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How To Customise Your iPod With iPodWizard
Posted by Adam Pash at 9:00 AM on October 1, 2008
If you're happy enough with the features your iPod offers out of the box that you don't want to install a custom firmware like Rockbox, but you'd still like to add a little personal flair to Apple's cookie-cutter look, you're in luck. Freeware application iPodWizard customises the look and feel of your iPod's interface while still using a customised version of your iPod's default firmware on the device. That means you still get the same iPod software that you already know and love, but you can skin it to look however you want. Let's take a closer look at how to customise your iPod with iPodWizard.
What you'll get
Before you put in the effort, it's always nice to see what you're working toward. Below I've rounded up some of my favourite custom themes, all of which you can install using iPodWizard.
Beautifully Black
iPod OS X
Northern Lights
Install custom themes
First, download and install the latest version of iPodWizard from the GetiPodWizard web site (as of this writing, the latest version is 1.3). This version of iPodWizard works with every iPod on the market except second and third generation nanos, the iPod classic, and the iPod touch. That means that if you've got a first through 5.5 gen iPod or first gen nano, you're ready to go with iPodWizard.
The iPodWizard Wiki already has a great tutorial detailing the process of installing new themes, so I won't go into a lot of detail. I will, however, share a few extra tips that would have helped me when I followed their tutorial.
First of all, since iPodWizard patches the firmware that's already on your device, you need to be able to tell iPodWizard where to find your firmware on your computer. Finding and downloading the latest firmware can be a pain, but if you know where to look, it should already be on your computer. To find it, go to Start -> Run and paste the following into the run box:
That should take you to the directory that holds your latest installed firmware update—it's the file that ends in .ipsw. (If that doesn't work, try navigating to a similar folder manually.)
You can find themes on the iPodWizard Theme forum. It's a bit of a mess to look through, but if you pick your iPod type and sort the thread by number of views—like I did for 5th generation iPod themes—you can find a lot of the best themes really quickly.
Once you've got a theme you want to install and you've got your firmware handy, installing is a breeze. Just fire up iPodWizard, select iPodSoftwareFile from the Edit Mode drop-down, and select Open iPSW. Next, go to the Pictures tab, click the Load All button, and point iPodWizard at the folder containing the images of your theme. If your theme swaps layout and fonts, you'll need to perform similar operations on the layout and font tabs.
Once you've swapped the files you want to use with the defaults, just click the Write to iPod button. Disconnect your iPod (make sure to eject it properly first), and it should automatically reboot. When it does, your iPod's sporting a whole new look.
I'm relatively new to theming with iPodWizard, so if you're an old hand with this customisation app, share you expertise in the comments.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
lankysob
Posted 9:07 AM 1/10/08
Wow, this looks infinitely nicer than Rockbox, in my opinion. I don't use my iPod enough to need increased functionality out of it (mainly the games that come with Rockbox), but would like to be able to tweak it a little here and there. My biggest gripe about the iPod's native firmware is the lack of the Artist/Album/Song structure to playlists. If I open up my "Recently Added" playlist, I don't want to see a giant list of songs, but the Artists, etc. I'm not able to research it at the moment, but any idea if iPodWizard lets you tweak the folder structure to fix the above? Thanks.
lankysob
TCK
Posted 9:33 AM 1/10/08
@lankysob: I'm with you, it definitely looks nicer, but in all honesty the big thing that will keep me from using the native firmware is its lack of support for file tree access.
TCK
APer3Caper
Posted 9:28 AM 1/10/08
No love for the iPod Classic I guess. I wish I could install Rockbox on my iPod but I can't. When I saw this I became excited only to be disappointed that the iPod Classic is neglected again.
APer3Caper
Xanderificus
Posted 9:17 AM 1/10/08
Tried it with some success with my PoS iPod a couple of years ago.
Tried it again the other day with my iPod Classic... no love for that model. (Same with RockBox)
Xanderificus
skyhopper88
Posted 9:11 AM 1/10/08
I can't wait for devs to get with the Zune where they are with the iPod.
skyhopper88
TorkLugnutz
Posted 9:53 AM 1/10/08
@guy_from_portland: Windows is the most common OS. iPod is the most common MP3 player. It makes as much sense that the app is Windows only as the fact that Zunes aren't getting hacked up: User base. Besides, anyone with a modern Mac can (and should) run XP through Parallels to gain access to specialty apps like this. A single OS Apple isn't living up to its full potential.
I think this app is nice, since it relies on Apple's firmware, but I wonder how breaky it gets with the next update. I suspect Apple might add Genius to older devices, but who knows?
TorkLugnutz
kicsrules
Posted 9:53 AM 1/10/08
ipod nano is not supported..... FAIL
kicsrules
guy_from_portland
Posted 9:41 AM 1/10/08
why is windows the only option? why can't you have a mac and hack your ipod? this sucks lol
guy_from_portland
DMSaruman
Posted 9:38 AM 1/10/08
Aww...no iPod touch love... Oh well.
I hate how Rockbox is only for "old" iPods (as in not Touches, iPhones (if I had one)), and not for my Touch.
So what can I do to mod out my Touch?
Is Jailbreaking *squeaks with terror* the only answer?
thanks
DMSaruman
DMSaruman
MaxGhost
Posted 10:23 AM 1/10/08
@kicsrules: Myeah... no love for 2G nano. :(
Same with Rockbox... I REALLY wish they would support 2G. I hate my iPod firmware right now, and I NEEED rockbox on it :(
MaxGhost
Reilaos~
Posted 10:17 AM 1/10/08
Wow, the themes have made progress in the past 1-2 years.
Reilaos~
marc_with_a_c
Posted 10:01 AM 1/10/08
@DMSaruman: Thank Apple for changing the encryption around on the newer versions of their equipment. Even the experienced IPOD hackers that work on ML_IPOD haven't gotten past the V2 Iphone encryption yet. Then again they use to say the same thing each time a new device comes out. Here's to hoping!
marc_with_a_c
spiralout987
Posted 10:47 AM 1/10/08
The Beautifully Black link is the same as the iPod OS X one.
spiralout987
Jarek
Posted 10:43 AM 1/10/08
NOTHING works with the 2nd gen nano... =(
Jarek
Adam Pash
Posted 11:08 AM 1/10/08
@spiralout987: Sorry about that, updated the link.
Adam Pash
winsucker
Posted 10:58 AM 1/10/08
Here's the link m8y
[www.ipodwizard.net]
I use that one for at least 6month now...and it's in my eyes the most beautiful mode for Black Ipod Video ever.
the only problem is-that when u wear your sunglasses-u can't kind of see the unmarked thingys.
winsucker
urukhaifive
Posted 11:37 AM 1/10/08
@TorkLugnutz: An application like this is not worth even 1/10th the price of Windows + Parallels. I do just fine without both.
urukhaifive
Ausl0
Posted 11:37 AM 1/10/08
@APer3Caper:
same here. I was really hoping it would work on the classic.
Ausl0
ian320
Posted 11:29 AM 1/10/08
@lankysob: "any idea if iPodWizard lets you tweak the folder structure"
I used iPodWizard a few years ago on my iPod mini, and it basically allows you to change the sprites used for displaying the interface. It doesn't really tweak anything related to functionality. AFAIK this is still what it does.
ian320
urukhaifive
Posted 12:04 PM 1/10/08
@Jarek: You can thank Apple's anti-competitive practices for that.
urukhaifive
TechTuner
Posted 11:54 AM 1/10/08
@nick7er: Yes, it's a bummer. I am also a sub-dev for iPodWizard. It's encrypted as hell.
TechTuner
TechTuner
Posted 11:52 AM 1/10/08
@marc_with_a_c: Mac development is currently under-way.
We are on a skimpy budget.
TechTuner
nick7er
Posted 11:52 AM 1/10/08
This looks really nice! Especially the theme portrayed in the title picture.
Too bad it can't run on my 3G nano... :(
nick7er
TechTuner
Posted 11:45 AM 1/10/08
@TechTuner: Oh, by the way, I wrote the entire tutorial linked to above.
TechTuner
TechTuner
Posted 11:44 AM 1/10/08
Haha wow.
