc.
You make me sick! Haha. Noob at Life = You
Looks like a dynamic range issue to me. Notice at the end of the clip where it says “Ex. Producer Bryan Singer” It is clearly legible on the touch but completely washed out on the iphone. While I own neither of these products I am willing to bet that you could find a brightly lit scene where the iphone looks washed out and the touch is preferable.
i have the problem too. its the same with any video that displays dark colors. dark fight scenes in lord of the rings look terrible. jack sparrow’s hair is fugly. apple needs to address this issue. i was on hold for a total of 3 hours yesterday inquiring about this issue
It seems a lot of you are missing a vital point: chances are this can be solved with a software update. If you don’t like it its your own fault for being early adopters. I’m waiting for all these problems to be ironed out before I get mine, which probably won’t take too long.
Steve Jobs hates black people.
[...] problems with the screens on the new iPod touch. Apparently many folks (including here on TUAW) are complaining that the screen is very dark and lacking in details. Above you can see a comparison on Apple Touch [...]
The only controlled way and convincing way to demonstrate the effect is to display a picture of a grey scale. Anything else is probably dur to viewing angle, decoding software, ambient light, and so forth.
I think Apple OEM is using a lower quality LCD in Ipod Touch compare to Iphone. It might not be fault of Apple. It could be remedied we (ipod users / comsumers) would make Apple listen to us. Right now, they only way, I urge you is to return all the Ipod touch to Apple stores and where ever you buy it, then Apple will know that this is a problem. Keep you ipod touch now, then in a week this poorer LCD in ipod touch is a norm. A week or 2 without Ipod touch is a little price for having a better product. All ipod touch owners, please return your ipod to Apple for all us.
im using my ipod touch right now and previewed some of my videos and pictures.
brightness is turned up all the way and i dont see anything wrong
and this thing was purchased at BestBuy btw (im using the 8gb version)
Good news, not all ipod touch has this problem.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1134707&tstart=0
If you have the “uncoated” LCD ipod touch, it is up to you to keep it or return it. Now, we will wait for the “properly” manufacture ipod touch - “coated ones”, not the “uncoated”
The new iphone as well has this problem as posted in this
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1134707&tstart=0
http://picasaweb.google.com/nathanstl/Iphone/photo#5111400649787440290
Now, we will wait until this problem in iphone and ipod touch will be addressed. Preorders? - good luck on your units.
[...] On the new iPod touch Reports on the new iPod touch are starting to pop up - a very nice and thorough review can be found at MacInTouch. Well worth a read. iProng has a great summary on iPhone features you’ll miss out on by buying an iPod touch, and some more info can be had at iPhone Atlas. A screen problem that has been discovered is also being discussed at iPod touch. [...]
Are you serious? First of all, anyone who’s desperate to watch video on a 3-inch screen is a moron. Can’t you sit on the bus and read a book or something? Remember when reading was something people did for enjoyment, rather than just to read what they typed in their own blog?
Second, if you’re watching the video on a 3″ screen, who gives a shit if the color is off a little. It’s not like you you’re sitting in a theater.
Third, I can’t believe how righteous you fanboys make Apple out to be, even when they fuck up…
Consider the excerpt from your post:
“I’m really trying my best to not bash Apple for letting this crap slip through QA. Their supplier or suppliers of the screen ought to be a damn ashamed for making Apple look bad.”
You’ve gotta be kidding me… You all kiss Apple’s ass, even when they screwed up. Apple screwed up; Assign the blame and face the reality: Apple is not now, nor was it ever, nor will it ever be GOD.
Rules for consumer technology purchases:
1. Never buy a new product in the first generation
2. Never blog about how mad you are when you got screwed by buying the first-gen product
3. Read OTHER people’s stories about how they got screwed by buying the first-gen product
You fanboys crack my shit up.
The Average White Guy has spoken…
http://www.theaveragewhiteguy.com
Hey there,
after trying to figure out the problem i now know whats wrong,
the apple screen isnt the problem its the auto brightness feature on the iphone and ipods. try turning it off and then post a video and see.
