iPod Video Output?

[dangelovich]

Is anyone else familiar with a cable commonly used with video cameras which is the exact same size as a headphones plug (3.5mm), but delivers Composite Video, and Left and Right channel audio?
Is it possible that the iPods can output video using something like this, without any alteration of the hardware? Seems it could be done to allow display of photos or similar on a TV....

[Robo]

I've heard of said plug, but I really doubt you could do it with the iPod. Just because the plug is the same size and is backwards compatible with headphone jacks doesn't mean all headphone jacks can transform into that plug at will. Oh, and I doubt the iPod would know to send photos throught the headphone jack anyway, unless you somehow tricked it into thinking they were music files. So, in short: No. But then again, I've never taken apart an iPod, so maybe Apple likes to hide costly features from their consumers, idunno.

[dangelovich]

I was thinking more along the lines of "it could be done"...
The iPod already uses the same connector (triple core plug, as seen on the iTrip mini etc.)...
Maybe the CPU in the iPod could do such a thing.... With some clever firmware.... Although it seems to have enough trouble animating the menus sometimes....

[Robo]

I see...well, I didn't know that the iPod had the special type of plug, so if it does, I guess it could be done with firmware...that would be a cool thing to do...if the CPU could handle it.

[dfiler]

My guess is that the headphone socket is hooked up to an off the shelf DA audio converter. It's unlikely that this converter supports video.

[BarracksSi]

If future iPods ever play external video, then yeah, they'll likely use the minijack-style composite-left-right output just like on earlier clamshell iBooks.

[dangelovich]

What did I tell you.... hehe.... this is what they're using in the new iPod Photo...
:D

[curiousuburb]

My iBook500 has a similar cable from its headphone jack split into 3 RCA cables for TV out.

The following models changed the plug and adapter slightly, so clearly Apple has been experimenting with 3.5mm to RCA since at least 2001. Perhaps the latest iPodPhoto model's AV cable is the same as the 2002 rev the iBook TV out adopted.

But it's been possible (and shipping from Apple in some form) for three years.

[dangelovich]

I wonder what the other iPods use the additional connections for in the cable connector... audio wouldn't use all the wires.... The remotes/iTrips wouldn't either, as they use the other little plug next to it....
Any idea? Maybe they just wanted to leave their options open....

[BarracksSi]

Maybe they just wanted to leave their options open....

Yup. Makes sense.