Comments on: iPod touch http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/ Technology and Mac geekery. One part exuberance, two parts obsession. Sat, 06 Nov 2010 02:41:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chris Hutcherson http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-144651 Chris Hutcherson Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:40:06 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-144651 Does anyone else worry that the Nano 4 feels too light and is so thin that it will easily break ? Does anyone else worry that the Nano 4 feels too light and is so thin that it will easily break ?

]]> By: Collin http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-134541 Collin Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:18:10 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-134541 The square BGA chip there, the one with the Apple logo on it, is the ARM processor. Ten to one, it's the same CPU used in the high end model. So, yes, swapping the boards would be easier, but if someone were to go the flash desoldering route, they probably wouldn't have to replace the CPU as well. Swapping BGA chips requires tools usually beyond the reach of even the most hardcore DIY-ers. In any case, the required parts are currently too expensive to attempt this and make it worth investing time and money. The square BGA chip there, the one with the Apple logo on it, is the ARM processor. Ten to one, it’s the same CPU used in the high end model. So, yes, swapping the boards would be easier, but if someone were to go the flash desoldering route, they probably wouldn’t have to replace the CPU as well. Swapping BGA chips requires tools usually beyond the reach of even the most hardcore DIY-ers. In any case, the required parts are currently too expensive to attempt this and make it worth investing time and money.

]]> By: dolly http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-134520 dolly Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:18:43 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-134520 swapping the board completely seems simpler but wouldn't you need the rest of the components that are connected to the board as well such as the arm chip? swapping the board completely seems simpler but wouldn’t you need the rest of the components that are connected to the board as well such as the arm chip?

]]> By: Collin http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-134464 Collin Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:48:23 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-134464 Possibly after I get one :-) It looks tedious, though... The iPod Touch's persistent data is stored on Flash, which is soldered to one of the daughter cards inside the device: <center><img src="http://www.command-tab.com/images/ipods/ipod_touch_flash_upgrade.jpg" alt="iPod Touch Flash Memory" /></center> (credit to <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/09/15/ipod_touch_tear_down_with_high_quality_internal_photos.html" rel="nofollow">AppleInsider</a> for the photo) Those two Toshiba TSOP TH58NVG5D4CTG20 chips are 32 Gigabit (4 GigaBytes) each, making up the 8 GB in the entry level Touch model. I'll bet it's possible to desolder those chips and replace them with higher capacity ones, but it's a serious soldering project not for the faint of heart. It would be much, much easier just to swap that entire board out with a newer one, if all the connectors still mate. It looks do-able, but I'll likely do far more software hacking than hardware, given the dense arrangement of components inside. Possibly after I get one :-) It looks tedious, though… The iPod Touch’s persistent data is stored on Flash, which is soldered to one of the daughter cards inside the device:

iPod Touch Flash Memory

(credit to AppleInsider for the photo)

Those two Toshiba TSOP TH58NVG5D4CTG20 chips are 32 Gigabit (4 GigaBytes) each, making up the 8 GB in the entry level Touch model. I’ll bet it’s possible to desolder those chips and replace them with higher capacity ones, but it’s a serious soldering project not for the faint of heart. It would be much, much easier just to swap that entire board out with a newer one, if all the connectors still mate.

It looks do-able, but I’ll likely do far more software hacking than hardware, given the dense arrangement of components inside.

]]> By: Kyle Floyd http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-134459 Kyle Floyd Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:33:32 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-134459 Any idea when you might do a tutorial on upgrading a Touch's hard drive? Any idea when you might do a tutorial on upgrading a Touch’s hard drive?

]]> By: Collin http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-134323 Collin Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:28:42 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-134323 Their wording "5-30v" should mean "anywhere from 5 to 30 volts", as these devices almost always have some sort of power regulation to take whatever is in that range and make it into what the circuitry needs. I've give it a shot, but you may want to ask Apple support or check another place (forums?) before trying it. Their wording “5-30v” should mean “anywhere from 5 to 30 volts”, as these devices almost always have some sort of power regulation to take whatever is in that range and make it into what the circuitry needs. I’ve give it a shot, but you may want to ask Apple support or check another place (forums?) before trying it.

]]> By: AlanScott http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-134305 AlanScott Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:22:07 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-134305 I've had a second-generation 20gig iPod for three years. I ALWAYS charged it with a 2004 model Apple wall charger, Model A1070, which has marked output of "13 v == 0.62 A." That second-generation iPod started getting glitchy, so I just bought a new 80 gig iPod Classic. Can I use the A1070 old wall charger with the Classic? The plug fits into the new iPod's dock connector just fine, but I am afraid to plug the charger into the wall unless I am sure it is compatible. My new iPod Classic 80 gig is stamped at the dock connector "Rated 5-30 v == 1 A max." I don't know if that means "5.3 volts" (the output of a USB port, right?), or a permissible range of 5 to 30 volts. Mainly, I don't know if it's safe to plug the 13-volt Apple wall charger into the Classic. Can somebody give me some guidance on this? I’ve had a second-generation 20gig iPod for three years. I ALWAYS charged it with a 2004 model Apple wall charger, Model A1070, which has marked output of “13 v == 0.62 A.” That second-generation iPod started getting glitchy, so I just bought a new 80 gig iPod Classic. Can I use the A1070 old wall charger with the Classic? The plug fits into the new iPod’s dock connector just fine, but I am afraid to plug the charger into the wall unless I am sure it is compatible. My new iPod Classic 80 gig is stamped at the dock connector “Rated 5-30 v == 1 A max.” I don’t know if that means “5.3 volts” (the output of a USB port, right?), or a permissible range of 5 to 30 volts. Mainly, I don’t know if it’s safe to plug the 13-volt Apple wall charger into the Classic. Can somebody give me some guidance on this?

]]> By: MangoTru7h http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-129094 MangoTru7h Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:25:40 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-129094 I'm also really interested in the iPod touch. I really want to see what it can do. If it has a voice notes feature like previous ipods (mic in) its possible to get voice chat, or Skype to run on it. sounds fun. I am disappointed that it looks like apple decided to disable the feature to add calendar events and contacts via the multi-touch keyboard. Then again, thats why I'll be watching the hacking community, iPod Touch and iPhone seem to run the same binaries. I’m also really interested in the iPod touch. I really want to see what it can do. If it has a voice notes feature like previous ipods (mic in) its possible to get voice chat, or Skype to run on it. sounds fun.

I am disappointed that it looks like apple decided to disable the feature to add calendar events and contacts via the multi-touch keyboard.

Then again, thats why I’ll be watching the hacking community, iPod Touch and iPhone seem to run the same binaries.

]]> By: PJ http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-129004 PJ Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:42:38 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-129004 Do you think something like what was done with the ipod super could be done with this to include a hdd in order to tap into the touch feature, but then also allow significant storage? Do you think something like what was done with the ipod super could be done with this to include a hdd in order to tap into the touch feature, but then also allow significant storage?

]]> By: PJ http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/comment-page-1/#comment-128844 PJ Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:46:07 +0000 http://www.command-tab.com/2007/09/05/ipod-touch/#comment-128844 I'm excited, but not about the capacity. Think something like the iPod Super is possible, leaving the flash memory in as a base and building on that with a toshiba hdd and a case mod? I’m excited, but not about the capacity. Think something like the iPod Super is possible, leaving the flash memory in as a base and building on that with a toshiba hdd and a case mod?

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