iPod and iTunes Hacks | O'Reilly Media

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Most of us still remember the first time we saw our brand-new iPod. Unfolding the box is an origami experience that results in the final vision of a gleaming white and metal iPod—a new iPod that is clean and perfect, but not for long. The first hack in this chapter helps you get your iPod looking as good as new again [Hack #1] .

But the iPod is much more than an aesthetic masterpiece; it is also a technological one. Within that small space is a hard drive, microprocessor, battery, amplifier, RAM, and much more. All these bits and pieces can be used for much more than a mind-blowing music player. This chapter helps you get the most out of your iPod and, in some cases, take it beyond its originally purpose. How about turning your iPod into a wireless jukebox [Hack #20] or integrating it with your car's remote control system [Hack #12] ? Start reading!

But before you do, you should be aware of some conventions. Back in the early days of the iPod, there was just one iPod. Things aren't so simple anymore. Various hacks in this chapter are specific to a particular iPod. Here is the breakdown of all the iPods:

Generation 1 iPod: This was the first iPod, which Apple released in October 2001. It is the original iPod form factor with a regular FireWire jack and a physical scroll wheel.
Generation 2 iPod: This version featured a larger, 10 GB hard drive. Otherwise, physically, it is the same as a generation 1 iPod.
Generation 3 iPod: This design featured a touch-sensitive scroll wheel, a jack that could accept cables for both USB and FireWire cables, and some firmware changes.
iPod mini: The mini is the littlest iPod with the smallest hard drive (4 GB). It features a scroll wheel with integrated buttons.

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Most of us still remember the first time we saw our brand-new iPod. Unfolding the box is an origami experience that results in the final vision of a gleaming white and metal iPod—a new iPod that is clean and perfect, but not for long. The first hack in this chapter helps you get your iPod looking as good as new again [Hack #1] .

But the iPod is much more than an aesthetic masterpiece; it is also a technological one. Within that small space is a hard drive, microprocessor, battery, amplifier, RAM, and much more. All these bits and pieces can be used for much more than a mind-blowing music player. This chapter helps you get the most out of your iPod and, in some cases, take it beyond its originally purpose. How about turning your iPod into a wireless jukebox [Hack #20] or integrating it with your car's remote control system [Hack #12] ? Start reading!

But before you do, you should be aware of some conventions. Back in the early days of the iPod, there was just one iPod. Things aren't so simple anymore. Various hacks in this chapter are specific to a particular iPod. Here is the breakdown of all the iPods:

Generation 1 iPod: This was the first iPod, which Apple released in October 2001. It is the original iPod form factor with a regular FireWire jack and a physical scroll wheel.
Generation 2 iPod: This version featured a larger, 10 GB hard drive. Otherwise, physically, it is the same as a generation 1 iPod.
Generation 3 iPod: This design featured a touch-sensitive scroll wheel, a jack that could accept cables for both USB and FireWire cables, and some firmware changes.
iPod mini: The mini is the littlest iPod with the smallest hard drive (4 GB). It features a scroll wheel with integrated buttons.

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Clean up your dirty iPod using the tips and tricks in this hack.

Remember those first moments when you unwrapped your new iPod? So clean, so shiny…until you put it in your pocket. The iPod's metal back loves to be scratched, and its plastic front is not much better. Don't get out the bleach and silver polish, though. Your iPod needs the cleaning products and tools appropriate to its outstanding design.

The best product for cleaning dirt, fingerprints, and small scratches off your iPod is a product called Plexus Plastic Cleaner. Originally designed to polish the windshields of F-16 fighter jets and other aircraft, Plexus does an amazing job of cleaning up any polymer surfaces, so you can use it on everything from CDs and DVDs to your car (which probably has a polymer-based clear coat on top of its paint). The company that makes Plexus sells it only by the case online (http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com), but if you Google "Plexus Plastic Cleaner" you'll find a number of outfits selling it online at a price of about $10 for a big can that will last you years.

A cleaner is only half the battle; you also need something with which to apply it. For that, get a set of microfiber towels. Of course, microfiber everything (T-shirts, towels, mops) is all the rage these days, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding them. I use these towels for almost everything, from waxing my car to cleaning my laptop's LCD display to dusting around the house. The ones I like best come from an outfit in Tacoma, WA, called Griots Garage (http://www.griotsgarage.com/index.jsp). Their three-pack of microfiber towels goes for $16, which is expensive, but the ones they sell last forever and clean up to be like new if you put them in the washing machine. (Don't use fabric softener! It will ruin them.)

