Whats Inside Your iPod?

The iPod has become a part of the global culture, since its first introduction in October 2001. The portable music player and others of its kind have left their mark on society and social behavior. Many have gotten curious and wondered, what exactly is inside an iPod?

For an iPod video, here are the main hardware components contained inside the case.

There is a hard drive, of course, for storage. This hard drive is a 1.8 inch Toshiba one with 30, 60, or 80 GB capacity. It features a USB interface, and runs at 4200 rpm. It weighs only 1.7 ounces or 48 grams and manages to fit 30 GB (or more) onto a single platter. This comes to about 93.5 gigabits per square inch. This high density is made possible by the use of smaller, lighter sliders, as well as improved thin-film technology with higher sensitivity for the read/write heads and the platter.

Then there is a rechargeable lithium-ion 700 mAh, 3.7 V batteries, a typical battery using the latest technology to make it fit the iPod’s form factor with maximum performance.

Then of course a 2.5 inch TFT LCD. This display is 16-bit and has a resolution of 320×240 pixels. It is also extremely thin, measuring only 0.125 inches or 3.175 mm in depth.

The chips and other processors such as the Broadcom BCM2722 video chip and the Wolfson Microelectronics WM8758 codec are found on a single motherboard. Because of the iPod’s smaller size, these chips use thin-film technology to connect to one another instead of the plastic connectors that larger devices usually use.

Perhaps the most interesting hardware in the iPod is the click wheel mechanism. Incorporated into this mechanism are five mechanical buttons corresponding to play/pause, forward, backward, menu, and the middle select button. These work much the same as other electronic buttons: by pressing them, metal contacts are made which complete the appropriate circuits on the motherboard.

The touch-sensitive wheel itself works much like a laptop’s touchpad does. In fact, Synaptics, a company widely known for its production of laptop touchpads, provided the touch wheels for the 4G iPod. (But Apple came up with its own proprietary design for the 5G iPod’s clickwheel.) The main concept behind this touch-sensitive hardware is that the touch of a human finger (or anything else that might conduct electricity) induces a change in the capacitance of the mechanism, which can be tracked via a built-in grid.

What software is then used with this hardware, to complete the iPod unit? The iPod 5G reportedly runs on the Pixo OS 2.1 operating system. Along with this comes PortalPlayer’s Digital Media Platform, which includes support for audio decoders, firmware customizations, as well as other software development tools. And of course software for the corresponding video and audio chips come installed on every iPod.

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iPod Cases, Styles, Colours, Designs

There are hundreds of different iPod cases to choose from. When you search “iPod case” on eBay, there is page after page of search results. So how do you choose an iPod case for your iPod? This might sound simple but many people buy an iPod case and 1 month later, are unhappy with it. By reading this article you will be able to confidently choose an iPod case that you will be able to use for the rest of your iPods life.

Where should I buy my iPod case? This is completely up to you. You could either buy online or offline. The advantage of buying offline is that you will be able to look at and get a feel of the cover before you buy it. There are many different places where iPod cases are available to buy, there places include markets, department shops and apple computer shops. Keep in mind that you will be paying full price for your cover. You would be surprised how much more expensive it is compared to online websites.

Or you can buy online. Some online shops include apple, eBay and many, many others. The official apple shop has a great extensive range of iPod cases. They will specifically tell you what case suits what iPod and you can even do an advanced search to search for items only of your model. When buying on eBay there are literally thousands to choose from and often they are not available in retail shops or the official apple site. If you have brought on eBay before you would have more experience. If you are new to eBay, I would recommend sticking to other websites.

There are many other online stores from apple and eBay. When you do a Google search you will fine quite a few well known sites that have an extensive range of cases. Out of all the sites, apple is probably the easiest and you have a very good chance that you will not be scammed. Whether you choose to buy online or offline, these next instructions are very important. When choosing the design of the case you should have a good idea of the type of case you want. Some people are looking for protective cases and others are buying a case based on the idea to make their iPod look better.

When choosing a protective case, have a good idea of how protected you want your iPod to be. If you know that your iPod will be thrown around a bit and receive potentially dangerous bumps, I would recommend that you consider buying a fully enclosed case. With some protective cases, you have to remove the iPod before use and with others you can use your iPod when the case is on. Protective cases that are for use when you are using your iPod, there is only one major problem. Often these cases have holes for the screen and also the click wheel. Having a big hole for the screen in a case is only wasting your money. The screen is the most important part of your iPod, protect it.

