Apple Updates Universal Dock, Discontinues Compact Wired Keyboard

[MacRumors]

Apple this week updated its Universal Dock package, which offers a convenient charging and syncing solution for a variety of iPhone and iPod models, as well as a means to connect those devices to stereos or TVs. While the dock itself remains the same, Apple has updated the package to include the company's now-standard aluminum remote instead of the previous white remote.

Items included in new Apple Universal Dock package
The new dock package also includes a USB power adapter and a USB cable to aid in connectivity, accessories that had previously been sold separately. Consequently, Apple has raised the price of the package from $49 to $59.

Device compatibility with included adapters for Apple Universal Dock
(Adapters for other iPhone/iPod models sold separately)
The package also contains a revised set of five dock adapters offering compatibility with the iPhone 4/3GS/3G, second-, third-, and fourth-generation iPod touch, and the fifth-generation iPod nano. Adapters for other iPod and iPhone models can be purchased separately.

Apple's discontinued compact wired keyboard
In addition to the new Universal Dock, AppleInsider notes that Apple has discontinued its compact wired aluminum keyboard. The company had previously offered the compact keyboard in both wired and wireless versions, and continues to offer the extended wired keyboard that includes a number keypad to the right of the main keyboard area.

Article Link: Apple Updates Universal Dock, Discontinues Compact Wired Keyboard

 

[logandzwon]

Cool! I'm glad they added the charger and usb cable. Also, doesn't that picture look like an iPad charger, not the iPhone charger?

Now, I just wish they would make a dock insert that would fit the iPhone4 with a bumper!

 

[mattwolfmatt]

Hopefully this will make room for the wireless keyboard with numeric keypad. I'm not holding my breath, however.

 

[illegalprelude]

Ohhh Apple, you and your hate for wires. So only 2 keyboard combinations now, Full Sized Wired Keyboard and Bluetooth Semi Sized Keyboard.

 

[pwille]

Hopefully this will make room for the wireless keyboard with numeric keypad. I'm not holding my breath, however.

Me too. I've been wanting them to offer a wireless extended keyboard for a long time.

 

[LimeiBook86]

I love my little wireless keyboard. I have been wanting to buy the USB version for my PC as it's difficult to keep a full-sized PC keyboard on my desk along-side another. Hopefully I can find one still... I really liked them, but I can see why people would prefer the number pad option.

 

[HiRez]

Universal dock sounds great at first, until you realize none of those fit if you have a case on your phone, which most people do, and they're not going to take the case off every time they want to charge/sync it.

 

[Consultant]

Looks like people want the numerical keypad on their wired keyboard.

 

[GeekLawyer]

Hopefully this will make room for the wireless keyboard with numeric keypad. I'm not holding my breath, however.

Please let this be the case.

 

[rosalindavenue]

The apple USB power adaptor ALONE is $29. So dock, remote, cables and adaptors are $30 more.....

 

[spidey3]

Any idea whether the new dock will fit a 3GS in a Speck Candyshell case?

 

[LagunaSol]

Me too. I've been wanting them to offer a wireless extended keyboard for a long time.

This product omission is baffling, annoying, and frankly embarrassing. Get with it, Apple. Wireless extended, please. Stat!

 

[kavika411]

Now, I just wish they would make a dock insert that would fit the iPhone4 with a bumper!

I agree. It's silly to complain about something so trivial, but it's a bit of a pain to take off the bumper and put it back on throughout the day, and it seems simple and cheap for them to include that one extra plastic fitting for a protective case made by Apple and - to an extent - pushed by Apple.

But again, it's not the end of the world. I like the universal dock otherwise.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I've been looking for the mini wired keyboard (for my server closet,) for a few weeks, and haven't seen it at a couple of my local Apple Stores. I wonder if they silently discontinued it a few weeks ago, and only now got around to acknowledging it?

Personally, I was annoyed that Apple never made an updated "dual dock", as I still use my Apple Bluetooth Headset. The only dock they ever had for that (aside from the cable with headset plug,) only fits the original iPhone.