To clean your iPod, simply spray a small amount of the Plexus onto the towel (not directly onto the surface you're trying to clean). Use a toothpick to shove the towel down into the small crevices and lines and get dirt out.

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Whatever your favorite way to sweat, you've got options with your iPod. Your iPod can become your constant exercise companion.

Exercising without music is unthinkable for some people. It might help psych you up to work your body through those boring miles on the treadmill or the endless reps and sets while weightlifting. Or it might transport you into a meditative state where, in the music's groove, such things as long-distance running, skiing, or even practicing yoga seem to get easier. Given the happy marriage between music and exercise, it's a wonder that Apple has produced such an inadequate case to help us work out with our iPods.

The case supplied with iPods these days isn't very useful. In fact, it can be best described by the things it doesn't do. It doesn't stop the iPod from running out of gas 20 minutes (the time limit of the iPod's built-in RAM) into a good run. It isn't waterproof, mud-proof, or drop-proof. In short, it doesn't let you jump around like a hooligan without fearing for your iPod's safety. Luckily, other manufacturers have stepped in to pick up the slack.

A slew of products is out on the market now that claim to make exercising with your iPod a safe and enjoyable experience for both you and your sleek little tune dispenser. Some are better than others, but depending on the type of exercise you like to do, there is a product that can protect your iPod and/or enhance your overall workout. If you're sick of walking around clutching dearly to your iPod, this hack gives you lots of alternatives.

The product that seems to give avid runners, bikers, and other cross-country exercise enthusiasts the most for their buck is Speck Products's iSport (http://www.speckproducts.com/isport/index.html; $44.95). It has been carefully designed to meet the rugged requirements of long-distance runners, as well as the casual exerciser. Furthermore, it feels secure whether you're a New York City bike courier or you're running the Boston Marathon, because it sits snugly in a belt around your waist.

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A couple nifty products from Belkin allow you to store your digital snaps right on your iPod.

An iPod comes with an immense amount of hard drive space, while your digital camera's memory cards fill up too quickly. This digital divide can be traversed successfully with a little help from Belkin.

Belkin makes two products that allow you to transfer your digital images from your digital camera to your iPod: the Media Reader (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526 &pcount=&Product_Id=158350; $109.99) and the Digital Camera Link (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Product_Id=173207; $89.99). With the help of either of these products, you can literally store thousands of images (depending on the size of your iPod and your digital camera's resolution) on your iPod.

To use the Media Reader, remove your camera's memory card and insert it into the appropriate slot on the side of the Media Reader.

The Belkin Media Reader supports: CompactFlash (types 1 and 2), SmartMedia, Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, and MultiMediaCard.

Now, connect the Belkin Media Reader to your iPod. The Reader works with generation 3 (G3) and later iPods with the newer thin-type FireWire connection. If you have a generation 1 or 2 (G1/G2) iPod with a regular FireWire connector or an iPod mini, you cannot use the Media Reader.

Once you plug in the iPod, a screen shows up with your memory card's information. In the case of Figure 1-1, the Media Reader tells us the media type, the number of photos, and the amount of memory used on the card. You control the Media Reader from your iPod; to import the images to the iPod, just select Import on your iPod.

Figure 1-1: The Media Reader Import screen

Once the import has begun, a status screen shows up, as shown in Figure 1-2. Depending on the number and size of your images, you could be in for a bit of a long wait. You can't pick and choose which images you want to import, so if time is not on your side, edit your images in your digital camera before transferring them.

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Take your iPod listening experience to the next level by upgrading your headphones.

Apple spared no expense when it came to designing and manufacturing the iPod. The outside is stunning and the user interface flawless. You probably remember the first time you opened up the package and gasped at the beauty of it all. Then you put the included Apple earbuds in your ears. For many of us they are too uncomfortable to use, but assuming your ears are the large size that seems to be required, you've probably noticed that the sound quality is, well, not good. The sound is tinny and the bass lackluster. Don't believe me? Just try out any of the headphones or earphones mentioned in this hack. For the technical-minded, make sure to take a look at Headphone.com's excellent headphone frequency–charting tool (http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=10), where you can compare and contrast a slew of headphones, including the ones that came with your iPod.

In-ear headphones are a relatively recent craze, and the truth is that while old-school headphones might look bulky and cumbersome in comparison, no in-your-ear solution can imitate the audio experience of a good set of over-ear headphones. The ultimate headphone experience for the traveling iPod user is the Bose QuietComfort 2 Noise Canceling Headphones (http://www.bose.com; $299.00). Now, you might be thinking, "$300 for a pair of headphones?!" True, it's a lot of money. But the iPod set you back a pretty penny, didn't it? And you probably bought it because it blows away the competition in terms of design, features, and functionality. Well, if you've invested that much in the device that plays your music, investing a little (okay, a lot) more in the device that helps you hear your music should be worth it too.