Well, I just hope that apple allows people to exchange the defective units. I’m getting one of these guys for my birthday, and I really don’t wanna be stuck with a POS. As long as apple acknowledges the issue and offers a solution I’m happy.
And I’m not an apple fanboy, I just think that if a company sells a unit with a defect, they should be courteous enough to replace it for all the people that put hard earned money (or took advantage of birthdays ;0 ) an oppurtunity to get a quality product.
hi.
actually, ipod touch’s also launched in korea. look at the video clip, which shooted in their show case. I wonder whether it’s also “negative black effect” or not ..
http://nhk.blogspot.com/2007/09/ipod-touch-launched-in-korea.html
[...] información | Ars Technica y Apple Touch Vídeo en Viddler | [...]
Apple told me by email that the Belgian iPod touch won’t have that problem.
I’ve preorded my new ipod touch one week ago, earlier this problem started to spread, or at least to get known… and now I’m waiting it for being shipped on september 28th. I called to Apple’s call center in Spain yesterday and I asked about the so called “negative black effect”… They didn’t have any idea about it as the ipod touch is not out yet in Europe (at least Spain). And they said to me something like this:
“Don’t worry, Apple doesn’t have ipods in stock, they are out of the factory on demand after orders… so if the problem existed in America Apple must already know it and the problem will be corrected before the new ipods (shipped after september 28th) are delivered”.
Well, I’m not confident 100%… but I’ll trust them by now… I’ll see in 10 days or so. I’ll let you know.
@Glugory:
You are a funny guy for sure. Bill Gates ? Are you talking about the guy who filled the entire computer market with the most trashy products ever appeared ? And charity, oh sure. It’s sooo easy to be a humanitarian when you get godly profits based on selling trash to retards. I won’t take more of your time my friend, I’m sure it’s time to update your antivirus now.
[...] of apple-touch) Reason 3: Storage Capacity, seriously 8GB & 16GB models are so second generation. I [...]
[...] HardMac, Apple-Touch e in un articolo di Walter S. Mossberg (Wall Street Journal) si parla di un difetto riscontrato in [...]
Guys - LOL; I wonder if putting a black person is aimed to stir up more comments and drive up your click ad… So people, please don’t take these race oriented comments too seriously. I don’t really like the premise and strategy of this site… But it’s a free market.
well why dont yall go to Apple and ask if they can fix it?
no big deal out of that one
if you tell them about it maybe they can fix it for you in no time instead of posting a website about it!
oh and the person above me whats up with the racial comment?
big whoop so what i black hes just a color and he cant help that
gee, I really hope they solve this soon and that my ordered Touch here in Germany doesn’t show this behaviour/problem. Just a few days … can hardly wait …
[...] problems with the screens on the new iPod touch. Apparently many folks (including here on TUAW) are complaining that the screen is very dark and lacking in details. Above you can see a comparison on Apple Touch [...]
Holy buckets! -you guys need to get a life.
There is war, starvaion and injustice in our world and you direct your attention to how miserable your middle class life is because your mp3 player sucks.
Help the world by assistng worthy humanitarian causes with some of your discretionary income.
How about Catholic relief services, Salvation Army or any way you can help (just slip a five spot to a hungry soul on the street). Help where you can, and enjoy the life you are gifted with.
A. Friend
OK, enough of the sniping. The video issue seems to be resolved in the newest batch — week 38. Just look at the serial number on the back of the box, and if it has any variation of 9C738******, you should be good to go. Some serial numbers have a different number and alpha combo prior to the “38″, so just look for that instead.
Just exchanged it, and the new video looks great. Still not quite as good as the iPhone video (I compared them with the same set of videos), but very, very nice.
Oh, and don’t forget to give to your favorite charity after exchanging your iPod. Some of us do that all the time.
Chapps
Hello guys,
this problem is just horrible
i live in holland en the ipod touch is nog here jet.
i was wondering if the shipment to holland also have bad displays, do you have any idea ??
because when you buy a device of 400,- you just expect it to work properly!
