charging ipod?

Woden

right just got myself an ipod through 3G's offer and i'm very happy with it, its a thing of beauty and all that.

cause they give the 10Gb version there is no docking port, just wondering if i buy a docking port will i be able to charge the ipod through the pc, the guy in the mac store says you will be if you hook the dock up to the pc via firewire but not if you do it through usb2.0 as the usb can't supply the required power?

is this correct, can i charge it through my pc at all?

also just wonder is this a regular occurance, the firewire cable that came with the ipod, on the firewire connection end the white plastic cover near connection port came off last night when i removed the cable from the charger, its a small thing but things like that annoy me especially since i only got it yesterday, has this happened to many people?

cheers

data

eth0_

You can't charge the iPod through firewire on a pc, in fact you can't use the firewire lead that comes with the ipod with a PC, different connections for a mac.

Woden

i used the firewire lead that came with the ipod last night to transfer all my music from the pc to the ipod though?

shabbyroad

You can't charge the iPod through firewire on a pc

Not quite correct.
Whether you can charge your iPod on your PC will depend on the type of firewire port on your PC.

Some firewire ports on PCs don't pass the necessary power for charging. Often referred to 'powered' and 'un-powered' firewire ports.
I can't quite put my fingers on one now but I'm sure if you google some FAQs on PC usage with the iPod it'll throw up the necessary information. Also try IEEE-1394 as this is the "real" name for 'firewire' which was coined by Apple (also known as i-link by , I think, Sony)

Good faq and forums here at ipodlounge.com
Also here at ipoding.com

you can't use the firewire lead that comes with the ipod with a PC, different connections for a mac.

Again, not quite correct. There are two types of 'firewire' plug & socket. The type that comes on the iPod cable is the same as the firewire port on a Mac and is commonly known as a 6-pin plug/socket.
The other is the smaller 4-pin (known as i-Link). This is often found on video equipment (camcorders, dvd-recorders etc. It's also found on PC laptops.
Most (if not all) desktop PC firewire ports are the larger 6-pin variety.

Creamy Goodness

i can charge my though my dock using 6-pin firewire it's great

Duffman

I connect to PC via USB... The USB cable also has a firewire connector so you can connect to the PC and AC adapter at the same time to charge.. don't think it's possible to charge directly from PC..

Woden

ok folks thanks for the info, i rang apple just to check and the lady said yes i could charge through my pc if i had firewire, i didn't know though about powered and unpowered firewire ports.

the firewire port i used last night was on my soundblaster audigy a 6-pin firewire connector. i have a bracket that came with my motherboard with two firewire ports on it but it isn't connected into the motherboard yet and i wasn't going to bother if i i didn't need to tbh.

with regards to the usb connection i'd rather not have to fork out for the usb/firewire cable if i didn't have to it would be prefarable if it just charged through the computer.

while we are on the subject of ipods what cases do you use for them? i'm thinking of getting the see through one on apples site that lets you still use the controls, suddenly my cheap ipod is turning expensive with all these accessories

Creamy Goodness

i was thinking of getting one of these for my ipod

http://www.iskinworld.com/catalog/index.php

it's made out of silicon and it comes with a screen protector

/me wishes i had one of these from the start to save my screen

shabbyroad

I just use the normal case that came with my 30GB ipod.
I only use it sitting in the dock (connected to my hifi), or in the gym or in the car so it doesn't get knocked around much. The other place I use it is when flying (have to do that quite a bit) so it's a great 'friend' on long haul flights.

Yup - they can get expensive can't they ? The only accessory I've bought so far is a car power supply (the belkin one that has a line output so I can hook it up to my car cassette adaptor). I'd like to get some good noise-cancelling headphones for use on planes though. Will be visiting an Apple store in the US next month and might see what other stuff is available.
Applecare for iPods will be available in Europe soon - i bought it in the US last month and would recommend it.

Creamy Goodness

i got my ipod in pcworld (shudder) but so far i'm happy with it they offered 5 years insurance (€100) with it so that was the main selling point for me cos i had a mini disc once until i acidentely smashed it up !


they are a great piece of kit and i wouldn't swop it for any other mp3 player.

