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This evening I went to unlock my iPod to check email and play a round of spider solitaire on one of my apps. However, I went to slide the lock and it slid about halfway and then went back to its original position. It's done this a time or two before and usually all I have to do is keep trying a few times and it "unsticks" and unlocks. Well, it isn't working this time. Here's what I've tried:

1. Reset it by holding sleep/wake button down at the same time as the home button (like you would to take a screen shot, only not releasing it). I did this several times. No dice.
2. I restored the iPod (4-newest model) to factory settings and updated the iOS and everything. Didn't work.
3. I've restored it to original settings several times. It still hasn't worked.
4. I did a FIRMWARE reset. It didn't work.
5. I've restored the iPod as a 100% NEW iPod. You guessed, it. It didn't work.

Now let me tell you what is NOT the cause:

I haven't dropped it. It is most certainly NOT jailbroken (like hell am I voiding my warranty). It hasn't gotten anywhere near water. These things being said, I purchased it in March. The touch screen DOES RESPOND so there is nothing wrong with the screen. It's just like the "lock" is "stuck". PLEASE help me. I rely on the iPod to insure I have 24/7 access to AIM and facebook chat (they aren't supported on my cell phone) to ensure my DEPLOYED fiance can contact me during times he can't get to the phone. I don't want to sleep through any messages he sends (and can't very well move the desktop to the bedroom, there's not room) so I need this thing to work. Is there ANYTHING I can do that I haven't done already?

Thanks in advance....

P.S. It worked at 2:50 PM and at 7 PM it didn't. It was in my shirt pocket the entire time in between.
To the person listed as ? that responded: thanks for putting the same thing you put everywhere here. It's 100% unhelpful otherwise I would have used it the first time I saw it. Wait, I DID!!!!!!!!!!! If you READ my post you would SEE I did. I have reset, restored, restarted, etc. So people who try answering, PLEASE remember that yes I have tried and tried to restart it and restore it. It. Didn't. Work.