Ipod classic TV out problem

I had the same problem with the TV Out setting. After spending an hour with apple support, reolading software and restoring the ipod, I was told that it appeared to be a problem with the physical device. I returned to the store and exchanged for a new unit. We tried to change the TV Out settings and enountered the same problem on-site. One of the store associates believed that with the ipod Classic digital video output, the new av cable with the dock must be in place before the TV Out setting can be changed from 'off' to 'on' or 'ask'. I wanted to try that while in the store however, those cables are not available yet (in the store - online indicates 2 - 3 weeks for shipment) . I returned the unit. It seems that something should have been published to inform buyers of this new 'feature'. With the prior gen video ipod no cable needed to be connected to change the TV Out setting, If anyone has any more information re: this please share.

I was able to get it to work fine, but only with the apple ipod dock (the old one). The TV out option isn't changeable until you put it in the dock. You can then select the traditional ask or on. S-Video works just fine for me.

Apparently Apple was having too many tech support issues with people failing to realize that the unit wasn't playing video internally because of the TV out setting being left at on. The classic now checks to see if it's connected first which obviously requires a hardware "hook" that only the docs (and the new cables when they arrive) have. I've tried other products to no avail. Also apparently 3rd party companies in order to save money didn't make the connectors the same as the one on the universal dock.... Oh the joys of early adoption....
I'm loving the space and new interface though.
tq

Hopefully if we complain enough Apple will give us an extra option to turn off the "apple connector sensing feature" so we'll be able to use our current adapters...
tq

that's a lame reason if it's the only one

Okay... I finished my testing (why do I feel like I'm beta testing) and it's definately a stupid firmware trick. The iPod video out does reset to off if pulled out of the Universal Adapter. The really stupid thing is that if you set the video out parameter to "ask" it still resets and won't ask you anything even if you just stop the video. What dumb programmer decided that this "feature" would be great for the end users. Sorry for the harshness, but while I do understand that Apple's philosophy is to dumb down the interfaces of their products for the casual user, it makes more sense give us power users a choice. Ask should mean ask.

After taking the video out of the Universal adapter I was able to plug it into a Belkin Tune Dock and watch the video externally while the Classic 160 was charging and working great. So... if Apple does a quick fix.. (just like they had to do with the user created video for those of you that remember) your old accessories will still work just fine. I guess I will have to carry around a universal dock to trick my iPod into working until Apple patches it. How dumb is that??!!!
tq

Or maybe this workaround is a bug and apple will "fix" it so you can't do that anymore

I can firm that the Sony TDM-IP1 Media Port iPod Cradle doesn't do the proper handshake either, hopefully Apple will supply an update to enable users manually set this without the hardware handshake.

To be honest, I'm getting a little tired of these things happening. All I can say is; "Apple...be very careful".

I bought a cable from the Apple store to watch my legally bought content on my own TV, in my own house, with a recommended product, using a device that, to be fair, isn't cheap.

From what I understand now, I can't now use that handy, small cable, but must now buy another cable and/or dock to connect it to an external device. This isn't making life easier, but harder...and costing me more money. Is this really what Apple wish to promote?

Don't get me wrong, I'm an Apple fan, but even the most ardent of fans can get tired sometime.

My last post was also removed. So, I'll try to be more gentle in my review of the 160gb iPod classic:

I bought the 160gb Classic yesterday. Today I discovered that 1) the P.I.E. AV-POD cable connecting my iPod to my Pioneer AVIC-Z2 is not compatible with TV-out on the new "Classic" AND 2) my Monster Cable iTip (car charger) does not charge the "Classic." It's disturbing that Apple is putting us in a position requiring us to use their cables/accessories.

I called Apple Support and talked with a Tech supervisor. He said the change was necessary because the iPod battery drained too quickly using a cable alone. So, instead of the consumer making that judgment and taking the action to plug it in, or not, Apple has decided we should buy their Dock and/or USB charger to use in conjunction with the iPod for TV-out. It's kinda hard for my passengers in the rear seats to use a dock, or wall charger with my headrest monitors.

I believe this has been a move backwards for Apple. The 5G iPod with a single cable is compact & portable. An iPod classic with a dock and/or wall charger and a USB/composite cable are clunky and are not as easily transported in your pocket, or on the go. Fellow iPoders, I'd stick with the 5G iPod if I were you.

so, the most reasonable explanation for this is that the physical headphone jack can no longer Ouput video because it nolonger has that infamous third pin. As much as everybody is complaining it was a smart move for them to change this. seeing as it drains the battery really fast. but fancy this: according to apple the universal dock with the old AV connection cable will give you video output providing that apple has not gone and updated the universal dock or if you happen to own one from the time of the Ipod Video. that being said i cannot varify this becasue i currently do not have the means too.

Also, did you honestly expect apple to keep everything compatible with older accesories? It's called Capitalism. Buisnesses have no desire for the public wellbeing beyond selling as many products as they can. this means that by making things incompatible with old accessories, the consumer will need to purchase new ones. Its called planned obsolescence and you learn it is a law of capitalism. its as simple as a disposable pen and yet as complex as the computers which we all love so much. Think, if apple made things that lasted forever than they would stop making money.

So if you don't have a classic and are thinking of buying one i would wait 6 months to a year for them to release a second edition. it is the smart thing to do. of course i bought the video when it first came out and ive thrown it around and done almost everything your not supposed to do with it to it and it works fine and runs beautifully(with a few dents and scuffs on it). just remember every time you buy something your still risking the fact that it might run perfectly or it might have bugs and problems. Each device usually has different problem areas. with the video the battery wasn't all that great and usually ended up dying around 1 year after purchase. also the plastic front is still a scratch magnet. And we all complained about it when the video first came out.
so enough of that, if anybody has the means to test what i was talking about earlier than do it and let us know.

I have to agree! I am not a very "apple savvy" person, the only apple products ive ever owned are the 5th generation 80 gig video, and i just got the 80gig classic. It seems to have a lot of problems- It freezes like an out dated computer, and wont let me watch my PAID FOR MOVIES on my tv. I wish they still sold the 5th gen, i would just go get another one of those!!! (i gave my 5g to my husband and baught another for myself) I paid WAY too much money on this to not be able to watch my own movies on the big screen!!!

I am shocked to hear that Apple will treat so poorly those who shell out $349 for a 160 GB Classic. I was the first person to buy one at our very busy local Circuit City in suburban Philadelphia. None of the salespeople or support team had a clue that Apple had disabled the video out feature. Four different members of their crack Firedog tech support members kept pushing buttons, resetting the Ipod and trying every available button before contacting Apple to find out that Apple has disabled a basic feature available on all prior video Ipods.

I would not have bought this so quickly had I known that Apple disabled the video out capability. The video settings menu is still there, but all the clicking in the world will not change OFF to Ask or On. Apple will soon be selling a $49 accessory to allow some limited output of video. I already own the Icuiti IWear. Memorex and Virtual Reality Ipod video accessories, all now rendered useless by this greedy move on Apple's part. We all expect value-added from Apple, not elimination of a basic feature. Shame on you, Apple and Steve Jobs.