I've been having to charge my iPod touch more lately. The battery seems to be draining faster than a while ago. Is this a result of a dying battery or just apps that use a lot of power?

I used my ipod on a dock and was charging it when the battery was not in the red, or almost dead. I think that the frequent charging on the dock shortened the battery life. Also, with normal use, it should only last 2 years or so.

After a while rechargeable batteries just wear out. I had to replace my laptop battery after 1 1/2 years. It slowly decreased the amount of time I could use it until it no longer worked.

Well I dont have a touch so Im sure we are speaking on a different level but with my kids IPODS, I learned that the more detail you have on it the shorter the battery life is and the moreoften its needs to be charged. My younger sons IPOD has no graphics what so ever just plain old music... My older son has games and album art and all sorts of movies and television shows and poscasts and his needs to be charged twice as often and twice as long to maintain a battery use.

Lithium batteries tend to degrade with age and temperature. Trickle-charging doesn't raise temperature too much but heavy use might. Still, that alone doesn't have much to do with it unless the battery is over two years old.

Also, they don't have the problems with "memory effect" that older rechargable batteries (NiCads) do, so the number of charge cycles is also irrelevant except as it pertains to age.

LiON batteries typically lose 35% of their capacity in 1 year if kept at full-charge and at a temperature of 104F (about normal for most uses; they DO heat up when you charge them or talk on the phone, which draws some amps). However, at 140F (heavy use) they can lose 40% of their capacity in THREE MONTHS.

I would venture to guess that your battery is due for replacement though. I can't see the app-use drawing enough amps to raise the temperature, so that leaves age as the determining factor.

It usually depends, try using less graphical apps, or any apps that you believe may be taking too much power. If that doesn't do anything, the battery may be dieing. I believe the Apple Store does replace the battery.