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The iPod Gets WiFi, Sort Of
thecounterfeit writes "Engadget has a story on Pocketster Pro, a new application that lets you add WiFi to the iPod. The catch? You have to connect it to a Pocket PC with both USB Host capability and WiFi first, but once it's up and running you can wirelessly swap tunes with any other similarly equipped iPods."
While the iPod can play copy-protected files, the protection that Apple uses currently allows protected files to play on an unlimited number of iPods.
The iPod can, however, also play unprotected MP3s and AAC files.
If you either A) use unprotected MP3s or B) use iTunes to rip CDs to AAC format, its all unprotected.
iTunes simply outputs standard old M4A files, not the copy protected ITMS ones.
"Your effort to remain what you are is what limits you."
One of the iPods must have iPodLinux installed, which should include firewire support, as well as SBP2 support. Compile this as a module, and then connect the two iPods together with the Sendstation Pocketdock if they are 3G, or just a regular 6pin to 6pin FW cable if they are 1st or 2nd generation. Put the other iPod into firewire disk mode, and the one running linux should be able to mount it and access the files. This is incredibly impractical, as typing on the iPod requires turning the scroll wheel until the right character appears (incredibly annoying), and also very slow. However, it just goes to show that it _is_ possible for iPods to share files with just minimal extra hardware.
It didn't come with it, but the good news is, you can run a Newton with WiFi!
You can do it two ways:
- Use a card that is compatible with Hirochi's drivers.
- Use a Newton compatible ethernet card and a wireless ethernet bridge.
I'm currently using a Farallon PN595 hooked up to a wireless ethernet bridge, so I have access to my contacts and notes through NPDS using a web browser.Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.
Sure you can. Plug the iPod in. Open up a terminal window. Type in (replacing iPodName with the actual name of the iPod):I'm using the ditto command (a standard shell tool that comes with Mac OS X) because it properly preserves data forks and file metadata. You can use any copying tool you want, but some may not get all of the filesystem metadata. The files will still play fine but they might lose custom icons and stuff like that. No big deal either way.
You can copy the files directly through the Finder but that's a little tougher since the Music directory is an invisible folder. There are ways of making it visible but its just easier to use the Terminal.
By the way, it's more fun to use this command because then you can see each file listed as it is copied:When the copy operation is finished you'll have a folder named Music on your Desktop (assuming Mac OS X here). Just import the whole folder into iTunes - much easier because the files are sorted in a way that doesn't make much sense at a first glance (the folders are a type of hash that makes it easy for the iPod to find a song quickly against an internal table).
Sapere aude!