Design Info

I have a Sony XDRS10HDIP stereo radio and iPod/Phone docking station/clock radio I picked up a few years ago, refurbished. It has pretty good sound. I use it in the kitchen/dining area of the home.

At the time, my even then old 4 button iPod did not fit in the dock and I did not understand why. It turns out, the Sony has a digital audio dock. Instead of an analog signal going through the dock, it is a digital audio signal. My 4 button iPod was analog. It seems Apple at first used analog, then went to digital (after my old iPod) and has since gone back to analog with the new Lightning connector.

All of these start with digital and then are converted to analog with a digital to analog chip. It is just a question of where that DAC conversion happens.

Last year, I researched various Bluetooth A2DP music receivers thinking I could transmit music (or pod casts or internet radio or Pandora) from iTunes via Airplay from my iMac. I could listen to any station in the world on my Sony!

Just by dumb luck I found a cheap receiver that worked on this particular digital dock. But the Bluetooth audio was muffled and just walking between the transmitter (an iMac) and the radio also caused problems. At 10 or so feet, it was the limit for reception. I also had to leave the radio on or reconnecting was a hassle. So I returned the transmitter. (BTW: I think all the Bluetooth receivers for docks all come from the same factory in China…)

But in a “Duh!”moment recently, I figured out a work around to play music from a modern Wi-Fi ready iPhone/iPod/iPad I had just gotten that does not fit in the Sony dock or send analog audio out via its Lighting connector. Although, it is also the same from iMacs, etc. with Wi-Fi.

Take that old first generation Apple Airport Express (or a newer one) you no longer use and plug it in. Run a male to male 3.5 mm mini jack line from it to the back of the Sony where there is a mini jack plug. Set up the Express so it is on the network as an audio speaker (Enable Airplay).

Presto, you can now play music using Airplay from you iMac, iPad, iPhone, iPod on the Sony. It works GREAT and does not break up like the Bluetooth did with distance or bodies in between. My Express is only 802.11g but that is fine for audio.

This trick could probably also work with other mini jacked clock radios and speakers where no Bluetooth adaptors work due to the “old” digital audio connection. I was getting ready to sell the old Airport Express in a yard sale but now it has a new and useful life again.

Apr 29

Apr 28

Except, who really needs this or a Lytro? You focus while taking the picture and, with digital, just take a bunch with the focus set differently. This app would be fun for iPhone and about the right price.

Apr 25

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Apr 19

Stamen Design does incredible job mapping company commuter routes in San Francisco. Check out the whole page.

Apr 18