How to Get More From Your iPod: 10 Interesting Hacks, Mods, and Tips
Your iPod is probably one of your most frequently used personal gadgets. It keeps you company at work, at the gym,
in the car, and on trips. It plays your favorite music, videos, and podcasts, but did you know that your iPod is actually capable of much more?
iPod enthusiasts from around the world have dedicated their time and effort to bring you the following modifications, hacks, tips, tricks, and
alternative uses to help you get more from your iPod than you ever expected. So here we have it. The top 10 interesting and creative ways to get more out of your iPod:
1 How to create a fully immersive VR iPod
Difficulty Level: Medium
If you love watching
your video iPod during trips, but hate the tiny screen and having to hold it the entire time, this hack is for you.
Phillip Torrone over at blog.makezine.com has managed to connect a VR headset to his video iPod with impressive results. All you need to recreate this impressive modification are:
VR Goggles .
Video iPod .
Backup Battery Pack .
Cables for connecting the video iPod the the VR Goggles .
2 How to play your iPod videos on your TV
Difficulty Level: Easy
If you don't have the money to buy VR goggles, or aren't traveling, this iPod tip is a great way for you to view your iPod videos on a larger screen.
It works great for meetings and presentations, in hotel rooms, or even during family get-togethers. In order to connect your video iPod to your television,
you will need the following:
A video iPod .
An iPod compatible video loaded onto your iPod via iTunes .
An A/V Cable like the one below. It is an 1/8inch to RCA .
Your iPod has two video settings, in order to watch video on an external source like a television, you must change the iPod settings.
To open these settings, choose Videos -> Video Settings from your main iPod menu. This screen offers three settings: TV Out, TV Signal
and Widescreen. Adjust to produce the video playback style you need. It should look like this:
Now hook it up to your television, press play and enjoy!
3 How to use your iPod as the ultimate remote control
Difficulty Level: Hard
We all know how frustrating it can be to fumble around with a million different remote controls. An elegant solution is to make your iPod the ultimate universal
remote control, capable of controlling nearly every remote controlled device in your home.
You will need the following:
An iPod.
A Mac or PC with recording software .
A Pocket PC (any Pocket PC 2002/2003 should work) .
This hack works by using Griffin's Total Remote software to record the infrared signals from your current remote controls. It turns the infrared signals into actual mp3 sound files that can be played in your iPod. Those Mp3 files are then translated back into infrared via the Total Remote IR Device. For a full tutorial, check out the guide here.
4 How to run Linux on your iPod
Difficulty Level: Hard
Aside from feeling proud of yourself for expanding your iPod's brain, here are some ways you benefit from loading Linux on your iPod:
5 How to play more advanced games on a Linux modded iPod
Difficulty Level: Hard
If you have been successful in loading Linux onto your iPod, then you should definitely take advantage of the ability to play games via Linux on your iPod.
Many Linux iPod modders love to play games emulated from other systems. The following are links to the different emulators that you can download and load onto
your Linux modded iPod along with installation instructions.
6 How to turn Your iPod Touch into a VOIP telephone
Difficulty Level: Hard
If you already have an iPod Touch and are thinking about getting an iPhone, why waste the money? You can transform your iPod Touch into a fully
functioning iPhone with a little bit of time and patience. To go about learning how to execute this on your iPod touch, follow these steps:
Purchase required materials referred to in the aforementioned link
Execute objectives listed above
7 How to turn your iPod Touch into a phone message box
Difficulty Level: Hard
This could come in handy for anyone who would like to keep their messages for an unlimited amount of time and listen to them at their leisure. You will also have a
lot more space on your iPod to store your messages than with a regular telephone message box.
What you will need:
8 How to use your iPod while exercising (and not just for music)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Nike and Apple have recently partnered up in an effort to give you more while exercising. Your iPod turns into a portable personal trainer that tracks your time,
distance, pace, and calories burned. How do I get my iPod to do this?
If you have an iPod Photo and want to save directions for a trip on your iPod, now you can! It works great with Google Maps, Mapquest, or any other online mapping service.
Here is how you do it:
Get out the iPod photo you wish to save the directions to
Access the directions on your iPod whenever you need them!
10 How to use your iPod while navigating the subway
Difficulty Level: Easy
For all of you city dwellers and travelers, this one is for you! No more hassle looking for the maps located at different locations at each stop. This tip will help you navigate the city
like a pro. To begin using your iPod for navigation on city subways follow these simple steps:
If you love watching
your video iPod during trips, but hate the tiny screen and having to hold it the entire time, this hack is for you.
Phillip Torrone over at blog.makezine.com has managed to connect a VR headset to his video iPod with impressive results. All you need to recreate this impressive modification are:
If you don't have the money to buy VR goggles, or aren't traveling, this iPod tip is a great way for you to view your iPod videos on a larger screen.
It works great for meetings and presentations, in hotel rooms, or even during family get-togethers. In order to connect your video iPod to your television,
you will need the following:
We all know how frustrating it can be to fumble around with a million different remote controls. An elegant solution is to make your iPod the ultimate universal
remote control, capable of controlling nearly every remote controlled device in your home.
Aside from feeling proud of yourself for expanding your iPod's brain, here are some ways you benefit from loading Linux on your iPod:
For all of you city dwellers and travelers, this one is for you! No more hassle looking for the maps located at different locations at each stop. This tip will help you navigate the city
like a pro. To begin using your iPod for navigation on city subways follow these simple steps: