... Rechargeable lithium-based technology currently provides the best performance for your iPod.

You can also find this standard battery technology in devices such as mobile phones and PDAs.

Like other rechargeable batteries, these batteries may eventually require replacement.

Standard Technology

Lithium-ion batteries pack in a higher power density than nickel-based batteries. This gives you a longer battery life in a lighter package, as lithium is the lightest metal.

You can also recharge a lithium-ion battery whenever convenient, without the full charge or discharge cycle necessary to keep nickel-based batteries at peak performance.

Over time, crystals build up in nickel-based batteries and prevent you from charging them completely, necessitating an inconvenient full discharge.

Standard Charging

Most lithium-ion batteries use a fast charge to charge your device to 80 per cent battery capacity, and then they will switch to trickle charging.

This equates to roughly two hours charge time to power an iPod to 80 per cent capacity, then another two hours to fully charge the iPod (as long as you are not using the iPod while charging). You can charge all lithium-ion batteries a large but finite number of times, as defined by the charge cycle.

Charge Cycle

Using and recharging 100 per cent of your iPod battery capacity equals one full charge cycle. A charge cycle means using all of the battery's power, but that doesn't necessarily mean a single charge.

For instance, you could listen to your iPod for a few hours one day, using half its power, and then recharge it fully.

If you did the same thing the next day, it would count as one full cycle, not two, so you may take several days to complete a cycle.

Each time you complete a charge cycle, it diminishes battery capacity slightly, but you can put your iPod battery through many charge cycles before it will only hold 80 per cent of original battery capacity.

Tip: Use Apple-branded cables only

The iPod (with dock connector) and iPod mini also charge while in their docks, as long as the conditions mentioned below are met and the dock is connected to the computer's powered FireWire port.

How to charge your iPod's battery via power adaptor or connecting it to your computer.

The simplest way to charge your iPod is to connect the Apple iPod Power Adaptor using the FireWire or USB cable that came with your iPod. Extra adaptors are available from the Apple Store.

An iPod's battery is 80 per cent charged in about an hour, and fully charged in about four hours. You can disconnect and use the iPod before it is fully charged, and you don'thave to wait until it's completely empty before charging it again.

A battery icon in the top-right corner of the iPod's display shows how much charge is left.

If you connect the iPod and the battery icon does not animate, its battery is fully charged. Lithium-ion batteries, such as those used in iPod, have none of the memory effects seen in nickel-based rechargeable batteries.

The battery stops charging when it's full. You can leave it plugged overnight, for example. Leaving your iPod connected all the time doesn't continuously charge it. Once the battery is full, disconnect the iPod.

You can charge your iPod by connecting it to a computer, as long as:

• Your computer's port provides electricity. This is the case with the FireWire port on all Macs and some PCs. If your PCs FireWire port only has four pins, it doesn't provide electricity. If your computer has a high-powered USB port it can also charge an iPod.
• Your computer is turned on.
• Your computer isn't in sleep mode.

For more information consult your iPod's User Manual. If you use a computer to charge your iPod, disconnect the iPod correctly when it's finished charging.

Tip: Observe all static-safe precautions for working on your iPod. Earthing straps are available from most high-street electrical retailers.