Add Compact Flash to almost any iPod

Remember that iPod mini maxed out with a Compact Flash card mod? Well, Mark Hoekstra is back with a new CF card modding picnic that works with any 1/2/3/4G iPod. The mod works (eventually, anyway) by installing a CF adapter of Hoekstra's design. No need to solder all 88 connections yourself! By removing the spinning hard disk, the mod also promises to extend your battery life. As Mark points out, he "won't go all Art Lebedev" on us; he'll produce the adapter for a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time. Good, cause high-density CF cards aren't cheap. Check the mod in full video action after the break. Hey, isn't that the effigy of Steve Jobs on that slice of toast?

[supermeerkat @ Apr 3rd 2007 9:58AM]

Groovy. I have a spare G4 Ipod, this required further investigation.

[strider_mt2k @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:16AM]

They keyboard might be vapor, but it earned him a place in the Lexicon.

[Rynth @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:19AM]

Lol, slice of toast..

I do belive thats the water-pad for wiping off excess solder..

But yes, yes it does look like steve jobs..

[xplode @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:43AM]

i think it's steve jobs effigy on a soldering wet sponge thingy. but i could be wrong, a taste test will tell.

[jps @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:53AM]

Gingham?

Seriously?

Real modders use ... er ... big hulking metallic workbenches? I'm at a loss.

Although in a couple of years when (and if, who knows if there will be a market big enough for this) CF cards get into the 10 gb range, I'll be all over this like a fat kid at a picnic.

[PDubNYC @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:13AM]

Fat kids at picnics are all over compact flash mods? Hmmm, learn something new every day. And do you think it is just a coincidence that after commenting on his gingham table cloth, you mention picnics?

I just couldn't bring myself to mess with my 1G 5GB baby. It has served me so well since dec 2001, I just wouldn't want to f with it.

[Maff @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:02PM]

10Gb range? theres a 16gb in the picture!

[Xander @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:10AM]

This would kick some ass. I may just buy a faulty iPod just to stick in some flash mem.

[KC @ Apr 3rd 2007 12:49PM]

The first thing I saw in the picture was the roll of duct tape. I'll stick to my nano, thank you.

[fullmetalmonkey @ Apr 3rd 2007 12:59PM]

Dugg! http://digg.com/mods/Add_Compact_Flash_to_almost_any_iPod

[GCA @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:08PM]

Ok now who should i mail to get the adapter :-X ?

[vskid3 @ Apr 3rd 2007 8:08PM]

I'm making my own adapter just like this, I just need to get the pinouts down so I know what goes where. Then I'll get to solder all those connections (hooray for soldering :P ). If that guy was really nice, he would supply the pinouts and where the connections go, so that those that want to save some money can make their own adapter.

[juju @ Apr 4th 2007 1:03AM]

hey this is really neat i would like a letter saying when its put

[e-mail]

[jB! @ Apr 4th 2007 6:32AM]

nice video. dont think this is the right forum to reply the requests. he is naming http://geektechnique.org as his own website in the video..

[NeuRd @ Apr 4th 2007 10:20AM]

i love it! ryan (at) neurd (dot) org

[bloody crackdown @ Apr 4th 2007 5:53PM]

Interesting. This is the exact same thing I've been working on. I've found all of the pinouts, I just haven't put together a prototype yet. My iPod HD died a couple of weeks ago, and I thought I could just plug a CF card in, but quickly found that it wouldn't work. I'm just bummed this guy beat me to it! I'll keep working on it, and who knows... maybe it'll work just as well.

[Stevel Knievel @ Apr 5th 2007 12:53AM]

Is that Corky?

[triobot @ Apr 6th 2007 9:40AM]

This guy beat you to it ages ago... He did the Compact Flash for his mini... Go to his site and see it... Its amazing...

[pumkinheads @ Apr 6th 2007 5:01PM]

this is amassing i would be interest in buying this contact me at [e-mail]

[Squished_Squirrel @ Apr 9th 2007 12:47PM]

Of course I didn't find out that the 1.8" HD and CF cards used different pinouts until AFTER installing a 4GB CF card. Ohh well, the flash card still works, but the 4th gen iPod logic board refuses to charge batteries now.

Easier to just buy a replacement HD, brand new ones run $70. Not as robust, but cheaper than a >4GB CF card.

[Squished_Squirrel @ Apr 9th 2007 1:02PM]

For those of you who want to attempt this on your own, here are the links from my research into doing the same:

Connectors for 1.8" HD
http://www.ddknet.co.jp/English/products/print/mcd_d/index.html

IDE to compactflash adapter pinout (you wil have to compensate for the differences in 1.8" IDE and 2.5"/3.5" IDE, namely power:
http://pinouts.ru/DiskCables/ide2cf_cable_pinout.shtml

Toshiba 1.8" drive pinout:
http://sdd.toshiba.com/localcache/82000000291D00000BB80000000100000000.pdf

[haunted @ Jun 13th 2007 2:52PM]

what type of compact flash slot do u use.

try ebay for the compact flash cards