This is so exciting.
I am a Staff Member/Moderator at iPodWizard.net's forums.
I have been with them for about 2 years now. :D
TechTuner
syML
Posted 12:28 PM 1/10/08
Should say at the top that this is Windows only eh?
syML
harrellj
Posted 12:14 PM 1/10/08
Why aren't 2G nanos supported by either ipodwizard or rockbox? They're not exactly new anymore.
harrellj
ericesque
Posted 12:14 PM 1/10/08
The reason a lot of iPods newer than the iPod Video (5.5g) are not supported is that cr-Apple decided to encrypt the firmware- likely because it was getting hacked. iPW is not under development by the original developer. Others are trying to pick up where he left off, but it's slow going at this time.
It's not for Mac because everyone figured you'd think too highly of Jobs' original design to ever modify it! ... or perhaps it has to do with that whole marketshare thing.
ericesque
nolabar10der
Posted 1:26 PM 1/10/08
Damn! I'm really sick and tired of being punished for having the Classic. I bought it because I like having my entire library with me at all times, and to that effect it works great. I just really, really hate the GUI. I also *really* despise not being able to subtly tweak my own EQ, instead having to destroy my tunes with Apple's draconian presets. Rockbox (different thread, yeah) would've fixed that. But noooo.
Also, Crapple won't even give us poor dumb bastards with huge libraries (Classic owners) a friggin' firmware update to enable 'Genius.' Zune gets all these retrograde updates for free! Apple, that is how you show your customers some love, so they'll continue to willingly be abused by you.
Thanks for this mostly irrelevant iPod rant! -nola
nolabar10der
Darkmatter91
Posted 1:24 PM 1/10/08
@guy_from_portland: If i remember correctly there is program on os x that will provide the same or close to the same functionality of ipod wizard
Darkmatter91
redbeardjim
Posted 2:00 PM 1/10/08
Hey, anyone else having trouble with the wizard crashing? It happens after I click the "Load All" button, when I select the folder containing the pictures.
redbeardjim
DaiWalka
Posted 1:52 PM 1/10/08
Since Apple no longer appears to do any firmware updates with the older iPods (i.e., not the iPod Touch), once you use this application, are you still able to sync using iTunes without worries of all your hard work being made *ghost*?
DaiWalka
dreamlayers
Posted 2:30 PM 1/10/08
@skyhopper88: Seems like that's going to be a problem because the Zune is locked down quite effectively. For example see the Zune thread at the Rockbox forums. Shame on these companies for locking down their hardware like that.
dreamlayers
ericesque
Posted 2:24 PM 1/10/08
@DaiWalka:
not sure what you mean by 'ghost', but I've sync'd my library since modifying the theme. All iTunes does is say 'upgrade to v1.3 firmware' --which of course, you decline. After that, you're on your merry.
ericesque
dreamlayers
Posted 2:21 PM 1/10/08
@lankysob: The look of Rockbox can be customized to a larger extent than this. For examples check out the WPS Gallery.
dreamlayers
pconnors
Posted 2:17 PM 1/10/08
What theme is used for that header graphic?
pconnors
guitarjockey
Posted 2:59 PM 1/10/08
What would be awesome if someone would sinking port ipodwizard to mac so I can hack my ipod. I've been waiting and there has been no avail.
guitarjockey
DaiWalka
Posted 2:52 PM 1/10/08
@ericesque: 'ghost' means all the hard work just disappears. lol Appreciate the info - I think I may try this out. I could use an updated interface look for a change.
DaiWalka
kstagg
Posted 2:47 PM 1/10/08
I have WIndows XP and a 5G Video iPOD. For the life of me, I can't locate any .IPSW file on my machine. I even did a wildcard search *.ipsw and no dice in trying to find it.
Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.
kstagg
dreamlayers
Posted 2:45 PM 1/10/08
@Hexenmeister: Yep, it's reversible. You install firmware from a backup you made or a firmware file you downloaded from Apple.
dreamlayers
jimforcy
Posted 2:44 PM 1/10/08
@redbeardjim: Yep I am having the same issues w/my 20GB 4th Gen Photo. I've tried ticking "Use old picture writing method" but it still does it. I can do them one at a time but its a pain!
jimforcy
Hexenmeister
Posted 2:36 PM 1/10/08
Is the installation reversible if I don't like it? Or am I stuck with it once it's on my iPod?
