Oh teh noez! Some iPods not working on the 360

by Dustin Burg { Nov 25th 2007 at 12:15PM }

Word handed done from a few iPod owners is that Apple's latest firmware update has rendered iPod playback on the 360 iffy. Tony sent us a tip stating that his fifth gen iPod is no longer recognized by his 360 after updating the firmware on his iPod. We've also heard from various iPod / 360 owners that, for some reason or another, their iPods either never worked (in the case of the the iPod Touch) or just quit working (2GB iPod Nano). Something is fishy here kids and either Apple or Microsoft should get on the horn, kiss and make up and throw a new Optional iPod Support download on the XBLM or fix it via a firmware update. Who has Apple's number?

[Thanks, Tony Han]

Tags: apple, ipod, xbox-360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Forest @ Nov 25th 2007 12:24PM

I think you deserve it if you actually spent money on an iPod touch, 16GB for 400 bucks?

john paul @ Nov 25th 2007 12:28PM

support may be on the fall update

theonedub @ Nov 25th 2007 12:39PM

my ipod touch doesnt work on the 360 or ps3 for that matter.

James McPhail @ Nov 25th 2007 12:45PM

AFAIK Apple changed the file structure on the iphone/ipod touch. So all Microsoft has to do is add support for the new structure. I don't think Apple officialy supports access to prior ipods. Its just they haven't really tried to stop it.

Fingers crossed for a update to fix it.

Shawn @ Nov 25th 2007 12:50PM

Who cares? Ipods suck anyway, cheap pieces of crap.

rockeranimefreak @ Nov 25th 2007 12:53PM

hey there's always the Zune right?

Alex Cormier @ Nov 25th 2007 12:59PM

Figures Zune fanboys actually troll this thread...

Why not just hook up your iPod to a stereo system or a TV directly?

4sakenaiden @ Nov 25th 2007 1:01PM

ha, I called Xbox the day after the ipod firmware update and found out my 360 was as blind to it as Ray Charles.

They said it was the first time they heard of it, which disheartened me greatly, but misery loves company via this post.

btw, try that restore option on the ipod sec of itunes. revert the ipod back to 1.2.1 firmware (you will have to re-put your music on there...but hey, my 55gigs of music only took 2hours..go watch a fishing show or something)

once its back to 1.2.1, try it with the 360 again. If you see it, yell "Great Success!" in Borat's accent and try re-updating the firmware to 1.2.2

So far, despite the fact the process was a bit jarring, so good

rTwelve @ Nov 25th 2007 1:06PM

The touch and the iPhone can't work period because of their Mac OS. It requires jailbreaking to look at the Media folder. That's Apple's realm to deal with; I doubt Microsoft can do anything.

As for the other iPods, I imagine Apple did something to that folder that coincidentally makes the 360 unable to detect it. A MS update may fix that.

Pirateinmymind @ Nov 29th 2007 10:23PM

So in theory if my iPhone is jailbroken it should work... can't wait til I get my 360.

rTwelve @ Nov 29th 2007 10:28PM

Yes, but the 360 doesn't know that. It technically still won't work because you still need SSH or SFTP to access inside a jailbroke iPhone. So someone also needs to make an app to do that.

Basically it's a complete pain in the ass so if anybody is going to do it's likely going to be Apple or Microsoft.

rTwelve @ Nov 25th 2007 1:12PM

rTwelve @ Nov 25th 2007 1:13PM

whoops double post

Alex Cormier @ Nov 25th 2007 1:16PM

^ More like a triple post :D

Seroth @ Nov 25th 2007 1:16PM

iPods not working well with the 360 should be old news now. Ever since iTunes updated to 7.3, iPods have been detected on the 360 as "Audiobooks." While you can still listen to music with the "Audiobooks" iPod, you can't access your playlists and stuff like that, so it's really annoying.

It sucks even more now with iPods not even working at all. I hope for a fix for this soon.

ddd1420 @ Nov 25th 2007 1:27PM

iPhones don't work either with 360

domino @ Nov 25th 2007 1:30PM

will the 360 work with the sansa being shipped to me?

