timothy's Journal: How to salvage all those stupid iPod-centric connections?

I find repugnant the various non-Apple devices (car-stereos, boomboxes, clock radios, FM transmitters, hair dryers, MRI machines) with iPod-only input. That is, the little connector sized for an iPod, with the docking port ready for the audio stored on an iPod, but nothing else.

If those things would all at *least* come (as some of them do) with a nicely standard 1/8" stereo input, or a pair of RCA jacks, or both, then great, no problem. I just don't like the "Any color of audio device, as long as it's Apple" approach.

So: is there an easy way to connect *non*-iPod devices to those docks?

I'm imagining, and wondering if there's something crazy about this, a small adapter that neatly plugs into, and connects (only) to the relevant ports on an iPod dock connection, and provides nothing but that stereo mini-jack (or RCA jacks).

Is there such a thing? Maybe there is, and I'm merely ignorant of it. A few half-hearted googlings have not turned up what I mean.

Notes:

- If you like your iPod, and iTunes, and iEverything, great! This is not a personal attack on your aesthetics. I know Apple's approach appeals to a lot of people, and that not everyone is bugged by the things that bug me. Amen.

- I realize that the iPod connection does more than transmit the analog music, that it's also for charging, digital music, control of the iPod, etc, and that if I plug my $20 2GB RCA-badged MP3 player in, my player would be an extremely weak link in the chain. So be it.

Hm

[pudge]

I find repugnant the various non-Apple devices ... with iPod-only input

There oughtta be a law!!

Re:

[mcgrew]

There is -- the law of supply and demand. Somebody needs to come up with an MP3 player that is both better and cheaper than Apples, and can market it well.

My daughter hooks her iPod to her car with an adaptor that looke like a cassette with a headphone jack on it, as her old car was made before there were iPods.

Re:

[timothy]

Yes -- my old Subaru had a tape deck, and I used that sort of adapter for it.

My newer Subaru, meanwhile, does what I consider the right thing; it does have one of those iPod adapters (useless to me), but also a 1/8" jack in. (I'd like to find a trim control for it, though -- the volume's a bit low on that AUX in.)

Re:

[lab16]

"My newer Subaru, meanwhile, does what I consider the right thing; it does have one of those iPod adapters (useless to me), but also a 1/8" jack in. (I'd like to find a trim control for it, though -- the volume's a bit low on that AUX in.)"

Finding a car stereo that has aux-in and comes by default with a car is one in a million these days, though I think that might be changing (hopefully) due to ipods not being as prevalent as cd's were. At least ipods have some competition.
My solution was just to replace my

Griffin

[cerberusss]

Griffin makes a dock adapter for iPod Shuffles:

http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Dock-Adapter-shuffle-White/dp/B000P6H7Y6 [amazon.com]

Perhaps combined with an audio cable that has a 3.5mm female audio jack on one side, and a male audio jack on the other, you could hook up your regular MP3 player.