Several years, an iPod hack seemed implausible since only the most tech savvy ones would understand the intricacies of the process. Now, the processes are a lot simpler which means that more and more people are learning to crack the iPod.

Why hack an iPod Touch?

Basically, Apple limits you and the potential of your iTouch because it only allows you to buy and download apps that are approved by them in their Apple Store. Hacking, or Jailbreaking as it is most commonly called, opens up your iPod Touch’s system to accommodate the third party apps that may be better suited for your style and needs.

Performing hack also allows you to tap into other app suppliers like Cydia. With Cydia, you can even customize the look of your iPod Touch to match your liking. You can easily edit the fonts, wallpapers, layouts and other features in your iPod Touch.

Lastly, to hack an iPod Touch means you are freeing yourself from paying for the apps that you want to put in your devices. Apps in the Apple Store usually range from $0.99-$9.99. If you add all the savings up, it can be substantial enough to make you want to hack into your iPod Touch immediately.

The Process

First thing you need to remember before you proceed and hack an iPod Touch you just bought, register your device first. Every iPod needs to be set up and registered with Apple’s databases first before they can function.

After you register you iPod device, use the Internet to find the latest jailbreaking software available. Some suggestions would include RedSnow, Spirit among others. Install then the software of your choice into your PC.

Connect your iPod Touch to your PC and then let your iTunes recognize the device. After this is done, have the jailbreaking software you installed recognize your device. Once it does, follow instruction carefully. The software, through prompts, usually gives these instructions. Follow each one carefully and let the process finish first before you use your device.

While the process is ongoing, make sure that you do not do anything with your iPod Touches first. The process of jailbreaking can take minutes depending on which software you use.

It is better to be patient with the iPod hack so you don’t have to risk your device from turning into bricks and becoming useless. Once you’ve accomplished the job, you can start enjoying your newly freed iTouch and download as much app and software as you can without worrying about the limits imposed by Apple.

An iPod Touch is one device that would most likely need rebooting at least once or twice during its entire lifespan. The device carries a lot of software in its system and is almost always used 24/7 by the owner, so it is only normal that these kinds of iPods experience the most wear and tear. And knowing how to reset the iPod Touch will be beneficial for you whenever the time it freezes comes along.

For those who have a different iPod device, a Nano for example, it is also very useful to learn how to reboot iPod Nano so you won’t have to go to a technician to get the job done.

Guide to reboot iPod devices

Rebooting a beat up of frozen iPod device is very easy. Anyone can do as long as they follow instructions to the T. Here are the simple steps you need to follow in order to properly reboot iPods.

The first thing you need to do is to locate the “Hold” button in your iPod Touch or Nano devices. In the latest generation of the iTouch, the “Hold” button is usually found in the top right hand side of the screen. For older generations, on the other hand, the button is located on the top left hand side of the screen.

After you locate the button, press and hold it simultaneously with the home button (the one you press when you want to go back to the main menu). Hold the two of them together even after the slider prompt to turn the device off appears.

Continue pressing these two buttons down until the screen flashes and goes black. This only means that you have already succeeded in rebooting your iPod device.

After a few minutes, press the button at the top right hand side of the iPod Touch again to turn on your device. Once the Apple sign appears and the device is loading, let go of the button and let the device finish booting up. Once the main menu appears, your iPod Touch is as good as new!

Learning how to reboot iPod Touch or Nano devices is very easy. These are the actual things you would need to do to reboot iPod devices.

What happens after Rebooting?

Basically, your iPod device would be returning to what it was before you installed hundreds of applications on it. A reboot refreshes the system and enables it to perform like it was brand new again. Make sure, though, that you always back up your files so that you can easily re-install them when the rebooting is done. Knowing how to reboot iPod Touch or Nano devices is a handy little skill that all iPod owners must know.

Some iPod owners do not have any idea how to use their iPods as a fully functioning camera or even as an electronic album to store some of their fun moments. For those who are new to the iPod Touch or even the iPhone, here is a guide that can help you in putting and storing photos into your iPod Touch devices.

