As expected, most worked properly, successfully providing power to and charging the battery of the newest iPhone and iPod models. (Specifically, the iPhone 3G and later, the second-generation and later iPod touch, the fourth-generation and later iPod nano, and the 2008 and later iPod classic charge only via the 30-pin connector’s USB-power pins.) So accessory vendors eventually migrated to providing charging power only via USB-power pins.Ĭhargers and batteries: I also tested the adapters with a dozen or so 30-pin-dock-connector chargers and batteries. But starting with the first Windows-compatible iPods, you could charge via FireWire or USB and eventually USB became the only way to charge. The first dock-connector iPods charged via FireWire, so early docking speaker systems were designed to charge your iPod via the 30-pin connector’sįireWire-power pins.

That covers audio playback, but what about charging through a speaker dock? That depends on the circuitry the accessory uses to charge an iPhone or iPod. Logitech’s mm50 speaker system, an old favorite from 2005. As an example, thanks to Apple’s adapters, I was able to use the latest iPhone and iPods with In other words, the adapter is converting the iPhone or iPod’s digital-audio output to an analog signal and then sending that analog signal to the appropriate pins in the 30-pin connector. The solution (and likely part of the reason that Apple’s adapters aren’t cheap) is an actual DAC built into each adapter. The challenge here is that the Lightning connector doesn’t offer analog-audio pins-the new connector is all digital. These speakers connect to dedicated analog-audio pins in the 30-pin connector, relying on the iPhone or iPod to handle the digital-to-analog conversion. This includes newer speakers and audio docks that grab your player’s digital-audio (specifically, USB-audio) output and then use a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in the speaker or dock itself to produce an analog signal.īut the adapters also work with speakers and docks-generally older models-that require an analog-audio signal. For playing audio, the adapters worked perfectly with every speaker dock and audio dock I tested, both old and new. Speakers and audio docks: I tested both adapters with a range of dock-cradle speakers and audio-focused standalone docks using the iPhone 5 and the latest iPod touch and nano models. CompatibilityĪccording to Apple, the adapters support analog and USB audio, as well as syncing and charging, although there are some technical caveats. I’ve been testing them for compatibility, and here’s what I’ve found. Nearly a month after they were announced, and three weeks after the iPhone 5 itself hit the streets, both adapters are now available. The main difference between the two adapters is that the standard version is a single piece, just 0.8 inches long (not including the Lightning plug), while the cable version separates the 30-pin port from the Lightning plug with a flexible, 7.5-inch (20 cm) cable that’s a little thicker and stiffer than Apple’s standard You insert the Lightning-connector plug into your iPhone 5, seventh-generation iPod nano, or fifth-generation iPod touch, and then attach the 30-pin end to the dock connector of your favorite speaker system or other compatible accessory. Apple’s Lightning to 30-pin AdapterĮach of these adapters lets you connect 30-pin-dock-connector accessories to the latest iPhone and iPod models by offering a Lightning-connector plug on one end and a female 30-pin port on the other. Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (0.2 m), which is the cable version. For that, you’ll need to turn to Apple’s $29 The latest iPhone and iPods include a USB-to-Lightning-connector cable, but you don’t get any sort of adapter for using the new devices with older accessories.

Apple firewire to usb adapter