But the launch of the Apple iPad changed that. I looked at the list of features and they are virtually identical to my iPod Touch 8GB. Ok, the Touch doesn't have 3G data, but my Android phone does and I frequently Wi-Fi tether my iPod Touch to the phone for Internet access from anywhere.
Today, I saw this video showing anyone how to convert their iPod Touch / iPhone into an iPad.
I was entranced. What a cool idea! But I would have to jail break the iPod Touch to install the apps that would enable me to make the needed cosmetic changes. Even better - I get multi-tasking, too, thanks to ProSwitcher and a couple of other apps ....and multi-tasking is something the iPad can't do.
First I downloaded, George Hotz's "BlackRa1n" (RC3) which enables a one-click jailbreak of iPhone OS 3.1.2 and several previous versions.
Blackra1n didn't work the first few times as the instructions erroneously told me to run the app in WinXP compatibility mode on Windows Vista. Each time I tried, it put the iPod Touch into recovery mode...and wiped it....and that was that. Each time that happened, I had to start iTunes and restore the firmware, then restore my iPod Touch from the latest backup. No harm done. Just time wasted.
In the end, these instructions, from here, worked perfectly:
Chilos
# 12 Oct 2009 Monday 1:07 pm
IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS CHECK THIS IT WORKS FOR ME:
1- copy Blackra1n to your hard drive. Run it WITHOUT compability mode, and instead "Run as Administrator".
2- kill iTunesHelper using Task Manager
3- turn off your Iphone / iPod
4- open Blackra1n as administrator (Vista or Win 7) and click "Make it Rain".
5- push HOME button and POWER same time until apple logo appear.- then release power button (actually - connecting the iPod to the USB cable will turn it on).
6- keep push home button until george's face appears
This worked perfectly for me and Blackra1n did its thing. It took about 3 minutes to do the deed and re-boot.Once the iPod re-booted at the end of the process, I touched the "Blackra1n" icon on the Springboard and away I went, installing the "Cydia" alternative app market onto the iPod Touch. .
After that, I followed the instructions in the video to make the iPod Touch look like an iPad. I did have to buy one app - Shrink - for US$0.99 and paid for via my PayPal account.
Here are a photo and a screenshot of my new mini-"iPad". Click on either or both to see them full size. They aren't identical as they were taken about 2 hours apart.
My iPod Touch and a real iPad aren't quite the same, of course.
Mine can multi-task. ;-)
