So good to see such a kit now exists! I remember when the only solution was stuffing a cheap jack to Bluetooth adapter in the casing and soldering it to the battery risking destroying the iPod in the process. So nice to see the community isn't dead and is still thriving
They make Bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack now, they are cheap and they work. There is also a 13pin Bluetooth adapter that plugs into the bottom port too. There are other options than this mod. And it doesn’t modify your iPod.
@@tracylynnw well yeah but it ain't fun, I liked risking bricking my device by soldering close to critical components to make something mediocre, best way to learn imo
Wow, I never imagined upgrading an iPod with Bluetooth was possible! 🤯 This is seriously impressive. Definitely something to explore in 2024. Great work!
Bluetooth modding iPods has been around for many many years. It's just never been available in a convenient almost plug and play package. You would have had to butcher a little bluetooth transmitter modules and have them tap into the audio signal.
Very cool. Best part about this for me was the fact it keeps the 30 pin connector. I use that from time to time for video output. Still a very good mod, IMO.
this product is everything i wanted to modernize the ipod classic i bought a while ago it has so much potential but no one made a video about it a while its been out so i was still on the fence lol thank you for this solid video to reassure myself will definitely buy the product
This Bluetooth upgrade is great. I have 2 IPODS one 80G and the other 160G but now have to wear Hearing Aids.. luckily they are Bluetooth capable so I can use the IPODs after an upgrade like this.
I was 100% ready to buy a kit for myself until i saw you need to glue it together. Still tempting though. Edit: I looked up the adhesive they include and apparently its pretty easy to remove if you want to
Hello! Yes, moonlit market replied to me on my thread on Reddit and explained that i can easily take it apart, remove the metal sponge at the base of the 30 pin adapter and try again - it should fit much better. If I do it, I’ll make a TH-cam short about it!
@@wassup5793 The glue is a bit jank but definitely still the cleanest all in one upgrade out right now. It has more features than mentioned, if you can do the solder work. It has solder pads for installing a wireless charging controller and a haptic feedback module as well. All of this is built on the board so you may be able to modify an OG back or design and print a new one.
@@andrewdriver3318 It is but it could be easily fixed. Seems a bit yankee for that premium price. This product has definitely more potential but not sure if enough people would buy it or actually are buying it.
189 Euro to "upgrade" your iPod from a metal back to a 3D printed part seems a bit crazy to me personally, they could have at least added wireless charging to it or something and made the part out of some higher quuality manufacturing process or material becasue for that price a flex PCB and a 3D printed part seems crazy, to me at least
He didn't mention it but that bluetooth board has dedicated solder pads on it for installing a wireless charging receiver, as well as a haptic feedback module. All of it is built on that board including the hold switch, pairing button, and headphone jack so you may be able to modify an OG Ipod back.
@@neriozulberti1492 Solder points. the points on the board are easy but the points you have to solder to on the ipod are tiny, so a bit of a learning curve but doable.
Using the B7000 glue is their preference and I could never get onboard with it. I’ve repaired a bunch of iPads, iPhones, and a handful of Samsung/droids and I’ve watched other repair techs use glue. My experience with the B7000 has the glue stringing up and getting all over the place, plus you have drytime which totally blows. If you get some solid 2MM Tesa or 3M high temp tape it’s instant gratification. To help the tape get a good grip I add some hot air on the areas where the new tape is under and then I use some Quan Li brand clamps that are made to put solid pressure on both side until it cools. Just my opinion, who knows maybe I’m too stubborn about it and I’m the one missing out not using glue. Just watching this guy slather it on all of those edges and getting liquid glue where it don’t belong hits my OCD too much 😧
This exact video was on my to do list! What an amazing project. Thanks for sharing your experience putting this together, can’t wait to get my hands on a moonlit kit.
I recognize your name, i had to check my files to make sure though 🙄. I bought some iPod nano 3rd gen parts and stickers from your store I think a year ago. I was going to look you up when I got around to it because I needed another screen and I saw that you’re sold out. Parts are getting harder to find. Thx for that last order btw
I’m considering this for a project, but I opted for the Kokkia Bluetooth adapter for now. It’s a 30 pin Bluetooth adapter so it uses the iPod battery and is able to pass through media controls. Pretty great! I’m just worried that having something connected to the 30 pin in my pants can cause it to snap or be damaged otherwise. This looks good though, so I’ll definitely keep it in mind.
So to recap: 140 bucks, irreversible mod, that you need to glue together, that alters the look of the iPod. All to accomplish something that has already been accomplished by modders for a quarter of the price, with off the shelf components, keeping the appearance of the device mostly or completely unaltered. What a deal!
