Apple Universal Dock (2007)

[Dim]

Actually, the video-out was enhanced, not crippled. Since you can now get higher quality output from the video out, they wanted to allow component output. This couldn't be done via the headphone jack, so the dock connector was modified. The composite cable was made for those who don't have component inputs.

People can complain about bundling unnecessary things together to make more money (like remotes with docks, power bricks with video cables), but c'mon. They can't make every damn thing backwards compatible when they are trying to move forward with everything else.

[ahMEmon]

"Since you can now get higher quality output from the video out"

And how do they accomplish this since the ipod is limited to 640 x 480....?

[Dim]

Originally Posted by ahMEmon

"Since you can now get higher quality output from the video out"

And how do they accomplish this since the ipod is limited to 640 x 480....?

#1: The new ipod can do 480p instead of just 480i (smoother playback quality). #2: It can do H.264 codec at 2.5Mbps instead of only 1.5Mbps (less compression artifacts).

There's much more to quality than just a height and width.

[ahMEmon]

didnt know that. I stand corrected.

[Dim]

Originally Posted by ahMEmon

didnt know that. I stand corrected.

I still do take issue with Apple forcing us to purchase the cable with a power brick. They could've given us the option of purchasing just the cable for less than half the price since they know many of us probably already own a power brick and/or may not ever want to use one while playing TV Out (for example, playing slideshows and video clips for people you visit).

[Galley]

iTunes 7.5 should be out soon. Perhaps we will see some video out improvements at that time.

[Ingersoll]

Originally Posted by Dim

Apple has never stated firewire compatibility with any ipods beyond the 4G, so it's no surprise that it finally doesn't work.

Perhaps you misunderstood.

It's not an issue of not being able to plug a firewire cable between the ipod and the computer.

It's that when that same cable is plugged into the dock connector on the ipod it supplies power just fine. There IS still compatibility with my brand new Touch and the firewire cable for power.

However when that same cable is plugged into a so called new universal dock first it does NOT supply power to the ipod.

Direct connect to iPod works, connect through "universal" dock = nothing.

[Dim]

Originally Posted by Ingersoll

Direct connect to iPod works, connect through "universal" dock = nothing.

Doesn't it state this on the website?

[Ingersoll]

Originally Posted by Dim

Doesn't it state this on the website?

Not on the website, not on the product box, and not after the first 5 minutes talking to a "genius" until they did some digging somewhere.

Thats why mine went back to the Apple Store.

Of course I did file a support suggestion, so maybe they have added it since last week.

[Dim]

Well, they aren't very clear about it. It does state on the website, you can connect it to a USB power adapter, or connect it to a computer using the cable that came with your ipod (notice it only supports ipod models since the iPod video so this would obviously have to be a USB cable). I guess I would've been skeptical of it working. Then again, they could've made it much more clear.

[kreg37]

Originally Posted by Dim

Actually, the video-out was enhanced, not crippled. Since you can now get higher quality output from the video out, they wanted to allow component output.

why are so many people having a hard time understanding the concept of "crippled?" if apple requires a completely unnecessary chip so that only approved accessories work with the ipod, that is the definition of crippled. not letting people use third-party accessories and limiting the selection to obscenely-priced alternatives is the issue. forcing people to re-buy incompatible accessories is also an issue.

[Andrew J.]

Since I've never previously owned the universal dock, I'm not gonna feel ripped off if I buy it now for my iPod Classic. But there's one thing I need to know before I buy it: Is the video-out only for the playback of movies, or will it allow me to browse my iPod's music menus over the TV? Does it display track and album info on the TV during playback? If so, is it with or without album art? Thanks in advance for y'all's help...

[Dim]

Originally Posted by kreg37

why are so many people having a hard time understanding the concept of "crippled?" if apple requires a completely unnecessary chip so that only approved accessories work with the ipod, that is the definition of crippled. not letting people use third-party accessories and limiting the selection to obscenely-priced alternatives is the issue. forcing people to re-buy incompatible accessories is also an issue.

You should lookup the definition of crippled. In this case, you're saying the video out is impaired or flawed. That's technically not the case here. It has the exact same functionality and more. It can output a progressive signal which canNOT be done with the older composite cables. Since it's clear you're ignorant about this technology, you should really keep your mouth shut on the matter.

[kreg37]

Originally Posted by Dim

You should lookup the definition of crippled. In this case, you're saying the video out is impaired or flawed. That's technically not the case here. It has the exact same functionality and more. It can output a progressive signal which canNOT be done with the older composite cables. Since it's clear you're ignorant about this technology, you should really keep your mouth shut on the matter.

nice try, but i am in no way ignorant to the technology involved. i think it's great that the ipod can now output progressive video (the classic and nano, anyway; not the touch). but that's not the issue. the issue, as i've said numerous times, is that you can no longer use third-party cables, and many older products on the market no longer work because they do not have the chip that the latest generation of ipods require. this is an issue that apple could resolve with a firmware update, but it does not want to fix the issue because it wants you to be forced into buying their expensive cables.

and since you're interested in the definition, the closest relevant definition for "cripple" in the realm of technology is this:

Crippleware is any product whose functions have been limited (or "crippled", thus the name) with the express purpose of requiring the user to pay for those functions (either paying a one-time fee or continually paying a service).

thus video-out is crippled, unless that product has apple's chip (the fee paid to apple).

since it's clear you're so blinded by your apple fanboy-ism to understand the issue, i suggest you keep your mouth shut.

[Dim]

Originally Posted by kreg37

nice try, but i am in no way ignorant to the technology involved. i think it's great that the ipod can now output progressive video (the classic and nano, anyway; not the touch). but that's not the issue. the issue, as i've said numerous times, is that you can no longer use third-party cables, and many older products on the market no longer work because they do not have the chip that the latest generation of ipods require. this is an issue that apple could resolve with a firmware update, but it does not want to fix the issue because it wants you to be forced into buying their expensive cables.

and since you're interested in the definition, the closest relevant definition for "cripple" in the realm of technology is this:

Crippleware is any product whose functions have been limited (or "crippled", thus the name) with the express purpose of requiring the user to pay for those functions (either paying a one-time fee or continually paying a service).

thus video-out is crippled, unless that product has apple's chip (the fee paid to apple).

since it's clear you're so blinded by your apple fanboy-ism to understand the issue, i suggest you keep your mouth shut.

The video out has ALWAYS been crippleware since the ipod photo days by that definition.

I've actually criticized Apple as much as defend them in this very thread, so the tired fanboy insults that so many people are quick to throw out means nothing. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I expect greedy behavior from Apple. This is nothing, really.