New USB Cable Physically Damages iPod Touch! Its Horrible!

[Complexis]

For those of you who have an iPod touch or not have one, I recommend that you use the older USB cable where you can push on the two sides of the connector to stick in your iPod. The new connector is shorter, and does not have the side buttons to push the small two metal things in, so everytime you plug in your iPod touch to the new connector, the two small metal things that stick out of it inevitably SCRATCH the two sides of your connector which if done for maybe twice or even once, makes the two sides of your connector show plain white parts where the scratch marks are.

Apple's redesign of the USB cable may be nicer without the two buttons on the side, but really, it stinks watching those two metal things that couldve been retracted on the older cables continuously scratch your touch ever time you plug it in.

Anyone with an iPod Touch can relate?

[kornchild2002]

I never use the two buttons on the sides of my older USB dock connector when plugging in the cable, only when taking it out. Sure, it may scratch the connector on the inside of the iPod (as my 5G is) but that is alright. If you are worried about your iPod's dock connector getting scratched then you would never, ever use it as the inside where the pins are often get scratched a lot over a long period of use.

Don't worry about it, enjoy the iPod without worrying about small scratches on the inside where no one will see (unless they hold up your iPod and intentionally look).

[Reubania]

I guess with the older style ones, when you push it in to connect, the two sides have the flexibility to be pushed in without scratching (and without you needing to actually press the two sides in when inserting it into your iPod).

So that means I can use my 1G nano connector to synch and charge from my MacBook?

[a113524c]

I think the older one is worse. I have the older push one for my charger and it is really tight in there. You just have to pull the new one out by the top and it should be fine.

I don't think apple would make a USB cord that would damage a device, or at least I hope so. :D

[2k4mach]

Ive been using the older cable from my 2nd gen nano and havent noticed any damage with it.
I havent even taken the usb cable that came with the touch out of the box.

[Complexis]

The older cable is MUCH better. Sure the new cable is easier to plug in without the side buttons, but you will notice looking at the exterior connector part of your iPod touch that there are white scratchmarks where the two protruding metal parts scratch your ipod.

Regardless of the buttons, both the new cable and old cable are both physically identical. Both are of equal tightness. The only difference is one has side buttons to retract the two metal prongs from scratching when you plug in and the other doesn't and retracts because of the edges of the connector of your ipod, which literally is scratching it.

[a113524c]

Wow I just noticed the scratches. Well it looks like I am going to switch to the older one. I don't get why apple would take away the side buttons, it does'nt make sense to me.

[Cameron_Talley]

Regardless of the buttons, both the new cable and old cable are both physically identical. Both are of equal tightness. The only difference is one has side buttons to retract the two metal prongs from scratching when you plug in and the other doesn't and retracts because of the edges of the connector of your ipod, which literally is scratching it.

I'm not sure about the recent USB cables but compared to my 3G's firewire cable this is not true. The Firewire cable's prongs are designed to retract as you insert the cable and then lock, meaning you have to push the side buttons to retract the prongs to take out the cable.

I looked closely at the new USB cable last night and the prong design is different. Instead of being designed to only retract on inserting, the design is doubled--both the side facing to and away from the iPod is sloped, meaning they will retract when you pull it out.

I hope that makes sense...wish I had a picture.

[bryman]

Fwiw, I've got an old cord from either a 1g nano or 5g video that's such a tight fit that I'm afraid to even put it in all the way. I guess the best way is to try all your different cords and see whlich plays the best with the touch :).

[tintin]

See what you mean - the scratches are very very small, but they are there and I've only plugged in a couple of times. I'm using my old cable - the new one is still sealed in the package of accessories, which is where it stays till I sell this unit a year from now to buy whatever gets announced next September ;)

I'll be more careful with my cable. That being said, a careful touch of a dark grey or even black Sharpie would cover the scratches easily.