The Bose headphones use an acoustic noise-canceling technology to help protect your ears, and your music, from outside noise. The technology works by electronically identifying and reducing the unwanted noise around you. They work by generating counter-noise to the white noise around you, effectively canceling out the sound waves received by your eardrums.

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Share your iPod's tunes over the airwaves with a variety of FM transmitters.

If you've got an iPod and you've got a car, then you've got a problem. Sooner or later, you're going to want to drive while listening to your masterfully mixed playlists. Though there is no physical or technical barrier to jamming the cool white earphones into your auditory canals while your right foot works the accelerator, such behavior is not the best idea and is, in fact, illegal in some jurisdictions. So are you forever stuck with the commercial-addled commute? The answer is no; by adding the right equipment to your iPod, you can stream your music straight to the FM dial of your car stereo.

The equipment you'll need is known generically as an FM transmitter. These devices will broadcast anything streaming out of your iPod to an FM radio, allowing your car, or any other nearby FM radio, to play the sweet sounds emanating from your iPod.

This hack shows how, with minimal effort, to stream your tunes onto the FM dial. All you'll need is an iPod, an FM transmitter, and a willingness to stick an aftermarket item into various iPod ports. For an example of a specific implementation (using Griffin Technology's iTrip transmitter), be sure to check out "Turn Your iPod Mini into a Radio Station" [Hack #13] .

The technology used in FM transmitters is fairly rudimentary, so don't look for a product description that's riddled with technobabble; they're all going to work on the same principle, and they are all going to be limited by the same FCC regulations. This isn't to say that all iPod-compatible FM transmitters are interchangeable; in fact, there are a wide variety of form factors, features, and electronic refinements to consider.

One of the first things you'll want to consider is where you're likely to use your FM transmitter. If you're going to use the transmitter exclusively in your car, you'll probably want a different model than if you desire the ability to stream your tunes to any nearby FM radio.

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Increase the range of your FM transmitter and broadcast audio around your home.

If you read "Broadcast Your iPod to FM Radio" [Hack #5] , you might have noted that the FM transmitters discussed seemed to work like very weak FM stations. Unsurprisingly, that is precisely the function of the mentioned FM transmitters. Their power, and thus range, is limited by FCC regulations. This hack details how to amplify the signal from an FM transmitter to cover a larger area.

Here's what you'll need to complete this hack:

An iPod
An FM transmitter
Various electronic components (listed later in this hack)
A soldering iron
Fearless voiding of the FM transmitter's warranty

Strictly speaking, you don't have to build anything, because there is a wide variety of available kits and prebuilt devices that will save you the trouble. One example is the FM100B Super Pro FM Stereo Radio Station Kit (http://www.ramseyelectronics.com; $269.95). This solution will provide much better quality than the following design, but it has a few drawbacks. The first is that it costs $269.95, and the second is that it is much more interesting (and cheaper) to build something like this from scratch.

Before I get to the specifics of this hack, let me note that if you're living in the United States (or one of several other countries), this hack is illegal. That means you shouldn't do it—rather, think of this hack as a Gedanken experiment. After all, no one has attempted Schrödinger's cat. If you live outside the United States, check with your local authorities before starting to make sure you're not violating local regulations. If you're the sovereign of a small nation, by all means proceed with reckless abandon.

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Tired of listening through headphones? Turn your iPod into a boom box.

The iPod is a great portable audio device. We all know that. But sometimes you want to listen to music without (gasp!) headphones. With a simple cable, you can hook up your iPod to a boom box or stereo. And, with the addition of a couple products, your iPod can become the boom box. Imagine, a boom box with full access to your entire digital library and the small size and portability of the iPod.

The easiest way to connect your iPod to an external speaker is by buying a headphone-jack-to-RCA audio cable from an electronics store such as RadioShack. Plug the cable into your iPod headphone jack (or your iPod dock if you have one) and then plug the RCA audio jacks into your stereo receiver. Now, all the music you have on your iPod can be played on your home stereo. The sound quality is surprisingly good. You can also plug your iPod into your boom box this way.

