# iPod connection - one pin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2015, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742 "2015-01-02T04:10:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/1 "2015-01-02T04:10:51Z")
I bought a new treadmill that is supposed to be iPod compatible (says so right on the console). The only port, though - aside from a USB - receives just a single pin. I’ve done a search for some sort of adapter but have come up blank, just as I suspected I would. The treadmill specs, both on the company site and amazon, specifically mention iPod compatibility. Any thoughts? (I know I should contact the company directly, and I will; just thought someone here might have a quick answer). Thanks, mmm ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/2 "2015-01-02T04:18:09Z")
Headphone plug? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/3 "2015-01-02T04:22:29Z")
RTFM? ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/4 "2015-01-02T04:28:00Z")
A standard ipod cord is USB on one end, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/5 "2015-01-02T04:38:53Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > A standard ipod cord is USB on one end, isn’t it? Yeah, it is. May be instead of a docking cradle, you plug your iPod’s cord into the USB port. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/6 "2015-01-02T04:53:55Z")
How do a treadmill and an iPod “compatible-ize”? (And I thought a USB port on a bass amp was… odd.) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/7 "2015-01-02T05:34:27Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > A standard ipod cord is USB on one end, isn’t it? You are right. I think I may be a moron. In my defense, the iPod label is next to the single input. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/8 "2015-01-02T05:36:14Z")
Post #3 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/9 "2015-01-02T05:56:30Z")
your treadmill doesn’t like your music. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/10 "2015-01-02T14:08:42Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > your treadmill doesn’t like your music. How on earth could a treadmill not like ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’?? mmm ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/11 "2015-01-02T15:16:45Z")
IIRC, didn’t that little square credit card reader for the iPhone plug into the headphone jack? I assume that the proper app can read the microphone input of the headphone jack and react accordingly, and also output certain tone frequencies for certain functions. So I suspect it’s combination of a dual-end headphone/mic cable and the proper app on the phone. Search the App Store… ( I assume it’s a headphone-jack-sized hole?) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-connection-one-pin/708742/12 "2015-01-03T14:17:43Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > IIRC, didn’t that little square credit card reader for the iPhone plug into the headphone jack? I assume that the proper app can read the microphone input of the headphone jack and react accordingly, and also output certain tone frequencies for certain functions. > > So I suspect it’s combination of a dual-end headphone/mic cable and the proper app on the phone. Search the App Store… > > ( I assume it’s a headphone-jack-sized hole?) Interesting, I’ll look into that. Thanks! (yes, headphone-jack-sized hole) mmm