Comment 39 for bug 1313430

[WORKAROUND]: Wiping all content off of the device (Artwork, songs, playlists, database) using file operations in Ubuntu appears to put the iPod into a state where it can again sync via. So there is some interaction in the content being read from the device and the software bug causing the crash.

However, as the conditions which cause the crash are still unknown, it is impossible to say whether a device that "works" after manual wipe will again start to manifest problems.

Did not try to Factory Reset the iPod with iTunes or use the iPod's "Erase all Content" options, but suspect that they would have the same effect as a manual wipe.

As workarounds go, this is pretty much the nuclear option, but it does bypass the bug for an indefinite period.