The previous solution is great if you want to use your iPod with your home stereo. But what if you want to listen to your iPod on your deck or take a little iPod stereo with you on vacation so you can jam to some tunes in your hotel room? The best tool for the job is Altec Lansing's inMotion portable audio system (http://www.alteclansing.com/store.asp; $149.95), an ultraportable powered speaker system made especially for the iPod. Connecting your iPod to the inMotion unit is as easy as placing your generation 2 or later iPod or iPod Mini into your iPod's dock. The inMotion includes the following features:

A highly efficient digital amplifier (Class D)
High-performance, custom-designed neodymium Micro Drivers that delivers crystal-clear sound
Extra-long battery life that delivers up to 24 hours of continuous playback with four AA batteries

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Got a party coming up? Leave that stack of vinyl at home and take two iPods with you to mix it up digital-music style.

It's inevitable that when a new music format becomes popular, people will want to DJ with it. It happened with vinyl, it happened with CDs—well, okay, it didn't quite happen with eight-tracks or cassettes. But what about digital formats such as MP3 or AAC? It is possible to DJ with your iPod, and although the iPod presents some barriers to creating a professional-sounding DJ show, you can still achieve good results. There are two main ways to DJ with your iPod: the first way consists of connecting two iPods to a mixing board, and the other is achieved when you connect two iPods to your computer.

To DJ using two iPods and a mixing board, you will need the following items:

Two iPods
Two headphone-jack-to-RCA cables
A mixing board
An amplifier
Speakers

This setup mimics the traditional basic DJ setup of two turntables connected to a mixing board. We are substituting iPods for turntables, but unfortunately, this is not just a simple matter of swapping one for another. There are a few issues we need to address first.

Section : Connectivity and amplification.

For this setup, we will utilize the headphone jack on the iPod. This allows us to cut a computer out of the equation, providing a more portable setup. Simply connect your two iPods to your mixing board using headphone to RCA cables. There is, however, a problem with using the headphone jack: the lack of adequate amplification. Sure, the iPod offers enough power to jack up the volume on your headphones, but when you're trying to blast the ears off your audience with speakers, it's simply not enough. If you connect your iPod directly to your mixing board through the headphone jack, you'll find that the sound quality degrades tremendously right around the halfway volume setting on your iPod. You will be able to increase the volume significantly from that point, but the quality of sound will be unacceptable.

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Use a Pocket PC to record the "sounds" an infrared remote makes, transfer them to your iPod, and start changing channels with your new universal remote control.

We're going to take an iPod and turn it into a universal infrared (IR) remote control, which can be used to control all your home electronic equipment, or just about anything that uses a remote control. For example, in my home, my iPod controls my TV, DVD player, Direct TV, Ultimate TV PVR, Media Center PC, Xbox, XM Satellite Radio, Roomba, and a few other random things, such as a robot. Figure 1-14 shows a variety of remotes your iPod can replace.

To do this, we are going to "record" the "sounds" an infrared remote makes on a PC and then put them on an iPod as songs. Adding a special sound-to-IR converter then turns those sounds back to IR and allows you to use your iPod as a remote control. As an added bonus, it works from up to 100 feet away. It's a slick all-in-one unit, and you'll never go back to using multiple remotes again.

Here's what you'll need for this hack:

An iPod (doesn't matter which one)
A Mac or PC with sound recording software
A Pocket PC (any Pocket PC 2002/2003 should work)
Griffin's Total Remote software and IR device (http://www.griffintechnology.com/griffinmobile/totalremote/; $24.99)

Figure 1-14: One iPod to control a collection of remotes

The most important element is the sound-to-IR converter from Griffin, shown in Figure 1-15. This device (and software) was meant to extend the range of Pocket PCs and add consumer IR capabilities. You are first going to use the Pocket PC software to input the IR signals from your remotes, convert these signals to sound files, and then use your iPod to play those sounds through the sound-to-IR converter to control your devices.

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The iPod is perfect for road trips on your motorcycle (or scooter). You just have to make your iPod play nice with the open road.

Installing the iPod for motorcycle use can be done fairly easily with a little time and effort. Two primary considerations are whether you are integrating the iPod into an existing intercom/audio system and whether the iPod will be run off its own battery or will need to be powered off the bike.

It goes without saying that safety comes first when riding. Listening to music while riding adds another layer of distraction. I recommend listening to your music through headphones built in to your helmet, rather than blasting it through external speakers. Either way, exercise discretion when listening while riding, and check your state laws.

If you are integrating the iPod into an existing audio system, it is very likely that this audio system will have its own internal amplifier that will take over the volume functions. If your motorcycle does not have an existing intercom or audio system for you to add the iPod to, you will need to consider adding an additional amplifier, as the iPod's volume will not be enough for you to hear your music clearly through your helmet speakers. There are several small audio amps on the market that can do the job. The one I like best is sold both in kit form and as an assembled amp and can be purchased online from Hobbytron.com (http://www.hobbytron.net/CK122.html; $14.00 or $29.95 fully assembled).

Two basic problems present themselves for installing an iPod on a motorcycle. The first is what to do with the wires, and the second is how to be able to use the remote. Typically, you will want to mount the iPod on some foam in an out-of-the-way location where it is protected from rain, such as in a fairing pocket or a non-magnetic tank bag. As a side note, never put an iPod in a magnetic tank bag, because that will damage the hard drive.

One way to help alleviate the wiring mess is to break the audio lines out of the remote cable, so that your headset or audio connector does not have to be plugged into the end of the remote control. This allows you to route the remote to a position on the handlebars where it is convenient to use, yet you don't have the additional audio output cable plugged into the end of it. It requires that you carefully slice open the sheath on the remote cable and extract and splice into the three small audio wires. These wires are color-coded red, white, and black.

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Upgrade your car's console to house the iPod and integrate the iPod with your car's audio and electrical systems.

Sure, you can easily listen to your iPod in your car [Hack #5] . However, if you want to take your hacking skills to the next level, this hack gives you the knowledge you need to give your iPod the props it deserves by integrating it into your car's interior. Once you've completed this hack, your iPod will have a permanent place in your car, integrated with the car's electrical systems. Take a look at Figure 1-23 and get pumped up!

This hack involves some dangerous chemicals and materials. Make sure you observe extreme caution and care when handling them.

Figure 1-23: An iPod integrated into the car's console

Here's a list of the materials you will need and where you can purchase them. Materials should cost you $400–$500:

CompUSA or the Apple Store

Monster iCable for iPod (with stereo mini-jack to RCA jacks)
Belkin car charger

Alcone Theatrical Supply(http://www.alconeco.com/frame_popular.html)

Klean Klay (at least 10–12 1-lb bars)
Ultracal 30 plaster (25 pounds)
Loose-weave burlap (2–3 yards)

Burman Industries(http://www.burmanfoam.com)

Sculpting tools
One-gallon mixing tub or one-gallon bucket

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Sure, the new BMW/Apple integrated iPod/car solution is cool—if you have a BMW. If you don't, you can still integrate your iPod into your car's electronic system in no time.

When I'm driving, I want easy access to a wide variety of music that doesn't take up a lot of space. The iPod is an almost perfect solution, and third-party vendors offer a wide range of accessories that make integrating an iPod into your vehicle easy.

Still, controlling the iPod while driving can be awkward and distracting. My car, like many others, has steering wheel buttons that can be used to control the factory-installed radio and CD player. With this hack, you will be able to use these buttons to control your iPod from your steering wheel. How? By hacking the iPod remote.

It's always fun to take things apart, so let's start with that. I have a generation 2 (G2) iPod, which means that it has a standard FireWire connector instead of a dock, and it uses a different connector for the remote than the latest iPods do. The shiny exterior that looks like metal really is metal—don't try to bend it! Remove the white plastic portion (the clip and back of the remote) by using a small screwdriver to pry it out of the case, as in Figure 1-38. The best place to do this is on the same side as the hold switch, just past the green dot, by the b in the phrase "assembled in China." The PC board (including the headphone jack) will remain in the metal case.

Figure 1-37: The iPod at night

There are two pins in the metal case that hold the PC board. These don't bend and make removing the PC board somewhat difficult.

Although the connector at the end of the G2 iPod's remote differs from that of the G3 or G4 iPod, both cables carry six wires: three analog signals are fed directly to the headphone jack, and three go to a small microcontroller and handle the remote-control functions. To reduce noise, the analog and digital grounds are kept separate in the remote. The extra pin on the later iPod's connector is not connected to any wires in the cable. See Figure 1-39 for a peek at the button side and chip side of the opened remote.

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Turn your iPod mini into a mini radio broadcaster.

With an iPod, you have in your hands a ton of music. Ever wanted to be a DJ at a radio station? Just add an FM broadcaster (the iTrip mini) to your iPod and, with a little hackery, you can be broadcasting your own little local-area radio station.

Here's what you'll need for this hack:

An iPod mini
An iTrip mini
Additional iPods, iTalks, and iTrips (all optional)

To become your own pirate broadcast station, you'll first need to increase the range and signal of your iTrip mini. It's not obvious, but there is an antenna built inside the iTrip mini. All you need to do is remove the top sticker-like protective covering that hides the antenna and then, using tweezers or your fingernails, pull out the antenna. I've found that this produces a 20% to 30% increase of range, on average. Be warned, though, that this likely voids the warranty.

