Comments on: Teach an old iPod new tricks?

Question: Teach an old iPod new tricks?

tomw — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:40:31 -0800

3rd gen 10gb ipod... working fine but not worth much. What cool stuff can I do with it?

I'm rocking a 5th gen but I can't bring myself to get rid of a great designed bit of kit in my old 3rd gen. It's recently had a new battery and seems solid enough....

I heard something about being able to put wikipedia on it, or alternatively I could just use as a 10gb firewire external drive. Or I could keep it as a backup... any ideas?

By: Mutant

Mutant — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:45:02 -0800

Had the same problem and ended up giving it to a friend that wanted an iPod but would never be able to afford one. Definitely the coolest thing I could think of doing with it.

By: The Deej

The Deej — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:01:03 -0800

I keep my old iPod at work with an AC adapter and cord. I bring it home every month or 2 to add new music.

By: dendrite

dendrite — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:38:20 -0800

Did the same thing as Mutant - I was surprised how much of an affect it had on the recipient. It ended up being a touching experience.

By: rancidchickn

rancidchickn — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 14:35:19 -0800

You could try installing iPod Linux on it to play around with.

By: husky

husky — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:02:11 -0800

1) Instal iPod Linux and use it a cheap voice recorder (iPod Linux enables audio recording from the headphone jack)
2) Use it as a backup drive and store it somewhere outside of your house in case of fire (an iPod is a lot smaller than the typical external drive)
3) Keep it and store it in it's original box in a safe place so you can sell it in twenty years as a cool 2000's design product.

By: grumblebee

grumblebee — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:38:10 -0800

If I were you, I'd stash it away. As an iPod addict, I'd love to have a backup machine -- even an old one. I'd want something to listen to during the week it took me to get my main one fixed next time I manage to break it.

By: mattholomew

mattholomew — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:15:04 -0800

Rockbox.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:31:25 -0800

Rockbox will not work on tomw's iPod.

By: allterrainbrain

allterrainbrain — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:29:01 -0800

If you don't want to gift it, I agree with husky: its worth will keep dropping over the next few years but will then rise over the next couple of decades. That's true only if you can keep it in original working condition, which includes keeping the battery able to hold some charge (not just letting it sit in a box but periodically charging and using it).

There is a very strong market for Apple collectibles, more than for almost any other tech company. That's been true for a couple of decades, so I think it still will be a couple decades from now.

By: friedbeef

friedbeef — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:19:42 -0800

You can put Wikipedia for Ipods on it....

I tried installing it and it's pretty useful... slow to look up, but useful :)

By: meehawl

meehawl — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:53:11 -0800

Rockbox will not work on tomw's iPod.

Are you sure? Here's the manual for "Ipod 3G" and build report.