Now that all the RDF has worn off, a few of the hard facts about Apple's latest are coming to light, and one of the nasties has to do with video output. Apparently the new
iPod classic and
iPod nano don't get along too well with currently video docks and cables on the market -- that is to say, pretty much not at all. A select few products with the 'spensive Apple authentication chips built-in do allow you to turn on TV out, like Apple's Universal Dock, iPod Hi-Fi (which doesn't have video output anyways) and the $600 Zeppelin from Bowers and Wilkins, but if you've sprung for products such as the Memorex iFlip and Sonic Impact Video-55 in the past, you're out of luck for the time being. It seems logical to us that Apple has the ability to unlock this function for existing docks if it so chooses, but for now you can always drop a fifty on those new
component cables from Apple -- and pray for a repeat in the "
contrite open letter" department.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
humpty @ Sep 7th 2007 2:55PM
There goes your $100 rebated from Steve jobs... lol @ all those iSheep.
Zak @ Sep 7th 2007 5:00PM
Listen....
Mooooooooo
Thats the sound of a Cash Cow being milked :-)
sean @ Sep 7th 2007 5:37PM
Sheep, cows.....who knew a company named Apple would make this country such a bountiful farmland.
rex @ Sep 7th 2007 2:57PM
Someone is bound to sue apple for doing this.. And it seems as if Apple is doing this on purpose.
NHAnimator @ Sep 7th 2007 3:22PM
Well, they obviously did it on purpose. Whether or not it was with malicious intent remains to be seen. But I doubt the reason was to screw their loyal and growing customer base.
Good luck suing them. It's a slippery slope when you can sue a manufacturer because their product is not backwards-compatible with older add-ons. Now if they stated such ahead of time, then failed to deliver, that's fair grounds.
John @ Sep 7th 2007 8:26PM
If the only problem is a "compatibility chip" in the Apple cables, then yes, you can sue, because that is being "anti-competitive", somewhat like those guys who we know and love at Microsoft.
Steve @ Sep 9th 2007 12:58PM
Of course they're doing it on purpose. They don't want you holding on the the same old iPod and it's accessories for 2 or 3 years. Fuck apple.
Boynamedsue @ Sep 7th 2007 3:03PM
Booo-urns!
Dean Lowe @ Sep 7th 2007 3:06PM
Jobs only hates DRM when he can't use it to get more money from ifanboys.
DBrim @ Sep 7th 2007 3:07PM
So... uh... what about audio output through the line-out? I would hate for my cable (to connect to my amp) to not work anymore.
Jason Martin @ Sep 7th 2007 3:40PM
That's a no-go. Video out, I believe, is now only available through the dock connector by Apple-approved means. I could be wrong, but that was the impression I got from the iLounge article that investigated the matter.
Brady @ Sep 7th 2007 3:43PM
if it is just a cable that connects to the speaker jack i would imagine it would still work. i can't see apple introducing its own 3.5mm jack variant (now that would piss people off)
DBrim @ Sep 7th 2007 3:57PM
Brady: Nah, I'm talking about cables that connect to the port on the bottom (read: not 3.5mm jack) and connect to the input of an amp.
Eric Cotton @ Sep 7th 2007 4:05PM
The old Apple Composite AV Cable will NOT work with the 3G Nano or Classic. Apple's introducing a new video cable with a dock connector ("Apple Component AV Cable") that you'll need. However, the ol' composite video cable will work if you use it with the iPod Universal Dock.
I've confirmed the above with my 3G Nano.
Preston @ Sep 7th 2007 3:11PM
This really isn't surprising. They are simply trying to squeeze every dime of the consumers they can get. Sadly, most people will just buy more accessories, only to have them not work with future versions.
jamma @ Sep 7th 2007 3:26PM
the upside to this (yes, there is one), is that older accessories for older iPod users (i.e. almost all of them, for now) will go quickly down in price,
Jack @ Sep 7th 2007 3:13PM
my reason for being
unApple
Bogdan @ Sep 7th 2007 3:15PM
Not nice from you, Apple, to iLock everything you make. Those devices are suppose to make it easier for an average user to access/play/manage multimedia files, aren't they? Even though you have an ability to unlock those functions (like it says in the post), you prefer to stick to your good old "Apple Limited" (literally) policy.
Well, at least those devices are cheap, so you get what you paid for, oh wait...
Faulken S Wulf @ Sep 7th 2007 3:15PM
I don't see anything illegal about this at all, honestly. Every generation of technology requires the purchase of new peripherals, its just a known fact. No one should be surprised that new peripherals are needed. Just sell the old iPod and gear on eBay, get the new one from the same place, and use the money you just saved to get more gear.
Sure, Apple gets to make money hand over fist with this but it looks like with the iPhone and iTouch out that most the components for those products will be good for a generation or two. 8gb iTouch, 16gb iTouch, reduced price 8gb iPhone. Expensive 16gb 2nd Gen. iPhone? Who knows, I'm just a college student.