I like it and I’ll buy it. The Bluetooth mods on iPods have poor signal with the metal black plate. My AirPods stop connecting when it the iPod is near my body. Also having the upgraded Bluetooth standard is key for easy pairing and the light to tell you what’s happening are all negatives of the typical iPod Bluetooth mod. I have a 5.5 iPod with Bluetooth mod so I know for experience
"keeping the appearance of the device" my man, most of these modders can't even get their usb-c port straight in the case. This is 100% cheaper than kit bashing something together, especially if the person doesn't already have the tools needed to perform a mod like this.
I have been eyeing my 160GB stainless Ipod classic with a dead battery for awhile now...bluetooth, SSD, and new battery were my plans. The mini HDD still works fine, but it is a bit slow compared to modern SD or SSD. And I want to keep the polished stainless steel back.
Anyone looking to do this, get some phone repair clamps from amazon instead of the weights. If you want the usb c data, i recommend you get someone to do it. The spots on the ipod you connect to are SMALL and fragile. Distance on the bluetooth is amazing. I haven't gotten far enough for failure, but got to about 40 yards. I added wireless charging, but space is tight. If the battery is on the coil, it won't work. Iflash quad won't fit with a battery. OG or upgraded. I couldn't get my frontplate sit flush, but I honestly don't notice. And taking the tab off isn't as detrimental as he makes it sound. If you want to go back to stock, and it does not close, then you can get another faceplate for $10. Overall though, in my opinion, definitely worth it. Taking it back apart is not hard if you use the same glue. It acts more like rubber
Nice product! I think that they could make the 30pin connector hole with a lid that is closed from inside and can be opened if you decide to go with 30pin connector instead of USB-C than if you go with USB-C you are not having a huge hole that is collecting dust internally.
You don’t need this specific kit if you stop want to restore the drive only - check iflash.xyz or eoe.works for parts and you can easily replace it. I have an earlier video where i upgrade my other iPod or you can check Dankpod’s tutorial
I own an iPod classic 120gb and this upgrade would be great (especially if someone offered it) I don’t think I could do it but, maybe I’ll try,some time in the future,apple may reissue the IPod with these features (It usually start when someone does a custom kit like this then,boom,big business follows) great job I may look into this,thanks
This is the better solution for modifying an iPod specially cause its solderless and all fits in a single PCB, the only complain things are the battery that have a longer flex cable than you require (it could be shorter from fabric) and the case despite looks cooler with a black offset case, it didn’t have the original pins so it’s needed applying glue, that could be a problem if you need to open it to replace SD cards or battery one day. I have a fully clear one from elite obsolete electronics and I really want to make this mod, so it couldn’t be difficult make a new custom clear 3D printed one in order to fit the new Bluetooth PCB but having all original retainer clips back
Hi Anthony, Not in the way how I did the upgrade - if you're good with soldering you can solder the USB-C endpoints properly and then it would behave just like 30-pin connector (so you would be able to sync through it and see charging animation).
been looking at sites on other modders selling modded ipods and came across this vid while looking at reviews. Doesn't look too bad of an installation but with my laziness, I'm glad I checked that Moonlit Market offers the ipod all completed to sell. A little pricey but around the same price other modders offer from as low as $300 to $400+. May just buy it all completed for the nostalgia and a one time purchase
The only problem is since you're going to glue it shut if the connector fails or the battery starts to go bad or you need to get back in there to reseat the microSD cards which does happen A lot with the iFlash cards... you can't get back in! Can you think of any alternatives other than gluing it together I don't know I'd even go so far as using duct tape or Scotch tape. I mean most of these iPods are going to be in a protecting case anyway Maybe the protecting case can hold it together?
Hello. Yes, indeed, that's why the whole glue endevour is one of the few negative points in my review. It is not such a bad case though - you can still pull it apart with some force. The glue is quite elastic and if you use heat, you can probably make it easier - but it will be a messy situation indeed. I think the best case scenario would be if it was possible to manufacture a compatible clip-on case with a plastic back to allow for radio-waves to go through.
I'm a big fan of the iPod and have 3 Classics. This kit is close, but it's not there yet. Lost me when you glued it together. I think the thickness of the case and the way it stands proud of the front cover makes it look cheap. Especially for what it costs. Hardly in keeping with the Apple ethos either.
Just a whim, but would it be possible to connect the iPhone to this iPod mod’s USB-C port? I usually transfer files I download to a spare USB, but being able to transfer mp3 files from my phone to the iPod directly, without the need of a computer would be awesome! If that were to be the case, it would honestly seal the deal for me.
Apple would make so much money if they brought this iPod back with built-in Bluetooth and usb c better battery and video quality 💯 I would definitely buy it 💯 also flash memory instead of the original hard drive.
This seems like a fantastic product, but having gotten to be a bit of an audiophile there's very little that this gives me since the iPod can't natively play lossless formats (yes I know, Rockbox). The thing that I always loved about the iPod though was its default interface which Rockbox doesn't quite duplicate. Part of me is tempted to go down the road to madness and try to engineer a brand new board, but unfortunately I've never really managed hot plate/hot air rework, and it would definitely require stealing a lot of parts off of donor boards to accomplish. But how awesome would it be to implement new USB and charging circuitry on a dedicated replacement motherboard with USB C built in? Maybe even an onboard MicroSD slot if there's enough room.
