iPod Firewire Jack

[Macmaniac]

This pertains to the new iPods, I noticed that the new iPods don't seem to use the same firewire jack that the old ones have.
Is this because they are dependent on a cradle for charging and transfer?
If you can only charge and transfer via your cradle that would be very bad because you have to lug it with you wherever you go if you want to transfer new music. That would not be very handy for laptop owners, because its one more thing to carry.

Can you use a plain FW cable to charge the new iPod and to transfer music?

 

[Sun Baked]

Seems Apple has made new iPods less pirate friendly.

A little bit more difficult to drag-n-drop files if you need to carry around a cradle with you, instead of a simple FW cable.

 

[brogers]

The 10 gig model does not have a cradle but comes with a Fire Wire calbe instead which has a plug on one end that will fit the new "socket". You don't have to have the cradle. If you buy the 15 or 30 gig you can buy an extra cable so you can use it elswhere without the cradle as well.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by brogers
The 10 gig model does not have a cradle but comes with a Fire Wire calbe instead which has a plug on one end that will fit the new "socket". You don't have to have the cradle. If you buy the 15 or 30 gig you can buy an extra cable so you can use it elswhere without the cradle as well.

Actually all of them come w/a cable. Just the 15 and 30 gig versions come w/a dock too. The dock and the cable are seperate.


Lethal

 

[Le Big Mac]

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
Actually all of them come w/a cable. Just the 15 and 30 gig versions come w/a dock too. The dock and the cable are seperate.


Lethal

So, the cable that goes from computer to dock has a FW connector at one end and an ipod/dock connector at the other? In other words, that cable can be used either to plug into the dock or plug into the bottom of the ipod?

 

[brogers]

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
Actually all of them come w/a cable. Just the 15 and 30 gig versions come w/a dock too. The dock and the cable are seperate.


Lethal

My bad. At least we know that you don't have to have the cradle to do the syncing.

 

[Sun Baked]

OK, so the dock is the cable equivalent of a 90° cable elbow + stand.

---

Hopefully, the new Dock Connector will have fewer stress problems than the old FW port.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by Le Big Mac
So, the cable that goes from computer to dock has a FW connector at one end and an ipod/dock connector at the other? In other words, that cable can be used either to plug into the dock or plug into the bottom of the ipod?

Correct. The dock is just a place to put yer iPod if you don't want it just laying on yer desktop or where ever.


Lether

 

[robbieduncan]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
OK, so the dock is the cable equivalent of a 90° cable elbow + stand.

---

Hopefully, the new Dock Connector will have fewer stress problems than the old FW port.

The dock also has a stereo output of some kind (not sure if it's 3.5" jack or RCA so as you can leave it hooked up to your stereo system. I think that's pretty cool.

 

[mnkeybsness]

i think that apple made a very good move with the docking station. it's like with PDAs...it's just so much easier to pop it into a cradle/docking station and keep that plugged in and sitting on the desk instead of having a loose cable laying around ready to get tripped on or yanked out of the computer.

and a quote from apple about the speaker jack...

Add an additional dock for charging iPod at work or at home. Featuring stereo line out, the iPod Dock connects seamlessly to stereo speakers, making it a space-saving stereo.

 

[Jaykay]

Originally posted by mnkeybsness
i think that apple made a very good move with the docking station. it's like with PDAs...it's just so much easier to pop it into a cradle/docking station and keep that plugged in and sitting on the desk instead of having a loose cable laying around ready to get tripped on or yanked out of the computer.

and a quote from apple about the speaker jack...

Yeah, i like the idea of the dock, if i get a new ipod ill have to get an extra dock for my stereo. Now that FW is gone, what does the top look like, just the other headphone jack and hold button?

 

[mnkeybsness]

since you are too lazy to look at the pics on apple's website...

 

[MacRumorSkeptic]

Does anyone know what the 4 pin to 6 pin Firewire cable is for?

My first thought was for the dock to the computer but the 10 gig iPod comes with the cable and no dock.

 

[iJon]

sometimes reading the tech specs page is good. they all come with the cable, and the two high ends come with the cradle.

iJon

 

[Le Big Mac]

Originally posted by MacRumorSkeptic
Does anyone know what the 4 pin to 6 pin Firewire cable is for?

My first thought was for the dock to the computer but the 10 gig iPod comes with the cable and no dock.

connection to PC firewire (unpowered) ports?

I'm amused by the fact that someone who wants to get the USB2 cable will have to pay $20. could almost buy a PCI firewire card for that . So people will.

 

[bennetsaysargh]

im getting a 15GB on friday, so i'll let you guys know how it goes. i've been waiting so freaking long for one! and i get a free t-shirt and poster when i buy it on friday night at the apple in store event

 

[segastyle]

this stinks!

i'm gussing the only reason they did this was so they can start charging us for a new cable. with a new ipod, you're going to have to make sure you always have that cable with you.

never had to worry about carrying one from my home to work or to my girlfriends, because any firewire cable would have sufficed. no more. so now that universal firewire plug that i've left plugged into my computer for a video camera or ipod or external drive of some sort will no longer work with the ipod.

they could have been nice and just put a firewire port and a usb port on the bottom.

and of course it's $20 per cable...