video out headset jack

Question

video out headset jack

Does the video nano headset jack support video (composite) out like the ipod video does (or at least did)?

((Where you can plug a composite (red,white,yellow) to 3.5mm (four contact jack) cord from the TV to the iPod to play the video on the TV))

Message was edited by: scstsut(therealone)

iBook G4 1.33ghz, Mac OS X (10.4.10), 1.25Gb Ram; 120Gb hdd

Posted on Sep 6, 2007 9:57 AM

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Answer 1

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Sep 6, 2007 10:56 AM in response to scstsut(therealone)

Yes you can. See the 3rd Generation Nano iPod Feature guide...
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iPodnano(3rdgen)_FeaturesGuide.pdf
The new Nano uses the same AV cables that the original 5th Generation iPods and the new Classic iPod uses.
Patrick

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Answer 2

Sep 6, 2007 12:36 PM in response to PT

Thanks for the info but, unless I missed something in the Feature Guide, it doesn't cover what I'm looking for.

At least some of the video iPod models' headphone jack was also a video-out jack. When headphones are plugged into the headphone jack you hear the audio; when an RCA to 3.5mm cable is used in the headphone jack of the iPod it will output the audio and video ((on the RCA connectors you have to swap the red and yellow connectors when plugging them into the TV; they had to re-route the cables to make it possible to use the single headphone jack in the iPod to output both audio and composite audio/video)).

You would be able to use this cable:
[http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=47 EC253D&nplm=TK878LL/A]

Does the new nano (w/ video) do the same? Is it possible to hook it up from the headphone jack to the TV to play audio & video like it is with the iPod?

Message was edited by: scstsut(therealone) (added link to cable on Apple Store)

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Answer 3

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Sep 6, 2007 12:44 PM in response to scstsut(therealone)

According to the Feature Manual the Nano uses the same AV cables as the 5th generation and Classic iPods. This includes the cable you are talking about, with the 3.5 headphone plug and then three RCA style jacks on the output, two for audio and one for the video.
Therefore, since it uses the same AV cables and the same headphone jack, and according to the Feature Guide ( http://tinyurl.com/2fmg3k ) on page 37 where it states "Use the Apple Component AV Cable, the Apple Composite AV Cable, or the Apple AV Connection Kit." we can pretty safely conclude that the Nanos video out capabilities work just like the 5th Gen and Classic's video out capabilities.
Patrick

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Answer 4

Sep 6, 2007 2:02 PM in response to PT

Yea, you're probably right; I hope so. I wish I had a more explicit answer. If anyone has the new (video) nano and is able to try it with an RCA to 3.5mm cable let me know for sure.

Thanks, Patrick, I appreciate it.

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Answer 5

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Sep 7, 2007 5:53 AM in response to scstsut(therealone)

Big update on this. It would appear I was WRONG above, although that is because Apple is extremely poor at documentation. I love most of the Apple products and they seems like a great hardware and software company, but I have long maintained that Apple has got to be the leader in poor/misleading/missing/bad documentation and help files.
This is disappointing and it looks like the old AV cable can only be used with the Classic *in conjunction* with the doc station. See this article...
iPod: TV out support
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300233
No longer can you use it straight out of the headphone jack. The Feature Guide lists the old style AV cable but then totally misses including a note about needing the dock for that to work. Which would mislead most reasonable people into assuming the Classic works the same as the 5th Gen with TV Out available on the headphone jack.
On a side note, the Feature guide also states the Classic works with Panther (OS 10.3.9) but I already saw a post by someone who bought one, plugged it into their 10.3.9 Mac and immediately got a pop up stating they needed 10.4 to use that iPod. Again, another serious oversight.
Makes you wonder if the Feature guide was largely written before the Classic was finalized and some specs changes, like the minimum Mac OS required.
It is a shame Apple is so poor with documentation. Sorry that I misled you on this, after being led down that path by Apple.
Patrick

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Answer 6

Sep 7, 2007 6:07 AM in response to PT

Cheers, Patrick, though I don't like the answer. Looks like I'll have to find a 5th gen iPod.
Good Sleuthing.

Scott

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Answer 7

Sep 7, 2007 11:32 AM in response to PT

Thanks for that. I guess I'll have to carry my dock all around when I want to play videos from my new iPod nano. ( have a iPod with color display Dock.) I may just get a second set of dock, USB adapter, etc. so I can leave one at home and take one with me. I haven't had to use this combination before, does the dock itself have to be powered (plugged into the AC adapter) to work this way?

-Doug

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Answer 8

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Sep 7, 2007 1:04 PM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

It doesn't appear you would plug the doc into a power source. Looks like for connecting the iPod to your computer, you use your existing Sync cable connected between the USB port of the computer and the Dock then the iPod sits in the dock, so power is for charging and syncing of the iPod provided by your computers USB port.
Or you can plug the USB end into a USB charger (that plugs into the wall) and charge the iPod that way while it sits on the dock.
Or you connect the AV (older style one with the headphone jack) into the Dock and the other side to your TV, dock the iPod and the iPod runs off battery power. Maybe you can also hook up the sync cable to provide USB power to the iPod.
Or you connect the newer Composite & component AV cables (not both at the same time of course) into the dock to your TV and doc the iPod and the iPod runs off batteries or plug in the USB end of that same AV cable to power the iPod from USB power.
So to answer your question, to use a dock to show video from your iPod on a TV, you can do it without having to plug into the wall somewhere and run off the iPods batteries. But if needed, all choices appear to support external power (from a USB power source) if you need it.
Patrick

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Answer 9

Sep 7, 2007 1:09 PM in response to PT

Thanks again. I'll be able to test it all myself on Monday. My iPod's on an airplane over the Pacific right now. 🙂

-Doug

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Answer 10

Waymen

Level 5

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Sep 7, 2007 7:00 PM in response to scstsut(therealone)

I think there is some incorrect information in this thread. Anyway, I can report what DOES work since I have one of the new 8GB nanos. I also have one of the old AV docks that has the s-video port on the back (along with a 1/8" stereo output port and the standard 30 pin iPod port). The video works great with this combination, I'm watching one of the iTunes videos (TV series) right now using the nano and my AV dock (using a standard s-video cable between the dock and my TV).

In any case, in a few weeks Apple is supposed to have some new AV cables that can connect either to the new universal iPod dock (over the 30-pin iPod port) or directly to the iPod classic, iPod nano, or iPod touch (using the 30-pin port on the iPod). Thus you can use the cable directly to/from the iPod or connected to the new dock. These new AV cables will be available in both composite (singe carrier/plug for the video, interlaced format) or with component video (the latter with three carriers/plugs for the video and offering progressive output to HD TVs). You have to choose which cable you want, they're separate products.

I'm not certain why Apple isn't offering an s-video cable since that output (from my AV dock) seems to work fine. However (caveat), Apple doesn't list s-video as supported with the new iPods, so don't expect to be able to go back to Apple and complain if it doesn't work for you as I've described above (using the "old" AV iPod dock).

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Answer 11

Sep 8, 2007 8:06 AM in response to Waymen

I too want to use the iPod nano 3G video out function but wihout a dock (I want to out put to a hotel TV whilst on holiday and I don't want to carry a dock, just a cable).

Does this Apple doc answer the questions in this thread conclusively?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300233

regards
Rafael

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Answer 12

Waymen

Level 5

5,722 points

Sep 8, 2007 9:07 AM in response to Rafael Sanchez

Yes, that table shows that the new AV cables will work without the dock on the new nano, iPod classic, and iPod touch. Thus, you'll be able to connect to TVs with just the cable and no dock.

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