Speakers for charging a 3G iPod

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Speakers for charging a 3G iPod

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Q: Hi, I’ve been having a lot of trouble finding a good and relatively inexpensive speaker/docking station that is compatible with my 3G ipod. I purchased the Logitech mm50 only to find that it has problems charging my 3G. I don’t want to purchase another system only to find that it has compatibility issues with my iPod. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your help!

- Stephanie

A: Although the third-generation iPod uses the same Dock Connector port as the current models, one significant difference is that it did not charge using the USB power sources that are compatible with the later generation iPods.

Specifically, the 3G iPod will only charge over FireWire, which was a different voltage and used different “pins” in the Dock Connector from the USB connection. Unfortunately, many current-model speakers may only provide power on the USB connection in the Dock Connector, and therefore will not charge the iPod.

Unfortunately, the solution to this may be somewhat complex. The original mm50s, Bose SoundDock, and Altec Lansing iM7 definitively will charge a 3G iPod. In fact, we specifically re-tested a 3G iPod with each of these units this morning, and it charged without any problems whatsoever. However, manufacturers may well have made changes to these models since their initial release, and limited their ability to charge older iPods. Since companies don’t publish lists of changes, and there are a myriad of different revisions out there, it’s basically impossible to track all of the changes that have been made from the older models. In addition, there are generally no indications whatsoever on the packaging of these products as to whether or not they will actually charge a 3G iPod, so the only way to determine this is generally to try it out for yourself.

Your best solution is to visit an Apple Store or comparably equipped retailer with 3G iPod in hand, and test charging on their floor models, explaining to a salesperson that you’ll need to make a return if the one in the box differs from the one on display.

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Comments

1

I have recently quit using Vista and went back to XP by clean install. I then downloaded itunes 7.2 for windows XP along with loading my old itunes library to MY Music file from an external storage device. All my playlists are correct. However, I am able to play only a few songs from the lists. An exclamation point appears in front of the unplayable songs. When clicking on the unplayable songs in my lists a message appears ” The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? ” I go through the time consuming task by locating the song which reults in the ability to play it. Is there a way around this procedure which will make all songs playable without going through this time consuming task? It will take forever to restore all my lists on a song by song basis.

Posted by Turk on June 3, 2007 at 5:45 AM (PST)

2

Itunes is erasing my library. when i want to play a song a window appears saying the song XXX could not be used because the original file could not be found”
this happen to cds i have burned into my library, itunes songs i PAID FOR and mp3s i get from xtorent? it is also happening to my freinds library.
can you please explain why this is happening and explain the proper protcal to saving music . thanks i have learned allot from your advice before -p

Posted by piaf on May 3, 2008 at 12:13 PM (PST)

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