iPodLinux
iPodLinux is a µCLinux-based software distribution targeted specifically to run on Apple Computer's iPods. Besides the kernel, iPodLinux features as a primary component podzilla and podzilla2, applications which provide:
- An iPod-like interface
- Video playback with sound
- Support for AAC, MP3 and basic OGG playback (4G & 5G Music Player Daemon is malfunctional, but can be fixed).
- Many games, including TuxChess, Bluecube (Tetris clone), Chopper, StepMania (a Dance Dance Revolution clone) and more.
- Recording through audio jack at much higher quality than Apple's firmware
- Ability to play the games Doom and Doom II, as well as games for the Nintendo Game Boy (with appropriate add-on software, for instance iBoy).
- Color scheme support
- Many emulators, such as iBoy (Gameboy Emulator) and iNES (Nintendo Entertainment System Emulator)
Compatibility
A list of working/non-working iPods;
| Generation | LCD | Input | Serial1 | Hard Drive | Piezo | Audio Playback | Recording | Firewire | USB | Power Management | Video Out |
| 1st |  |
|
|
|
|
|
— | |
— |  |
— |
| 2nd | |
|
|
|
|
|
— | |
— | |
— |
| 3rd | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 | 4 | — |
| 4th | |
|
|
|
2 | |
3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | — |
| 5th6 | |
|
|
|
2 | |
|
— | 5 | 4 |
|
| 1st Mini | |
|
|
|
2 | |
— | 5 | 5 | 4 | — |
| 2nd Mini | |
|
|
|
2 | |
— | 5 | 5 | 4 | — |
| Photo / Color | |
|
|
|
2 | |
3 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
|
| 1st Nano | |
|
|
|
2 | |
|
— | 5 | 4 | — |
| 2nd Nano | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
- 1 - Serial is required for the remote to work.
- 2 - Currently podzilla accesses the piezo directly - there is no kernel driver.
- 3 - Only recording via microphone works on these models, no line in.
- 4 - A basic battery meter and deep sleep functions are available.
- 5 - Neither USB nor FireWire communication drivers exist yet for these models.
- 6 - September 2006 5th gen iPods (Brighter backlight, 640x480 video, AKA 5.1/5.5/5th Gen Enhanced) do not work yet.
As of August 5 2006, only the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation iPods are officially supported by iPodLinux, although newer generations are also partially compatible[1]. The iPodLinux project does not plan support for iPod shuffles due to the lack of a GCC compiler for the Shuffle's DSP57000 core, as well as the fact that the iPod Shuffle lacks a screen. While later generations work fine for many uses of iPodLinux, not all features work; these later generations will not be officially supported by the project until most or all features from the earlier iPods work on them. Installers are in the process of being made. As of now, there is Installer 2.2 for Windows or Linux which can install on any generation iPod (except for the iPod shuffle). As of September 20, 2006, iPodLinux does not work on the new iPod firmware included with the second generation iPod nano and the updated fifth generation iPod.
Arguably one of the project's more notable accomplishments is its Video Player, released months before rumors about Apple's Video iPod began to spread. This video player only plays uncompressed AVI files, which are basically just a series of bitmap formatted frames with an audio overlay that commonly loses sync with the video output. A new compression technique called MoviePod, released in 2006, enables people to put more video content on their iPod. This function continues to be developed and is a useful function for users of older iPods (especially Nano users that, with the help of iPod Linux, can get an extremely small media center that can be held in the palm of their hand)[2].
podzilla 2, the second generation of podzilla, and commonly known as pz2, is currently in development and has recently superseded the original version of podzilla. It includes several new features, most notably modularity; users can install new applications, such as those below, without recompiling all of podzilla.
Installer 2
One of the iPodLinux developers, Josh, has recently developed a new installer, dubbed "installer 2."[3] The new installer can install on any iPod except the 2G iPod nano, the updated 5th generation iPod, and the iPod Shuffle.
See also
- Encyclopodia - Wikipedia on the iPod
- Rockbox - open source firmware for MP3 players including iPod
- MiniLinux
External links
- Official website
- Accelerate Your Mac review of iPodLinux
- Slashdot: Piezo-Acoustic iPod Hack (on dumping the 4g's flash for development work)
- Video of iPodLinux playing a music video
- Another Video playing a video
- Versiontracker: 4G iPod Linux Installer (Requires Mac formatted iPod, Mac OS X)