Code601 @ Nov 25th 2007 1:33PM

For me the ipod support has already been broken because you cant see your ipod playlists through the xbox.

NitroFrost @ Nov 25th 2007 1:33PM

IPOD < ZUNE

Don Wilson @ Nov 25th 2007 1:34PM

iPhone > *

Shawn @ Nov 25th 2007 1:44PM

Iphone is garbage, I got a Samsung SCH-i760 and it smokes that overrated POS.

Greg @ Nov 25th 2007 1:45PM

speaking of that fall update, isn't it kinda like almost winter.

Don Wilson @ Nov 25th 2007 1:49PM

Shawn, at the end of the day, it's still a crappy "smart"phone.

john paul @ Nov 25th 2007 1:56PM

yea lol

i think its coming dec 10th
or whenever the family timer thing is coming which is part of the fall update

RUMOR
but this would be pretty sweet

http://www.xboxtoday.ca/11192007/11/rumor_massive_xbox_360_fall_update_details

Dragod @ Nov 25th 2007 2:07PM

Zunes are the way to go...
Solid hardware
Hacks from ZuneBoards
Full support for Music, Video, and Pictures on the 360
Wireless syncing and sharing
No scratch casing
larger screen
Choice between touch and tactile control

Don't even talk to me about the iPod Touch or the iPhone. Overrated. Overpriced. Less space. Ridiculously scratch prone. They're pieces of crap.

Jitaroo @ Nov 25th 2007 2:08PM

which ipod has 5GB? the first one? that one was firewire only, not on the 360. If you mean the new firmware for the 5th generation ipod (5G as it is reffered to) then yes it is a possibilty that can be fixed my micro$oft

ben @ Nov 25th 2007 2:40PM

@ #22 i actually think it launches on the 4th, which makes it even worse that there hasnt been any official word on whats all included in the update. Other than a stupid family control option.

Lemon8 @ Nov 25th 2007 2:48PM

My iPod Photo 30GB and new iPod Classic 80GB don't work like it should. Playlists is empty. It's also no longer called iPod, just Music. I'm using 7.5.0.20

kornchild2002 @ Nov 25th 2007 2:50PM

I can't believe all the Zune fanboys here on the boards. I have a 30GB Zune and I always choose either my SanDisk Sansa clip or my 5G 60GB iPod. Why? Because the software integration (or lack there of for the Sansa clip) make them a better choice. Microsoft may have nailed the hardware down with the Zune 2 but they still don't get the software. iTunes remains to be one of the easiest applications to use.

Both the iPhone and iPod touch run different firmware than the normal iPods (and iPod mini/nano line). This firmware is based off of Mac OS X so I don't know if the Xbox 360 will ever get compatibility for those.

I have still never heard of the 5GB iPod unless then are talking about either the first or second generation iPods but those were firewire only and have never and will never work with the Xbox 360. It is amazing that some people will get 5G and 5GB confused (I don't think xbox360fanboy would do that but rather the person who e-mailed you).

Sean @ Nov 25th 2007 2:54PM

The 360 could read a Mac formatted iPod (80Gb 5.5G iPod Video) so the 360 does indeed support the Mac file system. The same iPod would not be detected in Windows without 3rd party software.

The iPod Touch doesn't have the option to use it as a disk-drive, which could be partly to blame. It means you can't mount the iPod Touch/iPhone as a disk (which is what the 360 does with the others). It could be fixed on Microsofts end, afterall, iTunes can detect and stream from the iPod on both OS platforms.

Rk @ Nov 25th 2007 3:18PM

Lol - that Samsung SCH-i760 looks like I just took a digital shit and stamped a SAMSUNG logo on it. iPhone FTW.

rockeranimefreak @ Nov 25th 2007 3:27PM

@7 If Apple breaks compatability they should fix it not MS. Although MS could fix it if they want to.(end response) I wish DivX would hit the 360 already I got so many fansubbed anime's that I don't feel like converting. Although I could convert them to mp4 or wmv... it just takes too long.

