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[Merge] iPhone 3G and Prev. Gen. Accessories (chargers, car adapters, etc.)
- Thread starter That70sGAdawg
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USB (5V) charging isn't new to the iPod. That change happened when Apple switched from including a Firewire cable to a USB cable. That was "ages" ago. Since then, Apple has provided BOTH the working 12v Firewire pin and the working 5v USB pin on their iPod/iPhone devices. That is, until iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G has the 12v pin, it apparently isn't connected to anything inside. With no 12v charging circuit in the iPhone 3G, no firmware upgrade is going to fix it. It was apparently intentionally designed without the 12v charging circuit, probably to save on build costs (if Apple saves $1 per iPhone due to this, they've already saved or $1 million!).
Since virtually all car-based iPod connectors use the 12v Firewire pin to charge, it is almost certain that 99% of the car-based chargers/docks/connectors won't charge the iPhone 3G. (I know the factory iPod connector in my new Infiniti EX35 won't charge my iPhone 3G and it charged my original iPhone just fine.)
But what is amazing is how many home-based accessories also use the Firewire charging pin! You'd figure those would use the USB pin. Even my Pioneer Elite A/V receiver (which is less than 5 months old) charges via Firewire 12v over its included iPod cable.
Fortunately, I never used my original iPhone, nor will I use my iPhone 3G for these in-car situations. I've got 3 iPods for that. In fact, I simply leave an iPod in each car all of the time (except when I bring it in the house for a few minutes to update the content with iTunes).
But I DO think it was a stupid decision by Apple to remove the ability to charge via Firewire. I'd happily had paid an extra buck or two to keep that capability. Whatever bean counter made THAT decision needs to be given a swift kick in the ass!
Mark
Since virtually all car-based iPod connectors use the 12v Firewire pin to charge, it is almost certain that 99% of the car-based chargers/docks/connectors won't charge the iPhone 3G. (I know the factory iPod connector in my new Infiniti EX35 won't charge my iPhone 3G and it charged my original iPhone just fine.)
But what is amazing is how many home-based accessories also use the Firewire charging pin! You'd figure those would use the USB pin. Even my Pioneer Elite A/V receiver (which is less than 5 months old) charges via Firewire 12v over its included iPod cable.
Fortunately, I never used my original iPhone, nor will I use my iPhone 3G for these in-car situations. I've got 3 iPods for that. In fact, I simply leave an iPod in each car all of the time (except when I bring it in the house for a few minutes to update the content with iTunes).
But I DO think it was a stupid decision by Apple to remove the ability to charge via Firewire. I'd happily had paid an extra buck or two to keep that capability. Whatever bean counter made THAT decision needs to be given a swift kick in the ass!
Mark
Damn that sucks. Everything is 12V. Now you need down converter to 5V in the charging device. Pretty retarded.
I also have an older iHome that will no longer charge my iPhone 3G, does anyone know if the newer "iPhone Compatiable" iHome will charge the 3G, I had been looking at getting one so that I didn't have to turn airplane mode on everytime I wanted to listen to music via speakers....
I have an iPod universal dock from Apple I've used for a few years. I put my iPhone 3G in and it told me the accessory does not work and that I could turn on airplane mode ?!
The iPhone 3G seems to be charging and syncing fine. Is it bad to put the iPhone 3G in the dock without the dock adapter?
The iPhone 3G seems to be charging and syncing fine. Is it bad to put the iPhone 3G in the dock without the dock adapter?
iPhone 3G + JBL On Stage 2 Music Dock
I just upgraded my original iPhone to the 3G model. Pretty happy with the device in general, but somewhat annoyed to see Apple have compromised charging support for a number of existing dock-connected accessories, including my JBL On Stage 2 Music Dock.
Thought I'd share my experiences with the On Stage 2 in case any other forum readers benefit from my findings.
Although the dock doesn't offer a charging voltage to the iPhone 3G through its own AC adapter, it *does* if you use the dock connector pass-through on the back of the device. I'm assuming JBL just pass-through all the pins as-is, including whichever charging pins Apple have deprecated support for.
