How to Connect Your iPod Touch to Bluetooth Speakers

How to Connect Your iPod Touch to Bluetooth Speakers

Support for Bluetooth speakers on the iPod touch is now a reality. When released the second generation of Apple's iPod touch platform replaced the Wi-Fi chip used with one that supports Bluetooth. Out of the box Apple did not enable Bluetooth. With the release of OS version 3.0 the Bluetooth chip has been enabled for pairing with Bluetooth speakers or headphones. A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) lets you stream stereo audio to other devices over Bluetooth; for example, so you can listen to music and other audio through wireless headphones or speakers or a Bluetooth-equipped car audio system without having to connect any cables. Turn on Bluetooth and search for your speakers or headphones. You will be enjoying your new wireless freedom in no time at all.

Once the accessory is connected, all audio should automatically be sent to it. This includes audio from the iPod app, as well as sounds from games and other apps. If your iPod is set to automatically check for e-mail, or you’ve enabled push or notifications, alert sounds are also played through the wireless audio accessory, with music fading out briefly when alerts sound. If this doesn’t happen automatically, you can make the switch manually using the iPod app: At the bottom of the Now Playing screen, tap the Bluetooth symbol to choose whether to send audio to the A2DP accessory or to play through the iPod itself. The latter option will be Speaker, Headphones, or Dock Connector, depending on what accessories are physically connected to the player.

While the second-generation iPod Touch adds Bluetooth hardware, you can't do anything with it yet. Apple says the upcoming OS 3.0 will enable it to support stereo Bluetooth headphones. Third party developers will be able to use it, too — for multiplayer games among iPods, exchanging virtual business card, or whatever else they think up.