 

[Mattsasa]

Me too. I've been wanting them to offer a wireless extended keyboard for a long time.

wtf? why not just buy one? why does your keyboard have to be from apple?

 

[KindredMAC]

Universal dock sounds great at first, until you realize none of those fit if you have a case on your phone, which most people do, and they're not going to take the case off every time they want to charge/sync it.

I take my INCASE off of my iPhone 4 and charge/sync every time, every night, when I dock it in my 1st Gen iPhone dock. Would I love to be able to keep the case on? YES. Does it bother me that I take it off every night? Not enough to care too much.

Hopefully this will make room for the wireless keyboard with numeric keypad. I'm not holding my breath, however.

Looks like people want the numerical keypad on their wired keyboard.

This product omission is baffling, annoying, and frankly embarrassing. Get with it, Apple. Wireless extended, please. Stat!

I LOVED my old white extended BT keyboard and was EXTREMELY pissed when they didn't bring that option out for the AL models.

I do not care if I need to run the thing off of 6 AA's.... GIVE ME THE DAMN THING APPLE!!!!

I've been looking for the mini wired keyboard (for my server closet,) for a few weeks, and haven't seen it at a couple of my local Apple Stores. I wonder if they silently discontinued it a few weeks ago, and only now got around to acknowledging it?

Personally, I was annoyed that Apple never made an updated "dual dock", as I still use my Apple Bluetooth Headset. The only dock they ever had for that (aside from the cable with headset plug,) only fits the original iPhone.

The Dual Dock works with the iPhone 4 as well! That's the one I use!

 

[BC2009]

Universal dock sounds great at first, until you realize none of those fit if you have a case on your phone, which most people do, and they're not going to take the case off every time they want to charge/sync it.

I would guess that most people don't have a case on their phone. I'm sure many ordered their "free bumper", but don't use it.

 

[iPhoneCollector]

wtf? why not just buy one? why does your keyboard have to be from apple?

many people need the apple keys on the keyboard like the cmd key. they are very important if you are used to a mac trust me. and the apple products look much cooler

 

[Edmoil12]

This product omission is baffling, annoying, and frankly embarrassing. Get with it, Apple. Wireless extended, please. Stat!

To Apple,

Make us a wireless keyboard with the numeric keypad! If you make it we will buy it.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

The apple USB power adaptor ALONE is $29. So dock, remote, cables and adaptors are $30 more.....

That sounds like a bargain.

Then I remember my first iPod.

It came with a headphones, separate in-line remote, FW cable, dock, adapter, soft case, hard case and FW/USB adapter.

Nice job Apple. You've made the public forget how much extra you are screwing them for.

 

[zorinlynx]

The illustration of the power adapter looks like the bigger USB charger for the iPad. Is this indeed the one they are including?

This could be great for people who want an extra iPad charger.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

many people need the apple keys on the keyboard like the cmd key. they are very important if you are used to a mac trust me. and the apple products look much cooler

The CMD key exists on every keyboard. It just isn't labeled as such.

 

[zorinlynx]

Universal dock sounds great at first, until you realize none of those fit if you have a case on your phone, which most people do, and they're not going to take the case off every time they want to charge/sync it.

Depending on your case it may fit into the dock with no dock adapter.

My inCase Slider equipped iPhone 4 fits just fine into a universal dock slot without an adapter. Turns out the case is the same thickness as the dock adapter! Of course it's an older unshielded sound dock so if the phone switches into EDGE mode the GSM noise is unbearable.

Try it in the store; you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[BC2009]

While the price of the dock went up $10, the price of the Composite AV Cable and Component AV Cable to connect your iDevice to a television just dropped by $10 (from $49 to $39).

I almost bought one of these as a gift two days ago, and held off and then when I went to buy today, the price had dropped.

EDIT: It looks like they removed the power adapter that used to be included:

The cable also features a USB connector that you can plug into a power source, such as a computer or the USB Power Adapter, available separately.

Apple giveth and Apple taketh away.

 

[goobot]

they dont support the current nano with it already but an old one?!