18 April 2005

[REQ] Help Wanted: Hacking a Tape Adapter to Hold an iPod shuffle

Shuffle tape deck concept

Reader Roland Saekow sent in this request:

Love the site. I've got a hack for you. I'm a bit pressed for time, but basically I need the community to help out on this one. I was looking at the tape deck in my car the other day and the shuffle. The way to get them connected of course is to use a tape deck converter. But then I tried something: could the iPod fit in the tape deck? So it would merely be a sense of snapping the iPod shuffle into an adapter and then slipping it into the deck?

Yes! Here [direct .mp4 download link] is the video showing a proof of concept. It fits and won't get rejected by the machine. So I need some people to go buy some tape deck converters and make it happen. Myself, I have ordered two from allelectronics.com for $5 a piece. But if others wanted to start on it, all they need is a soldering iron to melt away part of the tape and a little wire splicing! I'll contact you again when the working one is done!

I think this is an awesome idea. I can't wait to see the updates. One problem I foresee is that unless we take the audio from the USB plug, (which I haven't figured out how to do) there isn't room for a headphone plug in the current concept. Perhaps the shuffle could be placed diagonal to accommodate the plug. I'm sure you hacksters can figure it out. (I'm retarded. If I had actually looked at the picture I would have seen it is already in the right position.)

Please post (and read) comments about this and send in your attempts

UPDATE: Here's an updated concept image to chew on:
Image

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you get grinding on the side of the shuffle from the gears that turn the tape? Actually, that's hard to describe, since I don't know the words...

Basically, the things that go in the "holes" of a tape and turn it to play it forward, backwards, faster, slower, etc. Is there room for those to fit without hitting the side of the shuffle?

Still, I like the idea (looks cool), but I would really miss being able to change song by hitting next and such...

P.S. Looks like enough room for the audio plug to fit in (if its a right angle variety).

Anonymous said...

What about heat? My car tape deck gets awfully hot, due either to engine heat or all the electronics in the sound system, I'm not sure. This isn't much of a problem for tapes, but could it cause any damage to the flash memory?

Anonymous said...

Man, i would hate to do that then see the thing fall apart inside my tape player....