Introduction: IPod Nano 3g Hacking

Want to have fun on your iPod without buying any unreliable firmware? Here's how you can amaze everyone as you hack your iPod. The thing is, you don't actually hack it. You use a special diagnostic mode that looks like you have hacked it. It is a very simple progress that takes no more than 5 minutes.

Step 1: Veiw All Steps on One Page Even If You Are Not a Pro Member

Want to have fun on your iPod without buying any unreliable firmware? Here's how you can amaze everyone as you hack your iPod. The thing is, you don't actually hack it. You use a special diagnostic mode that looks like you have hacked it. It is a very simple progress that takes no more than 5 minutes.

Materials

-iPod nano 3g
-This instructable
-A computer in case you lock up your iPod

Time
-5 minutes or less

First you must turn on your iPod by pressing any button.

Now you must reset your ipod and quickly after it shuts down hold the rewind and center button.

There are 9 menu items:
  • Power
  • Sleep
  • Audio
  • Video
  • LCD
  • 10
  • Memory
  • TouchWheel
  • About

Menu Items

Here is a list of all the menu items with what they do.

Power: The Power menu has 5 items in it.

  • ACC_Identify: Tells you the voltage in your iPod (Usually around 2.5V)
  • Battery A2D test: Tells you statur about the battery, including the voltage and Ref.
  • HighPower: Makes your screens brighter and forces the iPod to use as much as it can; this is usually used for battery drainage.
  • Charge Current Volt: Tells you your Cur (in mA) and your battery voltage. (If you plug in your charger the voltage rises.
  • Reset: Resets your iPod the same way as when you hold the "Center" and "Menu" buttons.

Sleep: The sleep menu only has one item in it.

  • DeepSleep: Put's your iPod into a deep sleep, it's for when you want your iPod to use almost no energy at all. (The iPod, when turned off normally, still uses a lot of energy. In DeepSleep your iPod can be uncharged for weeks)

Audio: The audio menu contains two items in it.

  • Headphone Test: This detects if headphones are plugged in; great for testing a faulty jack. HP_DETECT:0 means that no headphones are detected, and HP_DETECT:1 means that there are headphones detected. The number is updated in real-time.
  • Audio Test: This allows for various audio tests. The default it that when you press "PLAY" a 1K loud ring sounds through the headphones. If compatible hardware is inserted, PREV and NEXT can be used to record and playback a recording.

Video: Only one menu item.

  • TV Pattern Test: This performs the same test in the LCD section but on your TV. You must have an adapter to connect the iPod to the TV. Simply press the Action (Center) button to change patters. At end you will be prompted on both the TV and the iPod to select "Menu" to quit. Do so.

LCD: This menu is often described as the most fun.

  • ColorPattern: Upon clicking the Action (Center) button, you are presented with different color patterns on your iPod screen. You must continue through them with your Action button until you are prompted to quit with "Menu"
  • Backlight: Here you can control the backlight for testing purposes. The Action (Center) button turns the backlight ON, the PLAY button turns it OFF, and the Forward and Reverse buttons brighten and darken it respectively. Press Menu to quit.
  • ReadLCMID: Tells you stats about your tiny LCD screen. Includes: Vendor ID, Panel ID, BuildID and, Read ID

: For checking hardware in the iPod.

  • ACC_SwitchTest: Tests the ACC switch test if you have the proper hardware.
  • 10Status tells you what is plugged into or part of your iPod. (List: HP_DETECT, LCD_ID1, LCD_ID0, USB_DETECT, FW_DETECT, ACC_DETECT, HOLD_SWITCH)

Memory: Two menu items.

  • SdramQScan: As the name implies, this checks you SDRAM with a quick scan to ensure it works. You will be notified either with a simple "SDRAM Pass!" or failure...
  • NANDSpec: NAND is the type of flash memory that the iPod Nano 3G uses as it's harddrive. This tells you the LBA and the size in GB.

TouchWheel: Check your buttons with two menu items.

  • TouchWheel ID: Tells the ID of the touch wheel.
  • WheelAndKey: By touching your finger to the touch wheel you can see what sectors you are touching (1-9, A-F) and also test how responsive the buttons are. To exit press the "Menu" key three times.

About:

  • This just tells you information about your iPod. (Serial number, model number, version, etc.