Woden

this is what happened to my firewire cable last night



is there somewhere i can email about this i don't want to ring up support

Woden

ok i just plugged in the ipod and after it updated and said on the screen ok to disconnect i realised it was charging by the symbol in the top right hand corner, this is great i don't even need a dock its charging fine through my soundcard.

i just have to pick me a good case now to protect it.

Creamy Goodness

glad to hear you got it charging mate

i have a look at them cases on the apple webstore none of them interest me more than the ones i recommended. i'm gonna get one from iskinworld

this is the one i'm getting i think it's the best one Ice

they have free shipping to europe aswell which is cool

list of features here

Screen Protector included
Removable Belt Clip
Made of premium durable silicone
Comfortable anti-slip grip
Made to fit design with all round surface protection
Rear "pores" for heat release
Leaves touch controls accessible
Duable and flexible

eth0_

Apparently the cases iskinworld sell are fakes.
This guy is selling real iSkins on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3067395642&category=3281

Woden

i read about fake one's alright somewhere, how do you know the ones on the iskin site are fake?

i checked out the www.everything-ipod.co.uk but they don't have a very large selection.

Cr3m0 i was thinking of the ice one as well as its transparent.

i was also looking at the contour showcase on the apple site, i wanna get one soon though don't want to leave it exposed for too long, you mentioned pc world do they sell any accessories?

Creamy Goodness

surely it doesn't matter if it's not a real iskin just as long as it protects the ipod then we ok

Creamy Goodness

just saw this here

in red writing it says

WARNING! There are fake cases from China in circulation. Only buy from a reseller listed on the reseller section iskin.com web site. This includes iskinworld.co.uk. You can check iSkin.com reseller page . We are listed under "London".
You may also to read the official iSkin.com bulletin on this matter by clicking here

Duffman

Anyone know if iTrip FM transmitters are any good?

Woden

ah its all a load of bollix to do with a legal dispute between the original designer and stuff called lajo or something

he's doing a two for one until the end of the month on his ones the sites well confusing though with all the versions see here

http://www.lajo.biz/

duffman don't know much about the itrip but in my looking about today i think i read that the belkin maybe better if that means anything to ya.

data

Creamy Goodness

i think muck on boards has an itrip ask him about it

Woden

ah well screw it i just bit the bullet and ordered a iskin exo2 from www.everything-ipod.co.uk in artic colouring, costs about €50 with there fastest european delivery, i'm sure i've put a small scratch on the screen already so i don't want to delay.

its got a few new features over the older exo, including a better protection screen, a covering for the docking port and a hand strap and stuff.

Creamy Goodness

gonna get one of them myself once i scrape the money together

Woden

cool i'll let you know what its like when it arrives, for the moment i've put the ipod away until it gets here

dan_an_fear

-> Dataisgod
That happened to my firewire cable, i just put a dab of superglue on it and slid it back together, it's been fine for over a year now.
cheers
Dan

Woden

thank you Dan, i must sort that out, the actual cable seems like a bitch to remove from the firewire port much more difficult then a usb cable for example, however with the charging set up i have now i can just leave it in so its all good

cheers, data

Creamy Goodness

any story on your case i'm dying to find out are they good!

Jim

anyone seen the new mini-ipod?

looks the sex, even in the manky neon colours id still get one. 0.5" thick? didnt think they could make it any smaller than it already is.

Woden

its been shipped Cr3m0 i'll let you know what its like when i get it, i'm expecting it this week

data

Woden

ok first up, i dropped my ****ing ipod today i've been so ****ing careful with it and when i was taking it out of my ****ing locker the earphones got caught and it fell on the ****ing floor and the front got all scratched. i'm so ****ing pissed off its unbelievable.

right to top things off with general irony the case came today i only had to get the ****ing thing home and life would have been good but i couldn't even do that jesus christ.

ok the case is nice, it compliments the ipod well, doesnt make it much bigger and the wheel is still nice and accessible. also there is a flap thats cool to cover the firewire port. i haven't bother with the belt clip yet but overall i'm quite happy with it.

now people sympathise with me

data

Creamy Goodness

did it come with a screen protector?

if so i'm ordering tonight


i've been careful with my ipod too but the bugger has two scratches on the luvly chrome and a feign mark on the screen :mad:

Woden

yeah it does