iphone 3gs and universal dock

JoeA3

hi,
I got a new iPhone 3GS on friday and earlier today I tried to insert it into an Apple universal dock which I've had a few years now, which is connected up to a hi-fi.

When I did this, I got a message on screen, something like "This accessory is not iphone compatible, this will not charge the iPhone". However it did seem to play the music through the stereo OK alright...

I'm guessing that the iPhone dock interface is slightly different to other iPods? It looks identical to me, and I've even been using the USB cable from an older iPod to charge the new iPhone and that works. Also, my iPod Touch (first gen) works perfectly ok in the same dock.

Stephen

The iPhones and new iPod touch devices use a different voltage than the older ones apparently, which is why you get that message.

JoeA3

Damn... I guess I need to get a new dock then... grrrrr!

Stephen

There's an adaptor thing you can get to make the old docks supply the right voltage. Can't remember what the hell its called though.

JoeA3

Cheers, I'll do a google for it... I see Apple have a new-type universal dock which also comes with a remote for "just" €45, so its not too bad.

Actually, I wouldn't have done any damage trying to use the old one? I'd assume (hope) not !

Stephen

Don't think so! I have the same problem with my car's ipod interface - it only works properly with any ipod that's not an iPhone. The iphone throws up the "this device is not designed for iphone" message and recommends turning on airplane mode. Its infuriating, cos if the phone rings while it is connected in that mode you can hear the ringing and the conversation and all, just can't play ipod tracks through it!

JoeA3

Stephen wrote: »

Don't think so! I have the same problem with my car's ipod interface - it only works properly with any ipod that's not an iPhone. The iphone throws up the "this device is not designed for iphone" message and recommends turning on airplane mode. Its infuriating, cos if the phone rings while it is connected in that mode you can hear the ringing and the conversation and all, just can't play ipod tracks through it!

Oh yeah, I got the "airplane mode" question too! Weird. I have an iPod connection in my car too, I assume I'll have similar issues if I try it! I just use an old ipod mini in that.

Thanks Stephen.

philiporeilly

Ignore the message. I'm using the Apple Universal Dock with my iPhone 3G and it sometimes says that. It still works to charge and sync just dismiss the message and it should still work.

The other posters are correct about older chargers and voltages but this should affect the dock as it is just an extension of your USB cable connected to your computer. Newer iPod / iPhone accessories identify themselves as official Apple accessories and unless the iPod / iPhone receives that it will show that message.

As I said dismiss the message without going into airplane mode and all should still work.

Stephen

I use an old 30GB iPod video with the car at the moment which works fine, but the problem is the old iPod doesn't seem to work well with Windows7/iTunes 8.2 so I can't sync it without messing around with virtual machines... but I have a whole other thread about that :pac:

JoeA3

philiporeilly wrote: »

Ignore the message. I'm using the Apple Universal Dock with my iPhone 3G and it sometimes says that. It still works to charge and sync just dismiss the message and it should still work.

The other posters are correct about older chargers and voltages but this should affect the dock as it is just an extension of your USB cable connected to your computer. Newer iPod / iPhone accessories identify themselves as official Apple accessories and unless the iPod / iPhone receives that it will show that message.

As I said dismiss the message without going into airplane mode and all should still work.

Ahhhh... it's just occured to me that maybe its the iPod charger that's connected to my dock that's causing the problem, cos as you say, the dock is just an extension of the USB cable really.

I reckon if I connect the charger that came with the iPhone to the dock it would probably work.

philiporeilly

JoeA3 wrote: »

Ahhhh... it's just occured to me that maybe its the iPod charger that's connected to my dock that's causing the problem, cos as you say, the dock is just an extension of the USB cable really.

I reckon if I connect the charger that came with the iPhone to the dock it would probably work.

Yes it will. I have a second dock at work which I use with my iPhone charger.

JoeA3

Another thing I've noticed with the Dock is that sometimes the iPod volume control is disabled when connected to the dock, and sometimes it's not., depending on which iPod I have connected!

e.g. if I connect my iPod touch, the Touch's volume control has no effect, and I control the volume only via the Hi-Fi system... which to me makes most sense.

But with the iPhone (and I think my missus' Nano), the volume control is not disabled like that, so its more difficult to optimize the ipod volume / hi-fi volume together.