Thought Out KEY gives classic USB action to your 2G iPod shuffle

Thought Out has announced a new concept product, code-named the "KEY," which is designed to jack into the 2G iPod shuffle to create a standard USB 2.0 plug -- allowing you to "sync, charge, and transfer data like any standard USB drive." You'll be able to get a a $22 KEY in early 2007 to snuggle up to your shuffle -- that is, assuming you haven't lost your new friend in the couch before then.

[Via iLounge]

[tehuberone @ Nov 4th 2006 4:52AM]

Nice.

[Eddie @ Nov 4th 2006 5:30AM]

I like your thought provoking comment.

[Simon @ Nov 4th 2006 5:41AM]

Hmm. I remember Jens of Sweden MP3 players had something similiar. They probably work on the iPods as well...

[MitchellO @ Nov 4th 2006 6:24AM]

Does anyone know where I can get something similar to this for the nano? I want a really small connector that basically is just a converted from the 30pin dock to a USB plug.

Cheers

[mrscribble @ Nov 4th 2006 9:04AM]

How about this?

[Dull @ Nov 4th 2006 9:17AM]

This is close MACALLY Link 360U iPod to USB Adapter with Swivel
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Code=MCY+LINK360U&JRSource=PriceGrabber.datafeed.MCY+LINK360U

[transpacificradio.com @ Nov 4th 2006 11:12PM]

Can we get Linux on it yet?

[Paul_g @ Nov 4th 2006 7:14AM]

Can someone tell me where I can buy a 2GB Shuffle? Because that is breaking news to me!

Facts + Right Information = don�t look so stupid

[Ally @ Nov 4th 2006 8:19AM]

@ Paul_g
"Can someone tell me where I can buy a 2GB Shuffle? Because that is breaking news to me!

Facts + Right Information = don�t look so stupid"


Its the Second Generation Shuffle

As you said "Facts + Right Information = don�t look so stupid"

[Chris @ Nov 4th 2006 7:33AM]

Here we go again. It's 2G shuffle (as in 2nd Generation), not 2GB.

[sdfgfghdfsgdfg @ Nov 4th 2006 8:37AM]

how the hell is this supposed to work with a standard stereo audio plug?

[Jeff @ Nov 4th 2006 5:34PM]

"how the hell is this supposed to work with a standard stereo audio plug?"

er, i hope you're being sarcastic...

really.

[tr @ Nov 4th 2006 10:37AM]

hey, i recognize the 'look' of that pic. that just looks like a quick Solidworks model, with the default blue gradient background. hell, the person didn't even do a screenshot of the rendered view.

[Ward @ Nov 4th 2006 12:45PM]

Well that was fast. Though it would have been nice to see a real product, not just a model. And perhaps some proof that it integrates well with the shuffle's shape/style.

[sdfgfghdfsgdfg @ Nov 4th 2006 6:10PM]

err... no not really.

the one side of the plug looks like a standard stereo plug. and it is supposed to "sync, charge, and transfer". sounds like vaporware to me.

maybe you could explain in more detail what you are referring to?

[Nick @ Nov 4th 2006 1:35PM]

would this work with a mobiBLU icube?

[Ari @ Nov 4th 2006 3:17PM]

Dunno, but I'm sure THIS would: http://store.mobibluamerica.com/damija.html

I've sent away for one to test it on my 2ndGen Shuffle...

[... @ Nov 4th 2006 6:45PM]

That is definitely a solidworks model, just looks at them fillets.

Does that mean we still have a ways to go before we actually see one of these? I mean I could have made that drawing in about 30 minutes...

[Mike Talmadge @ Nov 4th 2006 7:08PM]

"Does that mean we still have a ways to go before we actually see one of these?"

We try to make our promises like Steve Jobs and his Intel conversion project timeline.

As we stated "THOUGHT OUT is FINALIZING our newest conception"

[philipforget @ Nov 4th 2006 1:56PM]

This will be incredibly simple to to make, if you have an old inline remote for a CD player, you've already got the necessary plug to build it yourself, and if you are reading this blog you probably have a soldering iron and a USB cable laying around. It's going to be as simple as figuring out which of the 4 usb pins goes to which of the 4 contacts on the plug, a few quick solders, and boom, a very useful and decidedly cheaper USB to "supashuffleusbheadphonejack" cable.

[Speedy @ Nov 4th 2006 6:51PM]

Actually, if you look at the actual dock that the 2G shuffles come with you will find out that it uses the 3.5mm jack to transfer files. C'mon man haven't you noticed the lack of a dock connector or usb plug on the shuffle itself? Hell, the whole shuffle is barely larger than a usb plug. (on a sidenote, is this somewhat similiar to the way video iPods have a unbique 3.5mm so you can have video and audio through the headphone jack? it would be great if you could use something like this on all the video iPods as well)

[n3rrd @ Nov 4th 2006 10:26PM]

Why wouldn't this product be better suited attached to a cable? Would make plugging the whole thing in easier...

[Jeff @ Nov 4th 2006 10:47PM]

compactness

[LordZero @ Nov 5th 2006 5:35PM]

can they put a oled screen on that?

[Chris Champion @ Nov 5th 2006 7:41PM]

Hmmm.... I wonder if my DLO Shuffle Dock FM Transmitter will work with the 2G Shuffle and this fancy item

[derek @ Nov 6th 2006 11:21PM]

http://store.mobibluamerica.com/damija.html

MobiBlu Mini Jack will work with new Shuffle. I just try it. I have no problem sync or charge it.

Just to let some of you know.

[Dave Kauffman @ Nov 8th 2006 7:20PM]

If you look carefully at the new charger plug, it is not a standard 3.5mm stereo plug, but has 4 sections rather than 3. headphones pick up the audio, but the 4th ring tells the ipod it is a charger/transfer dock plug and to go into "usb mode"