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Update: Updated on February 29th 2008 with latest versions of firmware (1.2.2 version at time of press). See main site here.
After picking up on a new firmware release for the iPod Video (both 5G and 5.5g), I’ve gone and replaced the original firmware on my iPod to that resembling the iPod Classic. (via)
The ‘Before’ images…
What you’ll need…
- Latest version of iPod Wizard
- Access to a Windows machine (no Mac version at present)
- Firmware for your video iPod (5G Version or 5.5G Version). I’m on the 5G version, no search feature and it’s the 60GB model. If you’re on the slim 30gb / 80gb model and/or have the search feature then it’s likely you’re a 5.5G model but be sure! See my warning note below.
- iPod cable
How to modify the iPod’s firmware…
- Connect iPod to PC (iPod Wizard is windows based). If iTunes opens on connecting, you’ll need to close it and make sure that nothing else is accessing your iPod at the time. If connected properly, you will see the ‘Do Not Disconnect’ warning on your iPod screen.
- Open up your copy of iPod Wizard (it doesn’t require installation, but does need to be unzipped to a folder).
- Browse (via My Computer) to your downloaded firmware and if zipped, unzip it to a new folder. Unzipping should create a folder called ‘Classic Firmware for 5G v1.0’ (depending on what firmware version you downloaded).
- In iPod Wizard, set your edit mode (top left corner) to ‘Firmware File’.
- Click the ‘Open Firmware’ button and navigate to your ‘Classic Firmware…’ folder and open the ‘Classic Firmware…’ file (Windows displays the default icon if no filetype associated). Once loaded, the firmware’s version name will appear beside the ‘open firmware button’.
- In the ‘Firmware Information’ box, press ‘Write To iPod’ (top left). The writing process may take 2-3 minutes.
- When finished, you need to eject your iPod safely from your computer – whether via the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ icon in your system tray of via My Computer (right click on your iPod and press ‘Eject’. Ejecting the iPod will restart the iPod automatically, booting with the new firmware.
The ‘After’ images…
Feedback
I hadn’t seen the interface on the iPod classic before today but really like the split screen approach. I don’t feel anything is lost by adding the firmware. Navigating through the menu system is quick, though the slide from left to right could be a lot smoother (or instant). The new fonts are bigger, smoother, clearer though the fonts in the title bar look a fraction distorted (menus are fine).
I also realised through the new interface that I really need to update my album artwork across the majority of recent additions to my iPod. Also, it’s worth going through the iPodWizard forums if you’re up for a bit of hacking!
Warning (a.k.a How Not To Update Your iPod)
Adding this firmware does not erase the contents on your iPod. BUT – make sure you’re using the correct firmware version for your iPod. The wrong firmware on your iPod will leave it in the infinite loop mode (as I did with Aidan’s). To get around this you need to restore your iPod to it’s original settings, effectively wiping whatever music is on your iPod. Resyncing with your library will restore your music.
To restore your iPod you must hold the middle button (centre of wheel) and ‘Play’ at the same time, forcing the iPod into Disk Mode (like safe mode for all the world). Reconnect your iPod to your computer and pop open iTunes, the iTunes software automatically recognising the iPod needs to be restored. The restoration process takes 1-2 minutes.
About Ken McGuire
Does this work for the nano as well?
There are themes and downloads available for the Nano, change up the interface. The themes can be applied using the same software.
http://url.ie/665
Nice!
I think i’ll attempt this on the weekend….knowing me,i’ll break the bloody thing
Mine kinda went into a loop, even though i have the correct firmware, a Menu + Centre button reset fixed it all though!
Any luck on your second attempt, Sean?
Yeah, the Menu + Centre reboot fixed the whole situation and its now working perfect with the hacked firmware!
Yeah, worked grand for me. Great tut. Its very nice too.
Hey, it is very cool what you did! So what actually it is showing in the split screen? Artwork at random or the artwork of the current playing song? And also does it show the rating at the front as it does with the new ipod classic?
Jose, the split screen displays the artwork of whatever is currently playing, rating not shown alongside it. It’s driven me to go updating the artwork for albums on my iPod (whether using Apple’s ‘Get Artwork’ option in iTunes or by grabbing images from the web) so I’ve something colourful on the screen when there’s tracks playing.
When there’s a video playing it will grab a thumbnail from the video and display it on the sidebar.
Yeah,I haven’t updated artwork in AGES
wow,this is great! Very easy to do! Pity about the slide from left to right,but otherwise,great!Thanks Ken!
Yeah,figures aren’t great on it.I was listening to the Sound system Podcast lastnight which was over an hour [it was number 24 or something,i'm catching up] and once it wen’t to double figures on both sides e.g. been playing for 10 mins,60 eft,I couldn’t read the figures.Also,I spotted this glitch once and can’t get it back,I was charging my iPod and listening at the same time and “Now Playing” repeated at the top,it covered the battery logo
Good to point out, Ian!
did you spot the repeat “now playing”? I’ve only spotted it twice and it then disappears after a minute or two.I managed to get a bad quality pic of it while midnight-listening,if you want I can show it to you
hey can u tell any other site for downloading the firmwire file cuz dat site is disabled thx………
i did all the steps
and once i plugged my ipod out of the computer, the apple picture stays on. I tried clicking it, plugging it back in and nothing happens?
help pleeease
Are you sure you grabbed the right firmware upgrade for your ipod model? Have you tried the soft reset?
fixed.
I did what the other guy did. Hold menu button + the centre button.
works absolutely fine now
thanks alot. Great features!
No problem at all…
Hi Ken
When I load this up to my 5.5 80gb the new firmware installs fine but I can no longer see any of my content – songs or videos. Any ideas what the problem could be?