The iTrip mini allows you to install and broadcast to all the stations on the dial. Make sure you've installed all the stations, because when you're on the go you might need to be able to switch to other options. Remember, the iTrip is an FM broadcasting device, intended to broadcast 10 to 30 feet to an FM radio.

Next, choose your broadcast. It can be any song or a spoken-word MP3; don't worry, I have a few suggestions. A lot depends on the situation you're in.

I usually keep a couple tracks of silence or calming music ready to go. Ever get stuck at a stop light for 10 minutes with the dude in the next car blasting a song you hate on the radio? With the super-easy iPod interface, you can quickly get to the station he's on and send over whatever you want. Gentle ocean waves or birdsong usually works well.

While many of the suggestions in this hack are for pure fun, please make sure to check with your state laws regarding radio frequency use.

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With a couple handy additions from Belkin, you can turn your iPod into a Dictaphone.

In this age of voice-recognition technology, the almighty Dictaphone is still, well, almighty. Dictating to a computer will still render your eloquent speech garbled, even though great strides have been made in voice recognition. When the iPod first came out, many people thought that because it looked like a Dictaphone, it must be one. Sure enough, when a newer version of the iPod's firmware came out, irreverent hackers like you and me noticed that there was a voice-recording ability (albeit only six seconds) embedded deep in the iPod's firmware. This discovery was a hint of great things to come. With this hack, your iPod can become a Dictaphone extraordinaire.

Belkin makes two recording products for the iPod. The first is called the Voice Recorder for iPod (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process? Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=158384; $59.99). It is a self-contained unit; just plug it into your iPod, and start talking into the built-in microphone. The second product, the Universal Microphone Adapter (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Product_Id=169368; $39.99), has no built-in microphone. Instead, you plug a microphone into it.

Another key difference between the two is the quality of the recorded audio. The Voice Recorder saves mono WAV files, making it appropriate for (as its name portends) voice recording. The Universal Microphone Adapter saves 16-bit audio at 8 kHz, which, while not exactly studio quality, is much better than mono audio.

The two Belkin voice recorder products will record hundreds of hours of audio. If you are a reporter working your own beat, you can use your iPod to record interviews, store digital photos [Hack #3] , and listen to music in between.

If you plan on using the iPod to record your epiphanies or soliloquies, the Voice Recorder is probably your best bet. If you want to record interviews or meetings, the omnidirectional built-in microphone on the Voice Recorder will certainly suffice. However, using a microphone plugged into the Universal Microphone Adapter will yield clearer results, particularly in circumstances where the room is large.

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Breathe some new life into your generation 1 or 2 iPod by replacing its battery.

Much hoopla has been raised about the life, or lack thereof, of the iPod's battery. And while many users of the first 5 GB iPod model are still using the battery with no problem whatsoever, the fact is that batteries do eventually run out of juice. You won't wake up one day to find your battery dead; rather, expect a long, slow descent that involves shorter and shorter battery life between recharges. Eventually, you're going to have to replace the battery.

This hack shows how to replace the battery for a G1 or G2 iPod. If you have a G3 iPod, see "Replace Your Generation 3 iPod's Battery" [Hack #16] . If you have an iPod mini, see "Replace Your iPod Mini's Battery" [Hack #17] .

Replacing the battery yourself is a pretty easy task, but if you're the kind of person who frets about dings or if you have no mechanical ability whatsoever, your best bet is to send your iPod to Apple or a quality third-party shop to get the battery replaced. Apple's iPod Battery Replacement Program (http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/service/battery.html) will cost you $99.00, plus $6.95 for shipping. Apple will take a week or two to put a new battery in your iPod and return it to you. If you're adventurous, or too impatient to go two weeks without your magical music box, then read on.

Before you get started, you'll need to acquire a new battery for your iPod and one of the following tools:

A thin, flathead screwdriver; I use a 2.5-mm flat blade made by Wiha of Germany (http://www.wihatools.com)
The PDA Smart plastic disassembly tools
A guitar pick (the hard plastic kind, not the newer rubberized kind)

Far and away, the best tool for the job is the one supplied by PDA Smart, because it's plastic and won't scratch or mar the original case. Since I'm of the school that a ding here and there adds character to an item, I just use a screwdriver. A guitar pick is easy to get hold of and will get the job done, but it's a pain to work with.

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It's not quite as easy as changing batteries on a Walkman, but you can change your generation 3 iPod's batteries yourself.

The procedure is slightly more complicated with a G3 iPod than it is for a G1 or G2 iPod, but it's still perfectly manageable.

