the docking connector

[OnlyTimeWillTel]

This will undoubtedly be the stupidest question I ever ask on here.....but does anyone know if Apple changed the docking connectors from one iPod to the next?

I'm asking as I only have the firewire cable for my 3rd gen 20gb, and will be out of town for a week in August. During said week both my eMac and my Sony Viao tower (also with firewire) will remain at home, and I'd like to be able to charge my iPod from my laptop. I've been browsing EBAY and I see many cables that are touted as universal and many that appear to be iPhone and iPod Touch only.

If someone could clear this up for me I would be grateful.

 

[bobtomay]

First I'd suggest going to Amazon or monoprice.com for cables.

The discrepancy is due to the charging pins in the iPhone, the new Nano and the Touch being on the firewire only pins on the dock connectors. The older devices would charge on the USB and Firewire pins. Most of the older 3rd party docks had been put out with only the USB pins active for charging, so consequently, the newer devices will not charge on them.

My older 30GB iPod charges just fine on the cable that came with my iPhone and Nano.

 

[OnlyTimeWillTel]

More than likely I was going to snag something from Wal-Mart, I just browse ebay a lot in the interest of saving time at the store. Knowing that that new cables will charge my 3rd gen makes it much easier to get what I need. Thanks.

 

[bobtomay]

Just make sure, anytime you're buying something for use 'on the road', you open it up and check it out before you leave. There's nothing worse than getting where you're going and what you thought would work, won't.

 

[OnlyTimeWillTel]

Oh believe me, I'll have my laptop with me at the store lol. I have no intention of wasting money on an item I cannot use.

 

[rukind2]

The ipod connector in my car works with the latest gen ipod classic but not the itouch. No sound; no charge. The pins have changed in both...