IPhone issue?

On 8/23/2007 8:24 AM, "John Massengale" wrote:
> I asked Apple tech support if I could use my Belkin car charger for my iPod
> for charging my iPhone. ³No,² they said, ³Only products that say Œapproved
> for the iPhone.¹²
>
> An Apple Genius in New York says that¹s because the connectors do not have
> the same pins.

I call BS. A charger that's "Made for iPhone" may (and I stress the word
"may") have minor differences in its circuitry that make it interact
differently with the iPod. But as far as I know, the pins in the dock
connector are exactly the same.

(We've tested a good number of iPod power accessories -- batteries, chargers
-- with the iPhone, and most work as expected. Oddly enough, a few brought
up the "Would you like to switch to Airplane Mode" dialog usually seen when
you plug the iPhone into an audio system, but they still provided power.
<http://www.macworld.com/2007/07/firstlooks/iphoneipodaccess/index.php>)

On Aug 23, 2007, at 8:24 AM, John Massengale wrote:

> I asked Apple tech support if I could use my Belkin car charger for
> my iPod
> for charging my iPhone. “No,” they said, “Only products that say
> ‘approved
> for the iPhone.’”
>
> An Apple Genius in New York says that’s because the connectors do
> not have
> the same pins.

My iPhone charges (and syncs) fine using the USB to iPod connector
that I also use for my (2G) Nano. I stopped doing it because of
Apple's battery life suggestion to charge the iPhone naked--or at
least not in a case that causes a charging iPhone to heat excessively.

It appears that the problem is interference with some devices from
GSM chatter (which has caused me to retire an old 2-line desk phone--
I didn't bother last time I had a GSM phone). Turning on Airplane
mode will deal with the interference (and reduce annoying incoming
calls, outgoing calls, SMS, and Yahoo push mail).

   --John

On 8/23/07 10:24 AM, "John Massengale" <johnmassengale.com> wrote:

> I asked Apple tech support if I could use my Belkin car charger for my iPod
> for charging my iPhone. ³No,² they said, ³Only products that say Œapproved
> for the iPhone.¹²
>
> An Apple Genius in New York says that¹s because the connectors do not have
> the same pins.
>
> If so, that could be a problem. iPhone and iPod cables look identical, as
> far as I can tell. I keep mine in the same place, and use them
> interchangeably ‹ and why not, since no one said not to? At this point, I
> have no idea which is which.
>
> Any insights into this? Is there really a problem, or is Apple just helping
> companies increase sales?

It may depend on the device. My Monster car iPod connector works fine with
the iPhone

--
John C. Welch Writer/Analyst
Bynkii.com Mac and other opinions
jwelchbynkii.com

On 23-Aug-2007, at 09:24, John Massengale wrote:
> I asked Apple tech support if I could use my Belkin car charger for
> my iPod
> for charging my iPhone. “No,” they said, “Only products that say
> ‘approved
> for the iPhone.’”
>
> An Apple Genius in New York says that’s because the connectors do
> not have
> the same pins.

Well, let's not get started on the 'Geniuses"

But, if the connector fits AND CHARGES, then they're blowing smoke.
If it doesn't fit, or doesn't charge, or displays some warning...

For example, I have a 1G iPod, a 3G ipod, and a 5G ipod. If I
connect my 5G ipod up to my old 3G iPod firewire cable, the ipod
charges, but I get an alert that the iPod cannot be used via
Firewire. But it charges just fine.

On Aug 24, 2007, at 7:27 AM, johnbaxterlistsmac.com wrote:

> On Aug 23, 2007, at 8:24 AM, John Massengale wrote:
>
>> I asked Apple tech support if I could use my Belkin car charger for
>> my iPod
>> for charging my iPhone. “No,� they said, “Only products that
>> say
>> ‘approved
>> for the iPhone.’�
>>
>> An Apple Genius in New York says that’s because the connectors do
>> not have
>> the same pins.
>
> It appears that the problem is interference with some devices from
> GSM chatter (which has caused me to retire an old 2-line desk phone--
> I didn't bother last time I had a GSM phone). Turning on Airplane
> mode will deal with the interference (and reduce annoying incoming
> calls, outgoing calls, SMS, and Yahoo push mail).

That is the real issue.

EIf a dock peripheral can't be verified to be shielded against GSM
TDMA inerference - which is what those squaks you hear through your
speakers when your phone is close to them - then it may refuse to work
with that peripheral (charged, FM transmitter, speaker, whatever).

As far as I can tell, the pinouts on the iPhone dock are the same as
on an iPod.


--
Chris Devers

What Apple is saying is that the old chargers may charge AND may cause
damage.

Sent from my iPhone

Assuming the pins/sockets are fully compatible mechanically, is it not possible that pin polarity could be a consideration?

On 26-Aug-2007, at 04:39, johnamoodydc wrote:
> Assuming the pins/sockets are fully compatible mechanically, is it
> not possible that pin polarity could be a consideration?

If Apple has identical connectors with identical cords and one works
and the other does DAMAGE, then they are going to have a huge
problem, and rightly so.

This is bogus bogosity, plain and simple.

I have an Apple-branded iPod Universal Dock for which I bought Apple-branded iPhone inserts, that allegedly make the Universal iPod dock into a Universal iPhone dock. Presumably that should mean the dock will work with any cable that works with the dock itself.

In any event, I have been using both Apple-branded iPod cables and third party iPod cables with this dock since I got my iPhone. All work fine and have not damaged my iPhone. 'Nuff said.