I have an iPod nano 6th generation that I don't use at all. This is because although being a music player, I usually just use my iPhone for that same purpose. So I was wondering whether it is possible to modify the software so that I could use it for another purpose such as a dedicated watch, a memory stick with a display, a miniature game system, a leveler or something else along the lines.

  • Short answer is no. Long answer is that there are some things you can do with it, but it's not easy and there aren't specific tools built for it, and there's no Cydia, etc. – Andrew Larsson Jul 24 '16 at 17:42
  • @AndrewLarsson Then how was Apple able to even create an OS on it? – Bradman175 Jul 25 '16 at 2:47
  • Apple was able to put an OS on it because Apple designed it that way, and only Apple has the keys to develop new software for its devices. Jailbreaking, in a basic sense, is achieved by bypassing the key checking on a device, thus allowing it to run code written by anybody. Basically, nobody has bothered to figure out how to bypass that key checking on the iPod Nano yet, and at this point, it's safe to say that nobody ever will (especially with the Apple Watch available). – Andrew Larsson Jul 25 '16 at 3:41
  • @AndrewLarsson Well I guess I can't find how one may crack the key, unless you force the device to go through a USB information logger while restoring. – Bradman175 Jul 25 '16 at 3:46
  • The keys aren't crackable by design, because the relevant key isn't actually stored on the device - only Apple has access to the key in their special key signing room at Apple headquarters. The software keys used on Apple devices are built on public-key cryptography. Apple also has some more information (that can confirm my statements) in their iOS security white paper. – Andrew Larsson Jul 25 '16 at 3:55

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