Is anyone making an Airplay adaptor for existing docks?

[balamw]

Originally Posted by skorpien

I just hope something's in the works.

Thanks for that. The BT unit is the only device I've seen hat appears to mimic the iPod audio interface via the dock connector.

The Griffin is is the same category as the dock extenders I mentioned in the later post. It doesn't actually pump audio into the dock.

The bluetribe unit was so successful that it has taken the market by storm? I can't find it mentioned after April 2009 or a price for it or anyone even selling one anymore, even in Japan. It does seem to have been manufactured, though. http://avic411.com/index.php?/topic/...d/page__st__45


Two discontinued/unavailable items only reinforce my argument, the market for this kind of thing is small and companies are unwilling to enter it.

B

[janstett]

Originally Posted by balamw

Just a question. Has anyone ever seen any device not from Apple that has a female iPod dock connector on it (i.e. that can plug into docks)?

B

I have a couple of devices whose sole purpose is to turn the firewire charging pins into usb charging pins. They snap into the dock and provide another dock connector on the other end. This is for older docks that predate the newer iPods and iPhones, such as the Apple boombox speakers that they discontinued.

[balamw]

Originally Posted by janstett

I have a couple of devices whose sole purpose is to turn the firewire charging pins into usb charging pins.

Sendstation also makes a straight on dock extender and cheap extender cables are also available. The Bluetribe unit comes closest to what I meant. A music device that plugs into a dock, gets power from it and pumps music back into the dock.

EDIT: Unlike in 2006, the parts are openly available (see e.g. here http://www.chargeconverter.com/shop/...tm?connpcb.htm), but they aren't cheap.

EDIT2: Here's what the manufacturer says. http://www.linkpo.com/sdp/395563/4/home/0.html

FYI,You can sort when you are designing your product,But if you will buy it please apply licence from Apple

B

[andy o]

I got this receiver with its transmitter. That's the closest to what you guys want, but it's not Airplay (it's lossless though), and it requires you to plug a transmitter (got both iPod connector and regular stereo 3.5mm). The Kleer standard is pretty well thought out, and I got also the RS160 and RS170 headphones from Sennheiser. Unfortunately, Airplay does take a lot of thunder from it.

I also got an Airport Express for little more than 60 bucks IIRC, off Ebay, refurbished. I see no reason to buy a new one for 40 bucks more, really.

[shaner2000]

I, too, would love a device like this as described by the OP.

[lifelessonline]

Hey andi_o,

Where did you buy the rx1? I cant seem to find it anywhere.

[kuebby]

If you're asking what I think you're asking you just want a way to input audio into a dock that has no auxiliary port, right?

Well you can just use a dock adapter made for an iPod shuffle that fits in a standard dock and has the little metal peg sticking up. Then just use a headphone extension cord to run the input to your Airport Express or whatever. PRESTO!

Or use a cable like this.

[Justlucky3]

Think of all the existing docks.....now think of all the new airplay enabled docks... Wouldnt you rather buy a dongle than a new dock?

[taffowl]

Just to revive an old topic with a kinda working solution that suits me.

I've been wanting to make use of my old Scandyna amp Dock that was collecting dust. What I wanted was to either airplay songs from my iPhone or Synology diskstation that sits on my home lan. Unfortunately the Synology dock doesn't come with an audio in lead (the V dock version does but they are like rocking horse ****).

I ended up buying a female dock cable from cablivejive called the dockboss+
http://www.cablejive.com/products/dockBossplus.html. I ordered it from the US and it arrived here in the UK a week later.

Although intended to allow other non apple mp3 players and phones to be connected to apple docks for playing music and charging (via the attached micro usb cable) it can also work in an airplay setup.

I have my Scandyna Amp Dock connected to two Scandyna micro pod speakers (sound quality is awesome). I've then connected the dockBoss+ adapter to the docking station and the 3.5m headphone jack to my airport express audio out.