A very informative video. Since glue is used, does anyone have an idea how difficult it would be to go back in to change the battery if needed? Thank you for your great work!
Thank you! The glue is there to sort of keep the backplate in place. It is quite elastic and you can rub it off with your fingers if you want. I haven’t tried it but I imagine wiggling it out and slowly pulling out the glue would be an easy enough job!
Hi there. Yes, i followed the instructions from moonlit market page. Something that wasn’t there is that you need to remove a metal sponge around the 30pin connector so that the case would fit. You can see the sponge around 17:17
This is great... is there room in there to put an Air Tag board in there, maybe power it from the main battery? it seems like you have a bit of room left over.
Hi there. There is some room left and you obviously can choose a smaller battery (the original ipod one is 50% the size of the one i used in the video). I am not sure how you would power it, as I am not knowledgeable about airtags at all :)
A good idea, but it need a better case (this one is too fat and larger than the original one and it need glue) and the price is crazy. If I buy the 189€ kit, I will need to add the import taxe, the TVA, it would be something like 250€ at the end (the shipping fees seems to be free for my country ?) so at least, I would have a nice case. I will wait for another version of the case, but I like the electronic part.
Great Video! It's harder to dissemble than the 5th Gen, but worth it. Question: When the USB-C is installed, can I use an external DAC? I´m not sure, if the USB-C-Port outputs digital audio like in moder iPhones or Android Phones. Can somebody answer this? Thanx!
It’s tempting but does it require manual pairing every time when i want to use bluetooth. Or does it auto connects if the bluetooth device once paired before?
Great video, many thx! I was all in until I saw the crappy looking backplate. The iPod is all about quality and metal, not cheap plastic on the back or even such a knock off half moon. It looks like a Frankenstein iPod afterwards 😢
@@abhithakur90 there are BT mods (not serially produced though) for iPods that had a plastic-covered cutout in the "thick" iPod backplate that allowed more space to fit in the BT transmitter (since thick backplates were slightly bigger and when you replaced the hard drive with SD cards you freed a lot of space). So I think its definitely doable. The only thinkg I'd worry is interference with the radio from BT because of the metal (that's why the mods I mentioned earlier had a plastic bit)
@ this gives me some confidence. The convenience of a plug n play mod is definitely something that I would prefer even if modding the backplate is more work. I will definitely try it on a worn out plate to see how much interference is there. Thank you
@@TechFi-te3ik Nice TY. But I recently saw a guy saying that the iPod classic's don't do shuffle for video's playback . Any idea about that video shuffle ? I.e a different rom/boot that can shuffle vids ?
wow.. i like it.i want to buy that i have ipod 120g but still works but the batt is so weak almost 10yrs still working untill now amazing apple prdct..
Shout out to Nick Cave's "Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere" featured on the ipod screen at one point in this video. One of the most devastating songs ever written. Cool mod!!!!
Please consider a video on how to update, upgrade a iPod classic in one video to have 1) more storage like this video 2) how to install blue tooth 5.3 3) wireless charging 4) convert to have USBC 5) different operating system to include better sound quality an types of data then iTunes.. Hopefully can control via Android instead of Windows or a Mac. 6) biggest possibly best battery. 7) Since it sounds like you offer this service please post details on how to offer a donor iPod to have you do it for us.
It would be great if there was a way to fully replace the 30 pin connector with the USB C port, though having backwards compatibility with original docks is nice In theory internally it would just have to be connected to the USB 2.0 lines on the 30 pin connector Also would've preferred if that backplate weren't glued on since that makes it more difficult to upgrade the iPod in the future
I use my macbook - if you connect your ipod you can drop your mp3s imported into Apple Music using finder If you have an older macbook or windows PC with itunes you can still use that!
It’s ten times easier to use an older iPhone SE as an iPod, as you get everything you already need (headphone jack, Bluetooth connectivity, a more recent connector - even if it’s Lightning)…yet nothing equals the thrill of keeping an iPod functional. Great video
I did just that; refurbished an old original iPhone SE 128GB with a brand new original Apple Battery. Costly? Yes, but it was done professionally; and I now use it as an iPod in the car, connected via an aux audio socket. The DAC on the SE however is nowhere near as good as my original iPod Video 5.5 Gen - which transforms the high end JBL 9 speaker system in my car, into something astonishingly great.