The other types of protective cases are ones where you have to remove your iPod before using. I highly recommend using these. They are most effective from protecting your iPod from dangerous bumps. If you are worried about your iPod getting scratched then you might consider buying an iPod skin also. Most people buy a cover are for protection and usually protective cases don’t look so good. It all comes down to how much you respect your iPod, they do not naturally last for long so you do not want to reduce its life any further, do you?

Next I will talk about color. When choosing the color for your new case, it is up to you what you choose. Just keep in mind that you will be looking at it for however long you use it for. Choose your favorite color or be safe and stick with black or grey.

When choosing the material, it is another question of how much you want to protect your iPod. Choose metal or hard plastic if you want to protect it from hard bumps. If you want a good looking case that also has some amount of protection, the leather cases are great. I have owned one for 7 months and have not grown sick of it. The leather stops my iPod from getting scratched and has a decent amount of padding. I was very happy when I purchased the cover and I still am.

That is about it. If you see something you like but it is too expensive, look around at different stores either online or offline. When I brought my leather iPod case, It was very expensive in the shops and on apple store. I decided to look on eBay. I found what I was looking for and it was 5 times cheaper. The payment was very easy and I received my cover in 4 days. In conclusion, eBay is great for buying iPod covers but if you have not used eBay before, there are many other places to buy them.

If you have any questions about buying iPod cases or want to add something to this article, click on the contact link and send me an email. See below for related articles. Thanks for reading.

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iPod Games

The trend of iPods being music only is long gone. With the release of the 5th generation iPod last year, it has changed the way we think about iPods. Not only do they play music, but they also allow us to watch movies. The iPod community was shocked when Apple announced the release of several games for the iPod.

In the second half of last year, apple released a number of games to be purchased from iTunes music store. The games include Sudoku, Ms Pac Man, iQuiz, Vortex, Tetris, Texas Holdem, Cubis 2, Zuma, Pac Man, Mini Golf, Mahjong, Bejeweled and Royal Solitaire. The games can be purchased at iTunes music store for $4.99 each.

The games currently only work on 5th generation iPods (iPod Video). There is a huge range of different games to choose from. Just about everyone will find something that they like and is enjoyable for them to play.

The release of these few games was a highly successful release for Apple. Within a few weeks there was a huge amount of users across the globe that purchased one or more of the games. There is a rumor that there will be another set of new iPod games released very soon for the 6 month anniversary since the first games were released.

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iPod FM Transmitter

For those who want to listen to their digital music files on the car sound system, an iPod FM transmitter is a feasible option.

FM transmitters are devices that can connect to digital audio players such as the iPod, and convert the playback of digital music (such as mp3s and other such file formats) into radio waves such that they can be received and played by a radio tuned to the appropriate frequency. These devices can actually be used with any radio, but they are most usually used with car radios, to allow headphones-free listening to the iPod while driving.

But, wait, aren’t there any other options for connecting an iPod to the car’s audio system? Well, yes. So-called “cassette converters” are available, but these come with a mess of wires, and obviously need a cassette tape player onboard. Most modern cars do not sport cassette players anymore, and getting one just for the purpose of using a converter is not exactly a neat solution.

Integrated iPod controllers are also available from a variety of car audio manufacturers such as Alpine, Kenwood, and Pioneer. These offer better sound quality than either FM transmitters or cassette converters, but have to be installed by professionals into your car, and usually range in price in the hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. These controllers are also often burdened by clunky, slow interfaces, at least compared with the interface of the iPod itself. And of course, these are not exactly portable, and will remain bundled with the car even if the time may come to sell the vehicle.

So we return to FM transmitters. These devices connect to the iPod in a variety of ways. The most versatile of these connect using only a standard headphone plug, and can thus be used for portable CD or DVD players and other audio devices as well. Some FM transmitters also come with their own power supply, usually AA or AAA batteries, which make installation nonexistent. Simply plug the device into your iPod, take any necessary setup steps and you will be well on your way to having your iPod playing on your car audio system.

