Tag: line-out

Posted on

Apple Universal Dock Adapters (2005)

Various versions of the Apple Universal Dock were offered as iPod devices were updated and new iPod models were released. Apple described an earlier version of the Dock in the iPod User’s Guide:

“The iPod Dock holds iPod upright as it charges or transfers music. Connect the Dock to your computer using the same cable you use with iPod… Using the iPod Dock, you can play music from iPod over external powered speakers or a home stereo. You need an audio cable with a standard 3.5 millimeter stereo miniplug…”

This version of the Universal Dock (A1153) used the 30-pin connector and provided two outputs—Line Out and S-Video Out. This allowed a docked iPod to be charging while connected to a stereo/speaker system and/or an external video source (i.e., TV) with an S-Video input.

Apple created the Universal Dock with an opening large enough to accommodate the largest iPod offered and shipped the dock with a set of adapters to ensure a perfect fit if you owned an iPod with a different design.

This set of adapters was made for:

  • iPod mini (4GB, 6GB)
  • iPod (20GB) and U2 Special Edition
  • iPod (40GB)
  • iPod with color display (20GB, 30GB) and U2 Special Edition
  • iPod with color display (40GB, 60GB)

Source: Apple

Posted on

iPod Dock (2003)

When the iPod switched its connector from a FireWire port to the proprietary 30-pin Dock Connector, several new compatibility and hardware features became available. Because the Dock Connector handled data, sound, and charging capabilities, a variety of connection options were available. 

The iPod Dock allowed a connected iPod to simultaneously charge, send sound to an external stereo system through a line-out port in the back, and respond to commands from an Apple Remote control device.

Source: Apple-History.com

Posted on

Mac mini G4 (original, 2005)

The Mac mini G4 featured a 1.42 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB of SDRAM memory, an 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, and a slot-loading 8X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive. This is the original Mac mini and was sold as a budget Mac that came with no display, keyboard, or mouse. This computer was a great low-cost option for someone switching from Windows to Mac who already owned a display and USB keyboard and mouse.

The Mac mini G4 had ports including DVI (with a DVI-to-VGA adapter included), USB 2.0, FireWire, and a headphone/line out jack. The original Mac mini supported a wireless AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth card as an option. After July 26, 2005, AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth were provided standard.

The entire computer was 6.5 inches square, 2 inches tall, and weighed 2.9 pounds.

From the day the Mac mini was released, I have always had one permanently connected to my living room stereo system and/or flat panel television and used the Mac mini as my iTunes server. I had previously used a Power Mac G4 Cube for this purpose. With this original Mac mini, I was still using a CRT-based TV so I connected to it remotely. 

Source: EveryMac.com