iPod Universal Dock not supported by iPod touch and iPod classic : New iPods require new hardware

iPod Universal Dock not supported by iPod touch and iPod classic

New iPods require new hardware

2007-10-10 20:34

The latest additions to Apple's lineup, the new iPod touch and iPod classic, may have many new great features, but some things about the shiny new gadgets are getting buyers in a tizzy.

Purchasers of the new iPod touch and iPod classic are finding that the familiar "tv out" setting (used to play videos on your TV via an AV cable plugged into the headphone jack) is disabled in the new iPods. While previous models, such as the iPod Video 5.5, allowed users to hook up their iPods via third-party cables and watch their favourite videos on the big screen, the new models require users to buy the latest Apple dock.

According to this article on Apple's website, the new iPod models should support TV out with the iPod Universal Dock and the "Apple Universal Dock". The tv out setting is now ONLY enabled once the appropriate cable is plugged into the dock.

To add insult to injury, many people who already own the "iPod Universal Dock" are finding that the tv out setting is still disabled with their new iPods. It would appear that the new "Apple Universal Dock" is actually required, and that the "iPod Universal Dock" will not work.

What does this mean? Well, if you already own a third-party cable you're unlikely to be able to watch your videos on your television set. Even if you have already spent the $100+ on an official Apple product (the "iPod Universal Dock") you still might have to shell out money AGAIN for the new dock.

Hopefully Apple will either release a firmware update to remove this "feature", or some third party manufacturer will release an affordable, compatable dock/cable. In the meantime, mentally add $100 to the price of any new iPod that you buy if you intend to watch videos on your TV.