So what's the difference between the first gen and second gen iTouch?

 

There's a few. The 2G touch has
- internal speaker
- volume control on the side (not just software)
- slightly more iPhone-ish shape
- higher capacity model
- uses USB charging voltage vs the older firewire standard. IE, you can't charge the 2G touch with the iSimple, etc without an adapter.

Software wise they're the same though.

 

Ended up getting a 2G 16GB, it won't charge on my iPod adapter that I've got in my car. I have to use a cigarette lighter USB adapter and use the OE cable that came w/ the ipod (the sync/charge).

 

The Scocshe Passport (about $25) will fix the charging problem. It plugs into the dock connector on the Ipod and then plug your interface into the Passport. It converts firewire voltage to USB voltage. All other functions should work fine and just be passed through the dock connector.

Isimple (Peripheral) has released a new Ipod cable (about $25) that will also fix the charging problem for that interface.

 

I've got a blitzsafe adapter, would either of those work with the adapter flawlessly?

 

So the 2nd gen Touch and iPhones use firewire voltage to charge themselves? Do I have any other options besides spending ANOTHER $25 on this?

Added: Just for clarification, I use the cable the iPod came with along with a cigarette lighter to usb adapter and it charges. Why won't it charge when I use a AC to usb adapter at home? I've got to fire up my computer anytime I want to charge it at home/work/etc.

 

I *believe* the 2nd generation Ipod touch and Iphone use USB charging only.

The only product I *know* uses USB charging only is the 4th generation Ipod Nano.

Back story:
Orginal Ipods used firewire or USB charging. Apple computer Ipods were connected firewire. Windows computers were connected USB (because PCs don't generally have firewire jacks). The hardware circuits supported both firewire and USB.

Apple notified the Ipod "industry" a few years ago that they were going to discontinue supporting firewire. The hardware chipset they were going to use would contain no firewire circuitry (to save money) and only USB would supported forward. The Ipod "industry" has varied on how quickly they responded to this change.

No (new) current Ipod model will charge on firewire.

If you have an Ipod interface (Isimple, Peripheral for example) purchased awhile ago, it may only send firewire voltages out its dock connector. The Scocshe Passport converts those firewire voltage to USB.
I also have a Klipsch Igroove speaker system that will not charge newer Ipods (because it only sends out firewire voltage). The Scocshe Passport fixes it.

 

If that's the case, why doesn't my ac to usb adapter work but the cigarette lighter to USB adapter does work? It doesn't make any sense....

 

Well USB is the same whether the source of the voltage is from an AC plug or a cigarette lighter. It's 5 volts DC limited to 500 ma.
I would guess that there is something wrong with your AC to USB adapter. Does it work other USB things?

 

Yea when I charge my wife's TomTom it works fine. It's really weird and messed up at the same time.

 

My final guess is that the cable from the AC USB charger to the Ipod has some defect. It doesn't connect correctly to the AC USB charger in some way.
The TomTom is using a different cable from the AC USB charger and is working correctly.

 

If you want to have a speaker in your itouch, get the 2nd gen. Its useful for raving at clubs!

 

but I've tried two other sync/charge cables and got the same result. I have to use the iPod cable connected to the USB cigarette lighter adapter...then connect that to a cigarette adapter to AC adapted. I can't go direct from the USB sync cable to an AC to USB adapter..... It's really bugging the hell out of me. I'm back to the tape adapter so I can charge while listening to the touch iPod while driving.