iPod USB2 Details

[MacRumors]

iPod updates are expected by month's end -- most likely during Apple's April 28th Special Event.

ThinkSecret first reported on the new iPod design and sizes (10gb, 15gb, and 30gb)... as well as support for USB2.

According to reliable sources, it appears neither the iPod nor the docking station will contain a USB2 connector -- instead, a Firewire <-> USB 2.0 adapter will now be provided for PC users who don't have Firewire connectors. In this configuration, however, the iPod will not be able to charge over USB2.

[Jimong5]

Hmm both a Cheap and Innovative solution. Interesting that Apples made it work. This should help the iPod sell even more!

well see in a week

[dethl]

Obviously, USB2 does not support running electricity for powering devices (hence the reason for all of the USB2 periferals have to have an external power supply)

So how are PC owners going to charge their iPod's if not through the traditional firewire port?

why can't we just have USB2?

[Jimong5]

Originally posted by dethl
Obviously, USB2 does not support running electricity for powering devices (hence the reason for all of the USB2 periferals have to have an external power supply)

So how are PC owners going to charge their iPod's if not through the traditional firewire port?

Theyd have to plug the iPod into the external Power brick to charge it up, but That doesnt seem to deter People from insisting USB is the way to go.

Originally posted by evilfunkgenius
why can't we just have USB2?

Because Firewires better

[vniow]

That's rather intresting, you'd think like a USB <-> Firewire cable would've come out awhile ago, but I guess not, heh.

[Jimong5]

Originally posted by vniow
That's rather intresting, you'd think like a USB <-> Firewire cable would've come out awhile ago, but I guess not, heh.

It makes you wonder IF there Is some sort of special Firewire chipset. Is there Like different protocols that the 2 interfaces use? Am I just being dumb? Because that poses the question could older iPods be used with this.

[Freg3000]

This is a good move by Apple. Let PC users get by with USB 2. DO not fully accommodate them at the risk of hurting FireWire, but by all means, throw 'em a bone.

[smashedapart]

I've still got my money on a 40 gig model. I think this 30 gig talk is nonsense. Plus, if this is true, it gives creedence to the rumor over at MacWhispers a few months ago about a USB to Firewire cable...which means maybe they're right about the lack of a new enclosure and the fact that current 30 gig toshiba drives are PC Card only. I'm hoping...

[vniow]

Originally posted by Jimong5
It makes you wonder IF there Is some sort of special Firewire chipset. Is there Like different protocols that the 2 interfaces use? Am I just being dumb? Because that poses the question could older iPods be used with this.

I don't know, ever since USB 2.0 came out I've heard a lot of people talk about some sort of converter box or cable or just something that would serve as a bridge between the two, but nothing ever materialized and I know there was demand for it, I always thought that there was some kind of incompatibility preventing something like that from ever materializing, but maybe Apple has gotton around that somehow, who knows?

This is still a rumor....

[maradong]

Originally posted by evilfunkgenius
why can't we just have USB2?

firewire is MCUH faster.
by the way. cool they are finally coming out...

[Macpoops]

Originally posted by evilfunkgenius
why can't we just have USB2?

Because you can't charge/power an ipod with the power that USB can provide. You would need a seperate power cable for it.

And the only why the ipod could do it would be by wearing a krytonite condom and that would kill him

[reiggin]

Originally posted by Macpoops


And the only why the ipod could do it would be by wearing a krytonite condom and that would kill him

Kry*p*tonite.

"I guaranteed Firewire blows a load like a shotgun, right through a PC's back. What about its OS, you think it's strong enough to carry Apple's new iPod?"

Enough Kevin Smith-ing. I'm watching Conan.

[NavyIntel007]

Originally posted by vniow
I don't know, ever since USB 2.0 came out I've heard a lot of people talk about some sort of converter box or cable or just something that would serve as a bridge between the two, but nothing ever materialized and I know there was demand for it, I always thought that there was some kind of incompatibility preventing something like that from ever materializing, but maybe Apple has gotton around that somehow, who knows?

This is still a rumor....

I read that the Firewire800 chipset supports USB2. Maybe it will have FW800 even though most macs do not and ship with a 9 to 6 pin converter for macs and a FW800 to USB2 for PC.

[Wardofsky]

Damn, damn, damn..

My order for a 10 Gig is in process.

Damn, damn, damn...

[vniow]

Originally posted by NavyIntel007
I read that the Firewire800 chipset supports USB2.

Got a link?

