Settlement proposed in iPod class action suit

Users disgruntled with Apple's iPod battery claims may soon have relief.

A court has conditionally approved a settlement in a class action suit brought against Apple Computer by several consumers who claim their iPod batteries did not live up to the company's representation. Approved by the Superior Court of California for San Mateo County, the settlement covers all consumers (class members) who purchased a first-, second-, or third-generation iPod model on or before May 31, 2004 and experienced "battery failure." Apple has agreed to the settlement without admitting fault or misrepresentation.

According to the published settlement notice, "battery failure" is when "the capacity of an iPod's battery to hold an electrical charge has dropped to four hours or less of continuous audio playback, with earbuds attached, with respect to the Third Generation iPod, or five hours or less of continuous audio playback, with earbuds attached, with respect to the First Generation iPod and the Second Generation iPod."

View: More Information About the iPod Settlement