iPod video question
Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 07:24 PM CST

I have an 80-gig iPod Classic. It's about four months old. If I download a video onto the iPod, does this thing have the ability to show a video on an external monitor? Like my new TV?

The headphone jack -- is it an A/V jack, which might take one of those miniplugs which are for audio and video? (The other end has red, white, and yellow RCA jacks?)

thanks,

John

Re:iPod video question
Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 08:00 PM CST

Yes it does. I've done that on my TV. There's a setting under the VIDEOS section of the iPod, where you can turn ON TV OUT mode. Then, any videos will also go out the headphone jack. You need an iPod video cable (or actually any cable that goes from 3-conductor 1/8th inch mini jack to the 3 RCA jacks (red, white, yellow.) The only trick is that due to the "it's a headphone jack, no, it's a video jack" weird wiring on the iPod, you have to swap the video (yellow) with one of the audio jacks on your TV if you do NOT buy an iPod-specific cable (that is, if you use an existing cable to one of your video cameras.) That's about it... it just works, and is way cool. I only have the 30GB iPod video :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis

Re:iPod video question
Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 08:00 PM CST

Hi John-

The original iPod video would work with that set up, however, the new Classic models require you to use the docking/ charging port. You would need something like this:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB129LL/B?fnode=MTY1NDA0OQ&mco=MjE0NTAzOA

There is an option for a component cable as well.

Re:iPod video question
Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 09:25 PM CST

Thanks, guys. I tried it, and looks like aclarke is right, and drakonis is wrong (but apparently used to be right, with an older iPod).

So I have the newer one, which requires the special Apple cable. I did try turning on "TV Out" and then tried to play video, but the iPod stopped me and said, "Please attach component cable" and showed a picture of the cable Clarke was talking about.

So Apple, thanks for nothing. I have an analog AV cable which I use with my camcorder, which apparently used to work with iPods to an external monitor, but Apple wants me to spent another 50 bucks to make it work now. A bum deal.

Re:iPod video question
Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 10:17 PM CST

Running a large TV set from an iPod just cracks me up. Don't know why exactly, perhaps the disparity in the sizes of the two devices.

A while ago I hooked up an iPod Nano to a big speaker system. I needed to use an 1/8 inch to RCA adaptor to wire it up. It as totally laughable. The nano was smaller than the adapter, never mind the size of all the speaker cabinets.

The rate of change in technology is staggering.

I'm still in awe about multi-Gig hard drives. I just got a 1Tb drive - it blows my mind: it's the same size as a 20 Meg drive I still have kicking around the basement.

Re:iPod video question
Thursday, January 08 2009 @ 06:05 AM CST

I recall buying the "special" cable from Apple to use with my ipod video- however that one was less than $20. For the new models, it looks like some 3rd party companies are starting to get into the mix but at not at much of a price break from Apple. The shame is that these (and most) cables cost next to nothing to make.

We do use the ipods for movies on the go... our truck has a DVD player installed so the kids can be entertained on the go- but the player is mounted under the driver's seat which is a little inconvenient. The ipod gives us more flexibility as it connects directly to the display.

The future of drives is going to be solid state- the are getting larger and are also starting to come down in price. Good performance and a much lower rate of failure... especially in portable devices. Of course, in 10 years there will be a nostalgia based movement to return to the old spinning platter version... you know, 'cause it naturally adds more warmth to you music....