As far as I can tell, the wadia device does 4 things:
1) it identifies itself to the ipod as an apple approved product
2) it instructs the ipod to send down the digital information instead of analog
3) it receives the digital information
4) it sends the digital out, unaltered as far as I know
Of these, the first step is probably the most complicated and expensive.
OK, it also knows how to handle analog input from the ipod, but I've got a simple cable that can do that.
So why does the thing have to be so big? I would think you could get all that functionality out of something the size of a peanut.
1) it identifies itself to the ipod as an apple approved product
2) it instructs the ipod to send down the digital information instead of analog
3) it receives the digital information
4) it sends the digital out, unaltered as far as I know
Of these, the first step is probably the most complicated and expensive.
OK, it also knows how to handle analog input from the ipod, but I've got a simple cable that can do that.
So why does the thing have to be so big? I would think you could get all that functionality out of something the size of a peanut.