Hexenmeister
ericesque
Posted 3:06 PM 1/10/08
@guitarjockey:
get a PC or stop whining!
ericesque
ericesque
Posted 3:06 PM 1/10/08
@kstagg:
You probably don't have one. If the theme didn't come as an ipsw, it's probably just a folder containing other folders named images, resources, fonts, etc.
If this is the case, select 'iPod' from the drop down. Make sure you have the 'Firmware Editor' tab selected then click the 'pictures' tab. Click 'Load All' and navigate to the pictures folder for your theme. Fonts tab is for fonts folder (if there is one). The strings tab is used if there is a Lang-*.txt file. The Layout tab is for Resources folder.
Once you've wormed your way through that, click write then write to iPod.
ericesque
urukhaifive
Posted 4:07 PM 1/10/08
@harrellj: Because Apple encrypted the firmware to keep you from being able to modify it.
urukhaifive
galactus5000
Posted 4:05 PM 1/10/08
@ericesque: Oh cool, thanks. I think I'm gonna give this a try.
galactus5000
ericesque
Posted 3:59 PM 1/10/08
@galactus5000:
your music will be in tact. If your theme loads up and you don't see your music, manually sync with iTunes. The music is there, but sometimes doesn't register with the player until you re-sync. Keep in mind, iTunes will see all the music, so your 'sync' will only take a few seconds.
ericesque
galactus5000
Posted 3:56 PM 1/10/08
So, if I run this on my iPod, that doesn't mean I have to reinstall all my music files? It's just a coat of paint, right?
galactus5000
The Gnome
Posted 5:23 PM 1/10/08
No iPod Classic?
:(
The Gnome
suuuueee
Posted 5:30 PM 1/10/08
@urukhaifive:
i guess this applies to the 4th generation nano too then?
is decrypting not a possibility at all?
suuuueee
CelesteM
Posted 6:02 PM 1/10/08
@TorkLugnutz: My Mac is 3 years old. It came out just before the Intel Macs did, but I hardly consider it obsolete (i.e. not "modern") or "not living up to its full potential." While I think it's nice that Windows is now an additional option for Mac users, it's not essential by any means. I've spent 15 years using a Mac without Windows.
CelesteM
drugshovel
Posted 5:57 PM 1/10/08
@guy_from_portland:
I guess being an elitist Mac user can have some drawbacks as well.
drugshovel
sparcs
Posted 6:34 PM 1/10/08
@ericesque:
or get a PC and START whining.... sorry but that was the best set up i have seen for along time
sparcs
jewsrock
Posted 6:58 PM 1/10/08
@TechTuner:
Guess who I am? Hint: my religion is linked to my country ;)
Ipodhacking.com rules!!!
jewsrock
jewsrock
Posted 6:56 PM 1/10/08
@guy_from_portland: iPodeditor is a less robust version of ipodwizard but for mac. Go to ipodhacking.com and scroll down to the forum section about ipodeditor for more info :) hope I helped
jewsrock
jewsrock
Posted 6:51 PM 1/10/08
@guitarjockey: there is a program called ipodeditor which is a less robust version of ipodwizard for mac. go to ipodhacking.com and scroll down to the forum section about ipodeditor for more info.
jewsrock
jewsrock
Posted 6:48 PM 1/10/08
Ipodhacking.com is a MUCH better site than ipodwizard.net. Go there. The hack and theme featured In this article are very old. Much more advanced hacks exsist. Also If you have any problem at all go to that site and post in the help section.
jewsrock
PoisonBorz
Posted 8:18 PM 1/10/08
An eXPerience folder? Wowz, Adam Pash is using a modded/pirated TinyXP :PPP
PoisonBorz
Snesgirl
Posted 8:09 PM 1/10/08
Why oh Why is this windows only?
[I can only find .zip and .exe. downloads - am I wrong?]
