iPod Shuffle and USB 1.0

The web site only says connectivity. It does not verify that you can charge. I can CONNECT my 3G by USB but it will not charge. That is why I installed a firewire port

This is a very valid question. Apple states that it will WORK with USB 1 and 2 but it doesn't say whether or not it will CHARGE through a USB 1.1 port! This is incredibly important as there is no other means of charging unless one buys and optional, extra $29 Power Adapter that has a 3-4 week lead time...

Does anyone know FOR SURE if the Shuffle will charge through a USB 1.1 port?

Thanks.

The usb 1.1 and 2.0 spec both provide power through the connector, the only real difference between the two specs is the speed that they transfer data at, so if you plug your shuffle into a 'computers' usb port it should charge just fine. The only time the power issue becomes a problem is when you are using usb hubs to connect devices and are not using an external power adapter to power them, meaning that they are running off the usb's power and nothing else. This is the case for both specs so it is very possible to have the same problem on usb 2.0 hub if you are not running a power cord to it. Low or non powered ports are usually only found on usb add in cards for laptops, so as long as you plug the shuffle into a usb port connected to the computer's motherboard, pci card, or 'externally powered' hub, you will be able to charge the shuffle. For instance, I ran a portable hard drive off my usb 1.1 connection so I would say that you probably have nothing to worry about.

IF it's anything like the full size one, it will charge on some USB 1.1 ports (or it did on mine). I can't see why there'd be any difference in terms of power usage between the full iPod and the shuffle, although I haven't tried it out so I could be wrong...

How do you tell which one of your usb ports is 2.0? I looked in the device manager and one of my three usb ports is 2.0 but I can't tell which of the three physically is the 2.0 one.

I found this out the hard way last night. Just got home with my new Shuffle and connected it to my keyboard on my Dual 1Ghz PowerMac. I transferred all the music to it, which took a while because it's USB 1.1 and was having it do on the fly conversion to 128kbs AAC. As soon as it was done i realized the LED telling me that it was charging was not lit up. Worst off, I had to disconnect two USB devices, and 1 firewire cable (fer me 20gig) to get the Shuffle to fit. Good thing is it did charge off that port, bad thing is I need to either buy a USB extender or the Dock. Damn I was so looking forward to just plugging this thing into the USB port on my keyboard.

BigFil, I'm confused: did you get the Shuffle to charge via a 1.1 USB port on your computer or does your PC have USB 2.0? :confused:

Get a USB 2.0 compatable device. Plug it in to one of the three ports. Upon plugging it in, a little bubble tip will pop up in the bottom right stating you should get a 2.0 port if you plugged it into a USB 1.1 device.

Keep on doing this with one USB port after the other, until you plug it in a port and find that the bubble tip doesn't display. This means that port is USB 2.0.

I know, an odd way of finding out what port is USB 2.0 enabled, but hey, it works.

it is charged by usb 1.1 port because my old ibook G3 900mhz has dual usb port that 1.1. it transfers music of course, and charges my ipod shuffle, too.

Originally posted by paving
I tried to charge my shuffle at work on a very new Dell that has two USB ports in the front casing for convenience along with more in the back. When I got home tonight I listened to two songs and after that the battery appears to be dead. I guess those ports aren't high-powered even though they are on the casing, frikkin' cheap boxes!

They probably are hi powered because they connect directly to the motherboard. It's more likely that the Shuffle was not connecting properly. As has been pointed out several times the shape of the Shuffle means it will not physically connect to all USB ports properly. Try the same exercise tomorrow with a USB extension cable.

OK, just got my ipod and my dock and something's fishy here.

1) I've never heard of a "high power" USB port, but my scanner runs off USB power -- no power cord--and my Asus motherboard--manufactured in 2004, mind you--is USB 2.0 and the unit still does not charge.

2) Asus' motherboard book makes no mention of any "high power" ports just the 480Mbps standard. Nor, for that matter, is their much mention of this standard on the web in general.

I think that the dock I received is a rip off coz Apple simply didn't want to include a USB cable and I think this "high power" USB port business is just window dressing so that I buy the charger. Whcih I guess I'm gonna have to do.

Athough you are free to convince me otherwise.

Thanks zapod for your reply. After I posted I contacted apple, and after a three hour live chat session, even they are convinced that i have a defective unit.

still, the lack of precision in their use of the term "high power" bugs me, and delayed my realization that i in fact had a a defective unit. i very nearly bought a charger thinking that my usb port was substandard! You can't just make up standards when they suit you, right?

And the prescription given by the troubleshooting faqs "try another usb port" when faced with a port that won't charge your unit is imprecise and inexact to the point of frustration. Never revealed in those prescriptions are what KIND of usb ports we'd be looking for. A kind unknown to the motherboard manufacturers, it appears.

at any rate thanks again. If my replacement unit works, you probably won't here from me again. if it doesn't i'll come back to post my tale. :)

rastro, glad you got somewhere with Apple - even if was after 3 hours!

Thinking this through, though, there might be a case for a true 'high power' USB port.

Consider a typical PC with a cluster of 4 USB (1 or 2) ports. Each port can deliver up to 500mA of current at 5 volts. However, if the motherboard/adaptor card can only supply 500mA as a maximum, then the current will be spread accross the 4 ports.

Here is an example: you have a keyboard and a mouse occupying 2 out of 4 ports as described. The keyboard has a draw of 100mA, the mouse draws 50mA. That's a total of 150mA. The two remaining ports now have 350mA at their disposal. Not enough, maybe, to charge an iPod.

A 'high powered' USB cluster would, I think, be able to supply the full 500mA to each port, regardless of what else was attached. Hence, the term 'high powered'.

Of course, that goes against the whole 'baloney' statement I made above. What can I say? It was late and I was in a cranky mood... :p