White Screen of Death Questions [PLEASE HELP!]

Question

If someone actually cares about my issue, they will read all of the following. Let's see how many of you are out here and how many just want to answer simple short questions for reputation.
Okay, so I've ran into my first ever iPod Touch issue. I've never owned an iPhone, but I have had an iPod in the past and know a bit about them. I'm going to be 100% honest and I need a serious answer because I'm upset and angry. If anyone can be bothered to read the following, THANK YOU. If anyone could help me out in any way by giving me suggestions/tips and/or a solution, THANK YOU. But anything that can help is appreciated.
I had my board shorts on when this ocurred. I went to the toilet, doing my own business. I had my iPod Touch in my bank pocket which went to about half way down my thigh. The iPod Touch at the time was facing away from my thigh. Pulling down my pants, the iPod Touch hit the tiled floor. It hardly even hit the floor, all I heard was a little click and I realised it was my iPod. It was flat at the time, I picked it up and pressed the Home button immediately to ensure it was okay. It sort of lit up like a white background, but had a very low opacity. Since it was flat, I assumed it was normal.
Putting my iPod on charge right after my toilet break, I waited and waited for it to charge quickly enough for me to see the screen as I was a little worried not having seen that faded screen before. When the Apple logo was to appear, it gave me a lit up white screen. I was so confused as there were no marks AT ALL on my screen or any other part of the iPod.
NOTE: My iPod is still under warranty.
Did my research and came to the conclusion that it was the infamous 'White Screen of Death'. Where do I go from here? I have no clue!
I have important information such as a To Do list and my Contacts within the iPod. I NEED to retrieve this information. Is there any way I can do this?
I can still use the iPod, as if the screen were showing. Sounds are working, but there is just a blank, lit up white screen. Sometimes when I hold the Home button, On/Off button & the Volume Up buttoon all at the same time for ~10-20 seconds, the Apple logo comes up as if the screen was all fixed. 5 Seconds later, it goes all funny as if there were faded white lines and a faded white background but still being able to see the logo/screen. When the iPod loads, it just goes back to the lit up white screen.
Here's another odd thing to this, when I leave my iPod Touch sitting in a spot remotely, without touching it for a few hours, when I come back to it and hit the Home button, the iPod will begin to work fine as if nothing ever happened. No white screen, no nothing, just simply use it as I wish. I can even sometimes lock it, and then unclock it again with it still showing perfectly. However, when I tend to click the On/Off button after this happens, or if I just continue to use it for ~1 minute, it will eventually do the same as the above paragraph in second last sentence.
This may be important:
The iPod charges fine.
The iPod can be used with my computer and iTunes fine.
To sum it all up, everything can be done, including using the iPod, but with a lit up white screen.
Here are some questions I have for you guys:
Will Apple cover this in my warranty?
If they won't, what should I do?
How much would a replacement screen cost?
Should I attempty to open my iPod if they do not cover it by warranty? (I have not attempted as I don't want to void anything).
What could be the cause and why?
How can I retrieve that important information? (Contacts & To Do List)
Have you got any suggestions/tips for me?
I need this resolved guys. I'm very upset and angry over the whole situation. If a little thump on the tiles like that (it's not like I dropped it or anything) can damage the screen that much, then this devices from Apple can't be very reliable. All I'm asking for is some genuine service/help to resolve my issue. If this can be done, I will be one VERY happy person.
Daniel

Answer 1

Will Apple cover this in my warranty?
As stated above it is not covered by the warranty as it will be deemed accidental damage.  You can try explaining what happened to somebody at the Genius Bar and they may cut you some slack and replace it at no cost.  They might not though as Apple has started to really come down hard on eliminating replacing accidentally damaged iPods at no cost.
If they won't, what should I do?
Again, bring it into them anyways and explain what happened.  You have nothing to lose either way.  Otherwise, you really only have 2 other options.  Send it to a third party service center to have them take a look at it and possibly repair the iPod, or do some studying online and learn how to open up the device yourself and take a look.  There are some excellent step-by-step repair guides at http://www.ifixit.com/.
How much would a replacement screen cost?
This depends on where or how you have it repaired.  Here is Apple's repair pricing guide.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/service/prices/
Third party repair centers will cost less and they'll actually swap out the bad part rather than just replace the entire iPod as Apple does.
Should I attempty to open my iPod if they do not cover it by warranty? (I have not attempted as I don't want to void anything).
If you have a warranty on it still, I wouldn't quite yet.  Take it to your local Apple store as explained above.  Otherwise, I would only if you feel comfortable working with small electronics and consider yourself handy with them. 
What could be the cause and why?
As stated already, it could be a damaged or loose LCD ribbon cable or the LCD screen itself is damaged.  As to what exact component, there is no way to tell.
How can I retrieve that important information? (Contacts & To Do List)
Make a backup of the device in iTunes before taking or sending it in for service or before you decide to open it up (if you do happen to go that route).  See here what is included in the backup of the device.
iTunes: About iOS backups
If you get a new or replacement device you can restore it from that backup.
Have you got any suggestions/tips for me?
As I have already stated numerous times, try taking it into your local Apple Store and see if there is anything can do for you such as swap it out.  Remember that they are not obligated to do so since the damage is technically accidental.  Be kind and polite when explaning what happened. You never know what could happen!
B-rock