Using this setup I can stream music directly to the speakers from my Synology device or iPhone via the amp dock. I can control the audio playback via the Synology Audio station iPhone app (or web gui) meaning that the airplay stream is coming from the synology device and not the iPhone.

It works really well for me as I can choose an stream audio from the synology device or iPhone wether it be music or the radio.

Obviously a device that would replace the airport express and dockBoss+ would be great but can't see it being developed by Apple.

[nomad33fw]

Just buy an Apple universal dock and an Anystream sold at http://www.cartronics.com/POM.html not exactly airplay but the bluetooth streaming works great.

Originally Posted by kiranmk2

Does anybody know if any companies (or indeed, Apple) have come up with an Airplay adaptor for current docks? Basically, a small device that plugs into the dock connector of a current non-Airplay dock that then acts as an Airplay receiver. Would be a nice little £20-30 add-on if you've already got a nice iPod dock and fancy dabbling with Airplay. The beauty would be that the dock connector would provide it the power for the wifi connection.

Of course, I'm sure Apple would much rather you bought an ATV2 (and probably a DAC), but surely someone can see there's money to be made here?

[takeshi74]

...or just get a bluetooth audio receiver (easily found for much less) if you don't actually need a dock.

[oluv]

i am looking for exactly the opposite: an airplay-dongle so that i can stream music from my ipod classic to some airplay speakers?

is there something like this around? a kind of airplay transmitter etc.

my airplay-speakers don't have a built in dock, so i cannot use some of my older ipods like touch 1st gen, ipod nano, ipod classic etc except when plugging them in through aux-in.

i would even take an airplay-enabled charging station. a simple dockingstation that can transmit music through airplay.

[hmoazed]

Here is a kickstarter project I found when googling for a basic Airplay receiver:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...ay-enabled-rec

[smellalot]

Originally Posted by hmoazed

Here is a kickstarter project I found when googling for a basic Airplay receiver:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...ay-enabled-rec

It's great that someone tries to make a cheaper airport express, but unfortunately you have to back the kickstarter with $60 to receive one tune bridge. For that price you might as well get a refurb 2. gen APX.

[bzzlink]

Bluetooth devices are readily available on ebay and other online stores.

11 bucks including shipping
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultra-t...-106950?item=2

I've order this one, hope it works in my Apple Hi-Fi. But I think i will have to do some soldering, as the Apple hi-fi has the old placement of charging pins i believe.

The reason I want an adapter like this is that I often use the apple hifi on batteries and on trips. AE or ATV is not a very portable package

[jhsfosho]

Originally Posted by bzzlink

Bluetooth devices are readily available on ebay and other online stores.

11 bucks including shipping
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultra-t...-106950?item=2

I've order this one, hope it works in my Apple Hi-Fi. But I think i will have to do some soldering, as the Apple hi-fi has the old placement of charging pins i believe.

The reason I want an adapter like this is that I often use the apple hifi on batteries and on trips. AE or ATV is not a very portable package

Please let us know how that works out for you!

[Absolem]

I too was looking for an option.

Not exactly what you describe but achieves your goal I believe.
This is what I found.....

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/speake...peaker-adapter

It's pretty awesome! Read the reviews on amazon.
There is also a Sony and Belkin device. The Belkin is the cheapest but from the reviews its not very good. The sony is okay but I believe more expensive. The Logitech device is just better and $40. BUT......... Its on Backorder! You will have to wait for it but I believe it'll be absolutely worth it!

[theJTA]

Originally Posted by balamw

Is there really money to be made here? Can you significantly undercut the $99 price point for ATV2 or Airport Express?

I would suspect that the volume opportunity lies with a WiFi enabled device, if it can also act as a router or hook up to your TV that's gravy.

Bare minimum feature set. Ethernet + WiFi + AirPlay + analog and digital audio out. What would you expect the price point for this to be?

