Do Podcasts Kill iPod Flash Drives?

Flash drives have a large but finite number of writes that can be performed. According to GetUSB.info, SLC flash memory has about 100,000 write cycles while MLC flash memory has about 10,000 write cycles.

So, let's say you write 2000 songs to a nano or touch (or iPhone). At let's assume you rotate a combination of 50 podcasts, TV shows, and other transient media files (files that do not stay permanently on the iPod) per week. That adds up to about 2600 writes per year over and above song files that may be more-or-less permanent (except on iPod shuffles were playlists probably rotate songs and create write cycles more frequently). Even if the lower life cycle MLC type is used, the flash drive should last about 3 years. If the more durable SLC type is used, the non-replaceable battery will die long before the flash memory burns through its maximum life cycle.

Given these assumptions, I'm not going to worry too much about moving podcasts in and out of my flash based iPod.

Transfer Purchases from Your iPod

Hey, was this Transfer Purchases from NameOfYouriPod feature always here? It in in the iTune File menu. I just noticed it tonight. I had bought a bunch of stuff on the Mac mini that was my daily use Mac until it died. I finally saved up enough nickels and dimes to replace it recently. I attached my iPod video, clicked on the option and a bunch of purchased items appear to be flowing from my iPod to my new Mac. I guess I'll find out in a little while if things flowed over.

Next project? Need to buy a 1.5 inch putty knife to open up the dead Mac mini and see if I can fix it.

Finally Got the Second iPod touch Upgraded to the January Upgrade

Apple responded to the second problem report I submitted about being charged for three iPod touch January Upgrades even though I attempted only two upgrades for two devices and only one was successfully upgraded (great run on sentence, eh?). They credited the third charge and resent the upgrade for the second touch device (my Daughter's). The upgrade finally took. But, I had to completely reset her iPod touch (yuck). More later. I think I'll post the details on the O'Reilly Mac Center later this week.

Fix for iPod touch January Upgrade Sync Problem?

iPhone Atlas says that this Apple support article (Restore error messages on the iPhone and iPod touch) resolves the iPod touch sync problem that I ran into (see this O'Reilly Mac Center blog item). I'm not keep on wiping the touch (part of the instructions is NOT to restore from backup) and then manually resyncing and setting up WiFi again (a slow process) though. Will think about this for a while