uClinux Ported to the iPod

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."

Comments

realtime playlists, deleting, dual boot

[Anonymous Coward]

when i got the nomad jukebox it was ok, but i had to trade up for the beautiful UI of the iPod.

the only thing i miss about the NJB is the ability to make realtime playlists, and to be able to delete songs away from the computer. i would love to see that come to my iPod via this port!!!

also a dual boot would be incredible, but doubt the 2 firmwares could co-exist unless the firmware would be a booter (ala lilo or grub), and the iPod/Linux firmware be made virtual and put onto the ide harddrive.

The screenshots

[Anonymous Coward]

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

1

and

2

Re:And this is useful, how?

[Anonymous Coward]

first off, I don't see that this has been done for anything other than a bit of fun. the pleasure of the hack. However, going a bit further... ...part of the iPods appeal to me is the multipurpose aspect. It's not just a music player, it's a -fast- external HD. Now that's well and good, but more features never hurt.

Adding in the possibility of tcp over firewire gives you, essentially, an entire portable linux box that's a good sized firewire HD, music player, and terminal-accessible machine with a battery life measured in DAYS.

That doesn't mean it could ever completely replace a good laptop for example, but to me a lot of the little uses of a piece of hardware are those that go beyond what it was designed/made/intended for.

It is what it is, and someone shall find a use for it. And it's cool :)

Nice...but what about iTunes?

[interactive_civilian]

This is really freaking cool!!! (though I'm not going to install it until it matures). Makes me wish I had the time and knowledge to contribute to this project. Unfortunately, I am lacking in both, so the only thing I can do is put out a few requests to the hackers out there:

1. Get it to continue working with iTunes. Imagine, once this matures and the music capabilities are running at full speed, how nice it will be to be able to sync and use both your ogg vorbis and mp3 files on the iPod using iTunes to organize everything.

2. Figure out the remote pin-outs, so hardware hackers, or at least those with soldering skill can make their own remotes. I'm thinking I would like to modify my snowboarding jacket since I can't afford that Burton/Apple iPod jacket. Granted, this request goes out to anyone who is interested as it really doesn't have anything to do with the iPod linux project. If I can find some time, I may look into it myself.

If anyone has any info on the above, please feel free to chime in. Oh, yeah, and I noticed this from the FAQ. Perhaps this can waylay all of the "WHY?!?" trolls:

1.2 Why would you do that?
A number of reasons but mainly because its there.

Cheers. :)

Re:Impressive

[Carthag]

This will give Apple a run for their money.

How so? You still need to actually buy the iPod from Apple...

Re:Enjoy while it lasts

[fiftyvolts]

Its sad to think that people are so anti-cooperate that they don't know a good thing when it bites them on the nose. It's OK to make money. If we didn't make money we would all be starving on the corner of some streetor "working" behind a supermarket. Apple traditionally doesn't tell people to stop hacking their devices unless they have a good reason. As long as we don't see an article like "Linux used to pirate boatloads of music on the iPod" on /. and the linux hackers have followed all the details outlined in the EULA we won't hear Apple cry shennanigins. I contribute to opensource free software projects; don't let yourself get overzealous with this anti-corporate thing.

Re:Silly question

[troc]

I was.... like.. trying to catch fish with my rod and it was like *snap* *snap* *snap*.... .... and the fish got away. ...... and it was a really big fish.

or something

Troc