iPod mini maxed out with CF card

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]

[andrew @ Mar 1st 2007 9:11AM]

how do you all think the battery life would be on this?

[Kasey @ Mar 1st 2007 9:21AM]

I would assume better battery life because moving parts (HDD) have been eliminated

[Phil B @ Mar 1st 2007 9:42AM]

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 ...

[Todd Long @ Mar 1st 2007 10:40AM]

Because if your microdrive fails then you're screwed! However, this mod will fix that issue =)

[psxp @ Mar 1st 2007 10:13AM]

Battery life was never that good on the Mini's - worse on the Gen 1 models

[Matt @ Mar 1st 2007 10:42AM]

This is a day late..


http://apple-group.blogspot.com/2007/02/mini-m0d.html

[nick @ Mar 1st 2007 10:50AM]

@ 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.

[nick @ Mar 1st 2007 10:52AM]

@ 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.

[Mr. B @ Mar 1st 2007 10:57AM]

...now it just needs Rockbox.

[Chris @ Mar 1st 2007 11:14AM]

What about putting an 8GB CF card in. Would that work? That seems like a more useful mod.

[Matt @ Mar 1st 2007 11:20AM]

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.

[Dankoozy @ Mar 17th 2007 2:03PM]

Why not 16? they do exist now. and 20GB microdrives this year I think

[daschupa @ Mar 1st 2007 12:09PM]

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.

[Agent M @ Mar 1st 2007 12:13PM]

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

[Matt @ Mar 1st 2007 12:52PM]

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.

[G$ @ Mar 1st 2007 12:18PM]

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)

[LTM @ Mar 1st 2007 2:18PM]

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.

[Taylor @ Mar 1st 2007 3:26PM]

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

[SurferNerd @ Mar 1st 2007 3:56PM]

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.

[Christopher @ Mar 1st 2007 6:46PM]

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?

[Kev50027 @ Mar 1st 2007 7:07PM]

The iPod mini is most possibly the worst iPod ever made. All iPods were horrid, but the iPod mini was just junk.

[Jacob @ Mar 1st 2007 7:22PM]

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

[G$ @ Mar 7th 2007 4:45PM]

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.

[G$ @ Mar 7th 2007 4:45PM]

Sorry, *three* different iPod Minis.

[markie @ Mar 5th 2007 5:18PM]

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