B

So Features - it would only need WiFi + AirPlay, and would get power and output sound from the dock. I have already 3 Speaker docks that are in nice places in the house, with 1 free plug and not a lot of room for extra cables (kitchen, bathroom, etc) , much less an AE, (and a ATV wouldn't work for this use)

So short answer is, if this was $80-$90 (about $30 cheaper than the cheapest alternative for the use) I WOULD BUY 3 TODAY! To add, I buy cheap but great sounding docks ($100 or less). Now imagine if I had dropped $400 bucks on a BOSE dock 2-3 years ago. If you're telling me my choice is this 80$ accessory, or spend another $350 for this

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090Z3QD4/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_5?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Which doesn't have the ability to charge or directly play the iPod/iPhone, which my old dock would have, just remove the little module and insert iPhone, easy peasy...

There is DEFINITELY a market for this.

[balamw]

Originally Posted by theJTA

There is DEFINITELY a market for this.

I don't doubt that there is a market for it, but it's probably a smaller market than for an TV or an Airport Express or iPod touch.

The point of my post was, what do you base your $80-$90 price on besides the fact that you just want it to be at that price point?

The BOM cost of an AppleTV 2 was estimated to be in the neighborhood of $65 http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/New...nner-iPad.aspx

How do you take out enough cost from it, all the while selling and making a lot fewer of them (and not leveraging the fact that you are also buying a LOT of the same components for iPads) to take $20 out of the retail cost?

It's a business decision, and my guess is that it would be hard to get down to those levels.

Example: http://www.hanselman.com/blog/Adding...spberryPi.aspx

The RasPi used for this was $35, add flash $5 and another $20+ for WiFi and you're already at $60, You'd have to sell a bunch of them to be able to absorb the cost of putting them in a custom case, etc... and still be in the ball-park.

At what point does it just become simpler to pick up a used iPod touch for the need? http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=all

B

[skorpien]

Somebody's developing a Bluetooth to Apple Dock Connector device. It's not in production yet (still sorting things out with Apple giving them approval to integrate the dock connector) but it seems pretty promising. You may want to keep an eye out on their website:

http://pairwithpear.com/

[MCAsan]

plug the analog or digital music output from Airport Express into amplified speakers. the airport express will also extend your wifi coverage and let you have remote printing and remote ethernet.

Why should apple guid something more?

[balamw]

Originally Posted by skorpien

Somebody's developing a Bluetooth to Apple Dock Connector device. It's not in production yet (still sorting things out with Apple giving them approval to integrate the dock connector) but it seems pretty promising.

That makes a lot more sense to me, if you consider what is involved and the cost of comparable products (e.g. stereo bluetooth headphones). Take away the speakers and you're right in the ballpark of $50-$80.

B

[flynz4]

I have one of these. It seems like it is on pre-order now... but I received mine a couple of weeks ago. I had received an email about it because I have purchased other products from them previously.

http://www.cablejive.com/products/dockBoss-air.html

/Jim

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by flynz4

I have one of these. It seems like it is on pre-order now... but I received mine a couple of weeks ago. I had received an email about it because I have purchased other products from them previously.

http://www.cablejive.com/products/dockBoss-air.html

/Jim

I have one coming as well to try in the car.

For home, Apple is not likely to produce something other than the Airport Express for the time being. Yes, it'd be nice to have it shrink in size a bit, but for those of you wishing for it to be slightly different or cheaper, you are really missing out. I have 4 of them plus 2 AppleTv's in the house so music goes everywhere effortlessly. I've been using these since what, 2005 or something when they first released them and nobody knew about them. They are seriously one of the best products you can add to an Apple household.

[Hammie]

I use a retired iPhone 3GS with Home Sharing turned on. It stays permanently docked and can play my entire iTunes library.

Although I can see the advantage of a small device similar to the 30-pin to Lightning adapter, I have never used AirPlay for streaming music. YouTube, Amazon on Demand, and a few other video streaming services to my AppleTV, but not music. Maybe I just don't see the point with my alternative situation.

And I think many of us have retired devices that could also perform the music streaming.