For more about why you might want to replace your iPod's battery yourself and what your other options are, see "Replace Your Generation 1 or 2 iPod's Battery" [Hack #15] . If you think you want to try the operation yourself, be sure to also read the disclaimer at the beginning of that hack.

Here's what you'll need for this hack:

A thin, flathead screwdriver; I use a 2.5-mm flat blade made by Wiha of Germany (http://www.wihatools.com)
The PDA Smart plastic disassembly tools
A guitar pick (the hard plastic kind, not the newer rubberized kind)
Needle-nose pliers
A new iPod battery

Far and away, the best tool for the job is the one supplied by PDA Smart, because it's plastic and won't scratch or mar the original case. Since I'm of the school that a ding here and there adds character to an item, I just use a screwdriver. A guitar pick is easy to get hold of and will get the job done, but it's a pain to work with.

The iPod batteries are all standard off-the-shelf units, so it doesn't matter where you buy them. PDASmart.com (http://www.pdasmart.com) and ipodbattery.com (http://www.ipodbattery.com) are both good sources. PDASmart.com also provides the plastic disassembly tools noted previously.

The G3 metal case backs are much tighter than the G1 and G2 iPods' case backs and contain some limited electronic components (the audio port hardware is soldered onto the metal case back). Thus, the metal case half is tethered to the main component board by a very delicate ribbon cable that you should not disconnect; the cable is extremely delicate!

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Has your iPod mini run out of gas? You can replace the battery yourself.

If it seems ridiculous to you to send your iPod mini back to Apple (or a qualified third-party shop) just to have a new battery installed, you might want to have a go at doing it yourself. The procedure is similar to that for changing a G1 or G2 iPod's battery [Hack #15] . It might sound daunting, but with the right tools and the instructions in this hack, you'll be able to accomplish the task in no time at all.

Before you get started, be sure to check out the disclaimer in "Replace Your Generation 1 or 2 iPod's Battery" [Hack #15] .

Here's what you'll need if you decide to undertake this battery-changing mission:

A thin, flathead screwdriver; I strongly recommend the Wiha brand (http://www.wihatools.com)
A #000 Phillips screwdriver (Wiha strongly recommended)
A hair dryer
Needle-nose pliers (the smaller, the better)
A new battery

Turn off your iPod mini and place the hold button on (so orange is showing).

The white plastic end caps on the iPod mini are held in place with an adhesive substance that will give up some of its stick when heated, so use your hair dryer to gently warm up the end caps to make the job much easier. By gently, I mean you shouldn't turn the dryer onto High and blast away; start on a low power setting and move the dryer back and forth. You want to avoid changing the iPod's temperature too quickly to avoid even the slightest chance of thermal shock.

Working on one end at a time, once the plastic bits are warm/hot to the touch, use the thin-bladed screwdriver to gently pry up the end caps. Start by inserting the blade at the middle of the enclosure and work your way around. Take your time and be careful not to slip. The top cap is held on with nothing more than the adhesive, but the bottom cap has two plastic tabs on either side. They are relatively strong, but be careful when prying on the edges. The bottom cap also has some tiny plastic standoffs that will probably break off when you remove the cap. I broke off most of them when I disassembled my minis, but it doesn't seem to have had any ill effect.

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Sometimes an electrical outlet is not available. This hack contains all the information you'll need to build your own battery-based iPod External Charger.

The iPod External Charger allows iPod users to run their iPods off (and charge their iPods' internal batteries with) eight standard and easily replaceable AA batteries. One of the best aspects of the charger is that it's really cheap to build!

Table 1-5 lists the parts you need. RadioShack parts can be found at your local RadioShack or at http://www.radioshack.com.

Table 1-5: The parts you will need
Part	What the part does	How many you need	Part #	Cost
RadioShack AA battery holder	Holds four AA batteries	Two	RadioShack Part #270-383	$1.59 each
RadioShack fully insulated 9V connectors	Attaches the battery holders	Two	RadioShack Part #270-325	$1.99 each
RadioShack heat-shrink tubing	Shrinks when heated to seal connections	One packet	RadioShack Part #278-1627	$2.39 each

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With a sheet of acetate and a few simple tools, you can convert your iPod's LED lights to any color you want.

Personally, I like my pants to match my shirt, and on the generation 3 (G3) series iPods, the fact that the LED buttons and LCD display light up like a police car pulling me over is a bit annoying. No worries, though; with a sheet of acetate paper from the local art supply store and a couple of tools, I can get my G3 iPod ready for duty on a submarine at battle stations!

