iLounge

56

elCaballero, I’m not laughing at what you used to think about apple because it’s what I’ve recently realized. I’m coming from that PC/smartphone world and come october I’ll jump in to the apple world. The iphone has made me realize that apple’s world IS easier. Manufacturing and engineering decisions that leave old standards behind seem anti-consumer on the surface, but they are not. The products are moving ahead and the old standards won’t support the new technology. Cellular and WiFi interference is unacceptable in an audio product. Switching the headphone jack terminal that supports the microphone back and forth between video and microphone would add cost and complexity, and if it prevented 1 person from calling 911 in an emergency then it would be dangerous AND a huge legal liability. We have to give up the idea of that headphone jack supporting video ‘cuz it’s not gonna happen.
Supporting old standards is what kills MS. I’m glad to see Apple move forward even if it means my $1.99 AV cable from dealextreme is now useless.

Posted by Robert on September 7, 2007 at 7:26 PM (PDT)

57

It’s not even an issue of the stinkin’ $49, which I’d pay—it’s having to carry around yet another freakin’ custom cable and not borrowing someone’s camcorder or digicam cable to show something cool to them on their tv (or showing a Keynote presentation in Quicktime format at a business meeting).

The size of the video nano is what appealed to me more than the price—I just got home and plugged her in and nothing worked—‘m PISSED!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully, we’ll get a firmware unlock update or else a healthy class-action (have you checked out the compatibility chart for the nano?)

Posted by dd on September 7, 2007 at 7:35 PM (PDT)

58

“Supporting old standards is what kills MS. I’m glad to see Apple move forward even if it means my $1.99 AV cable from dealextreme is now useless.”

Man, you are so off base on this topic.  Firstly we are talking about the iPod classic and nano here not the iPhone.  It shouldn’t matter what they needed to do for the iPhone. 

Secondly the old 5.5G supported video out through the dock connector, they didn’t need to add anything.  Get your facts straight. 

Lastly we are talking about more than cheap no name cables here but several rather expensive accessories that several people purchased.  They also didn’t disclose that video out was now locked before people purchased their products.

Posted by offbasedude on September 7, 2007 at 8:15 PM (PDT)

59

The video cable I bought for my 5th gen iPod still works with that iPod. So it serves (served) its function.

Am I to expect every accessory I purchase for my iPod to always work with every iPod ever? Thats kooky. Babies.

Posted by FRMRApple on September 7, 2007 at 9:20 PM (PDT)

60

“The video cable I bought for my 5th gen iPod still works with that iPod. So it serves (served) its function.

Am I to expect every accessory I purchase for my iPod to always work with every iPod ever? Thats kooky. Babies”

Where can we get the video cable for the new ipods?  Oh, that’s right you have to purchase it as part of an accessory kit.  A kit which includes other things that I’ve already purhased?  Kooky, real kooky....

Posted by kookyman on September 7, 2007 at 9:53 PM (PDT)

61

I just bought me a 80G classic ipod with an AV cable today. I was very excited to plug it into my car and I couldn’t turn on the TV out. Got home, googled ipod TV out and found out that I have to spend another 50 dollars to make TV out out. I guess I will pay to get one, and I won’t buy any apple product after this.

Posted by rapidtiger on September 7, 2007 at 10:07 PM (PDT)

62

Yes, once again it looks like people are willing to jump all over Apple, assume the worst, and not bother to find out the truth. It makes complete sense that the old AV cables no longer work with the iPhone (as explained in a comment above) because that extra ring on the jack is now occupied by a microphone. Its not quite so clear why that would be necessary to transfer that to the newest iPods, but I’m sure there is a reason - even if its just cost savings as the entire line now seems to share a lot in common with the iPhone.

The last time this happened, when the AV cables were released for the iPod 5G, everyone jumped to the conclusion that Apple had done it just to sell their proprietary cables… which was ultimately proven false - it was the original vendors that introduced the AV cable that had purposely made them incompatible by running the video on one of the old audio channels and moving that audio channel to the newly added ring in the headphone connector. Apple, of course, couldn’t implement this idiotic, proprietary configuration because they already had millions of iPods with headphones that supported audio in the standard audio headphone jacks. So, Apple did the right thing and added video to the headphone jacks in a way that didn’t break the old audio-only headphones. Everyone jumped all over them then, claiming Apple “arrogance” and “anti-consumer tactics” because people are, generally, idiots.

I’m confident that this current situation will have a similarly valid explanation that will probably, once again, actually make me respect Apple a little more.

Posted by Brad on September 8, 2007 at 2:52 AM (PDT)

63

apple are money grabbing basterds. The only reason they would restrict video output would be to make even more money than the already are. Apple can do whatever they like now and get awa with it because such a large majority of consumers are apple suck ups.

Posted by nick on September 8, 2007 at 4:53 AM (PDT)

64

Was seriously considering a Touch...now no way.

I’ve bought into the Apple products hook line and sinker the last few years- iPod, nano, iMac… but if things go this way, with exclusion of 3rd party, I’m done.

