Travel Technology - The new IPOD 30 Gig/60 Gig Video

I was told the new ipod video only works with USB 2.0? No firewire access? And there's not docking station. What's up with that?

No dock, no FireWire cable, not even a charger included in the box. Only a USB2 cable. I found the whole package really "meager" compared to previous generations of the iPod...

I was told the new ipod video only works with USB 2.0? No firewire access? And there's not docking station. What's up with that?


Sadly, this is the case. It's a problem with people with older Macs who have relied on Firewire for high speed device interfacing for many years (long before USB 2.0 showed up). However, it should be noted, you can CHARGE via Firewire. So, if you have a previous iPod that came with a charger with a Firewire port, you can still use it to charge.

A dock is available. It's the new, "universal" dock and it includes an IR port on it.

I too think it sucks they started to remove stuff from the packages. But I guess they had to cut stuff to lower the price.

Thought i'd pass this along. I recently used this link to get a 20% discount on a new ipod. It's meant for students and educators, but appears to work for whomever.

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html

Sadly, this is the case. It's a problem with people with older Macs who have relied on Firewire for high speed device interfacing for many years (long before USB 2.0 showed up). However, it should be noted, you can CHARGE via Firewire. So, if you have a previous iPod that came with a charger with a Firewire port, you can still use it to charge.

A dock is available. It's the new, "universal" dock and it includes an IR port on it....
I think you can still SYNC via Firewire too. :confused: It just doesn't COME WITH the cable. You have to buy one (~$35) or already have one as you point out.

Thought i'd pass this along. I recently used this link to get a 20% discount on a new ipod. It's meant for students and educators, but appears to work for whomever.

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.htmlI believe the discount is 10%: the 4GB Nano is priced at $229 instead of $249, for example.

A dock is available. It's the new, "universal" dock and it includes an IR port on it.


Will the old dock work with the new Video Ipod?

I think you can still SYNC via Firewire too. :confused: It just doesn't COME WITH the cable. You have to buy one (~$35) or already have one as you point out.

No, you can't still sync with FireWire. The circuitry is missing from both the nano and the new full-sized units. Makes them thinner apparently. They will still charge with a FireWire link, but that's kind of pointless. They'll charge just as well with the USB.

Will the old dock work with the new Video Ipod?


The connector is the same. The only issue would be the width of the opening and if it provided enough support for the slimmer iPod.

No, you can't still sync with FireWire. The circuitry is missing from both the nano and the new full-sized units. Makes them thinner apparently. They will still charge with a FireWire link, but that's kind of pointless.


Not THAT pointless, actually. If you already have a Firewire based charger (like I do) you can use it. Also, if you have a PowerBook (I think it has to be a more recent version), you can charge an iPod via the Firewire port while the PowerBook is sleeping and plugged into wall power.

Charging via USB? No sir. That's why I will not buy an ipod. Sure the ipod itself is lower, but then you have to buy everything that other players come with. The new black one do look cool though. Until you touch it and your thumbs scratch it up.

I'm upset with Apple for the lack of firewire support on the new video ipods. The USB 2.0 charging with the new ipod drove me away from the new ipod. I think I'll upgrade to the 30gig ipod photo in the meantime while Apple works out some of the kinks and improves the new video iPod.

I have a friend working inside Apple and he says we should see some major improvements with the iPod to be announced at the Apple keynote in SFO early Janurary (of which I'll be at :)).

I have a friend working inside Apple and he says we should see some major improvements with the iPod to be announced at the Apple keynote in SFO early Janurary (of which I'll be at :)).

Maybe I'll get my $50 rebate for poor battery life on my gen3 ipod by then :D

I just got a 30GB 5G iPod last night, and I went through a bit of a headache getting it to work ok.

The problem was that when I plugged it in, the unit would be recognized by WinXP, but not by iTunes.

After several attempts to restore the iPod (which failed), I noticed that the LED on my card reader (plugged into the same USB2 PCI card in my computer) was flashing erratically. So, I unplugged *every* other device from that USB card, and the iPod started working.

What I'm pretty sure is happening is that while charging, the iPod is trying to draw more power off the USB bus than that expansion card can support with other devices installed (a card reader, and a Wacom tablet). Unfortunately, my USB ports on the computer itself are only USB1.1.

So, I'll be buying a powered hub at lunch today, I think.

The consolation is that I spent $0 on the iPod, since I cashed out a bunch of AmEx points to use at Sharper Image. I don't mind dropping a few $$$ on accessories if the iPod comes "free" (ie, subsidized by all my travel expenses on the corporate AmEx).

Charging via USB? No sir. That's why I will not buy an ipod. Sure the ipod itself is lower, but then you have to buy everything that other players come with. The new black one do look cool though. Until you touch it and your thumbs scratch it up.

I might be reading your post wrong, but my 4G iPod charges over my USB port.

Yeah, what i meant was that is simply not acceptable to me. Why do I want to have to be near a computer recharge my ipod? If I am travelling, or going anywhere I would use an ipod, I seldom take my laptop.

I'm very happy with my new black 30GB video iPod. I charge it via my Bose SoundDock or sometimes via USB and haven't had any problems.

The only downsides are the extremely limited battery life when playing video, the small selection of videos to download off of iTunes (soon to change, I think), and the fact that the thing scratches so easily but yet there are no cases to fit the new iPod yet. The latter will be fine once I can get a case for it. Currently I'm using the little microfiber sleeve that came in the package. It helps for the most part.

All in all, I'm really happy with it. I was getting irritated with the 6GB limit on my mini and I really liked the color screens on the larger iPods. I was having a hard time justifying purchasing a new one when my mini was perfectly fine, but I hatched a pretty clever plan. I gave my mini to my partner for his birthday and then bought myself a shiny new one. :)

Yeah, what i meant was that is simply not acceptable to me. Why do I want to have to be near a computer recharge my ipod? If I am travelling, or going anywhere I would use an ipod, I seldom take my laptop.

Well, you can buy any third-party device which provides a powered USB port. I know that you can get one for either a 110V outlet or a 12V cig outlet. Either can be had for under $10 at Fry's.

ZipLink sells a whole set of various retractable cables and adapter tips that would allow you to charge pretty much any portable device (iPod, cellphone, etc) via USB. Pairs nicely with the universal USB tip you can get for the iGo power system as well.

Off a single 110V outlet, here's what I can charge:
* Laptop
* iPod via USB
* Cellphone
* Bluetooth headset
* iPaq

I too lament the lack of firewire support. This excellent ars technica article speculates that the reason for the lack of firewire support has to do with Apple's desire to make the ipod thinner than previous generations. Apparently, the firewire chip set adds significantly to the thickness of the ipod.

http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/video-ipod.ars