Scosche Passport FireWire-to-USB iPod adapter gets reviewed

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 21st 2008 at 8:36AM

Okay, so this adapter doesn't directly convert a FireWire 400 socket into a USB port, but for all intents and purposes here, it does as much. You see, Scosche's Passport was designed to channel the energy from older FireWire-based iPod charging gear into the USB prongs that the newer iPhone / iPods only accept. Macworld was able to get ahold of one for review, and in testing, it found that everything worked well when toying with new iPods, and while it was designed specifically for in-car applications, critics found that it even worked (albeit inelegantly) with dock-cradle accessories. Was it worth $30? Absolutely, so long as you'd rather burn $30 than replace that mess of wires you've got behind the dashboard (and you would).

Filed under: Peripherals, Apple

Tags: adapter, firewire, ipod, ipod accessory, IpodAccessory, Passport, review, Scosche

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

TheGasMan @ Nov 21st 2008 9:42AM

So basically this thing just lets you charge your new USB-only iPod with older Firewire-based charging cables. Still not sure how I explained its function in one simple sentence, versus half a convoluted paragraph; maybe I should apply to write here. Tee hee.

"Channel the energy"... What is this, a voodoo product? LMAO.

Neutral

angelo @ Dec 4th 2008 2:49PM

This product actually works remarkably well compared to a lot of the stuff scosche pushes out sometimes. I picked one up off ebay at a discount and it's been impressive thus far. A few weeks before I got my iPhone I picked up an older model Griffin Road Trip from a TJ Maxx for $20. I was totally disappointed when I got my iPhone and realized the thing would play my music, but wouldn't charge my Phone. Enter the PassPort. I just popped the adapter onto the road trip and attached my iPhone and the thing charges and plays music without a hitch. Saved me about $50 considering the newer model FM Transmitter/Car Charger/Dock products that actually work for the iPhone cost between $80 and $100. Highly recommended.

Neutral

nbidgood @ Jan 27th 2009 11:35PM

do you still get the "This accessory not made to work with iPhone" message when you plug it in?

if so, i would say that is a hitch. but, since all the "works with iPhone" FM transmitters are horrible compared to my old monster one, I might have to suffer through the hitch.