Steps

1)    First, you must have your syncing cable ready. This is the white one that usually comes with the package the first time you bought your iPod devices. Have it ready then plug your device with it and connect it to your PC.

2)    Open up your iTunes and make sure that your device is the primary device of that particular iTunes. Remember that when you use another person’s iTunes library, it automatically deletes your own files and copies the library of the iTunes you are syncing into. You can usually modify this feature but then it’s still better for you to use your very own iTunes library.

3)    Once your device has been read, click on the “Photos” section of your library. Here you can see the iPhone pictures already present in your device.

You can then proceed and choose photo folders and files saved from your iPhoto library or anywhere in your computer. Select the iPod photos folder you want to import into your device. If you just want specific files and not the entire folder, open the folder and select the iPod pictures you want to save into your device promptly.

4)    After selecting the photos you want, click then on the “Sync” button located at the lower right hand side of your iTunes. While the syncing process is ongoing, it is advisable for you to leave your iPod Touches alone first and not use them.

Unlocking the main screen of your device usually cancels the syncing process so you might have to browse through folders again to sync the photos that you want to import.

5)    After the syncing is done and your iTunes already indicated that your device could now be properly ejected, check your iPod photos folder to see if the pictures you synced are really there.

You can also check this through the capacity bar. The Photos partition should increase to indicate the additional iPod photos you have placed.

After you have checked everything, you can now browse your pictures whenever, wherever. You can also sync your videos, music and other apps or add more iPod pictures to your device as long as you update your library to include these new files. The iPod Touch is a handy new device that not only functions as a multi-media player but also as a photo album where you can store memories for easy reminiscing.

But an iPod Touch is fairly limited unless you jailbreak them in order to get Cydia on the iPod Touch. A jailbroken iPod Touch with Cydia opens your device into a lot of possibilities.

What is Cydia?

Cydia is an open application that allows users to download third party application that are not available in the Apple store. Anyone who has ever bought an iPod Touch knows that their devices are already pre-programmed and has plenty of application installed before they even use them.

A Cydia download on iPod Touch means you open your device into a whole new line of possibilities that are not available in the official store. Some users even prefer downloading from Cydia. iPod Touch users can add more gaming, networking or productivity apps into their iPod Touches once they jailbreak it and install the Cydia application.

Quick and easy steps

Have your iPod Touch Jailbroken

A jailbroken iTouch means that you have tweaked the system requirements of your device a little so that third party apps can freely be installed and used in them even if Apple does not approve these apps.

There is plenty of jailbreaking software that you can download and install in your PC. In order to get Cydia on your iPod, jailbreaking is a must.

Install Cydia

Once an iPod Touch is jailbroken, you automatically get Cydia on iPod Touch. You can then proceed and install it by launching the installer then clicking on the Sources icon. You can usually find this in the bottom of your menu screen.

Edit and Add

Click on the Edit option and then choose Add. If the screen prompts you to type a source, input “apptapp.saurik.com”. The screen should be refreshed after you accomplish doing this.

Install

Saurik’s (the Cydia developer) source would then appear. Click the Install icon to get Cydia on iPod Touch and choose the installer in the Systems folder. The app would take a little while before it finishes installing so it is advisable to you just leave your device be for a while, until it finishes.

 Update and Restart

After the install, there will be a prompt asking you to update your software. Click on the “Upgrade Essentials” option and let it update. After this, you need to restart Cydia in order to have it fully up and functioning.

Benefitting from Cydia

While you can still use the Apple Store, you will have additional options when you get Cydia on iPod Touch. You can use its library to download and install hundreds of other extra apps you can enjoy in your iPod Touches. It gives you the freedom to choose from apps which may not have been approved by Apple but can work better and suit your style more compared to the ones offered in the official App store.

If you are having a hard time deciding whether to buy iPod Touch or iPod Nano for yourself, here is a guide that can help you in deciding which one to purchase.

Features of the devices

First we will do a quick rundown of the devices’ features before we consider factors that can affect your decision on whether to get iPod Nano or Touch for yourself:

iPod Nano

The iPod Nano is a multi-touch and multi-functional device that lets you enjoy plenty of awesome Apple services at a very cheap cost.

