iPod
Even with the emergence of iPhones and other brands of smart phones, the iPod still remains a popular item. These handy devices come with a broad range of useful features and they are small enough to be very portable which adds to their functionality. The main features of an iPod include audio, video and photo storage. The amount of storage will depend on the particular device and how much it costs is usually reflected in the amount of storage it offers. Today, the iPod can be used similar to a portable or external hard drive which is used to carry different files between computers. It also contains a useful calendar which the user can sync with Outlook or other calendars, games which are pre-loaded and it can be integrated into the sound system in a vehicle. But what type of electronic components provides the hardware to make all these features function properly?
Electronic Parts in an iPod
There are a lot of electronic parts inside an iPod which make it perform but there are 7 basic electronic components that are behind its functionality:
· Hard Drive – 1.8 in hard drive (30 GB by Toshiba)
· Battery – rechargeable lithium ion
· Click Wheel – or touch screen for navigation
· Display – 2.5 inch or larger TFT LCD screen
· Microprocessor – ARM7TDMI cores
· Video Chip – Broadcom BCM2722
· Audio Chip – Wolfson Microelectronics WM8758 codec
An iPod weighs less than 2 ounces so all the electric components that are behind the work it does are all very small. There are connectors used to connect the different components in the iPod but instead of the larger versions that are usually seen in larger devices the connectors that an iPod uses are miniscule. The motherboard contains all of the memory devices and chips that are necessary. It also has a “mixed signal array” chip which can handle both digital and analog data.
Operating System of the iPod
Apple really won’t say too much about the specific software used in an iPod. But it does use a system that is all on one chip to provide the hardware that is used. This includes two different microprocessor cores. When Apple first created the device they used an interface called “Pixo Toolbox.” But recently, Pixo became a part of Sun Microsystems. Along with the user-interface and the operating system, the video coding and decoding occur at the software level. The device contains a Broadcom video chip which takes care of processing on the hardware level, but it also has another piece of software that corresponds with it and helps run the video codec. The iPod video component is compatible with Mac if it is at least OS X v10.3.9 or later and with Windows 2000 and Windows Home XP.
iPod Hacks
Since the iPod became one of the most popular digital devices of the day, there are a lot of third party hacks that came about. A hack is a third party software program that uses the iPod functions to perform other functions that are not standard on the iPod – but it does not interrupt the basic features or functions of the iPod to do so. There are games, programs and videos that are convert PDA data and files like PowerPoint presentations into files or software that are compatible with the iPod. This allows users to create their own iPod games. One of the things that cannot be done with an iPod is syncing using a fire wire. But if an iPod is hacked it can be done easily. Basically, a programmer can download code into the iPod that changes its functionality by changing the software. iPod hackers write all types of programs that change the way the iPod works. They can do some things like turning the iPod into a universal remote control, watch movies on the iPod in full screen mode, or transfer files like photos without having to use iTunes. There are lots of hacks out there and they are all designed to make the iPod go beyond what Apple programmers designed them to do. They basically offer brand new levels of functionality to the iPod. Some of these software packages are free and others must be purchased.
Electronic Parts in an iPod
There are a lot of electronic parts inside an iPod which make it perform but there are 7 basic electronic components that are behind its functionality:
· Hard Drive – 1.8 in hard drive (30 GB by Toshiba)
· Battery – rechargeable lithium ion
· Click Wheel – or touch screen for navigation
· Display – 2.5 inch or larger TFT LCD screen
· Microprocessor – ARM7TDMI cores
· Video Chip – Broadcom BCM2722
· Audio Chip – Wolfson Microelectronics WM8758 codec
An iPod weighs less than 2 ounces so all the electric components that are behind the work it does are all very small. There are connectors used to connect the different components in the iPod but instead of the larger versions that are usually seen in larger devices the connectors that an iPod uses are miniscule. The motherboard contains all of the memory devices and chips that are necessary. It also has a “mixed signal array” chip which can handle both digital and analog data.
Operating System of the iPod
Apple really won’t say too much about the specific software used in an iPod. But it does use a system that is all on one chip to provide the hardware that is used. This includes two different microprocessor cores. When Apple first created the device they used an interface called “Pixo Toolbox.” But recently, Pixo became a part of Sun Microsystems. Along with the user-interface and the operating system, the video coding and decoding occur at the software level. The device contains a Broadcom video chip which takes care of processing on the hardware level, but it also has another piece of software that corresponds with it and helps run the video codec. The iPod video component is compatible with Mac if it is at least OS X v10.3.9 or later and with Windows 2000 and Windows Home XP.
iPod Hacks
Since the iPod became one of the most popular digital devices of the day, there are a lot of third party hacks that came about. A hack is a third party software program that uses the iPod functions to perform other functions that are not standard on the iPod – but it does not interrupt the basic features or functions of the iPod to do so. There are games, programs and videos that are convert PDA data and files like PowerPoint presentations into files or software that are compatible with the iPod. This allows users to create their own iPod games. One of the things that cannot be done with an iPod is syncing using a fire wire. But if an iPod is hacked it can be done easily. Basically, a programmer can download code into the iPod that changes its functionality by changing the software. iPod hackers write all types of programs that change the way the iPod works. They can do some things like turning the iPod into a universal remote control, watch movies on the iPod in full screen mode, or transfer files like photos without having to use iTunes. There are lots of hacks out there and they are all designed to make the iPod go beyond what Apple programmers designed them to do. They basically offer brand new levels of functionality to the iPod. Some of these software packages are free and others must be purchased.