However, FM transmitters are not perfect. Being FM transmitters, they need a clear frequency to utilize. Otherwise, interference from radio stations and the like may overpower the signal from your iPod. This is especially a problem in urban areas with many frequencies occupied by radio stations. The sound quality also takes quite a loss through most of these transmitters. Different transmitters differ in the audio quality they deliver, with portability and ease of installation usually being the trade offs. The best FM transmitters in terms of sound quality are usually more difficult to install, not to mention more costly.

For price and convenience, a good iPod FM transmitter simply can not be beat. The loss in audio quality may be quite noticeable, but as technology continues to improve, newer models of these transmitters are likely to gain better sound support.

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iPod Headphones

If you are looking for an iPod microphone for your very well loved device, you should not worry. That is because there are numerous microphone accessories sold in the market nowadays specifically for the widely popular iPod.

Through the years, you have seen different music players being introduced along with microphone features that allow amplification of voices or recording or founds. From the stereo components to the recent walkmans, microphones have been important accessories for such music devices. Buying microphones for such gadgets is such a sound investment.

If you love your iPod too well, you probably are aiming to maximize its use to yourself. Thus, you must be exploring if you could use the portable music player for recording sounds. You know that anything can happen in this amazing era when technology is at boom. Your reliable iPod not only provides you entertainment in times of boredom.

If you are aiming to buy an iPod microphone, you should initially look at music player shops. Most retailers that sell iPods also distribute accessories to the devices, including the reliable iPod microphone. If you are buying a new iPod on the other hand, you could choose to buy one that already has a built in microphone.

Specifically, the iTalk Pro is an accessory to the modern iPod that facilitates recording of whatever sound to your gadget. You can use this iPod microphone for recording lectures, conducting interviews or simply capturing sounds that please your ears. The accessory’s built-in microphones can record sounds directly to the iPod; that is why it so convenient and reliable.

Such iPod microphones can be attached or detached to and from the iPod. Thus, if you are worrying about the aesthetic value of the gadget, you should stop fretting. The modern iPod is almost similar to the modern wireless phones in the market toady. These iPods are starting to expand to include features that were not previously included in the preceding models of iPods.

The iPod microphone is one clear and vivid example of this. When the iPod was launched in 2001, no one thought it would turn out to be this big as a modern-day gadget. The device is now slowly building up its features and is offering signs of prospective and further growth. Aside form the iPod microphone, iPod would soon come up with its own mobile phone features.

If you are aiming to buy an iPod microphone, do so immediately. Doing so would really make for a good investment.

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iPod Sock

There is one type of socks that is becoming so in demand nowadays: the iPod sock. This is another iPod accessory that is meant to help you better take care of your reliable and very well loved music player device.

You must be wondering what an iPod sock is. Well, for a start, this accessory is very much like the original socks you know. They would mistakenly be taken as ordinary socks for kids. However, seeing one would make you infer that the iPod sock is not your ordinary type of socks.

The iPod sock is a practical accessory that serves as a protection or a temporary housing for iPods of any types. The makers of modern-day iPod socks claim that the products are custom and effectively made to fit securely over all models of Apple Computer Inc’s iPod. Yes, that means the iPod mini and the iPod nano are included.

How does it work? Very simple. Just put the iPod into the sock. There is an elastic adjustment at the entrance of the sock so that you can secure the iPod once it gets inside the sock. Now you can carry the device in this state. IPod socks help prevent scratches from getting into the iPod surface. You know that scratches deteriorate or somehow reduce the aesthetic value of any device.

Another good thins about the iPod sock is that it features very soft knit cushions on the exterior. This protects the iPod from dents and drops. The iPod sock also serves as an immediate and temporary protection of the iPod against pressure and moisture in the surroundings. As an electronic gadget, you know that iPods are still vulnerable to moisture and wetting.

On top of all these features is the fact that iPod socks are simple, yet very fashionable. Getting an iPod sock for you beloved iPod is just like dressing up your gadget. Yes, iPod socks are just like apparels that you can change according to moods. The iPod socks come in different and stylish hues of colors like pink, orange, blue, grey, green and purple.

You can also buy original iPod socks from Apple itself. The company sells packages of six iPod socks at reasonable prices. Thus, collecting these socks is not just useful for the iPod. The activity would also be practical and very much fun. Plus, you could also easily remove your iPod from the sock to the dock whenever you want to change the play list.

Buy an Ipod sock now and provide practical protection to your iPod.

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