Snesgirl
delagato
Posted 8:36 PM 1/10/08
Damn, really hope that some people would create some third party software for the newer ipods
delagato
dr.vox
Posted 9:44 PM 1/10/08
@APer3Caper: I've been hoping beyond hope they'd manage to make a Classic-compatible firmware but that's never going to happen. It's not that iPodWizard or Rockbox are neglecting or ignoring the Classic: all new iPods (I believe the new nano has it too) are shipped with encrypted firmware, meaning there's nothing we can do with it at all.
Why do Apple even care what we do with it after we've given them our money? It's like DRM but on our player.
dr.vox
codeBLUE
Posted 10:28 PM 1/10/08
Awww!!! I wanna use this! I have a classic though, boo.
codeBLUE
elightbo
Posted 11:22 PM 1/10/08
Crap...still no love go the 2G nano.
elightbo
KingCinna
Posted 12:41 AM 2/10/08
I've been using a Touch theme on my 5.5G iPod Video for a while now.
KingCinna
ckrames1234
Posted 2:35 AM 2/10/08
Even though i'm Dual Booting Hackint0sh and Vista (Vista SuckS) I like to sync my iPod on the mac side. Now I have to reformat for windows, apply the the hack, and then reformat for mac. Also, how do u tell a 5G from a 5.5G?
ckrames1234
TechTuner
Posted 3:12 AM 2/10/08
@suuuueee: It's really hard to decrypt. 128/256 BIT AES encryption? Not the best code to poke a stick at.
TechTuner
TechTuner
Posted 3:09 AM 2/10/08
@jimforcy: It happens when you load a corrupted folder with images.
You can fix it by writing another firmware/restoring your iPod.
TechTuner
TechTuner
Posted 3:08 AM 2/10/08
@jewsrock: Unless you're Kingstone, you're gay.
iPodHacking.com is a gay knockoff made by banned noobs from iPodWizard.
TechTuner
Kendra
Posted 3:25 AM 2/10/08
BEWARE the firmware.
Some firmware will EFF UP your ipod.
I briefly had the "iphone ui" theme listed above, every now and then it would boot up and show SOMEONE ELSE'S crap... all their games, crap music, and crap settings..
Oh and did I mention it would look like Vista?
DON'T DO IT.
Kendra
guitarjockey
Posted 4:33 AM 2/10/08
@jewsrock: Yeah I've tried ipodeditor, it doesn't like me at all. I did everything I was suppose to and it never would find the firmware or hack the firmware. The program needs some more development to work right.
guitarjockey
guitarjockey
Posted 4:31 AM 2/10/08
@ericesque: Dude I'm not going to switch to a pc just to hack my 5.5g ipod. There's many reasons I love mac more than windows but I'm not gonna start a great mac vs windows debate here. You have an opinion and I have mine that's it.
guitarjockey
redbeardjim
Posted 5:03 AM 2/10/08
@TechTuner: Awesome, I'll try that. Thanks for the help.
redbeardjim
fullyrandomtandem
Posted 6:46 AM 2/10/08
Too bad noone has anything for the 3G ipod NANO!!
fullyrandomtandem
Untouchable
Posted 7:11 AM 2/10/08
anyone know what the orange speedometer theme is? also i have the same problem of iPodWizard crashing on me.
Untouchable
Saxophon3Hero
Posted 7:49 AM 2/10/08
@lankysob: Actaully, it can... well it can change the resources of the now playing and stuff... I would look through the hacks forum and maybe put a request out... but I don't know what you mean by folder structure. I would definatly put a request in the forums. Good luck.
@ian320: That was a few years ago, now it can do a ton of stuff. Not really functionality I guess, but layout and display things. Just images on a very beginner level.
Saxophon3Hero
Saxophon3Hero
Posted 7:41 AM 2/10/08
@Reilaos~: Yes they have, origionally, the program pretty much just had the ability to change images. Then someone figured out how to resize and image and place it on all of the menus, and it all changed right there. Now the interface can look unrecognizable, and have 3 backgrounds.
Saxophon3Hero
Saxophon3Hero
Posted 7:39 AM 2/10/08
@kicsrules: Actually, 1G is supported. The later nano's are encrypted still though.