@@datathunderstorm Considering how much the SE is based on the iPhone 5, getting a third-party battery and tools from amazon and DIY-ing it could have been worth it your while. I know for a fact the iphone 5 is quite easy to open and to have the battery replaced (I’ve done it myself, and only takes about 30 minutes if you are being extra careful). Regarding the audio quality difference, the use of a SE is for most users, whilst opting for a modded ipod is more for audio enthusiasts. That said, you might use the money put into having your SE professionally serviced into a cheap DAC, I think.Just an opinion, though
Think i will wait for them to revise this version, hopefully they improve it without glue, and having to solder to get USB-C Sync to work. This should be straight out of the box IMHO. Price also does quite sit right, lets see if someone makes a competitor 😂
So good to see such a kit now exists! I remember when the only solution was stuffing a cheap jack to Bluetooth adapter in the casing and soldering it to the battery risking destroying the iPod in the process. So nice to see the community isn't dead and is still thriving
They make Bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack now, they are cheap and they work. There is also a 13pin Bluetooth adapter that plugs into the bottom port too. There are other options than this mod. And it doesn’t modify your iPod.
@@tracylynnw well yeah but it ain't fun, I liked risking bricking my device by soldering close to critical components to make something mediocre, best way to learn imo
Wow, I never imagined upgrading an iPod with Bluetooth was possible! 🤯 This is seriously impressive. Definitely something to explore in 2024. Great work!
Thank you!
Bluetooth modding iPods has been around for many many years. It's just never been available in a convenient almost plug and play package. You would have had to butcher a little bluetooth transmitter modules and have them tap into the audio signal.
You can get Bluetooth and usb charging without having to glue it all back together
Very cool. Best part about this for me was the fact it keeps the 30 pin connector. I use that from time to time for video output. Still a very good mod, IMO.
thank you!
Totally agree,for example I have several accessories that use the 30 pin connector,and this is the perfect solution
Yes 30 its great for dropping onto the inexpensive docks that uses to commas a good price like the zeppelin or Bose portable or bose 10 sound dock
It outputs video!!?? In 20 years I had not found that out
Great way to bring a modern update to a classic gadget
Thank you, Kornholio
this product is everything i wanted to modernize the ipod classic i bought a while ago it has so much potential but no one made a video about it a while its been out so i was still on the fence lol thank you for this solid video to reassure myself will definitely buy the product
Cheers! Thank you!
This Bluetooth upgrade is great. I have 2 IPODS one 80G and the other 160G but now have to wear Hearing Aids.. luckily they are Bluetooth capable so I can use the IPODs after an upgrade like this.
Hope this BT gives you the opportunity to enjoy many hours of good music,have a good day and sorry for my English,I write from Italy
i ordered a whole bunch of ipod parts to upgrade my ipod to 2TB just 3 days ago... This has to show up now!!! haha
I was 100% ready to buy a kit for myself until i saw you need to glue it together. Still tempting though.
Edit: I looked up the adhesive they include and apparently its pretty easy to remove if you want to
Hello! Yes, moonlit market replied to me on my thread on Reddit and explained that i can easily take it apart, remove the metal sponge at the base of the 30 pin adapter and try again - it should fit much better.
If I do it, I’ll make a TH-cam short about it!
that's the only real flaw in this mod but besides that still the best ready to go bt + usb-c mod so far
@@wassup5793 The glue is a bit jank but definitely still the cleanest all in one upgrade out right now. It has more features than mentioned, if you can do the solder work. It has solder pads for installing a wireless charging controller and a haptic feedback module as well. All of this is built on the board so you may be able to modify an OG back or design and print a new one.
You can use double sided tape.
@@andrewdriver3318 It is but it could be easily fixed. Seems a bit yankee for that premium price. This product has definitely more potential but not sure if enough people would buy it or actually are buying it.
189 Euro to "upgrade" your iPod from a metal back to a 3D printed part seems a bit crazy to me personally, they could have at least added wireless charging to it or something and made the part out of some higher quuality manufacturing process or material becasue for that price a flex PCB and a 3D printed part seems crazy, to me at least
He didn't mention it but that bluetooth board has dedicated solder pads on it for installing a wireless charging receiver, as well as a haptic feedback module. All of it is built on that board including the hold switch, pairing button, and headphone jack so you may be able to modify an OG Ipod back.
Definitely isn't 3D printed, reviewer is wrong about that
@@andrewdriver3318 this is a great new it’s a connector or solder point ?
@@andrewdriver3318 for me with a new closing system ,no glue,it would be perfect.
@@neriozulberti1492 Solder points. the points on the board are easy but the points you have to solder to on the ipod are tiny, so a bit of a learning curve but doable.
Using the B7000 glue is their preference and I could never get onboard with it. I’ve repaired a bunch of iPads, iPhones, and a handful of Samsung/droids and I’ve watched other repair techs use glue. My experience with the B7000 has the glue stringing up and getting all over the place, plus you have drytime which totally blows. If you get some solid 2MM Tesa or 3M high temp tape it’s instant gratification. To help the tape get a good grip I add some hot air on the areas where the new tape is under and then I use some Quan Li brand clamps that are made to put solid pressure on both side until it cools. Just my opinion, who knows maybe I’m too stubborn about it and I’m the one missing out not using glue. Just watching this guy slather it on all of those edges and getting liquid glue where it don’t belong hits my OCD too much 😧
This exact video was on my to do list! What an amazing project.