The iPod Nano still has the same music capabilities as any other iPod devices available. It has a built-in music mixer (Genius app), an FM radio player and pedometer functions. It even caters to those with disabilities.

iPod Touch

The iTouch, on the other hand, is slightly more capable than the iPod nano since it is bigger in built and capacity. The main advantage would be the apps you can download and install into the iPod Touch.

The latest generation now has two built-in cameras which can be used for video chats and conferences. You can also browse the Internet using the iTouch through its built in Safari browser.

Which one should you buy?

There are plenty of considerations that should be taken here before you purchase iPod Nano or iPod Touch devices. If you take them as they are then all fingers will definitely point to the iPod Touch since it offers a lot more capabilities than the iPod Nano. But,

If you are considering portability, then you should definitely go and get an iPod Nano. It’s lightweight and can easily be stored in small spaces like your pocket or pouch. The iPod Touch would pose a lot more difficulty in this area because it is quite bulky in size.

If you are considering functionality, hands down, you should go buy it for yourself. The options and apps you can install here are endless. You can use it as a camera/video recording device/video editing/Internet browsing device. The iPod Touch simply has a lot more going on for it compared to the Nano.

If you are mainly concerned about price, then there are plenty of options to buy an iPod Touch or Nano available for you here. You can buy from third party merchants which can offer lower prices and even slash off delivery and shipping costs from your bill. Depending on the capacity, the price of the iPod Touch will slightly be higher than that of the Nano.

Whether you choose to buy the iPod Nano or an iPod Touch for yourself, you cannot deny the bang for your buck that these Apple devices bring. Either way, you will go home with a multi-functional device that will surely cater to what you need.

It had a unique design and was perfect for people who are not ready to invest in an iPod Touch or an iPhone yet. It was a portable and cheap iPod Nano device that was functional and very comfortable to carry around.

Features of the iPod Nano 5^th Generation

Video capabilities

The most notable addition to the iPod Nano 5G is the video camera. According to reviews of website and online retail merchants who had iPod Nano for sale back then, the 5G Nano’s camera handily beats a regular HD camcorder’s camera head-to-head.

FM Radio

Another new feature is the FM radio capability. This gives owners an option to listen to numerous radio stations and shows through their iPod Nanos. You can record podcasts and even pause what you are listening to and play them back later.

The Pedometer Function

This function is clearly directed towards people who are exercise enthusiasts. The pedometer function helps you in your workout by measuring the essential info you would need during a session. Hours spent, calories burnt and the like can be featured in this function.

Best iPod Nano Price around

There are still plenty of stores, especially online, that sell cheap iPod Nano devices. Since 2009, Apple has already released a newer generation which features a multi-touch screed sans the camera.

Apple still carries the device and offers cheap iPod Nano for those who are interested in buying. Prices usually start at $149 for a Nano with 16GB capacity. This comes with Apple international warranty and can even include free shipping for those living within theUnited States.

You can also choose to browse merchants like eBay or Amazon and look for iPod Nano devices for sale. There are usually plenty of options that will return from your searches. A device can go as cheap as $35 to as high as $150 depending on the storage capacity and the shipping costs of your order.

For another and more viable option, you can always look for online merchants that still have cheap iPod Nanos in stock.  These merchants are usually very easy to find and search in Google, Yahoo or other search engines. You can scour the Internet for them and compare prices. Some of them offer brand new iPod Nano for sale starting at $40 per 8GB device. It can go as high as $120 depending on the storage capacity of what you are looking for.

Looking for iPod Nano gadgets is easy especially with plenty of online sellers today. The only downside can be the legitimacy of online merchants especially the ones who are not as popular as eBay or Amazon. But most of them offer good gadgets and can sometimes shoulder even the costs of your device’s delivery.

For this reason, a Zune vs iPod comparison checklist has been developed to show the differences and reduce the confusion you may face when making the decision. Below, you will find details on different aspects that can help you make a better decision:

Physical features of iPod vs Zune

Color

In this aspect, the odds are tilted to the Zune side since they offer 5 different colors namely platinum, black, green, red and blue. This attracts consumer with an eye for color. The iPod Touch comes in two colors black and silver giving it a disadvantage in the Zune HD vs iPod Touch comparison.

