Hacker Replaces iPod HDD With Flash Memory

Via a Wired Blog, an anonymous reader wrote with a link to a post on the Geek Technique website. There, post author Mark Hoekstra details how to replace an iPod's HDD with flash memory. It's not an inexpensive procedure, as 16 Gigs of flash memory is still a mite expensive, and the post is not a 'how-to'. Just the same, the project took painstaking work and is well worth recognizing. "I guess I can say I found ways of eliminating almost every hard drive out of almost every hard drive based iPod thereby eliminating all moving parts. The only one left is the iPod video which would only need a slightly different adapter. But next to that I've got a gut feeling that one's being upgraded to flash memory by Apple themselves any time soon."

Re:Since Apple makes flash based iPods...

[Anonymous Coward]

The highest capacity iPod made by Apple is the 8gb nano. This guy has twice that amount.

Re:Since Apple makes flash based iPods...

[Short Circuit]

Not just battery life and skip protection, but reliability. No moving parts means less damage due to jarring motions.

Re:How about for my laptop?

[WindBourne]

Here is a dual. Nice advantage is that you can do 4-8G for the system, and then a 4,8, or 16G for the data. [addonics.com] I will probably do this later to one of my laptops.

Re:Since Apple makes flash based iPods...

[UnknowingFool]

I stand corrected. It doesn't play videos. WTF was the point? :P

Re:Not exactly hard

[Technician]

From the article, the 1.8 inch drive is not pin for pin compatible with ATA/CF. Pinouts for both are listed in the forum.

This makes not exactly hard into not exactly easy.

Re:Inverse

[Doppler00]

I hope everyone realizes that's UNcylopedia, and everything is photoshopped ;) Although this kind of hack would definately be technically possible, but a little more effort would be needed than what's shown.

More iPod Hacks

[wehe]

Hacking the iPod [repair4player.org] and modding other portable media players [repair4player.org] seems to be an interesting hobby for computer nomads. The Repair4Player project lists all kinds of repair, upgrade and hacking guides for portable players.

Re:Inverse

[frostband]

6 minute battery life

the standard bat. life was measured at 8:00+ (more than 8 hours) and the modified nano's life was 0:06 (6 minutes)

He wants to make these adapters?

[FuryG3]

They already exist! [gizmodo.com] $25 for one that supports one flash card, and $30 for one that supports 2. :)

Re:Since Apple makes flash based iPods...

[markdavis]

>These models have about 24 hr battery life Strange- I have a nano too... I am lucky to get 5 hours out of it. 24 hours? Impossible.

Re:Since Apple makes flash based iPods...

[Piazzola]

Good thing, too. I got one (as a gift; wouldn't have picked it out for myself) and while it was still an iPod and therefore totally decent, I couldn't get Apple support for it when it went wonky, and HP support was crap, like usual. I can't wait for this one to really die so I can justify going and getting myself a new one.