iPod <-> iPod Cable?

[MacRumors]

MacWhispers reports (http://www.envestco2.com/macwhispers/archives/000069.php) that a new iPod dock cable -- one with a full-dock connector on each end -- is to go into production over the next 30days. According to the site, the other iPod cables in production limit the actual wires to the functions being utilized, while this one has all 32 wires in place.

[nagromme]

It's to facilitate pirating of music! Cool...

[Bunzi2k4]

kinda ironic huh?new itunes makes you pay for downloading music while they are thinking of making ipod cables for transfering music... funny... but hey, i'm not gonna get an ipod any time soon so it doesn't matter

[bikertwin]

Obviously, it's not for stealing music.

But if this rumor is to be believed, what is the cable for?

[AppleMatt]

Playing the games head-to-head in a furious battle...he who wins has pride and glory, he who loses has his iPod formatted.

It's a cruel world nowadays, are you up to the challange?

AppleMatt

[Niknar]

I don't think this will be iPod to iPod connector sounds a little silly.

So the question is if this cable has more connectors/wires that aren't used when connected to a firewire port why dose the iPod need all these connectors?

Could this be for connecting a mic or something?

[rainman::|:|]

absolutely and totally fake. i don't have any proof but come on people, if you know apple at all (and the recording industry) you should know this isn't going to happen. Obviously if they let you transfer music, the iTunes store would lose it's contracts... and i'm sorry, there's really nothing else to use it for. Would you buy a whole separate docking apparatus to transfer AddressBook info? Why not just plug it into the Mac to begin with?

i wouldn't even say this is Page 2 fodder, except for "what the hell?" value...

:)
pnw

[macdong]

a cable for mic, i say.

[WannabeSQ]

maybe it is a cable for the DJ ipod thing, hook up a regular ipod and a DJ ipod for some mixing.

[bennetsaysargh]

not for stealing music. don't know what it could be, but it better be cool:D

[melchior]

yeah, why is everyone jumping to the conclusion this is for trading music?

anyway, i have a question!

what does anyone know abaout the 'ipod dock connector' has anyone seen one before? is it entirely proprietory? any info is welcomed.

[nagromme]

Originally posted by nagromme
It's to facilitate pirating of music! Cool...

I thought I'd made on obvious joke... but to be extra clear: it's an obvious joke :)

Neither Apple nor I would ever support piracy.

The cable may well be real, though, for SOMETHING. MacWhispers was right about the last inexplicable cable they reported--the USB/Firewire Y-cable. It turned out to be a coming iPod accessory for PCs: the data-by-USB-while-charging-by-Firewire-connected-to-the-power-brick cable.

All the extra pins already present on current docking connectors do suggest that Apple has future iPod plans... it will be interesting to see what.

[nagromme]

Originally posted by melchior
what does anyone know abaout the 'ipod dock connector' has anyone seen one before? is it entirely proprietory? any info is welcomed.

It's a new iPod-only proprietary thing from Apple, and somewhat mysterious.

Some have said it's just a thinner alternative to a Firewire port, to allow the iPods to be thinner and more rounded. But it's more than that: it has many more pins than are used for Firewire. Perhaps future accessories will use them for something? Everything from wireless remotes to audio recording to fancier docks has been rumored. In any case, it seems likely that the new connector has reasons we don't yet know.

The dock itself is entirely optional--basically just a big adapter that sticks on the end of the cable. Without the dock, you can plug the same cable directly into the iPod's docking connector.

[theFly]

If you think "logically" about this, take the rumor of a DJ iPod and this cable. It would seem that the cable could be one to connect the iPod to a DJ mixing board.

Granted, it wouldn't be a "standard" connection.

The cable could also be used to output a stereo system box, one that has standard outs and allows a remote to control the iPod.

Then you have Steve's comment about using the iPod not to view videos, but to output to an external device.

So many choices.

theFly
www.flyonthemac.com
Rumors You Can Bet On

[MacWhispers]

This report seemed (and seems) illogical to me. (Yes, I know, I published it... because it's true... that said...)

I have sat and drawn dozens of possible interconnect concepts that would hook the iPod into a myriad of fanciful devices, many of which would benegit from havign a full link to all of the iPod's control and signal pins. That said, though, whenever I've come up wiht one that seems to make some sense of this cable, I run into the same problem: Having the exact same connector on both ends of the cable means this "mystery device" would also have to have the exact same dock port on it as does the iPod... which means it could be plugged into any of the docking cables, and plugged into a Mac or PC, directly. AT this point, my imagination dries up.

What sort of product would (A) be usefully plugged into a full connection to the iPod, (B) *safely* and purposefully be plugged into a Mac or PC by Firewire and/or USB 2.0... *without* the iPod being involved, but (C) not both of these at the same time? (assuming just one such dock connector port is on the mystery device)

I know the freaking cable's real, but, I'm a complete blank on how on earth it makes any sense.

