It seems that, with the iPhone 3.0 update, Apple has (intentionally or unintentionally) disabled video output through it’s docking connector. The error message you get is “this accessory is not designed for use with the iPhone”. You will then be prompted to allow the iPhone to engage “airport mode”. I’m surprised that this isn’t better covered on iPod/Mac problems. Furthermore, I’m surprised that the Apple Store rep at the Genius Bar knew next to nothing about this situation when I approached him.
I first ran into this after installing the 3.0 update. A cheap, 3rd party cable that had been useful for months was suddenly problematic. The first thing I did was jump on the googlenet interwebs and start searching under the error message. I got a lot of what turned out to be misleading information on cleaning the docking area, water damage being a common cause, restoring as a new phone etc. etc. Like they say (whomever ‘they’ are) Take the information you get on the internet with a grain of salt. Though unlikely solutions to my problem, I tried them anyway. No luck. I was sure that the problem had something to do with the 3.0 update, but I couldn’t find anything on forums, Macgeek Blogs or anywhere else for that matter. So, I booked an appointment at the “Genius” Bar to see if I could sort it out.
The guy I worked with was genuine and fairly methodical. To make a long story short, we reset the phone and left it more or less blank, ensuring that there wasn’t a software or settings issue causing the problem. We then tested the unit by connecting my cable. It took a moment, but ultimately the message came up. I was relieved to see it in the same way you are relieved when you take your car into a mechanic to have a funny noise checked out and the car actually delivers for you while being listened to by a professional. Next step was to try the cable on a new 3G s phone. Same message and no video out. Then, we tried an Apple branded cable. The problem continued! If the problem was a matter of using a third party cable, the Apple Branded cable should have worked just fine but it did not.
Now, I’ve been to a few blogs and forums that indicate a rumor that a special cable with an authentication chip built in needs to be used. But if that is true ( and it sounds like something Apple might do) then why is it that nobody at the Apple Store has any knowledge of this. I mean, if it really was an effort to increase add-on sales by prohibiting third party hardware and accessories, then doesn’t it stand to reason that the Geniuses at Apple would know a little something about it? I’d expect something like, “Well, sir, I’m very sorry for the inconvenience but, in order to keep the iPhone experience consistently high, we have chosen not to allow cheaply made third party accessories. Here, let me show you this amazing $50.00 cable” See… at least THAT would explain things.
Nay. Either Apple is not being honest and forthright or they have NO IDEA that this is a problem. Or they are just ignoring it until a patch is developed or their PR person comes up with something REALLY good.
I know I am in the minority of iPhone and iPod Touch users that actually use these devices to display video and pictures on monitors. But I LIKE that feature. It’s even got it’s own bullet point in the product description, for crying out loud! If Apple wants to just strip it away, then they need to let us know!
So… HEY APPLE. What gives? Is there a cable out there that will work? Are you aware of this issue? Did you plan and engineer this or are you just painfully ignorant of the problem?
I’ll let you all know how the escalation of this problem gets handled and pass along any updates I get. In the mean time, please help me spread the word to other iPhone/Touch users.
