Feature comparison
| Feature | ithmb.org | Keith's iPod Photo Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Modern desktop browser. | Mac application source and project on GitHub; check compatibility with your macOS version. |
| Getting started | Drop .ithmb files or a Photo Cache folder; automatic profile heuristics select a starting decode. | Open an iTHMB file in a workbench, then determine the right settings from a sample image. |
| Manual controls | Choose among decode modes and reprocess. | Set image dimensions, first-image offset, endian and encoding method, as documented in the project README. |
| Review and export | Gallery with selection; PNG downloads. | Thumbnail library and individual PICT export, according to the README. |
| Metadata | Uses Photo Database data when present to help recover names and dimensions. | README focuses on finding decoding settings for each file family. |
We have not verified the older project's compatibility on current macOS releases. Check its repository and your system before planning a large recovery around it.
Two approaches to unfamiliar cache files
Automatic first pass
ithmb.org tests likely profiles and shows decoded images in a gallery. If an image is noisy or has the wrong colours, choose another mode and reprocess. That keeps the first attempt quick while still giving you a way to investigate unusual files. The format guide describes the available RGB and YUV variants.
Manual workbench
Keith's reader starts with a sample frame. Its README walks through testing dimensions and decoding methods, flipping endian, and adjusting offset if the beginning of a frame contains junk or a black band. Once the settings are right, it opens the rest of the images in the file.
The manual process is valuable when you need to reason about a specific iPod cache family. The README also notes that files sharing a four-digit prefix usually share a resolution and encoding, so you can test one file per family before processing the rest.
Which tool is the better fit?
Use the browser converter for a fast preview, folder intake, and PNG exports. Try Keith's reader if you want to inspect the encoding choices directly, have a Mac environment capable of running it, or need to compare a manual decode against the browser output. Keep original files while experimenting with either tool.
Try a representative file
Choose one iTHMB file from each numbered prefix. Start with automatic decoding, then compare alternate modes if the result is poor. A Photo Database file can help with recovered names when you have one.
Open ithmb.orgOther comparisons
Source: Keith's iPod Photo Reader README. ithmb.org is one of the tools compared here.