And, yes, it's frustrating me a little. :)

[iJon]

Originally posted by paulwhannel
absolutely and totally fake. i don't have any proof but come on people, if you know apple at all (and the recording industry) you should know this isn't going to happen. Obviously if they let you transfer music, the iTunes store would lose it's contracts... and i'm sorry, there's really nothing else to use it for. Would you buy a whole separate docking apparatus to transfer AddressBook info? Why not just plug it into the Mac to begin with?

i wouldn't even say this is Page 2 fodder, except for "what the hell?" value...

:)
pnw
well hold on a second. i agree with you but what about this. if was meant to hook up two ipods, how would you transfer the music, isnt apple the only ones who know how to make software for the ipod, unless the cables run through a computer as well how would you transfer the info. but i do agree with you that its a fake. there would be no point. isnt the only reason apple made this port is because its skinnien that a regular firewire port?

iJon

[AppleMatt]

Guys, it's just a cable.

I don't want to offend anyone, but please.

AppleMatt
(waiting for "not any cable, an APPLE cable!")

[Analog Kid]

Why hasn't anyone asked the obvious question? Is this a pass-through or a cross over cable?

If someone knows that all 32 wires are connected, they probably know the pin to pin connections...

[melchior]

Originally posted by Analog Kid
Why hasn't anyone asked the obvious question? Is this a pass-through or a cross over cable?

If someone knows that all 32 wires are connected, they probably know the pin to pin connections...

it's not an ethernet cable...

[Spock]

A Music store station at Apple Stores?? Wasn't their a rumor about having music store stations at Apple Stores?? That would be cool, plug in, buy music, download, Sync.

[Wardofsky]

Originally posted by Spock
A Music store station at Apple Stores?? Wasn't their a rumor about having music store stations at Apple Stores?? That would be cool, plug in, buy music, download, Sync.

That means new software/upgrades.
If they do, I hope they put some more features in.

[AppleMatt]

Now THAT'S a good idea, it would allow people with a slow connection to get all their music quick, and...

...it would allow Windows iPod users access to the Apple music store ahead of time.

Apple are crafty :)

AppleMatt

[dethl]

Hrm, this is awfully familiar of the proprietary InterConnect port located on the Newton Messagepad 2x00's. These had multiple connectors, and the only thing Apple used it for was an adapter so you could hook it via the serial port to your mac. Some brave person actually modded these adapters to create headphone out and microphone in ports.

I wonder if the multiple pins located on the iPod connector will be used as a microphone? Maybe it will go to a small LCD-Display/Remote? Has Apple even given us a document on the mapping out of this connector?


I'm so glad I ordered one of these :)

[yuri_koval]

The cable could be for transfering Contacts or notes or even files. you know, instead of giving your name card to that person, you just connect eachother's iPods and transfer Contacts. Its like that Nintendo Gamboy. two player game ?? :D

[bennetsaysargh]

also, maybe as a bonus, a two player game! although i don't know anyone else with a new iPod, that would still be cool. anyway, it could be for contacts and calanders, but i think it could be for anything. i havn't the slightest clue.

[MacWhispers]

Just for the record... I never said this was for connecting two iPods. That has come up because of the way the headline here is stated, not from information on my site.

Of the bizillion possible uses for this sort of cable, the least likely, in fact, would appear to be any having to do with directly linking two iPods. The iPod is not an intelligent device, in the sense of it being able to run complex file management software, like iTunes... just not enough processor horsepower, nor is the OS robust enough for that use. So, even if one could physically link two iPods, the 'Pods would not be able to make any real use of that connection.

Since getting this information, I have all along considered the cable for hooking (1) iPod to (1) some as yet unknown "other device."

[zach]

I agree with Spock. Making a cable with a proprietary connector at each end would keep anyone without an iPod out of the music downloading kiosk. Otherwise other iTunes compatible mp3 players could plug into the firewire port.

Just my $0.02.

[benjaminpg]

If apple made music store kiosks, They would not use cables to hook up customers iPods. They would use some variation of an iPod dock. It is much slicker, and easier for the user; just drop it into the slot. A cable on the other hand gets yanked and stretched and is overall tackier.

I suspect that the cable is for some iPod accessory, who knows what. I personally would like a device that has a slot for CompactFlash memory cards in it that would connect and transfer my photos to the iPod. I don't know if the firmware is capable of this, though.

[bennetsaysargh]

Originally posted by benjaminpg
If apple made music store kiosks, They would not use cables to hook up customers iPods. They would use some variation of an iPod dock. It is much slicker, and easier for the user; just drop it into the slot. A cable on the other hand gets yanked and stretched and is overall tackier.

I suspect that the cable is for some iPod accessory, who knows what. I personally would like a device that has a slot for CompactFlash memory cards in it that would connect and transfer my photos to the iPod. I don't know if the firmware is capable of this, though.

the firmware is there. there was the ability to burn CD's on the first iPods, only thing is the OS needs to be enabled to do so.

