Griffin Dock Shuffle hack for using it everywhere

I really like the tiny form-factor of the second-generation (aluminum) iPod shuffle. I used to avoid the shuffle because I'm a big fan of rating my music, which is impossible on an iPod without a display. Then I got to thinking – a shuffle would be perfect for the dock connector in my car.

The shuffle is ideal to stash in the center console of a car because it's tiny and you don't need a display and user interface found in the nano and video iPod to select and rate tracks (at least you shouldn't be doing this while driving). The problem is that the shuffle doesn't have a standard 30-pin dock connector on the bottom – it only has an eighth-inch stereo mini plug.

Enter the Dock Shuffle (US$20) from Griffin Technology which allows you to dock a second generation iPod shuffle in full-size Universal Dock devices like the Apple HiFi and the Luna and Tango speaker systems from XtremeMac. 

The problem is that the opening on the bottom of the Dock Shuffle won't accommodate the 30-pin dock connector on the end of the standard iPod cable, so that you can't use it with any such cable including many automobile installations. The good news is that it just takes a little bit of elbow grease to hack the Dock Shuffle to make it work with an iPod cable.

I've posted pictures of my Griffin Dock Shuffle hack in a photo gallery.