Thanks for sharing your experience putting this together, can’t wait to get my hands on a moonlit kit.
My pleasure! I'm glad it was helpful!
Been waiting for a review for this product. I really appreciate it. Great work!
Thank you!
Ren, thank you for this. I see you as a true artist. You manage to use any song just as a vehicle to express yourself.
finished mine yesterday!
Are you planning on doing a video on it?
Hey there! Looking forward to hearing what you think about it!
I recognize your name, i had to check my files to make sure though 🙄. I bought some iPod nano 3rd gen parts and stickers from your store I think a year ago. I was going to look you up when I got around to it because I needed another screen and I saw that you’re sold out. Parts are getting harder to find. Thx for that last order btw
I’m considering this for a project, but I opted for the Kokkia Bluetooth adapter for now. It’s a 30 pin Bluetooth adapter so it uses the iPod battery and is able to pass through media controls. Pretty great! I’m just worried that having something connected to the 30 pin in my pants can cause it to snap or be damaged otherwise. This looks good though, so I’ll definitely keep it in mind.
Oh wow! I really want this. I already have a microsd and big battery kit for my old iPod 5g.
Battery life with bluetooth used now and then_ Great video.
Thank you! Bluetooth drains battery faster than wired connection. But 2000mAh is still a massive battery for an iPod so it holds for quite some time.
Wow they managed to keep the headphone jack and the dock connector not what I was expecting!
I use an iPhone 6 as an iPod in my car. I have many iPods but prefer to keep them original. Good video, 👍
Thank you for this clear and great explanation! Love it! 😍
Thank you!
I think a certain Australian man with a long dog will be very pleased with this
I can't wait to see him yell at it :D
So to recap: 140 bucks, irreversible mod, that you need to glue together, that alters the look of the iPod. All to accomplish something that has already been accomplished by modders for a quarter of the price, with off the shelf components, keeping the appearance of the device mostly or completely unaltered. What a deal!
Mind the lack of soldering.
You know what I think this product might just not be for you!
I like it and I’ll buy it. The Bluetooth mods on iPods have poor signal with the metal black plate. My AirPods stop connecting when it the iPod is near my body. Also having the upgraded Bluetooth standard is key for easy pairing and the light to tell you what’s happening are all negatives of the typical iPod Bluetooth mod. I have a 5.5 iPod with Bluetooth mod so I know for experience
"keeping the appearance of the device" my man, most of these modders can't even get their usb-c port straight in the case. This is 100% cheaper than kit bashing something together, especially if the person doesn't already have the tools needed to perform a mod like this.
I have been eyeing my 160GB stainless Ipod classic with a dead battery for awhile now...bluetooth, SSD, and new battery were my plans. The mini HDD still works fine, but it is a bit slow compared to modern SD or SSD. And I want to keep the polished stainless steel back.
Anyone looking to do this, get some phone repair clamps from amazon instead of the weights. If you want the usb c data, i recommend you get someone to do it. The spots on the ipod you connect to are SMALL and fragile. Distance on the bluetooth is amazing. I haven't gotten far enough for failure, but got to about 40 yards. I added wireless charging, but space is tight. If the battery is on the coil, it won't work. Iflash quad won't fit with a battery. OG or upgraded. I couldn't get my frontplate sit flush, but I honestly don't notice. And taking the tab off isn't as detrimental as he makes it sound. If you want to go back to stock, and it does not close, then you can get another faceplate for $10. Overall though, in my opinion, definitely worth it. Taking it back apart is not hard if you use the same glue. It acts more like rubber
The moment you mentioned glue I was like nah, I could see it being a disaster trying to take it apart again
Nice product! I think that they could make the 30pin connector hole with a lid that is closed from inside and can be opened if you decide to go with 30pin connector instead of USB-C than if you go with USB-C you are not having a huge hole that is collecting dust internally.
Nick Cave! Great choice.
Wow just wow. I have like 4 classics right here with busted spinning hdd
You don’t need this specific kit if you stop want to restore the drive only - check iflash.xyz or eoe.works for parts and you can easily replace it.
I have an earlier video where i upgrade my other iPod or you can check Dankpod’s tutorial
Just received mine, really happy with the result! I think you were supposed to remove the sponge above the 30pin? Great review, very helpful
Thank you! What sponge are you referring to?
Check, now I see the sponge indeed. I have followed the instructional video and the sponge was already removed there...