Warnings

  • The iPod Nano debug mode can not harm your Nano, but it is confusing. At any time if you feel you should get out of debug mode, just hold the "Menu" and "Center" buttons simultaneously until your iPod restarts into it's normal mode.
  • Draining your battery with HighPower can shorten the life of your battery; use with caution.

Step 2: Materials

Materials

-iPod nano 3g
-This instructable
-A computer in case you lock up your iPod

Time
-5 minutes or less

Step 3: Turn on Your IPod

First you must turn on your iPod by pressing any button.

Step 4: Reset Your IPod

Now you must reset your ipod and quickly after it shuts down hold the rewind and center button.

Step 5: Toy Around

There are 9 menu items:
  • Power
  • Sleep
  • Audio
  • Video
  • LCD
  • 10
  • Memory
  • TouchWheel
  • About

Menu Items

Here is a list of all the menu items with what they do.

Power: The Power menu has 5 items in it.

  • ACC_Identify: Tells you the voltage in your iPod (Usually around 2.5V)
  • Battery A2D test: Tells you statur about the battery, including the voltage and Ref.
  • HighPower: Makes your screens brighter and forces the iPod to use as much as it can; this is usually used for battery drainage.
  • Charge Current Volt: Tells you your Cur (in mA) and your battery voltage. (If you plug in your charger the voltage rises.
  • Reset: Resets your iPod the same way as when you hold the "Center" and "Menu" buttons.

Sleep: The sleep menu only has one item in it.

  • DeepSleep: Put's your iPod into a deep sleep, it's for when you want your iPod to use almost no energy at all. (The iPod, when turned off normally, still uses a lot of energy. In DeepSleep your iPod can be uncharged for weeks)

Audio: The audio menu contains two items in it.

  • Headphone Test: This detects if headphones are plugged in; great for testing a faulty jack. HP_DETECT:0 means that no headphones are detected, and HP_DETECT:1 means that there are headphones detected. The number is updated in real-time.
  • Audio Test: This allows for various audio tests. The default it that when you press "PLAY" a 1K loud ring sounds through the headphones. If compatible hardware is inserted, PREV and NEXT can be used to record and playback a recording.

Video: Only one menu item.

  • TV Pattern Test: This performs the same test in the LCD section but on your TV. You must have an adapter to connect the iPod to the TV. Simply press the Action (Center) button to change patters. At end you will be prompted on both the TV and the iPod to select "Menu" to quit. Do so.

LCD: This menu is often described as the most fun.

  • ColorPattern: Upon clicking the Action (Center) button, you are presented with different color patterns on your iPod screen. You must continue through them with your Action button until you are prompted to quit with "Menu"
  • Backlight: Here you can control the backlight for testing purposes. The Action (Center) button turns the backlight ON, the PLAY button turns it OFF, and the Forward and Reverse buttons brighten and darken it respectively. Press Menu to quit.
  • ReadLCMID: Tells you stats about your tiny LCD screen. Includes: Vendor ID, Panel ID, BuildID and, Read ID

: For checking hardware in the iPod.

  • ACC_SwitchTest: Tests the ACC switch test if you have the proper hardware.
  • 10Status tells you what is plugged into or part of your iPod. (List: HP_DETECT, LCD_ID1, LCD_ID0, USB_DETECT, FW_DETECT, ACC_DETECT, HOLD_SWITCH)

Memory: Two menu items.

  • SdramQScan: As the name implies, this checks you SDRAM with a quick scan to ensure it works. You will be notified either with a simple "SDRAM Pass!" or failure...
  • NANDSpec: NAND is the type of flash memory that the iPod Nano 3G uses as it's harddrive. This tells you the LBA and the size in GB.

TouchWheel: Check your buttons with two menu items.

  • TouchWheel ID: Tells the ID of the touch wheel.
  • WheelAndKey: By touching your finger to the touch wheel you can see what sectors you are touching (1-9, A-F) and also test how responsive the buttons are. To exit press the "Menu" key three times.

About:

  • This just tells you information about your iPod. (Serial number, model number, version, etc.

Warnings

  • The iPod Nano debug mode can not harm your Nano, but it is confusing. At any time if you feel you should get out of debug mode, just hold the "Menu" and "Center" buttons simultaneously until your iPod restarts into it's normal mode.
  • Draining your battery with HighPower can shorten the life of your battery; use with caution.


Step 6: Finish

Now you can go and impress your friends. Be sure to use this wisely.

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