The iPod (bla bla bla) cannot be updated. An unknown error occured (-208)

I am gettign strange errors, to which I can find no explination, solutions or even a mention of. Upon syncing my iPod nano with iTunes 7.0.2 I get an error "The iPod (bla bla bla) cannot be updated. An unknown error occured (-208)"
There is an Apple error code for -208:
-208 badFileFormat File is corrupt or unusable, or not AIFF or AIFF-C
It then syncs the music correctly, but not the photos or the contacts. When setting the contacts to be updated, iTunes says "No Contacts available. Open Address Book and create contacts?" Address Book is full of cantact and has been for years.
The system log has:
2007-01-12 01:21:01.012 iTunes[506] CFLog (0):
CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): plist parse failed; the data is not proper UTF-8. The file name for this data could be:
/Users/el1mjw/Library/Application Support/SyncServices/Local/clientdata/0063006f006d002e006100700070006c0065002e0 06900730079006e006300440055002e00690070006f0064002e00410032003700300030003100320 03300320045004300460035/recordids.syncidmap
The parser will retry as in 10.2, but the problem should be corrected in the plist.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a solution?
PowerBook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

Hope this will help!
Itune 7 has MAJOR problem with shuffle with Window system, not with MAC.
So download itune 6 @ http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/
Then bring your ipod to a local apple store for resetting your ipod, telling them you want it for WINDOW use @ http://www.apple.com/retail/
I can feel your pain, bro! I literally had a nightmare a week ago. I almost started a major BOYCOTT movement nationally against (corrupt, greedy) APPLE using my connection with a nationally popular talk radio host. Thank GOD, I at least found a solution. I hope APLLE will work so hard to come up with better version of itune 7 soon!

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