Skip to Content

Gadling's resident pilot explains what life in the cockpit is like
AOL Tech

iPod firmware reverse engineered

iPod firmware beeps

There’s more than one way to extract a bootloader, and Nils Schneider has come up with a rather inspired one. He wanted to study the iPod firmware in order to write new software for the device, but couldn’t examine the code without first somehow extracting it. He ended up using a piezo element to output the firmware as a series of sounds, which he recorded and analyzed on his PC to convert the squeaks and squawks into a digital representation of the code. He essentially turned iPod and microphone into an acoustic modem, and wrote his own application to decode the signal. Then, he wrote it all up for posterity and posted it online in contribution to hacker lore. Hats off to you, Nils!

[Thanks Brian for the tip!]

Recent Posts

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tip of the Day

Need a quick way to rename a file or folder in Finder? Instead of click-wait-click, just click once and hit Return (Enter). The name will highlight and be ready to edit.


Follow us on Twitter!

Sponsored Links

Featured Galleries

DNC Macs
Macworld 2008 Keynote
Macworld 2008 Build-up
Podcaster
Apple Vanity Plates
Apple booth Macworld 07
DiscPainter
Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D
Macworld Expo 2007 show floor
Apple Texas Hold 'Em
The Macworld Faithful in Line
iPhone First Look
Facebook 2 for iPhone
Ten Fun and Free iPhone apps
Take a stroll down memory lane
First Look: SousChef for Mac
First Look: Grocery iQ for iPhone
Pixelmator 1.3
Earthscape
MacTablet Faux Gallery
Watch It Change

 

More Apple Analysis