^^v
Dualboot @ Sep 7th 2007 3:26PM
This is not the first time or the last time this is going to happen.
If you don't want to shell out the extra bucks for your new device, maybe you should stick with your older version of the iPod. It's not that old is it? What is it that the new device has? What you say, it's cool and hyped up? Yes it is and now you pay the price for buying everything immediately after it comes out on the market. Enjoy your $600 iPhone...
Ellianth @ Sep 7th 2007 3:47PM
I guess i've been lucky then. I've never had to buy new anything, just because i upgraded an old anything. My stuff has always just worked. Isn't that one of apple's slogans? "it just works?"
imP.O.'ed @ Sep 26th 2007 4:15AM
if i would have known about this ridiculous "iLock" on the video, i NEVER would have bought it!!! i specifically bought this for video output. i am a previous ipod customer ( i own the ipod photo) and have the dock and cables THEY supplied!! and NONE of it works. i just might be returning this item because it was never disclosed that the video out would not work....even the employees at the apple store i bought it from had no clue.....fill everyone in apple....or don't peddle your products to us!
iPhoneResidentObssesive @ Sep 7th 2007 3:17PM
apples am expensive
Ben @ Sep 7th 2007 3:22PM
putting "i" in front of words does not make you cool.
That goes for everyone.
Preston @ Sep 7th 2007 3:27PM
But it does make you icool.
Ellianth @ Sep 7th 2007 3:49PM
And if you don't believe Preston then just look at his comment rank :P
/me gives Preston iProps.
John @ Sep 7th 2007 8:28PM
It does, however, make you an iSexual.
Dave @ Sep 7th 2007 3:25PM
Any time Apple updates ANYTHING, from their consumer electronics, to their operating system, to their software (Final Cut, Logic), EVERYTHING that is designed to 'flawlessly' interact with said system FAILS to do so. Hell, it breaks everyone else's products too: if you update to a new OSX point release, you've likely broken Pro Tools, or maybe just a few of it's plugins; and vice versa for that matter.
Apple designs the aesthetic elements of their products exceptionally well, and can market ANYTHING to ANYONE; and they do. Beyond that, the last two point releases of OSX have been buggy as shit, and the iPod's amplifier and compression scheme sound like crap. So c'mon, are you really shocked at this? But, look on the bright side, there'll be a whole new round of advertisements with a catchy song to make you feel happy and hip.
rp @ Sep 7th 2007 3:38PM
So suddenly it's Apple's problem when a developer doesn't take appropriate steps to ensure that their software will work on the new OS? There's a reason that Apple seeds developers. It's Apple's responsibility to make sure that 3rd party crap (literally) works with their new products? Apple has their own crap to sort out.
By your logic, Nintendo, Sony, and every single other tech manufacturer is basically a piece of shit because the 3rd party vendors didn't allow firmware updates, didn't use a developer beta, and didn't forsee new releases by the 1st party company.
Dale @ Sep 7th 2007 4:02PM
Dave, sorry to burst your bubble, but the blame for applications not working with newer versions of the OS should fall at the feet of the developers. Apple have a developer program specifically to ensure the development community is up to date with changes to their ever-evolving operating system, it's not their fault when companies don't take advantage of it.
Of course, Apple could keep everything the same with each release of their OS, with only some minor tweaks... but then they would probably charge twice as much for it, ship it in several different configurations and call it Windows.
As to this issue with accessories, well, that IS an example of Apple doing something wrong - in this case, attempting to lock users into using their products or those of companies who have coughed up money to them. I would hope there is a software workaround for products that don't feature Apple's authorisation technology but I doubt it: iPod accessories are extremely lucrative business. :/
Eric @ Sep 7th 2007 4:11PM
I wouldn't say *everything*. I've been using Logic pro since Emagic owned it and I've never had a single problem with an upgrade. Oh, I've had plenty of problems with third-party software and hardware not paying attention to OS updates or support giving me answers like "you'll have to just deal with the problem" (thank you, Steinberg) but the Apple stuff has been pretty stable. I've got my beefs with Steve and co., but constant upgrade failures is not one of them.
This whole development with "oh noes my old iCcessories don't work" problem should be no surprise to anyone, and it shouldn't really be a big deal. I mean, I had to buy a new dock when I went from my gen2 iPod to my gen3 because the gen3 was fatter and didn't fit. Boo hoo, I kind of expected that to happen - short-run obsolescence of peripherals is just the cost of buying the latest and greatest all the time.
Dave @ Sep 7th 2007 4:24PM
Well, I have VST plugins (yes, on the PC) from 99 that still work and get used on productions. On the other side of the equation, it's pretty frustrating having 15,000 tied up in a Pro Tools HD3 and all those plugins, along with the (now) Apple owned and developed Logic, that's another several grand.
I have to turn off automatic updates to the operating system so my business doesn't break down. I'm not talking 10.3 to 10.4 and so on. I'm talking 10.4.8 to 10.4.9.