[...] read more | digg story [...]
[...] read more | digg story [...]
[...] HardMac, Apple-Touch e in un articolo di Walter S. Mossberg (Wall Street Journal) si parla di un difetto riscontrato in [...]
I cant believe you Appple suckers, not only are you paying through yoru teeth to get one of these, plus all effing extras, charger extra? and now you have the problems and still you plunder on. The ear buds suck yo need to invest in new earbuds, why cant Apple just upgrade their cheap and nasty earbuds. They are certainly charging you enough for it.
I will wait, i know something better is around hte corner . it always happens. I buy a Iphone or Touch and next week there will be a new one. Thats one of Apples tricks.Come suckers, wake up. Yo got money to thow away? throw it my way.
I realize this thread is pretty dead at the moment, but I just wanted to note that I have a 9C737 Touch that I got from Amazon, which arrived with the 1.1.1 update pre-installed, and, while not as bad as some images I’ve seen, it still exhibited slight “negative black” issue with video and pictures.
I contacted Amazon about it, and they seem to be aware of the issue and they shipped me a replacement no-questions-asked with free return shipping for the defective unit. I just received my replacement, which is a 1A740 serial number with Macy Gray box, and the issue is definitely resolved. The color balance is also improved on the new unit, as now I notice the defective unit had a slight green cast over everything in addition to the negative black effect.
Here’s to hoping everyone with a defective unit got a proper replacement, and all future models are defect free!
OK well this is pretty funny about how all of these apple haters are dissing MacNuts All of you guys can Go Bow Down to Hitler and Stalin (Bill Gates & Steve Jobs)…. You guys really need to find women or men (or both if you’re like that..)
[...] a sample video with the iPod touch next to the iPhone playing the same video.[…] Thanks to dude666 for providing this nice story on [...]
[...] my new toy I did a lot of research on the iPod Touch to ensure I was buying a model that had no negative black issue and that all the little bugs had generally been [...]
[...] been loyal to Apple for X years and they’ve never steered me wrong!” Again, there are many examples of Apple engaging in behaviors that prove beyond a doubt that all they care about is the [...]
[...] wygl
has this problem been completely solved?
[...] I couldn’t agree more…man the iTouch looks so cool. Hey tell me if the screen ever goes bad…(example of what I’m talking about) __________________ Anyone who disagrees with the above post is a communist. [...]
[...] parts to bend, a la Xbox 360? Or, is this yet another example of Apple’s cheap manufacturing falling short of their engineering [...]
[...] capture in a photograph or even explain in text (so far the best shots we’ve seen came from Apple-Touch), but the result is dark shades — especially black tones — look almost inverted. At [...]
[...] to capture in a photograph or even explain in text (so far the best shots we’ve seen came from Apple-Touch), but the result is dark shades — especially black tones — look almost inverted. At very least [...]
Hey its simple…….apple has gotten cocky and now think that thier supply is in demand and are getting cheap!! I say u stick with the founder of all things tech. and get a Zune. I have the 30g Zune and it is great. The founders of all things tech. are catching up with apple with their Zune touch wich will be made with better quallity as it will be made the origanal tech. geeks so (and if you want to see an zune touch google image it put in “zune touch, or 2nd generation zune and see what you get!)
[...] http://www.apple-touch.com/ipod-touch-screen-problem-negative-black-effect-1534.php [...]
Even the ones at Best Buy aren’t okay. I’m on my second one. THe screen went dark, and now I can’t do anyting. so I am just letting the battery run down and then I am going to see if I can charge works againit up and see if it
Good i was going to buy one, but now i will wait after seeing all the deffects.
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Well i got my ipod touch at xmas and its been fine but last week ,
the screen flashed and all my music and videos were deleted but it still said i only had 4 gb left so my dad rebooted it and it was fine but all of a sudden it had full battery and then 15 mins later i switched back on 2 listen 2 some music and it wouldnt go on the screen is just black wat shud i do??
My ipod does not have all of the things on the menu and it will not connect to the internet… PLEASE HELP!!