Five Hacks to offer Your Old iPod a New Life [Hacks]

After last week’s Apple announcements, your previous-gen iPod probably isn’t looking so hot. Cheer up! We’ve got five mods that’ll breathe new life into the little guy, so you don’t ought to feel guilty about picking up a glittery replacement.

1. Turn it into an audiophile’s dream

You might think your iPod already sounds good- in the event you aren’t using crappy earbuds -but most audiophiles would happen their noses up at the sight of it. Fix that with Red Wine Audio’s iMod , which replaces many of the guts of your disparaged 5/5.5 generation iPod with hifi-caliber parts. The trick behind the mod is replacing the circuitry that ends up in your headphone jack, which the team at Red Wine Audio claim degrades the signal. With new parts in place, you’ll enjoy untainted sound-though you’ll ought to connect the modded iPod to an amplifier to get any audio. After this mod, the headphone jack is exactly line-out.

2. Transform it into a covert tracking device

Using the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, you could turn that nigh-antique third generation iPod into a stealthy technique of keeping tabs on friends and relatives. The Nike+iPod sensor you’re speculated to stick on your shoe could be placed anywhere, beaming out a novel signal detectable up to 60 feet away. That’s where you, along with your Linux-enabled iPod, pick up the signal with Nike’s own receiver. Use your powers for good, and check out not to be creepy!

3. Convert it into a Linux mini-computer

Speaking of Linux, those of you who have not begun to bop with the penguin might find your washed up iPod is a thrilling (relatively!) approach to experiment with an alternate OS. A diligent Linux programmer from the iPhone Dev Team has already smashed his way onto the iPhone , with an iPod Touch version in addition. And while features are still slightly shaky, support for multitouch, sound, and other basics have arrived. With the ability to slip a Linux box into your pocket? Giant geek street cred.

4. Refashion it into an attractive VOIP receiver

So, it is advisable live out your wildest Don Draper fantasies, but don’t wish to go analog. No problem. With just a little work, you’ll turn that old Touch into an entire fledged, VOIP-enabled desk phone-and we promise it’ll be essentially the most retro-beautiful thing in your desk. Starting together with your choice of handsome vintage receiver- Jason recommends the Moshi Moshi -throw Skype on there to arrange international trysts on the cheap (And speak to your mom! She misses you!) Or, with somewhat more effort, pair an app like Fring with an SIP account to turn your ‘Pod into nimble telephony beast.

5. Jailbreak the damn thing already

It’s easy . You’ve been desirous to try it for your time now. And whenever you’ve got your old iPod Touch lying around, the ” I don’t would like to mess it up!” excuse goes out the unhappy window it crawled in through. Jailbreaking will open your iPod to a forest outside of Apple’s walled garden: emulators, themes, widgets, and a flurry of apps that don’t play by the foundations.

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This post is tagged: alternate os, headphone jack, iphone dev team, linux programmer, mini computer, street cred, third generation