So if you want to charge and listen to the music at the same time (which is really the point of these devices, after all) simply plug your dock connector in to the back of the On Stage 2 and either connect it to a USB port or your wall adapter. Bingo.
This does mean you'll potentially have to use 2 wall sockets to get it working but I find that a little easier to justify than splashing out on a new music dock.
Extra bonus; if your phone is operating in 3G mode you don't get the same GSM interference through the speakers that the original iPhone created.
I just upgraded my original iPhone to the 3G model. Pretty happy with the device in general, but somewhat annoyed to see Apple have compromised charging support for a number of existing dock-connected accessories, including my JBL On Stage 2 Music Dock.
Thought I'd share my experiences with the On Stage 2 in case any other forum readers benefit from my findings.
Although the dock doesn't offer a charging voltage to the iPhone 3G through its own AC adapter, it *does* if you use the dock connector pass-through on the back of the device. I'm assuming JBL just pass-through all the pins as-is, including whichever charging pins Apple have deprecated support for.
So if you want to charge and listen to the music at the same time (which is really the point of these devices, after all) simply plug your dock connector in to the back of the On Stage 2 and either connect it to a USB port or your wall adapter. Bingo.
This does mean you'll potentially have to use 2 wall sockets to get it working but I find that a little easier to justify than splashing out on a new music dock.
Extra bonus; if your phone is operating in 3G mode you don't get the same GSM interference through the speakers that the original iPhone created.
12v Firewire Charging
Okay so Apple have stopped the iPhone 3G charging via the 12v on the firewire chip (pins 15 and 16 i think.)
Does anyone with any electronics experience know if this has been done via hardware or via a setting?
I'm hoping it's a setting that Apple will change so my in car iPod connector will charge the iPhone and provide the aux out feed like it does with my iPod.
What's the point in having a standard connector thats specification keeps changing??
Aaargh.
Okay so Apple have stopped the iPhone 3G charging via the 12v on the firewire chip (pins 15 and 16 i think.)
Does anyone with any electronics experience know if this has been done via hardware or via a setting?
I'm hoping it's a setting that Apple will change so my in car iPod connector will charge the iPhone and provide the aux out feed like it does with my iPod.
What's the point in having a standard connector thats specification keeps changing??
Aaargh.
I doubt they will change it back considering they went out of their way to change it so firewire DOESN'T work. I have no idea why, and it's really annoying, but don't expect them to change it back.
You think thats bad? I have a headunit in my car ($800) and an iPod kit for it ($150) that are useless with the iPhone because it can't charge it! If I want to get one that works, I'd have to buy a whole new headunit!
I'm feeling your pain. I take it yours is the same in that it also disables the line out of the ipod?
If they could at least let that work it would be a start.
okay none of this I know for sure but...
The iPod connector has both 12v and 5v connectors for charging. The old iPods can be charged by either, but the new iPhone circuitary can only be charged by the 5v. So the adapter spec is the same, but the device is only compatible with 5v
Why not build 12v charging into the iPhone? Maybe the new battery can't handle it, maybe the new circuitary can't.
Why have two voltages on the one connector? Well then we could have FireWire and USB power adapters and neither would need to include an expensive voltage converter.
I heard some people burning out their iPhone batteries by using their FireWire iPod chargers. I had no idea why this would happen (surely the iPhone wouldn't connect to a pin that had voltage it couldn't handle) but I never tried it myself.
Sorry none of this helps!
Edit: and I don't know why any of what I have said should affect the line out. So that surely could be re enabled in software by apple
The iPod connector has both 12v and 5v connectors for charging. The old iPods can be charged by either, but the new iPhone circuitary can only be charged by the 5v. So the adapter spec is the same, but the device is only compatible with 5v
Why not build 12v charging into the iPhone? Maybe the new battery can't handle it, maybe the new circuitary can't.
