Altec Lansing inMotion iPod Shuffle Adapter

Altec Lansing’s inMotion iPod Shuffle Adapter (SA1) falls into the category of “accessories for accessories.” It lets you use a first-generation (1G) iPod shuffle with Altec Lansing’s inMotion series of iPod-docking speaker systems. These speakers have an iPod dock or slot that accommodates iPods with dock-connector ports on the bottom, which made them incompatible with the iPod shuffle. The SA1 adapter is a standard-iPod-sized cradle with a dock-connector port at the bottom;that connecter is converted to a standard USB connector on the inside of the cradle, into which you plug your shuffle.

To put your iPod shuffle in the SA1, you gently pull the top and bottom pieces of the adapter; the two pieces slide apart about half an inch, letting you set your shuffle inside. When you slide the pieces together again, your shuffle’s USB plug is connected to the SA1’s USB port, and a small, plastic “nub” slides into your shuffle’s headphone jack to secure the player in the adapter. You then place the SA1-encased shuffle in the dock cradle of any iPod-compatible inMotion speaker system. The shuffle’s audio is passed through the dock-connector port to the speaker system (although, unlike full-size iPods, the shuffle’s volume controls do affect the audio levels when used with such speakers). Conversely, the speaker system will, when powered via its AC adapter, charge your iPod shuffle. And if you have an inMotion system that connects to your computer via a USB or dock-connector port, you can sync your shuffle with iTunes through the adapter.

The back of the adapter features an opening for accessing the shuffle’s battery-level button and Off/Play/Shuffle switch. It worked well with a variety of inMotion speaker systems I tested. In fact, it also worked with a number of iPod speaker systems from other vendors, making it a useful accessory for more than just owners of inMotion speakers. If you’ve got a first-generation shuffle and want to use it with a dock-connector speaker system, this gadget is worth a look. –Dan Frakes