I'm aware that recent iPod models (including my Touch ) won't charge via some older iPod docks, but I'm having trouble with usb charging too.

It's fine charging from a PC, but the usb port of my PlayStation2 and a Play UTC-1 usb wall charger both fail to charge the Touch (they both successfully charge my iPod nano 2G). The Play charger seems to think it's charging (its LED goes from green to red) - but the Touch doesn't indicate that it's being charged, nor does its battery level increase.

Any ideas? Am I going to have to resort to buying an Apple branded charger?

This has happen because Apple wants to boost their profits and make everybody buy new ipod accessories. USB charging only works with computers, mains USB does not work. They have changed one of the pin connections on the 4g Nano and as you have found, on the new Touch as well. This means that these two models (and probably ALL new models from here on) are not backward compatible with older ipod gear.

I brought a mains charger on eBay for less that a fiver for the 4g Nano that works fine.

Be sure if you buy one that it actually states it will charge the model you have.

The iPod Touch probably requires more power than the Nano. Does an AC charger not come with the Touch? A charger came with my iPhone.

My 1g ipod Touch did not come with a charger, but I was able to charge it with a off the shelf USB charger that’s rated at 5v 800mA and my old Apple charger. When you plug the same original Apple ipod charger into a 4g Nano ipod you get a message on the screen saying “charging is not supported with this accessory”. When you use a “of the shelf” USB charger, like pjg says, it lights up but does not show that its charging and having left the ipod 4g Nano (assuming the same for 2g Touch)for several hours in this state I can quite safely say, it does not charge.

I think I read on the itunes web site under FAQ that Apple has dropped support for chargers that use the fire wire connection, of which, the Apple charger I have is. But I do not know why the new ipods wont charge with a wall mounted USB mains charger that is quite happy to charge all the other ipod’s that my family own.

I do not know why Apple has gone down this road but surely they don’t intend you to pack your desk top computer into a suitcase when you go on holiday.

I bought a charger for my touch from ebay £2.99

I use a cheap £2.99 USB plug I got off eBay to charge an old MP3 player. It works fine on the iPod Touch 2G 8gb.