[ozubahn]

Interesting. Since the earliest days of FireWire, it was supposed to be a magical interconnect that would finally make the home theater all digital (replace all those nasty RCA cables with one firewire cable per device). That hasn't happened, for one reason or another. Maybe Apple is trying to jumpstart the market by defining a slightly more useful hybrid connector. We know that the dock connector has Firewire data and power, USB 2, at least two audio channels, and a host of other unknown pins. All that makes for a pretty flexible interface that would let devices of several different types and levels of sophistication (high/low data rate, analog/digital) to connect as one system. Obviously, this is all complete speculation, but it would make sense. Adding a new brand identity couldn't hurt too much, as there are already three in circulation. I'm sure that the majority of consumers don't know that FireWire, IEEE 1394, and iLink are all the same, but some of them could possibly be convinced that the new Apple Media Interconnect, or whatever, is the wave of the future...

[bennetsaysargh]

thjat would be awsome! all th new gaming systems will have it. cable boxes. vcrs, dvd players. AWESOME!

[melchior]

Originally posted by ozubahn
Interesting. Since the earliest days of FireWire, it was supposed to be a magical interconnect that would finally make the home theater all digital (replace all those nasty RCA cables with one firewire cable per device). That hasn't happened, for one reason or another.

you pay a fair bit, but they do exist. sony definetely has a line that connects with Link and i'm sure there are others.

[Analog Kid]

Originally posted by melchior
it's not an ethernet cable...

:confused: Is an ethernet cable the only interface that needs to swap send and receive?

Serial cables need null modems... USB cables need cross overs if you're trying to connect two "hosts" rather than just a host and a peripheral which is why the ends are keyed...

It would sure suck if send was connected to send and receive was connected to receive... :rolleyes:

Firewire is multihost so any device can act as a host and any can act as a peripheral. It gets negotiated while the bus is in reset after sensing a new device attached.

USB doesn't work that way, there are very definite hosts and peripherals. If audio is on that cable, it certainly isn't multihosted-- connecting two audio line outs could be disasterous.

Maybe I'm wrong-- maybe the physical layer chip can intelligently reroute the signals, but knowing one way or the other would help cut the number of possibilities in half. Is it like device to like device or is it host to peripheral.


Originally posted by ozubahn
Maybe Apple is trying to jumpstart the market by defining a slightly more useful hybrid connector. We know that the dock connector has Firewire data and power, USB 2, at least two audio channels, and a host of other unknown pins. All that makes for a pretty flexible interface that would let devices of several different types and levels of sophistication (high/low data rate, analog/digital) to connect as one system.

Devicebay was an attempt to provide USB and Firewire on a single port so little peripherals (like modems) could use the USB and hard drives could use Firewire.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/Device_Bay.html

Never got anywhere... The PC camp decided to get into a pissing contest and crank out USB2 to compete with 1394.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/archive/DEVICEBAY/default.mspx

Dumb idea since the interface protocols are targeted at completely different devices and USB1.1 was perfectly good for those devices.

Could still have a device bay type interface with USB2 and Firewire 800/1600 but egos are likely to put out USB3 instead...

Regarding the cable you're suggesting: trouble is that all those wires cost money. Cables are surprisingly expensive, especially when they need shielding around highspeed data lines and to protect noise free audio lines. Apple can probably get away with the extra cost, but you won't find consumer electronic folks buying in if they only need one set of wires.

If this cable exists, it's either really short or really thick to handle the shielding.

[jholzner]

Originally posted by AppleMatt
Now THAT'S a good idea, it would allow people with a slow connection to get all their music quick, and...

...it would allow Windows iPod users access to the Apple music store ahead of time.

Apple are crafty :)

AppleMatt

But, when you reconnected your iPod to you computer, whould the songs you purchased at the Apple store be put into your iTunes Library? If that was the case it would be a great idea.

[ozubahn]

Originally posted by Analog Kid


Regarding the cable you're suggesting: trouble is that all those wires cost money. Cables are surprisingly expensive, especially when they need shielding around highspeed data lines and to protect noise free audio lines. Apple can probably get away with the extra cost, but you won't find consumer electronic folks buying in if they only need one set of wires.

If this cable exists, it's either really short or really thick to handle the shielding.

True. The iPod dock connector has 30 pins that I can detect. That would be quite a fat cable if all of them were carried through, especially if digital lines are arranged as twisted pair and analog lines are properly shielded. That said, you can never overestimate people's willingness to pay too much for audio cables. :) I agree, though, that the difficulties involved in making such a cable viable might be too much. We'll see. Either the product will appear along with a good explanation (and it better not be multiplayer solitaire), or it will just turn out to be nonsense. I think that Apple should be more aggressive in the home theater space, so I'm hoping for the former outcome.

[gopher]

A new cable should make it possible to store data on the iPod from a digital camera. Afterall, they are making a USB2 connector cable. Why not make a means of storing your digital camera photos on the iPod?

[bennetsaysargh]

Originally posted by gopher
A new cable should make it possible to store data on the iPod from a digital camera. Afterall, they are making a USB2 connector cable. Why not make a means of storing your digital camera photos on the iPod?

that's what i was thinking. it would be truely one of the best ides for the iPod.