Speakers/charging dock combo for iPod Nano?

DaemonDragon wrote:
I have a 3rd party home speaker dock, which works as a speaker, but didn't realize that the new Nanos don't let 3rd party stuff work as chargers.

Technically, it is not that the new iPods disallow all third party stuff from charging them but that they only can be charged from USB power sources. Some but not all of the older accessories supply changing power as Firewire sources, which the new iPods can't use.

If you browse through this category of Discussions you will find quite a few references to adaptors that convert Firewire to USB power. One may be suitable for your existing speaker system. Alternately, look for new accessories that specifically mention that the 4th gen Nano is supported.

There are many, go look.

I have a Bose portable SoundDock that I use with my Nano 4th gen and it does everything you've mentioned. The remote doesn't access all of the functions, but it's enough for most people. My Nano charges with no problems, and the sound quality is very nice. It's a little pricey though.

Unfortunatly Apple are not being precise nor correct in their information regarding which systems work (charges) the Ipod Nano G4 - so please let us know which system you KNOW work with the Ipod Nano G4. Thanks!

New products from Griffin and Scosche attach to the Nano and allow charging from older Firewire-standard devices such as the older Bose Sounddock and Tivoli iSongbook, in addition to allowing you to use old Firewire chargers.

http://www.scosche.com/passport

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/firewire-to-usb-converter

I haven't tried either one, and I no financial interest of any sort in these devices. But they look interesting.

larselarsen wrote:
Unfortunatly Apple are not being precise nor correct in their information regarding which systems work (charges) the Ipod Nano G4 ....

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of accessories not made by Apple that claim some level of iPod compatibility. It is impossible for Apple to supply comprehensive data about which ones work with which (if any) iPods. Newer products sporting Apple's "Made for iPod" logo indicate that the manufacturer (not Apple) certifies that it meets Apple's specifications for iPod compatibility, but that does not necessarily mean it supports all features with all iPod models, especially charging the Nano 4G, & latest iPod Touch & iPhone models.

Some accessory manufacturers now specifically list which iPod models each of their products supports in product literature, at their websites, or on the packaging. If so, be sure to check for any fine print or footnotes to make sure all the features work with a particular model! If you can't find this info, your best bet is to buy a product from a vendor with a good return policy or contact the manufacturer directly & request specific, detailed compatibility info.

Note: there is a lot of confusion about the "Made for iPod" logo. To display it, a manufacturer must pay Apple a fee & sign a non-disclosure agreement to get access to the technical details that ensure compatibility with current iPods & timely notifications of changes in the specifications that might affect compatibility with future models. Apparently, notifications about the changes to the charging specs went out to participants quite some time ago, perhaps as early as 2005, but very few accessory makers have done anything about it until now. Of course, non-participants have always reverse-engineered their products for compatibility without Apple's help, so it is probable that they knew nothing until the new iPod models were on retailers' shelves.

Complicating things even more, some manufacturers market both newer & older versions of some products under the same model name, or just slightly change the model name (like with a "II" suffix).

The bottom line is "newer is better" but is in itself no guarantee that the accessory will charge the Nano 4G.