iPod Nano Hack Opens Entry for Future Jailbreaks

The latest generation iPod nano is hacked, a first step leading to a possible jailbreak. The sixth generation iPod nano was available in September this year and featured an operating system that seemed superficial IOS. Despite being a touchscreen device and supporting some of the same multitouch gestures in IOS was soon confirmed that the stamp-sized music player is running IOS. That has not stopped people from trying to jailbreak and change it to support additional apps. While not much success so far, a hacker by the name of James Whelton managed to keep the device home screen. That is not entirely successful, but it shows that true jailbreaking possible.

Under the hood, the mini-MP3 player is running an alternative operating system that is poked and prodded by the devs since its launch. To accomplish this hack, Whelton edited a plist file – also known as a “property list” – in Apple parlance is a file that stores information on various app settings. By a change in one file, James from an app’s icon from Springboard, the Nano’s home screen app, and added an empty space in his place. Although it seems that this simply appears Springboard Hack hides apps as opposed to outright remove them, this point is not entirely clear at this time.

Although the new nano is a variation on the traditional iPod OS running app development that does not mean impossible. Indeed, the original iPod comes with a version of breakout as an Easter egg and the fifth generation iPod, Apple began offering a smattering of games through the iTunes Store – games for the iPod Classic models can still be bought in this way . Unlike IOS, however, Apple never the tools made for iPod game development audience, choosing to work directly with game makers.

Wheaton also discovered some hidden features on the device, including support for Apps, vCard, calendar and more. Some of these hidden features, such as film and TV support, were originally spotted when the unit first landed on retail shelves. With a little time and effort, Wheaton hopes some of these hidden features to turn on iPod nano. For those interested in the Springboard hack, Wheaton promised to post additional information later this week. While you wait, check out his proof of concept video after the break.