You have to get one of those cool bells and if that doesn't work just stab them in the kidney.

This confuses me.
I will explain why:

Assuming by "going in" you mean a pocket or some other holding mechanism that is covered and not being held, why would it matter that it's upside down? iPods are symmetrical, therefore it cannot be a comfort issue.

So are we talking about the position of the iPod when it is being pulled out? The only scenario I can think of that would benefit from a device having the headphone connection being on top is a breast pocket of a shirt. Which would mean that you're probably pulling it out via the cord itself, which is not advisable in the long term, as those cords are typically very thin and very sensitive to tension. Simply placing the hands around the device in a natural fashion to remove it from any pockets other than a breast pocket facilitates a relatively optimal position of the device at the end of its trajectory to the desired readable position, assuming the other hand is free to assist. Whether more people store iPods in their shirt's top pocket than lower pockets, pants pockets, carry bags and the rare fanny pack is a statistic I would assume Apple ended up basing their design decision on if we are to assume that the headphone jack placement was not simply an arbitrary decision.
Assuredly, Apple did not assume that the majority of their target demographic had wardrobes that consisted solely of shirts with top pockets.

Also, since we cannot see the device while it's in a pocket, readability cannot be the issue. So I'm assuming it's not that. Moving on.

Are we talking about the iPod being placed on a flat surface in front of you? If so, it seems to me that the headphone jack placement being on the bottom is the most optimal position if your head happens to be also attached right-side-up. Regardless of angle parallel to your face, a headphone jack positioned on the bottom is preferable. Unless you pick up your iPod via the cable. Which, again, is not a habit I would pick up.


Are you the percentage of people that Apple has regarded as the ones that will simply have to suffer the hardship of using a semi-unnatural positioning scheme in order to extract their iDevice from their pocketed shirts, in order to appeal to the larger likelihood of being more convenient to those who may not find themselves in the same predicament?

Or is there something I'm not thinking of?

They are? Mine's on the top... Frankly I'd much prefer it to be on the bottom of the device for the exact reason that Freebase outlined in his post.

No, what you're missing is that when you hear a track you haven't heard before or don't recognise and want to check what it is, you have to take your ipod out of your pocket (I keep mine in my jacket, but sometimes top pocket) turn the thing around so you can read the information and then if you want to turn up, stop or fast forward, or anything, same thing.

I use my Zen X-Fi all the time. The headphone jack goes in at the side (right I think) and when the player is in my pocket it's the right way up, so I can easily slip it out and look at whatever info I need, or pause it or whatever. With the ipod though, I have to turn it the right way up before I can do anything like that.

When you plug in the headphones at the base, the natural action of the player is to dangle upside down from your ears, as it were.

Look, I just hate ipods ok? I wouldn't even have one were it not for the fact that the best possible dock/speaker combo, the Logitech Pure-Fi Dream, is made for ipod and really doesn't work with anything else. I hate the way you can't just drag-and-drop albums onto it, like you can with my Zen; you have to go through this bloody synching process. The same for deleting files. And I hate the click wheel: it's either way too sensitive or refuses to move unless you push it hard, resulting in either a sudden blast/loss of volume, tracks flying by like no-one's business, or other annoying stuff you didn't want to happen, er, happening.

Down with Apple!
:dj:

When you're really enjoying a song then you realise it reminds you of someone you've had a one night stand with and you can't listen to the song ever again

:(

Never said it wasn't. But it does grind my gears.
Mind you, this from someone who thinks it's absolutely vital that the site have a headbanging icon? Which I agree with, by the way... ;)

Guitar being out of intonation.

Family always talking about who is ill, dying or dead.

I always put my phone in upside down. Also, it makes sense when you have it out, or are resting it on something, so that way the cord doesn't have to go over the screen or around it.

stupid people