Saxophon3Hero
Krustoff
Posted 8:47 AM 2/10/08
Wow, once again, no Classic love. It sucks when you've almost filled up your 80 and there's no mod love for the thing.
Krustoff
MaudeDawlish
Posted 10:25 PM 2/10/08
ipodhacking.com is also a good website for hacking/modidng ipod firmwares. The theme is an iPod Touch to iPod Video hack. I'm not sure which one it is.
MaudeDawlish
SudarshanaGoolay
Posted 11:49 PM 1/10/08
THANK YOU ERICESQUE!!! I've installed several themes in the past few days and my music was always on the iPod, but never showed up in the menus. I just resynced and now everything works! You are a savior!!
SudarshanaGoolay
yasez
Posted 10:47 PM 1/10/08
these things are starting to make me hate my 6G classic !
yasez
EgbertLimpet
Posted 1:06 PM 1/10/08
hello, I'm bounci.rabbit.123, a developer and moderator(ish) at iPW, and there are some things here that i thought i should clarify. First, 2nd gen nanos, classics, etc., are not supported because as someone has already stated, those firmwares are encrypted. there has been some work to decrypt the 2nd gen nano (see here: http://home.gna.org/linux4nano/index.html) but it looks like the project has stalled after getting the bootloader dumped. it is NOT our fault that we have not hacked these ipods because most of us do not know how to crack encryption. we envy the work that the iphone dev team has done but unfortunately we have neither the ability nor the time to do that. there IS a mac version of iPW that a user there created called iPodEditor. Search for that on the forums and you'll find it. From what I've heard its a very well done program that offers basically all the functionality you'll find on the windows iPW, although resource modding might be a bit more tedious. loading themes and such should not be a problem however. all in all, its a wonderful little program. i can't imagine ever going back to the original firmware. and rockbox 3.0 is somewhat better but still far too "rocky" for my liking. i only use it if i need to play games or something. feel free to PM me on iPW. i've mainly retired from ipod hacking but that doesn't mean i've forgotten everything =). and who knows. i might just come out with another hack along the road if i find the inspiration/time. haha.
EgbertLimpet
ConBergeron
Posted 12:12 PM 1/10/08
If you have to run apps like FrameMaker 8, Parallels + Windows is essential. 95% Mac time vs 5% PC time = just about right!
ConBergeron
LindsayAstraeus
Posted 9:42 AM 1/10/08
Actually, there is a zune version available for whoever has asked. Honestly, i am going to do some shameless promoting, and point people to ipodhacking.com, where a lot of hacks exist. In fact, most hacks have been created by people over there and have been transferred to ipodwizard.net site. Trust me.
LindsayAstraeus
Maisiema
Posted 1:17 AM 2/10/08
[www.ipodwizard.net]
Really appreciate the sentiment, but you completely skipped over the entire firmware upgrade and download section. Luckily, your link to the wiki cleared allt hat up. Thanks for the find.
Maisiema
garrettdelano317
Posted 2:41 AM 4/10/08
I installed the night lights firmware and theme. It looks great and impresses friends. One problem I have, not with any of these firmware updates or anything, is that its difficult to add music to a mac formatted ipod on a pc. I've resorted to formatting my ipod with windows and installing the firmware on the ipod. Then plugging my ipod into my mac and associating it with the library.
Firmware upgrades are super easy and fun to play around with. Especially customizing backgrounds and such.
garrettdelano317
imajoebob
Posted 4:47 PM 4/10/08
@syML: ditto
imajoebob
imajoebob
Posted 4:54 PM 4/10/08
OS X theme from a Win-only hack?
Most telling.
imajoebob
aurooba
Posted 3:51 AM 6/10/08
*makes a face* I feel unloved for not being able to use this on my ipod nano, but I'm thinking the firmware is encrypted...so, oh well...but if someone did come up a way, I'd love them!!
aurooba
neergrm
Posted 5:36 AM 6/10/08
gave ipodwizard a go, howtos are confusing.... but anyway tried a couple of themes but they only seem to change some images but not background... ;-( had to restore ipod
neergrm