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Let's be clear here about these updates

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Contributed by: DavidRavenMoon Wednesday, February 23 2005 @ 09:05 AM PST

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Used Product For: Over One Year

Recommend Product: YES

This is not firmware. it's software. There is no firmware to flash to add new features to an older iPod. This is the operating system that runs off the iPod's hard drive. Apple can't add the features from the newer iPods because those features are part of the new hardware used in the newer iPods. The new iPods have a different set of chips inside, and it's those chips, and not some magical "firmware" update, that give the new iPods new features. It's all done in hardware, not software or firmware. That's like saying that downloading a software upgrade for your G4 will make it a G5.

If you have an older iPod that is up to date software wise, you don't need this. Also read the updater carefully, it does say it will erase the iPod's hard drive and restore it to factory condition. You will lose everything on it, and have to update your music from your Mac all over again.

And everyone clicking this was not helpful wont change a thing!

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Comments

Let's be clear here about these updates - neps

Not true, the updater can either update or restore your iPod. It doesn't have to reset your ipod if you don't want it to. Also there is updates for the 1st gens, that add some functionality, so if your iPod is running fine right now before the update, you still may want to run this to get new features. In the past this isn't always true for these updaters, but in this case it is.

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Wednesday, February 23 2005 @ 09:12 AM PST

Let's be clear here about these updates - jlussow

Adding menus is not a hardware issue. It is a software issue and has nothing to do with hardware. If you are correct, I would never be able to run anything but OS9 on my iMac. The firmware in the iPods IS flashable. The hardware is different from model to model but the software controls the menus and displays. I'm not expecting to see grayscale photos on my 40 GB but I have seen new menus and games added that were not on the original disk.

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Wednesday, February 23 2005 @ 09:14 AM PST

Let's be clear here about these updates - Nanuq

Darn. Does this mean I have to buy a new computer to get the new features of Panther when it comes out?

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Wednesday, February 23 2005 @ 09:27 AM PST

You are not being very clear... - daedalusdx

The part about "if you have an older iPod that is up to date software wise" is completely wrong... This updater contains new versions of iPod software going back to the original iPod.

This software updater updates the software on <b>specifically</b> older 1G, 2G, and 3G iPods as well as the new mini...

Read it more carefully please... I have a 3G iPod, and after this software update, I am able to use the Music menu, the Shuffle Songs option from the main menu, and save On-The-Go playlists, and delete from OTG playlists... it brings my iPod almost up to the level of a 4G iPod.

I'm sure if you had an original 5GB iPod, it would at the very least gain the Shuffle Songs from main menu, and the Music menu.

You are right that some features like the Audiobook timescaling is not added, because it is strictly a hardware feature of newer iPods... but to say that this iPod update does nothing for old ipods is wrong. I am supremely enjoying Shuffle Songs.

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Wednesday, February 23 2005 @ 09:55 AM PST

Let's be clear here about these updates - mikeyrogers

For someone sounding so high and mighty, you obviously don't know that much. You were wrong on many levels, but specifically when you said if you have an older model that us up to date, you don't need this update. NOT TRUE! Older versions have 2.2 on them. This includes 2.3 which gives the iPod several new features. On top of that, you say that this updater will format the HDD of the iPod. Where in the world did you read this? Not only did it NOT erase my music, it also left my contacts, calendars, and Mac backups in tact. Crazy person!

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Wednesday, February 23 2005 @ 12:18 PM PST