Speakers/charging dock combo for iPod Nano?

Question

I have a 3rd party home speaker dock, which works as a speaker, but didn't realize that the new Nanos don't let 3rd party stuff work as chargers. When the Nano is connected it says "charging is not supported with this accessory".
What are my options in terms of docks that would both charge the Nano, and work as a good set of speakers (with good volume)?

Answer 1

larselarsen wrote:
Unfortunatly Apple are not being precise nor correct in their information regarding which systems work (charges) the Ipod Nano G4 ....
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of accessories not made by Apple that claim some level of iPod compatibility. It is impossible for Apple to supply comprehensive data about which ones work with which (if any) iPods. Newer products sporting Apple's "Made for iPod" logo indicate that the manufacturer (not Apple) certifies that it meets Apple's specifications for iPod compatibility, but that does not necessarily mean it supports all features with all iPod models, especially charging the Nano 4G, & latest iPod Touch & iPhone models.
Some accessory manufacturers now specifically list which iPod models each of their products supports in product literature, at their websites, or on the packaging. If so, be sure to check for any fine print or footnotes to make sure all the features work with a particular model! If you can't find this info, your best bet is to buy a product from a vendor with a good return policy or contact the manufacturer directly & request specific, detailed compatibility info.
Note: there is a lot of confusion about the "Made for iPod" logo. To display it, a manufacturer must pay Apple a fee & sign a non-disclosure agreement to get access to the technical details that ensure compatibility with current iPods & timely notifications of changes in the specifications that might affect compatibility with future models. Apparently, notifications about the changes to the charging specs went out to participants quite some time ago, perhaps as early as 2005, but very few accessory makers have done anything about it until now. Of course, non-participants have always reverse-engineered their products for compatibility without Apple's help, so it is probable that they knew nothing until the new iPod models were on retailers' shelves.
Complicating things even more, some manufacturers market both newer & older versions of some products under the same model name, or just slightly change the model name (like with a "II" suffix).
The bottom line is "newer is better" but is in itself no guarantee that the accessory will charge the Nano 4G.