Josh @ Nov 25th 2007 4:01PM

Old news. iPods (all gens) work on-and-off with 360s.

john paul @ Nov 25th 2007 5:27PM

yea im confused
either ms is really good @ hiding their updates or there isn;t really that much in the update
while sony can't hide sh!t for their life b/c everyday they have a rumor of an udate

gavilan @ Nov 25th 2007 5:35PM

My zune wont work on my 360, IDK why companies shut off each other's devices

Chris @ Nov 25th 2007 6:09PM

Greg if you remember the GHIII box it said the child timer thing will be coming out around christmas/december 2008ish.

I love thsoe fall updates.

dan stabbingworth @ Nov 25th 2007 6:19PM

@33 Gavilan

MS makes both the Zune and the 360.

For everyone else: the Zune is great hardware; the Zune software is shit.

DaveC @ Nov 25th 2007 6:31PM

Both of mine come up as Audiobooks, play one song and then die.

Tony @ Nov 25th 2007 6:38PM

iTunes really isn't any easier to use this point as the new Zune software. Zune's main problem is that the software doesn't allow as much control as it should. I imagine a lot of this will be addressed since it's been a major bitching point with people who have bought the new one so far.

At the end of the day they both have their positives and suck in different ways. Fighting over them doesn't really serve a purpose, use what you want to.

Tony @ Nov 25th 2007 6:40PM

My first sentence was supposed to be more than iTunes isn't really any easier to use than the new Zune software at this point.

Easo @ Nov 25th 2007 7:41PM

For all the ipod guys

16GB ipod touch $400
30GB zune $150
80GB ipod classic $250
80GB zune $250
8GB zune $200

All zunes have a larger screens than their ipod competitor, with the exception of the touch which has a screen that is the same size as its closest zune competitor but cost almost twice as much and has 5x less storage space.

All zunes have wifi shareing between zunes and wifi sync. only the touch has wifi but to its credit you can use the touches wifi to access the internet.

All zune models have and fm tuner. No ipod model has an fm tuner.

All zunes models have a scratch resistant case. No ipod models have a scratch resistant case.

Microsoft updates older zunes to have the same software and features of the newer models. Apple never gives older ipods new features. firmware updates are not feature updates, sorry.

Theres a reason zune fanboys are increasing in number, and its called common sense. As for the ipods not working with the 360, all you have to do is get on ebay, sell your touch for $250 and buy a zune 80. Problem solved;)

dan stabbingworth @ Nov 25th 2007 7:57PM

I've seen the zune 30 selling for $80. Tell me that's not a great deal.

Easo @ Nov 25th 2007 8:22PM

"I've seen the zune 30 selling for $80."
Is that from an online source? If so where?

Kamal @ Nov 25th 2007 8:38PM

I would never let a ipod get anywhere near my 360!

Brian @ Nov 25th 2007 9:15PM

You can have a shit brown 30 gig Zune for $100 these days. Or was it a piece of shit that stores 30 gigs? I can't remember.

TheH2s @ Nov 25th 2007 9:32PM

Zune > iPod.

Zune is just an overall better MP3 player now. Apple needs to be scared.

I

Chain @ Nov 25th 2007 10:34PM

~Wow the amount of iPod fanboys that own a 360 amazes me.~
I'm sure Microsoft can add Iphone and Touch support to the 360, they have it listed in "SYNC" support. That support may be over bluetooth and not usb, seeing that I don't own a 2008 Ford / Lincoln / Mercury or an Iphone / Touch. I'll stick with my Zune30 because it works OTB, and I prefer the interface.

Justin @ Nov 25th 2007 10:45PM

wow...I really enjoy my 360, but this surely has sparked some microsoft fanboyism. The iPod, contrary to many posts, isn't a piece of crap. It has set the stage for the digital music revolution.

I own two, but will not stoop to the level of fanboyism and state that it is the outright best...but really they are far from being 'pieces of crap.'

Many other players step up to the plate, but the iPod is the outright winner when it comes to introducing digital music to the common consumer.

If your panties are still in such a ruffle that you can not deal with this, take a deep breath and realize that that is why other options exist.

//fanboys make me ill.