I own an iPod classic 120gb and this upgrade would be great (especially if someone offered it) I don’t think I could do it but, maybe I’ll try,some time in the future,apple may reissue the IPod with these features (It usually start when someone does a custom kit like this then,boom,big business follows) great job I may look into this,thanks
Moonlit market also sells pre-made iPods! So you can just order one
I'd be interested in just buying one too!
So one day Apple may say The best iPod ever😁
Interesting modification, am tempted to do one myself
I love the shuffle, never know what song is next. I use the ipod touch as they are they are cheap on ebay. early versions
Grrat idea. Thank you. Happy ipod classic NEW YEAR.
Happy new year to you too! Thank you!
Your energy is contagious.
Thank you :)
This is the better solution for modifying an iPod specially cause its solderless and all fits in a single PCB, the only complain things are the battery that have a longer flex cable than you require (it could be shorter from fabric) and the case despite looks cooler with a black offset case, it didn’t have the original pins so it’s needed applying glue, that could be a problem if you need to open it to replace SD cards or battery one day. I have a fully clear one from elite obsolete electronics and I really want to make this mod, so it couldn’t be difficult make a new custom clear 3D printed one in order to fit the new Bluetooth PCB but having all original retainer clips back
In my opinion maybe they kept long flat in order to reduce problem during the flat insert into the power connector ,
Great job! Looking forward to continuing it in the new year!
It’s a cool idea, but there’s a lot of oversight. I don’t know why you need to break the tab, seems like you could design it to work around the issue.
Super Cool, I'll have to try this with another ipod Im too scared to do a glue job with my current LOL.
the glue job is not that scary actually - fortunately it is very easy to get rid off. It is still a very rubbery and elastic glue.
Hello ! Nice review. I've a small question : when you use USB for charging, does it show on the charging indicator ?
Hi Anthony,
Not in the way how I did the upgrade - if you're good with soldering you can solder the USB-C endpoints properly and then it would behave just like 30-pin connector (so you would be able to sync through it and see charging animation).
been looking at sites on other modders selling modded ipods and came across this vid while looking at reviews. Doesn't look too bad of an installation but with my laziness, I'm glad I checked that Moonlit Market offers the ipod all completed to sell. A little pricey but around the same price other modders offer from as low as $300 to $400+. May just buy it all completed for the nostalgia and a one time purchase
The only problem is since you're going to glue it shut if the connector fails or the battery starts to go bad or you need to get back in there to reseat the microSD cards which does happen A lot with the iFlash cards... you can't get back in!
Can you think of any alternatives other than gluing it together I don't know I'd even go so far as using duct tape or Scotch tape. I mean most of these iPods are going to be in a protecting case anyway Maybe the protecting case can hold it together?
Hello. Yes, indeed, that's why the whole glue endevour is one of the few negative points in my review.
It is not such a bad case though - you can still pull it apart with some force. The glue is quite elastic and if you use heat, you can probably make it easier - but it will be a messy situation indeed.
I think the best case scenario would be if it was possible to manufacture a compatible clip-on case with a plastic back to allow for radio-waves to go through.
Very Nice! I got to upgrade mine!
Thank you for this video. This will help a lot. 🎉
Go on making these kind of videos.
Glad it helped
I'm a big fan of the iPod and have 3 Classics. This kit is close, but it's not there yet. Lost me when you glued it together. I think the thickness of the case and the way it stands proud of the front cover makes it look cheap. Especially for what it costs. Hardly in keeping with the Apple ethos either.
Just a whim, but would it be possible to connect the iPhone to this iPod mod’s USB-C port? I usually transfer files I download to a spare USB, but being able to transfer mp3 files from my phone to the iPod directly, without the need of a computer would be awesome! If that were to be the case, it would honestly seal the deal for me.
Hi israel9350, I don't think so - neither iPhone nor iPod know about each other's existence :)
Apple would make so much money if they brought this iPod back with built-in Bluetooth and usb c better battery and video quality 💯 I would definitely buy it 💯 also flash memory instead of the original hard drive.
Also curious if you can pair two of them to be walkie talkies?
would it be possible to add wireless charging and maybe magnets for magsafe in this case?
Oh definitely.
It’s now 7 months later. Is the 3D backplate still functioning?
Yes it does! All works fine :)
@@TechFi-te3ik thanks for letting me know!
Thnks man for reviewing this.. Ive been eyeing the unit for some time already.. this might be my trigger to buy it.. Thanks man!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video, inspired me to get a kit of my own. Keep up the great content!
Thank you! Good luck and have fun with yours!
So close to perfection
This seems like a fantastic product, but having gotten to be a bit of an audiophile there's very little that this gives me since the iPod can't natively play lossless formats (yes I know, Rockbox). The thing that I always loved about the iPod though was its default interface which Rockbox doesn't quite duplicate.
