FM Radio reciever with iPod connector?

[LeperousDust]

In a strange twist i wondered if theres such a thing. Basically imagine a portable FM radio reciever which instead of running on batteries takes its juice from an ipod dock connector and outputs sound through the aux line on the connector meaning it would turn any portable ipod speakers (like my pure-fi anywhere) into amazing little radios as well. The technology is bafflingly simple to make and i'd be suprised if it isn't already around, just search iPod and radio obviously brings up a millions clock radios with iPod docks.

Any ideas? More importantly i don't like the fact a tiny little radio device wasn't just put in the pure-fi anyway for its size and price it wouldn't have hurt!

[Mondo]

Yes, Apple makes one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-MA070G-C-Radio-Remote/dp/B000MTEER4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1248285286&sr=1-1

Go to Amazon, there are LOADS of 3rd knock offs as well.

[divine]

Yes, Apple makes one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-MA070G-C-Radio-Remote/dp/B000MTEER4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1248285286&sr=1-1

Go to Amazon, there are LOADS of 3rd knock offs as well.

That's not what he means - that's a radio adaptor for an iPod.

He's talking about a radio basically instead of an iPod with the iPod connection in it so it can be plugged into an iPod dock and play radio through it it, instead of stuff on an iPod.

[Mondo]

oh..................sorry!

[Desmo]

;D

[Fayshun]

An iRadio?

[Rich_L]

I'm guessing it's only the charging which is an issue? Any portable radio, I would have thought, would have a 3.5mm out so you could just use a male->male 3.5mm stereo cable to connect the sound up.

That said as well, portable radios have epic battery lives as far as I remember :p

You can get the pin-outs online I believe - if you could pick up a broken iPod on the Bay, you could even bodge up your own little adapter that draws power from the dock!

[LeperousDust]

Haha Rich i'm sure i could but i was hoping that all this technology is so well rehearsed and cheap to knock off in china i could spend a fiver and not have to bother. It would seem no-one has got there before me though! :(

[divine]

I think the trouble is, most dock makers include a radio on their higher end models to boost the feature list. It wouldn't be in their interests to make such an adaptor as they'd rather you bought a higher up model to get such functionality.

[LeperousDust]

Indeed, but best interest doesn't usually affect the cheap knock merchants in china! I'm shocked creative didn't bother adding one and tbh its not a big deal for me, but would repurpose it quite well since it can run an ipod loud for over 6 hours. It a fantastic portable ipod dock otherwise.

[Rich_L]

To be fair, most portable radios have epic battery lives probably well in excess of the speakers, so you could always just get a portable radio and plug it in through the 3.5mm and charge it every week or something :p

Waiiit a sec :D

What about this!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intempo-iDab-DAB-Adaptor-iPod/dp/B00170MCZ8/ref=dp_cp_ob_ce_title_0

1. Plugs directly into iPod or iPhone for digital radio on the move

2. Slots into iPod Docks to listen to DAB radio through speakers at home

[Mark]

I suspect he probably wasn't planning on spending £99 for a second-hand item. ;D

[Rich_L]

I found one for £50 new, changed the link :D

It is DAB! :p

Or you could get this?

http://www.cablejive.com/inputcable.html

And then find a portable radio that charges through USB

[Matblack]

I think that does the same thing as my Roberts Robi which is to plug in to the iPod and give a headphone out so it acts as a parasite on the ipods power and the only out put is a 3.5mm jack. I do understand what Alex is talking about which I think would work independantly of an iPod, just be a radio which plugs into a dock and draws power from the dock out-putting sound into the dock throough the iPod connector NOT a 3.5mm jack.

Its a great and simple concept and I'm suprised it hasn't been done as it adds radio functionality tidily to any dock

MB

[Rich_L]

Yus, the iDab does, but it also has a female dock connector so it can sit in any iPod dock and draw its power and push music through the connection.

It is DAB though, and £50, but I must win something for finding that, haha

[LeperousDust]

Rich you defo have the win! I couldn't even find anything close! But i was looking at something more like £5 :p

As you say portable radios have a battery life of forever, but my speakers are far far nicer to listen to and will easily keep a radio going for a long long time. The purefi are known for their quality and battery life, hence why i bought them because i wasn't really that interested in radio at the time.

Ah well i guess it's something i'll just keep living without, reason being i was thinking the other day sometimes i go to great length to make a nice playlist for the speakers for whilst i'm out and about somewhere when really the radio would probably do an ok job for much less hassle. On that note though bloody iPods should have built in radio reception! Its all a con really!

[Fayshun]

steve.jobs@apple.com

Dear Steve,

Make an iRadio, Alex wants one to sit in his iPod dock. If it's any good, we'll all buy one.

Cheers

Boat Drinks