Thanks,
Richard
HI Ken i tried this with my 80 GB ipod video and it worked except i am sad that there is no coverflow. Also when i connect it to my comp itunes say that i have to install version 1.2.3 . so should i dowload it or not?For now i say no.
If you download 1.2.3 you’ll likely have to flash it again. There’s no coverflow, which is one of the downsides, but on the plus the overall interface I think is much nicer
i used it and it works great not all the fetures are there but you should try it
Hi ken
Love the idea of this! i have a 5g video ipod and followed all your instructions however whwn i go to write to ipod a message pops up saying unable to access ipod make sure every application is closed. I have closed every program including itunes and have the ipod on disk mode and it still says the same can u help please?
Hi me again!
please help tnks
ive been at this all night and got past my last problem by tearing through forums, i have vista and enabled disk mode and ran the program as admin and it satrted writing but then came up with an error -1 meassage
@Michaela – Any further luck yet? Can’t say I’ve experienced that problem at all, I’ve steered clear of Vista ever since my release candidate ran out. Have you gone through the task manager to close anything running in the background? Or tried on an XP machine?
no luck yet ive tried eberything including the task manager and some tips i found in the forums, i think i might try on my dads computer but im just afraid that when i plug in my ipod into his computer that it will wipe all my music off it
It shouldn’t wipe your iPod at all. I set my copy of iTunes to manually sync so I’ve no problem in switching between my PC and Mac, both with very different musical tastes and content.
I don’t know if anyone mentioned it, but if you use vista (like me. . damn you, bill gates) when you open iPodWizard, right-click and *Run as Administrator*. once you’ve added the firmware, don’t unplug your iPod. open iPodWizard again (run as admin) and eject it from there. if not, then your iPod will raise it’s “WTF” flag and cry. Sooo yeah. just thought I’d throw that out there.
I tried to install the update,iPod went into disk mode,had to restore.6,000 songs is gonna take a long time,still on “A”.
Any luck in finding your iPod Ken?
No luck whatsoever.
Absolutely gutted.
Music, audio podcasts, video podcasts, files on the disk.
Two weeks now and it still hasn’t turned up, mind you, I’m guessing someone in Sligo has it by now or it’s just gone altogether. Either way, I’m lost without it!
i’ve tried to intall the ipod background hack severally on my 30G ipod video with version 1.2.3, but each time i try to write it into my ipod, it keeps showing error code -1. i’ve even downloaded several other background hacks, buy still the same thing over and over again. i like the classic to video background hack n i want to instal it. pls tell me wat to do. thanks.
@chukwuma Have you checked you’re using the correct firmware version for your iPod (5G or 5.5G?).
My most recent update (to add the iPod Touch interface) was installed on my 5G 60gb iPod, running Apple’s 1.2.3 firmware at the time (the iPod Touch interface reverts it to 1.2.1).
The only background hack’s I’ve been using are from DrivenDesign, have you tried theirs?
Not Found
The requested URL http:// was not found on this server.
this is the message that i got
Rajoy, thanks for flagging that, will amend links momentarily…
My Ipodwizard constantly keeps saying:
‘Unable to acces iPod! Make sure programs who use the Ipod, like Itunes, are closed’
As far as I can see all programs are, I only have Firefox and Ipodwizard opened. Can anyone help?
-> ipod video 80G, firmware version 1.2.3., classic hack 5.5g 2.1 for 1.2.2.
Thanx,
JMP
I got it working already! I got the splitscreens now, but the right screen doesnt display any pictures. Do you know what the problem might be, Ken?
thnx
JMP
@JMP If it’s not displaying pictures, are you sure that there’s album art for the tracks on your iPod? You might have them in iTunes but if you haven’t synced the artwork to your iPod it won’t display.
Any tracks without artwork will just show the track name which I guess is what you’re getting?
HI Ken,
I get the artwork when playing songs. But on the Ipod Classic, the artwork also shows when there’s nothing playing and you just see the menu. The albumcovers or photographs are flowing on the right side of the screen.
Perhaps that feature just isn’t there in the crack?
Cheers,
JMP
i tried this on my 5G ipod video and it says to “restore using itunes” whenever i eject it. then i have to clear it and all that. ive already tried twice… help
i tried this on my 5G ipod video and it says to “restore using itunes” whenever i eject it. then i have to clear it and all that. ive already tried twice… help
I can’t find the firmware. I downloaded the ipod classic firmware, but i do not know how to open it or what to save it to.
I can’t find the firmware. I downloaded the ipod classic firmware, but i do not know how to open it or what to save it to.
dose it have cover flow?
@castle I’m afraid not.
@zach, you need to have a copy of iPod Wizard in order to open the firmware, see the note in the instructions above.
i kept trying but it wont work, the ipodwizard will always say “unable to access ipod” even though i already closed itunes. what should i do?
HELP
thank youu soo much! i think i dont need to buy a new classic ipod anymore, ;P
Ok so i got this to all work out, but when i was finished all the songs were gone. I knew that would happen, but when i open iTunes it doesnt leave the firmware on my ipod video, it resets it back to the original firmware.
what am i doing wrong?
Hi, i found the clasic hack a bit lame as the album art showed the last thing chosen until a new file was selected. The touch interface was way cool. Is this being updated form the 1.3 firmware and how in laymans terms do I set up small albulm art to be selected which is one of the extras? cheers and thanks for the posting Dave
Hi Ken, i have the same problem as Richard. When I loaded this up to my 5.5 80gb the new firmware installs fine but I can no longer see any of my content – songs or videos. If I browse to the ipod in iTunes they are all there, but when i eject it they are no longer visible on my ipod. My photos and games are still there but no sign of my music. Any ideas what the problem could be would be great. Thanks Sharon