Part of me is tempted to go down the road to madness and try to engineer a brand new board, but unfortunately I've never really managed hot plate/hot air rework, and it would definitely require stealing a lot of parts off of donor boards to accomplish. But how awesome would it be to implement new USB and charging circuitry on a dedicated replacement motherboard with USB C built in? Maybe even an onboard MicroSD slot if there's enough room.
ipods have supported ALAC since third gen, to say that “the iPod can’t natively play lossless formats” is flat out incorrect.
And they can play AIFF and Waves files.
Is the BT connection/ pairing independent from the OS? Like would that still work after flashing Rockbox f.e.?
Hey there. Yes, BT is independent from the OS fully. Its a transmitter integrated to the audio jack :)
A very informative video. Since glue is used, does anyone have an idea how difficult it would be to go back in to change the battery if needed? Thank you for your great work!
Thank you!
The glue is there to sort of keep the backplate in place. It is quite elastic and you can rub it off with your fingers if you want.
I haven’t tried it but I imagine wiggling it out and slowly pulling out the glue would be an easy enough job!
Another great video! Love the see the USB-C ALL THE THINGS ❤
Keep it up
Thanks for your feedback!
Fantastic upgrade❤
It really is!
Where can I find the exact instruction for soldering the USB-C port for Classic Connect?
On classic connect website. Here’s a direct link cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0676/1863/6044/files/instructions.svg
@TechFi-te3ik can I use the type c to connect to Itunes?
@@justagirlwithamustache9618 Yes, if you solder it. Scroll to 3:35
Did you remove the metal shield behind the screen? Moonlit say this has an impact on Bluetooth range, you are reporting a very good range. Cheers
Hi there. Yes, i followed the instructions from moonlit market page. Something that wasn’t there is that you need to remove a metal sponge around the 30pin connector so that the case would fit. You can see the sponge around 17:17
It's cool, just a shame that the outer case is larger than the front bezel
just installed mine and did not have to bend the battery cable. it can be slanted and wrapped around the battery
I use a Bluetooth connector from my bose speaker. It worked good
Would the bluetooth and usb features work with rockbox? I’m assuming both would, please confirm. Thanks.
Yes they will!
This is great... is there room in there to put an Air Tag board in there, maybe power it from the main battery? it seems like you have a bit of room left over.
Hi there. There is some room left and you obviously can choose a smaller battery (the original ipod one is 50% the size of the one i used in the video). I am not sure how you would power it, as I am not knowledgeable about airtags at all :)
A good idea, but it need a better case (this one is too fat and larger than the original one and it need glue) and the price is crazy. If I buy the 189€ kit, I will need to add the import taxe, the TVA, it would be something like 250€ at the end (the shipping fees seems to be free for my country ?) so at least, I would have a nice case.
I will wait for another version of the case, but I like the electronic part.
Damn, that glue is so much of a deal breaker, if they come out with a new model that is more cohesive then I will pick one up then
DankPods needs this!!!!!!!!
Great Video! It's harder to dissemble than the 5th Gen, but worth it. Question: When the USB-C is installed, can I use an external DAC? I´m not sure, if the USB-C-Port outputs digital audio like in moder iPhones or Android Phones. Can somebody answer this? Thanx!
It’s tempting but does it require manual pairing every time when i want to use bluetooth. Or does it auto connects if the bluetooth device once paired before?
I really hope they make a better case with a more accessible clicking/tabs feature versus this gluing solution.
Given its 3d printed Im surprised there aren’t many designs for custom ipod backplates 🤔
Does something like this exist for the iPod mini?
Not that I heard of
Great video, many thx!
I was all in until I saw the crappy looking backplate. The iPod is all about quality and metal, not cheap plastic on the back or even such a knock off half moon. It looks like a Frankenstein iPod afterwards 😢
Is there a metal backing option ?
Sadly no
@@TechFi-te3ik do you think it would be posible to transfer the mods to the OEM metal back ?
@@abhithakur90 there are BT mods (not serially produced though) for iPods that had a plastic-covered cutout in the "thick" iPod backplate that allowed more space to fit in the BT transmitter (since thick backplates were slightly bigger and when you replaced the hard drive with SD cards you freed a lot of space). So I think its definitely doable.
The only thinkg I'd worry is interference with the radio from BT because of the metal (that's why the mods I mentioned earlier had a plastic bit)
@ this gives me some confidence. The convenience of a plug n play mod is definitely something that I would prefer even if modding the backplate is more work. I will definitely try it on a worn out plate to see how much interference is there. Thank you
Cute dogs 🐶:) Great work!
Thank you so much! :)
Great shear ty. What's the max gb you can put in it ?
Thank you!
Up to 2 TB in total for ipods of generations 5 and 7 and up to 128gb for 6th gen
@@TechFi-te3ik Nice TY. But I recently saw a guy saying that the iPod classic's don't do shuffle for video's playback . Any idea about that video shuffle ? I.e a different rom/boot that can shuffle vids ?
