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uClinux Ported to the iPod

Posted by pudge on from the dang-that-sure-is-neat dept.

ucdot writes "Here is the announcement for a port of uClinux to the Apple iPod, checkout the project page for extra details. Currently the frame buffer, audio and IDE devices are working. Still plenty of work to do."

12 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. The screenshots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    For anyone bored to check their website here are the two screenshots they include.

    1

    and

    2

  2. Re:Way to revert? by mikeplokta · · Score: 2, Informative

    You can download software installers for both the Windows and Mac versions of the iPod from Apple, that will do a complete reformat and install. You can convert a Windows iPod to Mac and vice versa, and I'm sure they'll also reinstall over a Linux installation.

  3. Re:Way to revert? by mccalli · · Score: 4, Informative
    I think an important question is (and I didn't find the answer in the article) that can I put back the original software?

    Yes, more info in the FAQ. See section 4.1 for the bit on reloading Apple firmware.

    I'm really very interested in tracking this - my iPod is behaving horribly with VBR-encoded files (firmware 1.2.1, mine cuts off the end of the track if you pause or fast forward/rewind) and short of re-ripping 40Gigs-worth I'm stuck without a solution. Quite keen to see what happens here.

    Cheers,
    Ian

  4. Re:Windows iPod only by mikeplokta · · Score: 4, Informative

    As long as you've got access to a Windows machine with Firewire, you can convert a Mac iPod to Windows by using the Windows iPod software installer from Apple. And it'll still work on the Mac -- Windows iPods work just fine with Macs, although not vice versa -- the only thing you lose is the desktop icon.

  5. I highly doubt Apple will do anything by mj_1903 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Its not like it is breaking any agreement with Apple. Read the software license that comes with the iPod, its a simple software license, nothing else. Just like Apple has not squished the Linux on PowerPC programs, Apple will not got after someone wanting to write something for the iPod. iCommune was a person breaking their agreement with Apple, they had all the right in the world to tell him to cease and desist. My 2 cents.

  6. Re:Gameboy Emulation by MrMickS · · Score: 2, Informative

    Only the current 10GB and 20GB iPods have non-moving "wheels". The 5GB and the original 10GB have a moving wheel.

    --
    You may think me a tired, old, cynic. I'd have to disagree about the tired bit.
  7. Re:Way to revert? by BrotherPope · · Score: 3, Informative
    my iPod is behaving horribly with VBR-encoded files (firmware 1.2.1, mine cuts off the end of the track if you pause or fast forward/rewind)

    This is, AFAIK, a known problem with MP3's without the Xing VBR header. There are utilities out there to 'repair' your existing mp3's to add the appropriate header. My experience with just such a tool was a success (but it was such a pain that I didn't bother doing it with the whole library yet).

  8. Re:And this is useful, how? by JHromadka · · Score: 4, Informative
    Once you have control over the OS you can run almost any software you want on it. You could turn it into a complete organizer, not just a portable audio player and storage device.

    It does this already. iSync lets you store Address Book and iCal data on your iPod. Pretty slick too.

    --
    "The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved." -- John Ashcroft
  9. Re:MP3 Decoder? by raulmazda · · Score: 3, Informative

    No, it decodes mp3s in software. The board has two arm processors, and it's probably safe to bet that one is used for decoding the audio while the other is used for everything else.

  10. Re:No fork() support? by Tet · · Score: 3, Informative
    If so, how do you run anything? I though the only way to execute an app was with fork()...exec()...wait()?

    man vfork

    --
    "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
  11. Re:Way to revert? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    The only tool I ever found for windows was MP3 Tag Studio.

    http://www.magnusbrading.com/mp3ts

  12. CCCP by micahmicahmicah · · Score: 1, Informative

    IN SOVIET RUSSIA IPOD GETS PORTED TO YOU! Yep, I finally made one of those annoyingly lame posts. While I see the attraction of pride involved with replacing the firmware on this device, I don't see any potential gains other than .ogg support. Honestly, think about the frequency response involved between the unit and the included headphones which most people still use, and the point of .ogg support becomes less impressive.