Why have two voltages on the one connector? Well then we could have FireWire and USB power adapters and neither would need to include an expensive voltage converter.
I heard some people burning out their iPhone batteries by using their FireWire iPod chargers. I had no idea why this would happen (surely the iPhone wouldn't connect to a pin that had voltage it couldn't handle) but I never tried it myself.
Sorry none of this helps!
Edit: and I don't know why any of what I have said should affect the line out. So that surely could be re enabled in software by apple
has anyone previously purchased or used this organisations parts. it comes over a bit home-made, and at a tag of $44 a bit expensive too.
my car charger i had bought doesnt work, so i went and bought a belkin USB charger, and the wire that comes with that, charges, but brings up the prompt for airplane mode. and whenever listening to any music, if i am trying to charge the iphone from a computer with the extra plug, it stops the music.
I just use the cord that came with the iphone 3G plugged into the USB cigarette lighter plug. Then for home i use the AC adapter with the cord from my ipod video. and it charges fine. just the ONE cord from the Belkin acts weird.
time to get a spare wire for work that i can listen to music and have it plugged in at the same time.
I just use the cord that came with the iphone 3G plugged into the USB cigarette lighter plug. Then for home i use the AC adapter with the cord from my ipod video. and it charges fine. just the ONE cord from the Belkin acts weird.
time to get a spare wire for work that i can listen to music and have it plugged in at the same time.
There are 2 charging pins on the connector, and from all reports it sounds like there is no battery charging circuitry attached to the 12 volt pin. It appears that Apple didn't want to include the size/weight/cost of duplicated charge circuitry again in the new 3G.
I've heard those expensive Bose Soundocks don't work with the iPhone 3G either, that would be a real waste for a lot of people if that's true.
I've been round a fair few shops now trying to find a sound dock of some sort that charges and plays music, I found only two :-(
The Bose £299 speaker dock works perfectly and sounds great - but £299! no thanks
The Gear4 Houseparty 4 works too, it complains telling me to turn on airplane mode but ignoring that it works exactly as I would expect it to, charges the phone, plays audio (sounds nice too) has aux in, lots of adaptor plates (none fit perfectly but a couple are close enough. It has a little remote control too, and a radio - and its my preferred style - i.e. the iPhone isnt stuck out of the top, its a flatish panel wth the iPhone sat on the front so no breaking the connector accidentally reaching to whack the alarm clock in the morning - and only £69.
I didnt have any iPod stuff before I got the iPhone so its no big hassle, bt if I'd had the original iPhone or some oher ipod and bought lots of stuff for it I'd be a bit p'd if they didnt work - I havet confirmed it but was told the Apple Getto Blaster thing they sold doesnt work either.
Interestingly a friend claims (and this is unfounded so pinch of salt please) but he claims devices will charge with anything before the phone is activated, and once its activated it stops working. Im not convinced and would file this under rumours by Apple haters but you never know, and if true would mean its a software thing so there is hope of a fix
Stephen
Too stupid.. Man.. Just bought an Alpine CDE-9880R with the iPod-cable, since they said it would control and charge the iPhone. I even tested it with my old (current 1st gen) iPhone in the store, and it worked fine..
Thing is, I ordered a 3g today, and then read all this stuff about it not charging, which won't cut it since I plan on using GPS etc. in the car, and quite often drive very far..
Sent an email to the store I ordered the iPhone from, will cancel it and keep my old phone until adapter or new cable from Alpine solves this..
And I agree, I'm a life long Apple-"fanboy", but this stuff is too stupid.. Announce dropped support of vital functions (like charging) to producers of accessories at least..
Thing is, I ordered a 3g today, and then read all this stuff about it not charging, which won't cut it since I plan on using GPS etc. in the car, and quite often drive very far..
Sent an email to the store I ordered the iPhone from, will cancel it and keep my old phone until adapter or new cable from Alpine solves this..
And I agree, I'm a life long Apple-"fanboy", but this stuff is too stupid.. Announce dropped support of vital functions (like charging) to producers of accessories at least..