iPod mini help: it's not really charging anymore

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

The power on the darn thing is probably all of 10 minutes, even though it has recharged all night and the battery gauge indicates it has 100% power.

Suggestions? Advice?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. Bring it to the Genius Bar.

If it's under warranty, they'll probably just give you a new one.

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

2. how old is it?

that might be normal. rechargeable batteries' capacity diminish over time.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

3. it's only a couple of years old

and it's no longer under warranty

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

4. it might just need a new battery

IIRC, when I bought mine, the guy said it might need a new battery in a couple years.

[Drum]

5. Happens to lotsa things that work on implanted rechargeable batts.

Everything from the dustbuster to the shaver to the iPod to the Sonicare toothbrush...after a lot of charges and discharges they can lose their ability to recharge over time. A new battery should do the trick.

[billyskank]

6. Especially if you leave the thing on charge longer than necessary a lot

and it doesn't have protection circuits. Many batteries are damaged by overcharging.

[freethought]

7. Looks like a new battery is in order.

There's alot of good advice here on this thread. I would tend to agree that a new battery seems to be in order.
I did think that if any of the Ipods needed a new battery you would have to send it back to Apple with a check, of course!
Also, here's a little advice for future reference. You may already know it but here's the lecture anyway. Rechargeable batteries tend to develop what is known as a 'memory'. Let's say you recharge your Ipod when it reaches 1/2 charge, do that enough times and eventually that is all the charge the battery will hold. This is a problem that has been dogging battery technollogy for years. I believe some company may have found a way to solve it but it will be some time before it becomes cost effective. So when you are using your Ipod, cellphone, or other gadget that runs on rechargeable battery, run the battery down till it is nearly dead, THEN recharge. I have done this with my cellphone and Ipod from the get-go. My cellphone has remained dead consistent since I first purchased it almost two years ago. A full charge will carry it for 3 full days, 5 days if I shut off at night.