@@frankenstein3163 I think if you put videos in the playlist and shuffle the playlist it will shuffle the videos, but I never tried it.
wow.. i like it.i want to buy that i have ipod 120g but still works but the batt is so weak almost 10yrs still working untill now amazing apple prdct..
Adding USB-C without losing the 30-pin functionality is a huge upgrade.
It is, yes, I can charge it in my living room from a variety of devices.
Wow! What a great video. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Can you use the USB-C port to plug to a USB-C DAC like an Apple dongle or a Chord Mojo 2?
No, you can't
@@TechFi-te3ik Good to know. That would be the ultimate for me.
@@shareclipsave you can use the 30 pin to aux out cable to the mojo..cable still exist just hard to find a good 1
Shout out to Nick Cave's "Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere" featured on the ipod screen at one point in this video. One of the most devastating songs ever written.
Cool mod!!!!
Thank you ❤️
I find I can't put a head phone jack all the way in or it only goes into one ear I'm not sure what the problem is
¿interesting, do you need to change the battery or that is optional?
Hey there. That is optional. 2000mah is just a very nice beefy update :)
Love this video!! I'm so happy I found it! 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
Please consider a video on how to update, upgrade a iPod classic in one video to have
1) more storage like this video
2) how to install blue tooth 5.3
3) wireless charging
4) convert to have USBC
5) different operating system to include better sound quality an types of data then iTunes.. Hopefully can control via Android instead of Windows or a Mac.
6) biggest possibly best battery.
7) Since it sounds like you offer this service please post details on how to offer a donor iPod to have you do it for us.
Great review, you should look into soldering classes
Well maybe I will indeed 😂
would it fit a bigger battery or would put too much strain on the ribbon cables, the 2000mah one is sold out everywhere. Thanks!
Hey there, I honestly don’t know - it really depends on size and thickness of the battery.
It would be great if there was a way to fully replace the 30 pin connector with the USB C port, though having backwards compatibility with original docks is nice
In theory internally it would just have to be connected to the USB 2.0 lines on the 30 pin connector
Also would've preferred if that backplate weren't glued on since that makes it more difficult to upgrade the iPod in the future
How do you sync music to that? Which app?
I use my macbook - if you connect your ipod you can drop your mp3s imported into Apple Music using finder
If you have an older macbook or windows PC with itunes you can still use that!
Really interesting work
Have you tried putting in rockbox with this mod? and if so, how did it went?
Hi there! I haven’t, but there is nothing extra on the iPod itself from this mod so Rockbox will work normally :)
I still have my old iPod as I’ve wished it was Bluetooth for a while now.
Nice! Well now you can mod it :)
It’s ten times easier to use an older iPhone SE as an iPod, as you get everything you already need (headphone jack, Bluetooth connectivity, a more recent connector - even if it’s Lightning)…yet nothing equals the thrill of keeping an iPod functional. Great video
Indeed! You can even buy a phone with BT and Spotify capability for less than the cost of the kit, but having a BT iPod feels nice :)
I did just that; refurbished an old original iPhone SE 128GB with a brand new original Apple Battery. Costly? Yes, but it was done professionally; and I now use it as an iPod in the car, connected via an aux audio socket. The DAC on the SE however is nowhere near as good as my original iPod Video 5.5 Gen - which transforms the high end JBL 9 speaker system in my car, into something astonishingly great.
@@datathunderstorm Considering how much the SE is based on the iPhone 5, getting a third-party battery and tools from amazon and DIY-ing it could have been worth it your while. I know for a fact the iphone 5 is quite easy to open and to have the battery replaced (I’ve done it myself, and only takes about 30 minutes if you are being extra careful).
Regarding the audio quality difference, the use of a SE is for most users, whilst opting for a modded ipod is more for audio enthusiasts. That said, you might use the money put into having your SE professionally serviced into a cheap DAC, I think.Just an opinion, though
Is this mod compatible with the iFlash adapter.. meaning will it fit perfectly fine with that back housing and battery.
So it’s €190 for plastic backplate and needs the front to be glued in? I can’t endorse that at all - a mod like that should raise the quality.
💯% agree!
Thanks for this interesting and informational video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hell yeah! Another Morphine lover :)
Always :)
Hi, are you using OEM software or Rockbox?
Hi, in normal life i use normal iPod firmware
I want to buy upgraded iPod classic with Bluetooth please tell me where I can find this
You can order a fully built kit on moonlit market website
Think i will wait for them to revise this version, hopefully they improve it without glue, and having to solder to get USB-C Sync to work. This should be straight out of the box IMHO. Price also does quite sit right, lets see if someone makes a competitor 😂
We already have the counterpart of this gadgets. The FiO and HiBy are good examples for modern “iPods” since apple doesn’t want to do his job.
Definitely, FiO are amazing players.
Do you think it would be too tight of a fit to also include a Taptic Engine at the bottom of the shell?
I honestly don’t know, i think with the current case - yes.