Weight

The zune is just above half the iPods weight at 2.4 ounces compared to the iPods 40 ounces. This decision on which is better in the iPod Touch vs Zune comparison would directly depend on the consumer since some people like light and others heavy.

Screen Size

Hardly any difference among the two, nevertheless, the Zune has a smaller screen measuring 3.3 inches, just 0.2 inch smaller than the iPod Touch. Bigger screens are better when it comes to gadgets that are used to play games and watch videos, but the difference between the two in this case doesn’t give much comparison space in the Zune HD vs iPod Touch.

Screen Resolution

The odds have once again tipped in favor of the iPod touch in this comparison. The Zune has a screen resolution of 480× 272 pixels where as the iPod Touch has 480×320 pixels giving the iPod Touch better image display.

Technical features Zune vs iPod

Capacity

The Zude HD is available in two memory sizes 16GB and 32GB. This is a clear disadvantage in the zune vs iPod comparison since iPod touch is available in three (8, 32 and 64 GB) memory sizes.

Price

Zune costs US$ 219/ 289 for 16 and 32 GB respectfully where as iPod cost US$ 199, 299 and 399 for 8, 16 and 32 GB respectfully. In this aspect the iPod vs Zune comparison is quite evenly matched.

Batterylife

The Zune has better battery performance which clearly tips the scale to its advantage. Audio battery life is 33 hours where as video battery life is 8.5 hrs; a substantial difference in the Zune vs iPod Touch comparison. IPod registers 30 hrs. audio and 6 hrs video battery life. Consumers who travel a lot are more interested in this feature.

Wireless features

Another point where there is a close tie between Zune HD vsnd iPod Touch is about sharing 802.11b/g, web browser, WiFi downloading. The difference is that the Zune has Wi-Fi syncing with its wireless feature and the iPod Touch has A2DP Bluetooth. Both gadgets share three same features and an additional one on each that is different from the other.

With these few important features highlighted, making a decision in favor of either should become considerably easy.

iPhone 3G user’s reported that they had experienced slow processing time and this was causing application to crash when used on the iPod Touch 3G. There is no official way to deal with this problem, but unofficial ways always exist to deal with the problems and one of the ways is performing an iPhone downgrade.

The following steps will help you downgrade your iPod Touch & iPhone iOS to 3.1.3

• First you will need to navigate to “c:windowssystem32driversetc” after this, you will need to open the host file on notepad. You can do this by right clicking on the file and choosing to open with notepad. At the end of the document add this “74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com”.

• Now you will need to connect your iPod Touch to iTunes in recovery mode. To do this you will need to switch off the hand set and keep pressing the home button on the handset and connect the USB cable. After boot up and connecting to iTunes, window will appear on the screen. You can now stop pressing the home button.

• Open iTunes and you will see iPod/iphone detected. Now continuously press the shift or Alt key and click on the restore option. Select the original OS 3.1.3 and that’s it. Your iPod downgrade is complete. You can now restart your iPod Touch and enjoy your entertainment.

It’s only a matter of 3 steps to downgrade iPod Touch iOS 3.1.3. It can be done easily from the comfort of your home without consulting a software engineer. Be sure you have read the instructions and understood them clearly before downgrading your iPhone.

Getting iPod Touch and iPhone downgrade

3.1.3 iOS can be loaded on your iPod from the internet to suite your choice. However there is no way for you to downgrade your iPods on the internet. This is because a downgrade means you’re modifying the hardware from 4.0 to downgrade iPod Touch3.1.3. This can only be done manually since it is an operation that modifies the whole gadgets operations. As I said earlier in the article, officially there has been no announcement of any iPod Touch downgrade and it has only been tried by gadget wizards, who know what to modify to make the device work better. Without an official downgrade announcement, we risk losing the warranty on the item.