Posted by Mike on September 8, 2007 at 8:14 AM (PDT)

65

Chiming in, again, here.  This isn’t just about the cable.  My Sonic player doesn’t use the cable, the iPod docks to it.  My Sonic player wasn’t cheap and the quality is quite good.  Everything else that uses the pin connections still work!  The only thing that the customer has been locked out of, at this point, is the video-out setting.  Back to that cable discussion, if I hooked my existing a/v cable up to the new iPod and I actually had the control to change it to video out but it wouldn’t play due to a design change, I would have no problem with that.  But, Apple has locked you out - period!!  This should not be glossed over.  It seems like people are forgetting, this is a company whose responsibility is to make money for the shareholders.  They can make mistakes and they can be just as greedy as any other company.  It is about survival.  Marketing is what gives you that love for the company, really good marketing.  Even if you love Apple, it is OK to hate the behavior.

Posted by sgrmba on September 8, 2007 at 8:54 AM (PDT)

66

Chiming in, again, here.  This isn’t just about the cable.  My Sonic player doesn’t use the cable, the iPod docks to it.  My Sonic player wasn’t cheap and the quality is quite good.  Everything else that uses the pin connections still work!  The only thing that the customer has been locked out of, at this point, is the video-out setting.  Back to that cable discussion, if I hooked my existing a/v cable up to the new iPod and I actually had the control to change it to video out but it wouldn’t play due to a design change, I would have no problem with that.  But, Apple has locked you out - period!!  This should not be glossed over.  It seems like people are forgetting, this is a company whose responsibility is to make money for the shareholders.  It is about survival.  Marketing is what gives you that love for the company, really good marketing.  Even if you love Apple, it is OK to hate the behavior.

Posted by sgrmba on September 8, 2007 at 8:57 AM (PDT)

67

“It makes complete sense that the old AV cables no longer work with the iPhone”

Dude - read the article we are talking about the new iPod classic and nano NOT the iPhone.  Of course you are free to believe what you want but you’re argument is obscuring the real issue and not on point.  It would make a little more sense if we were talking about the iPhone but we’re not. 

The fact is that Apple has by default turned off video out - meaning that the device will not output video unless connected to some sort of approved device.  If it is to support some new and improved standard can’t wait to hear about the benefits of this new standard.

As of right now if this is the new ‘standard’ by which future Apple products will operate as others have stated they are going down the Sony way of doing business not good.

Posted by dreamon on September 8, 2007 at 9:12 AM (PDT)

68

It is very disappoiinting when I hear of Apple doing this kind of thing. I guess you could take many inexpensive accessible technologies and put up roadblocks that, the best we can tell, are unnecessary and add nothing except undeserved wealth to the highwayman.
Not unlike the kind of thing I might expect of Microsoft, when Apple pulls this same BS it’s very disheartening. Apple has occasionally displayed little fits of arrogance at the expense of their customers, I hope the trend isn’t growing.

Posted by hank on September 8, 2007 at 9:20 AM (PDT)

69

I believe this has to do with content creators - remember NBCU’s complaint about Apple not doing enough.  So possibly higher resolution content (480x360?) is coming and output to TV will be tightly controlled.  Maybe this is as far as Apple agreed to go in order to get the new resolution.

We’ll know soon enough.  Several rumored items are pointing to another announcement in Oct, likely related to AppleTV.

Posted by mark on September 8, 2007 at 9:24 AM (PDT)

70

I’m referring to:
- Engadget report of rental movies in the iTunes problem resolution page.
- Jobs comment last month that he’d have more to say about AppleTV soon.
- NBCU discontent.
- Vudu launch and Windows Media Center upgrades for content.

Posted by mark on September 8, 2007 at 9:28 AM (PDT)

71

Wow, you learn something new every day! I have an Ipod 5.5G and never realised you could use the headphone port with an a/v cable! I’ve always used my universal dock - guess I won’t miss it then!

But still, it doesn’t seem to be the best way to win over your customers!

Posted by Andy on September 8, 2007 at 2:54 PM (PDT)

72

This can’t be to stop piracy on current content since once buying an Apple cable all piracy would be re-enabled.

I think this signals a soon to be announced Apple HDMI Cable and HD movie quality that can only go out through HDMI and would provide the protected path DRM requires.

Posted by stwf on September 8, 2007 at 3:08 PM (PDT)

73

I am assuming this restriction applies to the MyVu as well?  I was in the market for a 160G Classic and a Nano, but I won’t buy either one of them if they don’t support my MyVu which I have become addicted to for viewing video on long trips.

Given the MyVu cost $300, this has larger implications for me than a new cable for $50.00

Posted by MattD on September 8, 2007 at 5:20 PM (PDT)

74

The BIG question is.... Will it remain “unlocked/ON” once you unlock it on an Apple authorized Dock?! Or does it revert to “locked/OFF” once you Undock it??????

Posted by D on September 8, 2007 at 6:19 PM (PDT)

75

All I want to know is if my old apple dock and av cable from my old ipod photo will unlock the video out on the ipod classic?

Posted by poppyljg on September 8, 2007 at 6:40 PM (PDT)