For those who still cherish their old iPods, it's wonderful to see that the platform still has such great support years after it has been discontinued. This project goes to show that modifying an iPod these days can be a fun weekend build thanks to the great software and hardware now available. And perhaps best of all, it can even play classic games like DOOM!

To start, ImgDrive 2.0.5 was installed on the iPod. Alternatively, users can use the clickwheel to control the volume on their MacBook if they so desire. The next step was to install open source Rockbox firmware, which opens up the capabilities of the hardware immensely.

Following the installation of Rockbox, a new battery was added, along with a fancy clear front casing for aesthetic charm. After completing the hardware modifications, the iPod needed to be restored with iTunes to start working again.

To increase storage capacity, two 512 GB cards were installed inside an iFlash Quad board, allowing the iPod to use up to four micro SD cards for storage instead of the original hard disk drive. Careful hands and a spudger are key to avoid marring the pressed-together metal case.

For those who are new to disassembling electronic devices, it's recommended to follow an iFixit guide to learn how to do so safely. In this case, a 5.5th generation iPod was used, which is prized for its good audio quality thanks to the Wolfson DAC.

The classic iPod was the MP3 player to beat back in the day, loaded with storage and featuring its characteristic click-wheel interface. For those who are looking for a fun project during these pandemic-wracked times, upgrading an old iPod can be a great way to breathe new life into a classic device.

For ipod instal ImgDrive 2.0.5