iPod Hacks - Hacks, iPod downloads, Cracks, Mods, Utilities

Gizmodo has updated their report about Bluetooth hardware in the Touch.  It would seem they took a lack of report by iFixit as proof of non existance.

“We’re talking more to iFixit on the matter. There was a faulty consensus that their lack of report on Bluetooth implied that there was no Bluetooth. That was our mistake.

From iFixit: We’re looking into it. It’s hard to say because they can disguise bluetooth antenna on the PCB and the chip could be integrated into something else. I’ll see what I can dig up.“

Cross your fingers.

As usual, the folks at iFixit got the first look at the internals of the new iPod Touch.  Unfortunatly they haven’t found any Bluetooth hardware, so those much touted rumors appear to be false.

The iFixit link above will give you a peek at the process they took in pulling it apart.

People have been reporting all over the net that the current iPhone Jailbreak doesn’t work with the out of the box iPod Touch firmware.  However, it would seem everyone who has failed in the attempt has had no problems restoring their Touch through iTunes.

If anyone here’s otherwise, please let us know.

Reports have been coming in that the iPod touch started arriving at Apple stores.  Someone has posted photos of unpacking their iPod Touch @ Flickr, as well as a YouTube video:

If your local store has them in stock, or if you know of any other stores anywhere that has em, please leave a comment.

*Update*: The Apple stores are definitely getting their iPod Touch’s in stock, however, people who ordered them online will still be waiting until the end of the month to get theirs…

PCmag.com is running a nice review of the iPod Touch:

“When the iPhone came out in June, many people (including me) loved it, but wanted it without the phone—and that pesky two-year contract with AT&T Wireless. I’m no Luddite, but I don’t want my personal media player to ring in the middle of a song. That said, the multitouch glass display was beautiful, Cover Flow was a great way to navigate tracks, and the Web browser was better than any other portable player’s before it. Apple could have delivered a player with just these features and nothing more and I would have been thrilled. But it didn’t. Instead, the company, in the new iPod touch, has added a Wi-Fi version of the iTunes Music Store so you can buy songs on the go—now, if you have Wi-Fi access, you can download tracks anywhere. Apple has also announced a partnership with Starbucks that enables iPhone and touch owners to purchase songs they hear in Starbucks stores via Wi-Fi. Okay, maybe I’m not in love with that last feature (I’m not a Starbucks addict). It would also be nice if the Wi-Fi store offered video purchases, too—it’s currently music only. And, yes, the earbuds still suck. But those are my only complaints, and they are minor. The relatively hefty $300 and $400 price tags for 8GB and 16GB, respectively, don’t bug me either. Why? This is probably the best portable media player ever made. “

Low End Mac is running an article that gives us a taste of some iPod products that never made it out of beta testing and focus groups.

 Without further ado:

• iPod wristwatch: This iPod comes with a built-in wrist band and has one more menu item: Wristwatch Display.
• iPhone iPod: This variant of the iPhone has a docking station in it for the iPod nano.
• StereoPods: Two iPods, miniaturized to the size of hearing aids, synchronized via Bluetooth to play one channel (each) for about seventeen seconds.
• iPodPlasma: A 110-inch plasma screen TV with a built-in, non-removable iPod.
• StevePod: Steve Jobs’ iPod with 2 TB storage capacity with a small video projector for a screen; available 3Q 2017.
• SegPod: A Segway with a built-in iPod.
• Podway: An iPod with a built-in Segway.
• PeaPod: An iPod delivered in a cute floral arrangement.
• aPlod: An iPod for actors.
• Operation Enduring iPod: a sandproof, bulletproof, satellite enabled iPod. Cost: $23 million.
• embeddiPod: Subcutaneous iPod. You heard it here first.
• Thomas the Tank Pod: Thomas needs to deliver a musical interlude to Sir Topham Hatt! Can he figure out the menus in time?
• Walt Disney’s Brother Pod: Sold in pairs, one classic and one nano, targeted at bears that happen to be different sizes but brothers.

I don’t know about you, but I think the embeddiPod sounds glorious!

Macally announced the release of the BTCUP, a Bluetooth equipped FM transmitter for the iPod and cellphones that fits into your car’s cup holder.

It retails at $119 and sports a cigarette lighter adapter for iPod charging.

Feature Highlights:

• Auto-Switching between phone mode and iPod mode when you answer and hang up calls
• Works with 2nd generation iPod nano, 5th generation iPod, 1st generation iPod nano, 4th generation iPod, and iPod Mini
• Dock and charge iPod devices simultaneously
• Full FM spectrum 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz for the clearest channel
• Easy-to-reach power on/off/privacy switch, bluetooth/answer/hang up button, frequency up and down buttons, and quick channel switch button
• Automatic last used frequency memory

For a cost of less than $30 you can add an auxilarly input to the Bose SoundDock with no soldering required.

• Go to your local electronics retailer and pick up:
  • A Griffin Dock Adapter for iPod Shuffle (Approx $20), and;
  • A Belkin Speaker and Headphone Splitter (Approx $4)
• On the SoundDock
  • Remove the existing adapter plate and replace it with the new Griffin Dock Adapter and turn the switch over to speaker
  • Now simply plug in the Belkin Splitter and you’re done.

Now you have a SoundDock that you can plug a male or female device into.

The fellas at iFixit tore open a couple of 3rd Gen iPod Nano and iPod Classic’s giving us a look at the inner workings of each model:

Nano

Classic

Check out the above links to their site for more photos and detailed notes.

…and the music goes on, for those of you love crispSoftie’s iPod.iTunes.

“iPod.iTunes evaluates the source for songs, videos, podcasts and/or playlists that are not in the target and only adds these seamlessly, avoiding duplicates, saving your time. Unlike iTunes’ own synchronization iPod.iTunes generally does not delete content in the target. iPod.iTunes can also transfer song dependend data like “My Rating”, “Last Played”, “Play Count”, album artwork, etc…”

The 3.5 Release notes:
+ Compatibility for iTunes 7.4.
+ Fixed a possible problem regarding the recognition of the iTunes library file.