Software Hacks/Fixes for iPod Nano (5th Gen/Video)?

[pelikan3]

So, I got the new Nano Video, partly because I needed a new iPod, but mostly for the video camera capability. Then I noticed something odd. It won't power off of (nearly) any wall or car outlet attachment or accessory.

It does power off of:

ANY of the regular USB cables I have had for years, as long as they are plugged into a powered USB port

My Video-Out cable that I use to watch movies from the iPod on TV. That cable has an additional port that accepts a standard Motorola AC adapter. When plugged in, the Nano does power.

My little iHome wireless speaker base

It does NOT power off of:

Either of my Altec Lansing portable stereo systems

Any kind of direct to iPod AC wall adapter solution (even the one from Apple)

My Monster Cable, car radio transmitter that plugs into the car's power supply

Not only does it NOT work with these solutions, but it puts up a message on the screen that says that it is not designed to work with that accessory and will not power off of it.

This makes NOT sense. If it works with YEARS old USB cable, and powers off of that from a USB slot, it should work with the white AC adapter brick in a wall outlet, as well as any other device that the old iPods I have work with.

This has to be a software limitation. Is there anyone out there writing any kind of hacks or fixes that lets the Nano power off of existing accessories?

Thanks!

[pelikan3]

I'm surprised no one had anything to say to this.

No one knows of a software fix that will force the 5th Gen Nano to charge off of older equipment (boom boxes, car adapters, wall chargers, etc.)?

It does not make sense that it would not work with those things if it works with a years old USB cable off of a USB port. That means nothing has changed about the connection design and it's a software limitation.

Anyone?

[Sparkee]

This is a well known issue that has been posted here before and is due to a change in the hardware, not software. It has nothing to do with whether you are using a new USB cable or an old USB cable, they have the same specs. iPods used to power only from a 12v firewire sources which most accessory manufacturers adopted earlier on. I believe when Apple made iPods available to Windows users they added another charging circuit to the dock connector which uses the USB's 5v power source along with the 12v firewire spec. Since USB became more popular than firewire Apple decided to drop firewire support and stick with USB for financial reasons. Now you will find newer iPods with only the USB charging circuits may not charge from older accessories which only have 12v firewire circuits.

There are some adapters on the market from Scosche that will make some older accessories charge newer iPods. Newer accessories are also using the new spec to charge using the USB power source.