[macrumors12345]

Originally posted by smashedapart
Plus, if this is true, it gives creedence to the rumor over at MacWhispers a few months ago about a USB to Firewire cable...

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Although it is hard to tell exactly what it is that MacWhispers is describing. Still, it actually lends some credibility to that site, since this is clearly not something that one could get just by making educated guesses...

[arn]

Originally posted by smashedapart
I've still got my money on a 40 gig model. I think this 30 gig talk is nonsense. Plus, if this is true, it gives creedence to the rumor over at MacWhispers a few months ago about a USB to Firewire cable...

Actually - MacWhispers reported a dual cable - with both USB and Firewire cables...

this would lend less credence to that report - than an actual dual-ported dock/ipod.

but, we'll see where the chips lay after announcements.

arn

[melchior]

where did you 'read' that the fw800 chipset supports usb2?

i would image this is look like a cable with a fat box in the middle.

and i can't believe people think that bus powered devices is firewire's killer feature...

firewire filled the gap where usb could not. usb2 is now filling that gap rapidly for everyone who didn't adopt firewire.

what does this mean? it means that firewire is being relegated to the niche market it really is.

there is no doubt firewire is better. firewire800 is better again. but usb is omnipresent. usb2 will become omnipresent.

it's about marketing and market presence and apple just isn't doing a good job of it when it comes to... well anything.

[SoonToGetAMac]

Originally posted by vniow
I don't know, ever since USB 2.0 came out I've heard a lot of people talk about some sort of converter box or cable or just something that would serve as a bridge between the two, but nothing ever materialized and I know there was demand for it, I always thought that there was some kind of incompatibility preventing something like that from ever materializing, but maybe Apple has gotton around that somehow, who knows?

This is still a rumor....

I bet its not just a USB plug on one side and a FW400 (I assume 400 on the other side), but that there is some small converter box in the middle.

[nickgold]

Originally posted by melchior
it's about marketing and market presence and apple just isn't doing a good job of it when it comes to... well anything.

What a load of troll dung! To think that some people are so lame, they actually sit around on forums and bash computers/companies they don't even have an interest in. I thought being a computer geek in and of itself was kind of lame -- but now I feel a lot better about myself, knowing that there are indeed lower rungs on the "ladder of coolness."

As for the post itself -- Well, I'll let the huge number of firewire video cameras available at my local electronics shops speak to that. *grin*

[melchior]

Originally posted by nickgold
Well, I'll let the huge number of firewire video cameras available at my local electronics shops speak to that. *grin*

this is exactly my point. this is what i consider a niche market. firewire is used widely in dv camera's. it is not used nearly as widely in computers.

i love apple. really. i love firewire. i don't want usb2 in my computer. i don't want it, period. i do feel though, that firewire is not holding ground in the market.

usb2 and firewire are technologies that, at their fundamental base, do the same thing. whatever it is that makes a peripheral hardware company decide on usb2 over firewire, apple is not doing the right thing to encourage development. whether it is cost, ease of implementation, availability of the sdk, i don't know. but apple isn't doing the right thing. i see usb2 in every motherboard. i see firewire in a few.

don't go calling me a troll when i am simply pointing out the obvious.

[speechgod]

1) FW 800 goes faster than 800

2) FW allows for P2P contact because of its chipset. You can connect, for example, a DV camcorder and an iPod if the iPod supported it. This is because both ports have a controller connected to them taht allows this.

3) For the same reason, USB actually uses the CPU (!) for some of its operations.

4) USB isn't powered

It's all about communication. Think of FW as a 2-way political debate. And think of USB as an evil dictator giving 1-way orders to peons.

That's not the best example. But you get the idea.

[BaghdadBob]

Originally posted by melchior
don't go calling me a troll when i am simply pointing out the obvious.

He didn't call you a troll, he called your post troll dung...just thought I'd point that out

I'm with you on this...I believe I asked very early on the USB 2.0 forum why FW has not met with success, and no one has had an answer for me...because it's obvious, in my opinion: Apple's usual job of "great technology, poor business."

But that's just me.

[melchior]

Originally posted by BaghdadBob
He didn't call you a troll, he called your post troll dung...

if a post by me were to be, in fact, "troll dung" wouldn't that imply that the individual who left said "dung" therefore be a troll? or is it possible for a regular human being to lay troll dung. if this is true, then said dung should not be catagorized as "troll dung"

and this is just a message board, are we not all entitled to our own opinions. even if we are not all constitutionally granted free speech in our respective countries?