Is iPod Classic compatible with existing accessories?

Hi Michael,

The iPod classic does have the same dock connector, according to the tech specs, but software compatibility is anyone's guess. Perhaps you could go to your local Apple store and look around to see what accessories, if any, they have their iPod classic hooked up to.

Kyle-

I have some similar concerns. I ordered an 80 gig video iPod on saturday. Yesterday I saw the new iPod classic and i will probably end up returning the video ipod for the classic. In addition to the iPod video i ordered one of the metal slide cases from corecases.com. As far as i can tell the iPod classic 160 gig is the same height, width but is a few mm thinner than the 80 gig video iPod. I think it would be safe to assume that the 160 gig classic should fit fine in the 80 gig video case, but i'd rather get someone elses opinion first. Also i am wondering, the interface, ie. menu, is pretty much the same as a video ipod right?

yeah i too have a dock/AV system (can't remember which brand since I've only used it a couple times) that I bought for my previous 5.5 80GB one which i hope will be compatible with the 160GB classic. I noticed that the camera connector is compatible with the classic so I'm expecting it will work with mine.

I bought a g5 video ipod compatible Belkin Tune-Talk today (microphone) .... It doesn't work.

Virtually no accessories (accept apple-made products) function with the classic. The folks at Belkin said they were blind-sided with this release (i.e. not given any non-disclosure agreement to sign in order to develop new, compatible accessories for a simultaneous roll-out with the new Apple products). So, they are now scrambling at Belkin, as every other vendor is. It will take weeks or months before this mess is sorted out. Even the Apple store "geniuses" were flying in the dark ("yeah go ahead and buy the Tune-talk, the video ipod stuff will work with the classic"), and so was Apple tech support (some nice, but outsourced Indian-sounding fellow answered who had no idea what was going on=deer in the headlights syndrome).

MACNN.com reports that the problem rests with vendor products not being able to establish screen control over the new Apple products. I can confirm that from my own experience.

Now I have to go back to the store and return this useless accessory, which takes time off my life and lowers the joy quotient of purchasing Apple ... and all this simply because somebody in charge of the roll out never thought of informing Apple "geniuses" that accessories are broken (which could have been accomplished through a simple form lettered faxed or e-mailed to each store manager).

Good luck all!

that is very depressing :(( so what are we supposed to do if we already have a bunch of accessories? we're supposed to go out and buy them again? Come on apple you can do better than that! That's not a good way to treat your customers and partners...grrrrrrrr!

BTW. my av dock is the Keyspan AV Dock for iPod, and has a "made for iPod" symbol.

Hey, I just bought the iPod Classic 80gb and it doesn't support the camera connector. Why would Apple not continue to support this great feature in its iPod? So, I guess the Classic doesn't support existing accessories. I shall be returning my iPod tomorrow. The Apple website in the US does state that the Classic is compatible with the camera connector and even the Australian support centre told me over the phone that it will if I download the latest software for the iPod classic version 1.2. Guess what? Version 1.2 doesn't exist for the Classic. Silly Apple.

My iPod classic seems to work with my Pioneer IB100ii (for control via Pioneer head unit or navigation system)-- for a short time. After a while, it becomes impossible to tell what track is playing, and doing a short fast forward will skip several minutes at a time.

Pioneer says it can be remedied with a firmware update through apple-- something that would most likely solve the rest of the iPod classic issues I have been hearing about.

Are you sure it doesn't support the camera connector? on apple's site on the page for the connector it says that the classic is supported. I made sure of this before I placed my order for the classic. See http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=M98 61G/B
and look at the icons near the bottom. Classic is shown.

The apple av cable that I used on my 30gb video ipod is not compatable with the ipod classic. You can not even change the TV Out setting from 'off' to 'on' or 'ask' without the new component or composite av cables. These cables are not even going to be available for another few weeks (according to the online store and no apple stores that I have checked with have them either). Very poor again apple...put out a product and features can't be utilized because 'new' supporting accessory is not ready for market. Get a clue Mr. Jobs.

Bose Sound Dock (from 2005): plays, remote inoperable.
Belkin Auto-Charger: perfect!

I bet they're incompatible because apple will be selling/renting movies soon, and the studios wanted some DRM put into the accessories. So now the new cables will have some DRM chips built in and all old accessories won't work.

Still doesn't explain why the camera connector doesn't work... Nowhere on the iPod pages does it say that old accessories don't work. Shame on you Apple!

I have a 2005 Bose Sound Dock station and the instruction book says that you need version 3 on the iPod in order for it to work. I checked my iPod and it says I have version 1.2.1. I got this iPod in 2005. It's the classic. I've tried to update the software to the newer version but have not succeeded. Does anyone out there know if the newer 3.0 version could be downloaded on my older iPod? and where I can find it?

I can confirm that the Apple iPod Camera Connector does not work with the 160GB iPod Classic. When you plug the device in you get a message:

Unsupported
Accessory is not supported

This is disappointing as I was hoping to use the iPod to backup photos on an upcoming trip. I'll be returning the camera connector to the Apple store tomorrow.

I wonder if apple is planning to release a new version. Perhaps something that downloads images faster? Still doesn't explain why this one doesn't work.

I had a 5th Gen Video and upgraded to the classic 80gb. I have the Sonic Impact I-f2 and it plays in it but makes the click wheel not work and the backlight flashes sometimes.

That I can live with but I also have the Peripheral Ipod system for my car. I had to have it installed (it bypasses the FM and charges it.) When plugged in, the buttons work but the click wheel doesn't move or jumps around when I try and scroll. Even after I unplug it I have to reset the iPod before the click wheel will work.

A Mac Genius restored it but it still didn't fix it.

Now what?

I would also like to add that they sell the Sonic Impact in the Apple store!