Just acquired an azatom Tune-Stream Bluetooth dongle which turns 30-pin iPod docking stations into Bluetooth devices. However, it doesn't work when I insert it in an Apple Universal Dock (connected to a TEAC micro hi-fi system via a small jack). My iPod Touch works in the Dock, and it pairs with the Tune-Stream remotely when that is in place, but no sound. Azatom instructions say doesn't work with speakers with "digital signal interface", but why would Universal Dock have a different interface from usual iPod docking station?
Apple Universal Dock & Bluetooth
bluetoothdock
Related Solutions
Returning to this question several years later, it's still a pretty sad state of affairs. The only reliable answer is some sort of hardware solution.
In practice, this is what I ended up buying:
It works really well; you connect the jack to a voice recorder and put the earbud in your ear, which has a microphone and sits between your ear and the phone's speaker. The quality isn't bad (albeit not broadcast quality) and the ability to use an external voice recorder means I'm not having to deal with moving files off my phone or expend extra battery power on a recording app.
That said, this looks really interesting (Though I'm unsure whether you just connect it to your phone and use normally, or whether you connect some sort of hands-free headset to the other side):
http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2014/05/12/15-quirky-gadgets-accessories-buy-today-2/2/
Considering the question is ultimately about finding a cheap or free software-based recording solution, I'll leave it open in case anyone comes up with something workable.
uBar is a Windows-style taskbar for OS X that I developed. Be sure to set Window Grouping to Never in the preferences, and it will exactly replicate the behaviour you are looking for.
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Best Answer
iOS devices can output either digital or analog audio through their dock connectors. Your hi-fi is only compatible with digital audio. But your Bluetooth dongle outputs analog audio to the hi-fi, which it can’t play.