Get Better Gear!

Premier Sponsors

TechRestore

Other World Computing

Top 5 Free Apps

Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • Odyssey Number Five

    • 10 out of 10
    • Powderfinger
    • Guitar-driven rock out of Australia, Powderfinger has not seen much exposure in the States, but should get a nod for their toe-tapping songs. Building off their previous release, "Internationalist" (
  • Jagged Little Pill (Acoustic)

    • 6 out of 10
    • Alanis Morissette
    • Ten years after the original release, comes the traditional celebratory acoustic re-recording. The album has held up remarkably well. While it is not as meaningful to me as it was when I was sixteen,
  • Never Let Me Down [ECD]

    • 4 out of 10
    • David Bowie
    • It must be a lonely place to be considered David Bowie's worst album by just about everyone, including the artist himself. As the last album before Bowie "rebooted" and formed the band Tin Machine, "N
  • The Printz

    • 8 out of 10
    • Bumblebeez 81
    • Part white rap, part alternative, part pop, and part rock, the Bumblebeez grabbed a hold of me with "Pony Ride," and didn't let go.

      This group does a marvelous job of moving seamlessly be

  • Aretha Sings the Blues

    • 6 out of 10
    • Aretha Franklin
    • While she didn't always have the best taste in song selection, Aretha Franklin is a must-study for anyone with interest in the human voice. She has the kind of powerful, recklessly passionate deliv

Reader Specials

Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!

In-Depth Review

Scosche passPORT

If you have a iPhone 3G, fourth generation iPod nano, or second generation iPod touch and you have any accessories for it that now do this...

...read on. The rest of you are free to leave now as this review probably won't interest you much.

If you have an old iPhone/iPod accessory such as a speaker system or dock, or car integration accessories that don't support charging your new iPhone or iPod, have I got good news for you. Scosche recently introduced a device that makes them charge your devices as they should (and as they used to with your previous-generation iPhone, iPod nano, or iPod touch).

It's called the passPORT and it's a little black dongle you stick between your device and the charging cable (as shown below) or dock (not shown).

A closer look:

Once the passPORT is in place you'll never see a "charging is not supported with this accessory" message again and your iPhone or iPod will charge normally when used with the accessory.

I only have two devices that do that -- a Cambridge SoundWorks Radio 735i (reviewed here) and an mStation 2.1 Stereo Tower (reviewed here) -- but they're both relatively expensive ($299 each) and I use them both all the time. So I really hated it when I discovered they wouldn't charge my new iPhone, iPod nano (4G) and iPod touch (2G).

The Scosche passPORT worked exactly as promised with both devices and both now charge my newest iPhones and iPods just the way they should.

One last thing -- here's some passPORT compatibility information from the Scosche Web site:

Compatible with: Several aftermarket head-units as well as Acura, Audi, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mercury, Mini Cooper, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Saab, Saturn, Scion, Suzuki, Toyota, Volvo and VW.

Not compatible with select Pioneer head-units that use the CD-iB100 or CD-i200 iPod to IP-Bus adapter. Call Scosche technical support for details (800) 363-4490x3.

Note: The passPORT is specifically designed to fix the charging error associated with several iPod and iPhone accessories. If the accessory you are intending to use does not initially support the audio or video functionality of the iPod or iPhone , the passPORT will not enable these features.

The Bottom Line

IF:

  1. You have an iPhone 3G, iPod nano (4G), or iPod touch (2G).
  2. You have an accessory that you wish would charge that device but won't.
  3. The accessory isn't among the handful listed as incompatible above.
    AND
  4. The accessory would cost more than $30 to replace.
THEN:

Buying a Scosche passPORT for $29.99 should be a no-brainer.

Just The Facts

passPORT from Scosche

MSRP US$29.99

Pros:Adds charging functionality to devices that don't support charging with new iPhones and iPods, reasonable price, small size, works as promised.

Cons:None found.

1 comments from the community.

You can post your own below.

linnefaulk said:

I got one last week at the Apple Store for $24.95 and it works great. I am glad I don’t have to trade in my iCarPlay which works fine.

The only con; the packaging. ;P

   Quote

Page 1 of 1 pages

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me  Forgot your password?

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.