The company may consider the warranty null and void due to tampering with the hardware. Once you downgrade iPod Touch 3.1.3 there may be no warranty if the company finds out that you have done it. For people who like sticking to the rules of the book it would be better for them to launch a claim with the company and ask for a replacement.

Loading Skype for iPod Touch

You will need to have at least 22.6 MB free space on your iPod to be able to store the whole application on your hand set. Connect your iPod to a computer and open iTunes. Click on the iTunes store link and click again on the application store link. After this, start downloading Skype on iPod Touch. It is advised to download the software from the apply website so that they can monitor the progress before and during the download.

Skype for iPod Touch is available in the following languages: English, Danish, Dutch, Finish, French, German, Italian, Japans, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russia, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish and Traditional Chinese. If your iPod does not have any of the above languages, Skype will appear with the default language English.

Requirements for Skype for iPod Touch

Skype video calling requires systems that are iSO 4.0 or above, it does not work on iSO systems with small versions.

Send and receive videos using back and conference camera of iPod 4 & 5G.

Receive videos only on iPod Skype 3rd generation or later.

Works in any H264 compatible device.

How to use Skype on iTouch

There are some steps you need to do before you start using Skype on iPod Touch
• Create a login account if you don’t already have one with Skype.
• You will require a strong connection so move to a place where the signal is strong.
• Launch iPod Touch Skype by tapping on the Skype tab provided.
• Login to the account you created and the Skype front page will open.
• There are different options available for you to use. Video calling, and instant chatting are free but calling to mobile and other phones requires you to top up your account with credit.
• When logged on you can check who is in online with you to chat or video call. Plan in advance with friends or business associates to set a meeting time.
• For instant messaging, type the message and send it. It should be delivered instantly if the recipient is online, if not it will be forwarded to his inbox till he opens his Skype on iPod Touch the next time.
• On completion of your conversation make sure you log out. The connection remains live if not logged out. For business, you can leave it on till when you are leaving work.

Now you can receive incoming messages directly to your mobile if you’re not logged on to Skype. This is convenient since a friend or associate may be trying to locate you when offline but now you can arrange to be with him after logging in to your account since you don’t need to go far from our iPod Touch Skype.

iPod Touch WiFi gave the user the ability to access to the internet using WiFi networks. Many people still don’t know how to get WiFi on iPod Touch. It’s actually quite easy and after some taps, you will be able to connect iPod to WiFi.

Read through the following steps

1. On the iPod Touch home screen, there should be a settings icon. Tap on the icon to open the file.
2. An arrow will appear on the far right of the WiFi bar on the setting bar. Tap on this icon.
3. Using continuous motion, move the slider on the Wifi bar to the ON position.
4.  A tool bar asking to join networks will appear, move the slider to the ON position if you wish to be notified before your iPod connects to other networks. By moving the slider to the OFF position, you will need to select a Wifi network manually to connect your iPod to WiFi.
5. Press the home icon to return to the iPod Touch home screen. There should be a wifi icon that appears on the top left hand corner of the home screen. It will show you the strength of the signal the iPhone WiFi is receiving by displaying bars resembling those on a mobile phone.

Other problems faced when connecting an iPod Touch to the WiFi network

There are also some other trouble shooting points we need to consider when your iPod Touch is not connecting to a WiFi network. Read through the tips given below to deal with problematic WiFi connections.

1. Did you type the write IP address from the wireless router?
2. Shut down both the router and iPod Touch and restart the router first. After a minute, restart your iPod.
3. Make sure your iPod Touch WiFi is connected to your router.
4. Is the MAC address filter ON if yes turn it OFF.
5. Have you entered the right password (WEP-WAP key)?
6. Is your home page working correctly?
7. Have you tried opening yahoo.com, google.com etc?

Additional problems

If all the above things have not worked while trying to connect to WiFi then consider contacting your nearest service centre. They are specialized and it may require replacing of defective components in your iPhone WiFi system. This is usually not required unless the iPod has been handled roughly.

It only takes some practice to understand how WiFi works on the iPod Touch or iPhone and after learning the operations you will find it very easy and convenient to use.

Try the above process first and 90% chances are you will be able to connect to WiFi.