iPod mini maxed out with CF card
By Jeannie Choe 
posted Mar 1st 2007 8:32AM
posted Mar 1st 2007 8:32AM
It looks like iPod minis aren't obsolete just yet thanks to Mark Hoekstra's flash card mod, which entails switching out the original Microdrive with a 4GB flash card. iPod minis served a short term in Appledom, but come to think of it, they're a manageable size, have one of the more durable iPod casings, and they don't look half-bad either. After the modding is complete, a quick restore in iTunes reloads the card with Apple's firmware (you can also upload other software like Podzilla), then you're all set to jam out. So if you own a member of this dying breed (and have a steady hand), use this little proof-of-concept to extend your mini's lifespan while one-upping Apple at the same time.[Via digg]
This sadly does not work with the 2g minis, i found out the hard way. After putting in the CF card itunes would say its corrupted and needs format and after you formatted it it would then do the same thing.
There is a way round it and that involves ipod linux but its like hammering a nail in with your fist :)
Damn shame as i was looking forward to the extended battery life when running a CF card
Cheers
This does work with a 2nd generation iPod Mini, I have done it to there different 2nd gens. Although I can also confirm not all 2nd gens will accept the CF card, as I had one that would only work with a microdrive.
Sorry, *three* different iPod Minis.
Why? My Mini's 4GB already, and it's the battery rather than the drive that would need refreshing. Now, putting a 100Gb drive in there would be something while I wait for a 6th Gen ...
Because if your microdrive fails then you're screwed! However, this mod will fix that issue =)
how do you all think the battery life would be on this?
Battery life was never that good on the Mini's - worse on the Gen 1 models
I would assume better battery life because moving parts (HDD) have been eliminated
LoL, this is old news. It was uploaded to Digg several days ago with comments of users who built it. It betters the battery by about 60%. It only works on Gen 1 iPod mini's. No other device carries the controller. Thanks for the relay tho engadget.
I have a 2d gen mini- battery has always been more than adequate.
This doesn't work on the 2d gens? What would I do for that if I wanted to swap out the HDD for flash?
@ Phil B
Because sometimes hard drives (much like batteries) die, too. In fact, my wife's first-gen mini has just that. I've held on to it not wanting to pay anyone to do a drive replacement, but now I'll most certainly be doing this instead.
And while I'm in there, I might just swap out the battery as well.
What about putting an 8GB CF card in. Would that work? That seems like a more useful mod.
Maybe he didnt have a 8 gb card laying around. I think thw whole point of this mod is to save battery life, speed up transfer time, and not have to worry about the harddrive turning emo.
Why not 16? they do exist now. and 20GB microdrives this year I think
This is a day late..
http://apple-group.blogspot.com/2007/02/mini-m0d.html
@ uncle sjohie
No soldering required. It's a plug n' play mod since CF cards and Microdrives use the same connector. All you should really need is a jeweler's flat-head screwdriver and some patience.
...now it just needs Rockbox.
Is this seriously the first time anyone has done this? I remember trying it out over a year ago when the only track my diminished mini would play was the click of death.
Not bad, but can that iPod play Wii? I don't know if it's real or not, but sure looks cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSje-sBKxQA
Yeah, he's obviously just playing a movie on the iPod. The part where he swings after his character does gives it away for sure.
This is nothing new, people have been doing this for a long time. I have an iPod mini in front of me that has an 8GB CF card in it. The battery life is improved by at least a couple of hours.
http://www.entrenched.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1393
http://homepage.mac.com/jason.parry/mini8gb.html (not flash but proved 8gb was possible)
TO PSXP
The first gen mini's did have terrible battery life, but the 2nd Gen's could run over 20 hours without a charge. Changing the harddrive over to flash along with a fresh battery could possibly allow the 2nd Gen mini to hit over 25 hours on one charge.
Does no one else realize that this idea is older than dirt? People have been doing this to repair broken minis for as long as they've been breaking...
-Taylor
The iPod mini is most possibly the worst iPod ever made. All iPods were horrid, but the iPod mini was just junk.
I just posted an update/add-on to the project. Just the same, but now with 8GB instead of 4GB.
http://geektechnique.org/projectlab/756/flash-based-ipod-mini-update-now-up-to-8gb