Refer to the following links for some background on the current “blacks” issue on the new iPod Touches: Apple thread, MacRumors thread, Flickr set, Youtube Video

Just got back from the Apple Store in the Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine, CA to get this issue “confirmed” by them. Luckily I was able to walk in without an appointment and a genius helped me out right away. I had set Heroes episode 2 to about 16 seconds in to the show where the problem was quite obvious.

Steve, the genius, noticed that his direct halogen light in the store was making the issue appear less severe and took into the back room. About five minute later, he returned and did confirm that it had an obvious issue. Unfortunately, they did not have any in stock (no where in Orange County really) and he gave me his card instead and wrote on the back that it did indeed need to be swapped and the issue was verified.

He told me that I could check with them on another day or if another Apple Store had them in stock that they would happily replace it.

So it was rather funny when I began calling the other 4 stores in my area. One of them, Brea, CA, laughed and said “Irvine Spectrum already got a shipment of Touches?” I told him that actually I had bought it at Mission Viejo. He then proceeded to say that his store never received a first shipment of them.

Finally I proceeded to find a store that really was willing to help me out in my time of need. The Apple store of Fashion Island in Newport Beach said they didn’t have any in today, but to call back in the morning and if they had them in stock, they would be more than willing to put it on hold to get swap it out with mine (and of course the business card from the other store).

Meanwhile, I cross my fingers and continue to enjoy the other nice things about this unit. I am going to be a trooper for as long as I can, because I trust that Apple will fix the issue and provide the best support I have always known and loved from them.