So for what it's worth, my apologies for being entirely off topic. The gist of what I'm saying is that this should be shock to nobody; I just don't see what the major hassle is to provide support for existing peripherals, even when the interface has had significant changes.
CaptSaltyJack @ Sep 7th 2007 5:03PM
The last two point releases have been buggy as shit? Maybe on your machine. Who knows what you've done to make it unstable?
10.4.9 and 10.4.10 were smooth-as-butter upgrades for me, not a single problem. And I have Apple pro applications installed on my rig. They all work fine.
WindersSux @ Sep 7th 2007 3:32PM
Gee all of the Windows fanboy iJerks are out! Apple will unlock it for the other devices. You guys are just jealous that your gear sux. The college student is the only level-headed person that has posted here. The rest of you must be middle school kids.
endGame @ Sep 7th 2007 3:39PM
wtf are you talking about? you're happy apple is attempting to subvert you into a mere TOOL? give me a fucking break, douchebag. i have an ipod myself and i'm mad pissed at this bullshit.
Ellianth @ Sep 7th 2007 3:51PM
WindersSux, drugs are bad. Please use them responsibly.
WindersSux @ Sep 7th 2007 3:54PM
Yes, ma'am. I'll put the bong down. You caught me. I'm just a trollin' sock puppet anyway. Bwahahaha!
endGame @ Sep 7th 2007 4:12PM
oh yes, you're so goddamn mature for not using...expressive...words. shit, i probably make more money than you. not bad for a middle school kid, yeah?
malren @ Sep 7th 2007 3:33PM
This was intentional and malicious, designed to penalize anyone not in the inner circle of approved manufacturers. It's about higher license fees and higher content fees for 480p. It also puts the like to the "Made for iPod" program, doesn't it? In the end the consumer loses due to a predatory practice designed to sell accessories by specific manufacturers who have paid dearly to be part of the approved list.
Which company is the evil one again? Apple or Microsoft? I can't remember anymore.
malren @ Sep 7th 2007 3:34PM
Uhh..."puts the lie." I meant "puts the lie."
Nathan @ Sep 7th 2007 3:54PM
this isn't much different than when when 5th gen ipods couldn't use the 1394 plugs. I am sure there is a reason for it.
CharlieX @ Sep 7th 2007 3:56PM
That's what you deserve if you're buying Memorex anything.
mike @ Sep 7th 2007 4:05PM
You can count the number of days these models have been on the market with one hand. Give them a chance to do some bug fixes... damn.
endGame @ Sep 7th 2007 4:14PM
um, i wouldn't consider this a "bug." a bug is unintentional. this is definitely intentional.
mike @ Sep 7th 2007 5:14PM
How do you know this is intentional? Do you work for Apple? You are making general assumptions based on the fact that it doesn't work with some hardwares out of the gate. Backwards compatibility can be a real pain...
If they release a "we did this because" statement, or if we go a month with no update, I'll agree with you.
Jeremy @ Sep 7th 2007 4:06PM
As said before... its apple's fault that OTHER people's products don't work w/ their new technology??? their dock works. thats all they are responsible for isn't it? if you choose a 3rd party dock and now it doesn't work. why not blame the 3rd party? instead its easier to blame apple. If their own docks no longer worked, this would be a different story.
endGame @ Sep 7th 2007 4:18PM
you'll be right if what they did didn't actually kill all other devices out there, and screw over x (read: a lot) amount of people.
Jonathan @ Sep 7th 2007 4:57PM
@endGame
All licensed 3rd party docks will continue to work as well as the official dock from Apple. It's not Apple's responsibility to make sure unofficial 3rd party docks work. You should blame the 3rd party manufacturers whose docks no longer work for not adhering to standard (including Apple's authentication chip.)
It's funny that you don't see as many people complaining about older hardware not working in Windows Vista but when it involves Apple, people are quite vocal.
endGame @ Sep 7th 2007 5:40PM
"It's funny that you don't see as many people complaining about older hardware not working in Windows Vista but when it involves Apple, people are quite vocal."
that's because there's a bigger crowd. i thought that should've been a no-brainer.
craig @ Sep 7th 2007 11:54PM
"You should blame the 3rd party manufacturers whose docks no longer work for not adhering to standard (including Apple's authentication chip.)"
Not adhering to the standard? Don't you mean not paying Apple their license fee extortion? Apple promises to keep your device working just so long as you give them a cut. It has nothing to do with adhering to standards.
"It's funny that you don't see as many people complaining about older hardware not working in Windows Vista but when it involves Apple, people are quite vocal."
Ignoring the fact that people complain about Vista constantly and that the most vocal people for Apple are the rah-rahs, the difference is that Microsoft doesn't go out of their way to deliberately break 3rd party hardware. Apple has engineered their product to selectively disable products that don't pay them kickbacks.
Funny that when Apple benefited from an active 3rd party accessory market they did nothing to discourage it. Now that they dominate they put the squeeze on vendors who don't put a dollar in.