IPod hacking

iPods have been  to allow users to utilize or customize their devices more freely, making them more useful or unique for novelty purposes. The goal has also been to enable new features before the advent of the iPhone.

Software hacks

 * Reset Your iPod (Patrick Norton, March 2005) - How to reset an iPod if it won't respond.
 * Restore iPod (Patrick Norton, February 2005) - Use Apple's iPod Updater to erase all data and restore factory settings, usually to repair from an error.
 * Convert DVDs to iPod Guide to convert DVDs into format iPods can understand

iPod GUI customization

 * iPodWizard Home Web Site (Everything to do with iPodWizard, and more)
 * iPod fonts revealed ("iPodWizard", November 2004) - Export iPod fonts and graphics from the firmware. Creating the availability to...
 * ...Hack the iPod firmware (Graphics) (Phillip Torrone, December 2004) - Adds option to change the “Do not Disconnect” circle/slash icon, battery icons, power status, boot up logos and fonts.
 * iPod Nano hacking (Phillip Torrone, September 2005) - Still not fully hackable but allows users to change the text strings, modify the font and change certain graphics on iPod Nano.
 * Arbitrary Font Images (November 2005) - Walks you through adding icons to the menus of your iPod firmware using the iPodWizard.
 * Change the iPod Battery Display Style - Changes the battery icon in the upper-right corner to a more-accurate number ranging from 0-500, indicating the battery's charge level. Does not work with the iPod Nano.

iPod eBooks

 * Make iPod eBooks (Phillip Torrone, March 2005) - Allows users to create iPod s cross-platform.
 * iPod eBooks Guide! (Phillip Torrone, June 2005) - Detailed guide about using "Notes" function (able to create: text, creating a locked "kiosk mode", quizzes, games, etc.) and making full-length ebooks.
 * Linux/unix pipeline for making simple ebooks:
 * Start with any text file, for example, something from Project Gutenberg. Delete anything that you may not want, like the Project Gutenberg legal riders. Then use
 * fromdos < file | fmt -w 30 | cat -s | split -a 3 -d -C 4k
 * Rename and folder the new files as desired and then move the folder/files to the Notes directory on your ipod. No special features, but good enough if you don't have a lot of time to spare.

Games
Note that early non-text games sold outside of the iTunes Store required jailbreaking or modification of the iPod's firmware. Official iPod Games were introduced on September 12, 2006.
 * iPod Arcade: Free selection of text-based quiz and trivia games. (archived 2006-09-02)
 * iPod games: Free text-based quiz games by Coolgorilla. (archived 2005-12-25)

Operating system hacks

 * iPodLinux is a -based Linux distribution targeted specifically to run on iPods. Besides the kernel, iPodLinux features Podzilla as a primary GUI component.
 * Install SLAX on an iPod nano by JakeMikey: Guide on how to install, a live-CD Linux variant. Note this is not a hack for the iPod's firmware. It is a guide on how to install  on an iPod as a USB disk. This hack uses the built in functionality of disk mode.(2005-09-18, archived 2006-04-19)
 * IBM's SoulPad project - Boots from a 60GB iPod photo and runs an x86 virtual machine in . Designed to have a system to run desktop PCs from with the user's config on the iPod. Note that this is not a hack for the iPod's firmware. This hack, which is currently unreleased anyway, simply stores a virtual machine on the iPod. Essentially using the built in functionality of disk mode. (2005-08-12, archived 2005-09-10)
 * Phew! (Alan Joyce) - How to restore Linux support after updating using Apple's Spring 2005 iPod update.
 * Rockbox is an open source operating system for MP3 music players. The IPod port is currently suitable for developers only. From the Rockbox website, "Rockbox boots and appears to be stable on the iPod 4G (grayscale) iPod Color/Photo, the Nano and the Video."

iPod hardware hacks

 * iPod Super (Collin Allen, March 2005) - Attach a 3.5" desktop hard drive to your iPod.
 * Wooden iPod Dock (Trevor Shannon) - How to make a cheap and classy dock for your iPod out of wood.
 * Replace an iPod's Battery (Joe Grand, July 2005) - User guide to replacing the battery.
 * Brushed iPod (Adam Podnar) - Allows users to brush their iPod cover, to prevent hand marks impairing the objects appeal without voiding the warranty.
 * Shufflephones 1.0 (Jim Younkin) - An iPod shuffle hack designed to eliminate cord clutter.
 * Getting Power from your Nano (Fabienne Serriere, October 2005) - How to run other small low power devices off the nano.
 * Wooden iPod (ZapWizard) - A wooden iPod - Write up by ZapWizard.
 * PhotoPodSony (Nickee, May 2005) - Designed to keep iPod dry near water.
 * Altoids Nano Case (iNano, September 2005) - A robust DIY-tin iPod case.
 * Shuffle Headphones (Ryan Simms) - An iPod shuffle fully integrated into a pair of Sony MDR 7506 Headphones.

iPod peripherals hacks

 * iPod FireWire Cable - Guide to fixing FireWire iPod cables, should it come apart at the seams.
 * DIY iPod stand (Piers Morgan, March 2005) - How to build a DIY-cardboard dock for the iPod, as an alternative to the official iPod Dock.
 * Hand-powered DIY Recharger (Phillip Torrone, March 2005) - Portable way to recharge an iPod Shuffle.
 * Car stereo iPod connection (Damien Stolarz, 2005) - How to connect an iPod to a car stereo's AUX jack via. adapters that charge the iPod and allow for remote control.
 * Cheap iPod A/V Cable - How to use any standard cable with a mini RCA (male) connector to A/V connectors useable on the iPod, rather than buying the $19 cable from Apple.
 * Pushbutton Radio Input - How to physically modify a stereo - this case a Sapphire XVIII pushbutton - to accept a stereo jack input.