Here's what you'll need for this hack:

A case-cracking tool [Hack #16]
A Torx T6 screwdriver (see http://www.wihatools.com)
Red acetate film, cut to 1.9" × 1.5"
A pair of tweezers (optional)

Acetate film is available at art supply and plastics stores. I think red is the only color that really looks good, but feel free to take your iPod into the store and cover the LCD display with whatever colors you fancy testing.

Refer to "Replace Your Generation 3 iPod's Battery" [Hack #16] for detailed instructions on how to get the iPod apart. Also, heed the warnings in "Replace Your Generation 1 or 2 iPod's Battery" [Hack #15] and consider just how badly you really want to change your LCD's colors. There is risk involved here.

Follow the instructions in "Replace Your Generation 3 iPod's Battery" [Hack #16] to open your iPod and remove the hard drive and battery.

You do not need to disconnect the audio connection jack (soldered into the metal case half) from the main board. The connection is extremely delicate, and you're best off leaving it intact and being careful not to stress the ribbon cable too much.

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Stream music from your iPod to your local area network using Rendezvous and a Pocket PC.

Taking your music to a party has always been a problem. You had to select a few CDs that you could carry, pack them, take them to the party, play them, and then make sure you recovered them and took them safely home. Portable music players partially solved the problem: you no longer had to select the CDs, because you could just take your entire music collection with you. But you still had the problem of connecting your player to the music system. It's the same with bringing your music collection to your workplace: few allow you to connect an iPod to your computer.

One option is to turn your iPod into a portable boom box [Hack #7] . You can hook your iPod up to a stereo with a headphone jack to RCA audio cable, or you can pick up a set of Altec Lansing's inMotion portable speakers (http://www.alteclansing.com/store.asp; $149.95). But wouldn't it be nice to be able to do all this wirelessly, without even having to take your iPod out of your bag?

Pocketster (http://www.simeda.com/pocketster.html; free) is an application that allows your Pocket PC to be discovered by other Pocket PCs in the area or by any computer running a Rendezvous network. You can also discover other Pocketster users anywhere on your wireless LAN. Pocketster includes a web server (which you can use to publish information) and a music preview utility that allows you to stream music files from nearby Pocketster users.

Pocketster Pro (http://www.simeda.com/pocketster.html; $ 14.95; limited trial version available), the advanced version of Pocketster, takes the idea a step further and adds an iPod module. The module enables you to publish your iPod playlists and have anyone in the area listen to previews or download tracks wirelessly from those playlists.

This procedure allows you to broadcast and/or share the music on your iPod. You must check the legislation that applies to you and decide accordingly whether this is legal. While some uses might be legal (e.g., bringing your music to a party and playing it from a computer), others (e.g., sharing your music with others on your network) might not be.

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Make your own custom iPod case out of cardboard for next to nothing.

You've eyed them in the Apple Store, online, and in various other computer stores. Yet none of the commercially available iPod cases that you have seen manages to substitute individuality for the coolness of the raw iPod in the necessary ratio to warrant its purchase. You want something to protect your cool, sleek iPod, but you also want something that maintains the coolness factor and makes your iPod definitively yours.

Aside from marring the surface of the iPod itself with an engraved quotation (and thereby limiting the resell value of your iPod when Apple comes out with that new 200 GB Video iPod that you have been dreaming of upgrading to) and encasing it in one of the available see-through cases, the only option left within easy reach is to design and make your own iPod case. This hack walks the do-it-yourselfers through the necessary steps to make your own iPod case out of cardboard.

The short answer is, "Why not cardboard?"

The longer reply is that cardboard is a good choice for a do-it-yourself iPod case for many of the same reasons that make it one of the most common forms of packaging. It's cheap, strong, impact-resistant, easily replaceable, and bendable, and although it can be rigid, it still has some give. But perhaps the most important reason is that you can probably find a suitable piece of cardboard for this project lying around your house or place of work.

For this hack, I am using the box top to a case of paper that I snatched from work (note to my boss: I snatched the cardboard top, not the case of paper).

Cardboard is a forgiving medium to use for your first iPod case; if you screw up, it won't cost you anything to start over! After you've gone through these instructions with cardboard, you can try designing your own case out of other materials.

Some of you are probably thinking, "I want to try better, more stylish materials." For you cardboard haters out there, I just want to point out that designers such as Frank Gehry actually build furniture out of cardboard. Google "cardboard chair," and you'll find some of Gehry's designs along-side design-school assignments that require students to design chairs out of cardboard. As the price tags associated with Gehry's designs will testify, cardboard might be inexpensive, but—when nicely styled—

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If you should fin

Table of Contents

Section : Connectivity and amplification.