iPod Does the first iPod dock from 2003 support both synching and charging over USB?

[smoothbit]

I’ve been looking to buy a 2003 iPod dock for my 4th-gen iPod and I just realised something; does it only charge and/or sync over FireWire?

The reason I want the dock is for synching with iTunes on my 2018 Mac mini, and that does not have FireWire.

Does anyone know? If I want to both sync and charge over USB do I need a later model dock?

 

[Slix]

You mean the official Apple white docks for the iPod? They work over both FireWire and USB, at least all the ones I've tried. I have a few different models from over the years, and they all have worked with FireWire and USB across various computers. From what I can tell, it just gives the connection straight from whatever you plug into it to the iPod that is docked in it.

 

[smoothbit]

Yep, specifically this one that was originally made for the 3rd gen iPod, and that works with the 4th gen iPod as they had the exact same dimensions:

iPod Classic 3rd / 4th Generation Dock station (for 20GB or less) ref.5564 | eBay

(for 20GB or less). Docking station for Apple iPod 3rd/4th. Genuine Apple product.

www.ebay.co.uk

I've also been assuming it would work no problem, so thanks for the confirmation. I just had the idea that it might not charge, as apparently the 3rd gen iPod only charged over FireWire, but if the dock simply passes along the pins of the cable that shouldn't be an issue for the 4th gen.

 

[Slix]

Yep, specifically this one that was originally made for the 3rd gen iPod, and that works with the 4th gen iPod as they had the exact same dimensions:

iPod Classic 3rd / 4th Generation Dock station (for 20GB or less) ref.5564 | eBay

(for 20GB or less). Docking station for Apple iPod 3rd/4th. Genuine Apple product.

www.ebay.co.uk

I've also been assuming it would work no problem, so thanks for the confirmation. I just had the idea that it might not charge, as apparently the 3rd gen iPod only charged over FireWire, but if the dock simply passes along the pins of the cable that shouldn't be an issue for the 4th gen.

Yup, it should work with any of them. I have a few of these (there are two different models from 2003, one with S-Video and one without) and they work fine over USB. I'm using mine on a MacBook Air with a 4th gen nano right now, and had my 4th gen classic plugged in a day or so ago as well.

They're really great little docks! So cute.