Can the ipod play music while charging?

[poonpower]

Hi all
I want to buy a ipod nano dock/cradle, because I like to charge/sync while I listen through the line out. So before I make the purchase, do ipods play music while connected to the computer through the cradle?

 

[rhymesgalore]

No, not when connected to a computer.
Only when you charge via a external charger you still can play music

 

[blessingx]

Slight exception - if you (at least on the Mac someone will need to verify on the PC), unmount the iPod through iTunes it will continue to charge while you can use either the headphone out or the line-out mini jack on the iPod dock to play.

 

[cooperpwc]

With Rockbox you can charge your iPod from the computer while listening. Just hold the menu key as you plug it in to prevent it from going into synch mode. However, one would never otherwise compliment Rockbox on iPod battery management.

 

[chris in mo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessingx /img/forum/go_quote.gif Slight exception - if you (at least on the Mac someone will need to verify on the PC), unmount the iPod through iTunes it will continue to charge while you can use either the headphone out or the line-out mini jack on the iPod dock to play.

This is the same case with the PC. You hit eject in Itunes which stops any sync activity but still allows the Ipod to charge from the USB port.

The answer to the OP is yes the Ipod can play while charging you can not play music while suncing though. I was doing this without a dock at work for a year. I had an AC adaptor that I would plug the Ipod into and then the headphone jack into my copmputer's sound card. I have recently replaced that set up with a dock for the sake of convenience but it worked great the old way as well.

If you are at the computer why would you not just play the music through itunes instead of the Ipod though?

 

[cooperpwc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris in mo /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is the same case with the PC. You hit eject in Itunes which stops any sync activity but still allows the Ipod to charge from the USB port.

Good point. That works.

 

[poonpower]

so I guess the oem Apple dock won't be a good idea, since it doesn't have a AC jack.

 

[rypin]

yes it can, even if you are charging through your pc you can, all you have to do is plug it to your pc and then eject it, when you eject it adn the cable is still plugged it will still be charging, while your music can be played.

 

[jdimitri]

It can ALWAYS charge and play at the same time

 

[The_X]

Yeah, I'm surprised someone said you couldn't. It's really easy. If you have the iPod set on manual management or if you use it as an external hard drive, you need to unmount it and then you can listen to music while charging. If you have it set to sync-only then it will automatically unmount when it's done syncing and you can listen to music.

 

[rhymesgalore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_X /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah, I'm surprised someone said you couldn't. It's really easy.

I should have been more specific in my answer, since the OP indicated syncing as well, and to be frank, that was all i was referring to when i answered^^

So absoletly no need to be suprised

 

[nopowell]

all you have to do is shut off your ipod and then turn it back on while still charging and thats it