Music Week: New iPod Connector

I was initially disappointed to see the standard FireWire connector disappear from the iPod. Thankfully, Apple has also produced a FireWire to dock cable. Interestingly, they may have provided some clues with the following connector listed at the Apple Store: “iPod Dock Connector to FireWire and USB 2.0 Cable (Windows PC only) Use an extra iPod Dock Connector to FireWire and USB 2.0 Cable for charging and syncing your iPod to your Windows PC. *USB 2.0 requires Internet download available in June.” Does this mean that the Windows version of the iPod is due in June, or perhaps a USB 2.0 support coming in Panther? Ed: Bob, looks to me like Windows USB 2.0 support is due in June, with the Windows iPod arriving even before that. As for USB 2.0 on the Mac — I’m guessing that’s the asterisk cautioning “Windows-only”! Don’t bet Apple is giving up on its political battle with USB 2.0. With FireWire eclipsing USB 2.0 speeds, I think the mothership will stick to its own format on the Mac, the one platform where it can prevent the spread of USB 2.0. That’s my money, though I agree that this is intriguing. Let’s just hope third parties are quick with releasing hardware for the new connector: stay tuned. -PK