3rd & 4th Gen iPod Touch charging vs iPhone 4 charging?

[CaliGirl]

This bugs me so much, I've searched, and I've never been able to get a definite answer, not even from Apple.

What is the difference between the way a 3rd & 4th Gen iPod touch charges vs an iPhone 4? All the 6 foot cables I have ever purchased will charge my iPhone 4 fine, but not our 3rd Gen & 4th Gen iPod Touches. With the iPods we get the 'Charging not supported with this accessory". I've bought 6 foot cables on Ebay and at our local Fry's Electronics. Always the same deal, they charge my iPhone 4, but not the iPod Touches.

If it matters, prob not, my iPhone is running 5.1, one iPod is running 5.1, the others different versions of 4.X.

We have one 2nd Gen iPod Touch for my yougest child, and that one does charge well with every cable I've purchased.

I mainly just want to know why. I realize these longer cables are aftermarket cables, but I really want to know if there are differences in the devices' hardware. Thanks.

[kornchild2002]

There are differences between the 3G iPod touch and 4G model but not the 4G iPod touch and iPhone 4. What AC adapter are you trying to charge these with?

[CaliGirl]

Hum, then it's very puzzling why the 4th Gen doesn't charge with the long cable either. It's fine with Apple one.

I'm using the genuine Apple USB adapter, the little cube ones that come with the iPhones. I have several and those are all genuine. They all work fine with the 3 foot Apple cables, but for some reason only my iPhone 4 & the one 2nd Gen iPod Touch will charge with the longer cables, very frustrating.

[kornchild2002]

The issue is clearly with the cables then. Instead of buying longer 3rd party dock connectors, which are known to cause problems (you certainly aren't the first person to experience issues like this), you may want to think about buying a non-cheap USB extension cable instead. It has a male USB port that will plug into the AC adapter and then a female end that the Apple cable plugs into. Those cables don't try to replicate Apple's design and just extend the USB standard. USB extension cables are almost always more promising than longer dock connector cables.

[CaliGirl]

Yes, thanks for replying. I've already purchased an extender at Radio Shack for our room. It works fine. If I can't find a 6 foot cable that actually works with all our iPods, then I'll have to go that route & start buying USB extenders for the other rooms in the house. Also, if you or anyone can recommend a specific brand 6 foot cable that works on 3rd Gens & 4th Gens, I'd appreciate it.