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Simple Route To Linux On The iPod

didde writes "MacWorld.com is showing users of the iPod a way to install and run Linux on their favorite portable music player. From the article: 'Imagine using your iPod and a regular old microphone to record studio-quality audio. Or sitting on a commuter train and playing Othello, Pong, Tetris, or Asteroids. All this and more is possible when you install Linux on your third-generation or earlier iPod. Best of all, one soft reset, and you're back in Apple's iPod operating system, listening to your tunes.' Sounds good to me. Now if I could just find my firewire connector..."

190 comments

  1. Open and Shut, Perhaps... by mfh · · Score: 1, Insightful

    This is predictable news, considering Linus' main machine is a "dual 2GHz G5 (aka PowerPC 970)". (source) Mac's salvation lies with Open Source for the reason that it goes against what Microsoft stands for. At some point Apple should take a stand and support more open technologies. Linux on the iPod perhaps should be a shipping option! What if computers were 95% OPEN instead of 95% SHUT? Now that's open and shut if you ask me.

    --
    The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
    1. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by aliasptr · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The Linux on iPod project has been around for awhile and in a usable state too. I guess it's just news because MacWorld is giving it press time. Which is awesome in a way because it'll introduce more people to it and hopefully encourage further development. The MP3 player skips a lot but and isn't really usable but it's very very cool. There's a video of a much older release running on my iPod on my website if anyone's interested. More power to Linux on the iPod. Especially cool because from my understanding the iPod has no MMU. Anyway... corrections are welcome!

      --
      It takes all types in this world. I sincerely mean it... This is just my perspective.
    2. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      THis statement boggles my mind.

      The MP3 player skips a lot but and isn't really usable but it's very very cool.

      If it's not really usable, why is it very very cool???

    3. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by neverkevin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Then Apple would essentially have to maintain 2 operating systems on the iPod when Apple could just as easily add the same features to the current iPod OS.

      Besides, open source isn't going to help Apple over take Microsoft. Innovation, ease of use, and value will be a lot more effective.

    4. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by leoxx · · Score: 4, Informative
      Mac's salvation lies with Open Source


      Interesting since Apple has partnered with Microsoft to specifically undermine the open source community in Europe.

      However, companies such as Microsoft and Apple Computer argue that they need broader patent protection to prevent open source companies, which give away their software and make money through service, from effectively expropriating their development costs.
    5. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by codeviking · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      How did this get modded Interesting?

      --
      My way back has been erased.
    6. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by British · · Score: 1

      I would be happy if all the features(calendar, various pDA functions) etc were all fleshed-out.

      Also, a "podcasts" section not unlike "audiobooks" where the podcasts dont get in the "shuffle songs" lib.

      And I want more games.

    7. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by Fyre2012 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      what the hell is your problem?

      --
      This is not the greatest .sig in the world, no. This is just a tribute.
    8. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by Catbeller · · Score: 1

      An eBook reader. Please.

    9. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yeah, he gives me a bad name too.

    10. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by hunterx11 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Considering that podcasts are being added to the iTMS in the near future (Jobs announced at WWDC), no doubt the next iPod software update will add a podcast section.

      --
      English is easier said than done.
    11. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by fingerfucker · · Score: 1

      The MP3 player skips a lot but and isn't really usable but it's very very cool.

      So why is it cool if it doesn't even work?

    12. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i dont think youll have to worry, people have been predicting the death of open source stuff for ever. it wont happen, esspecially when softwear like mozzila firefox work better then any program that you can pay for

    13. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by golgotha007 · · Score: 3, Informative

      You could easily make all your playlists "smart playlists", and therefore tell all of your regular music playlists to not include Audiobook files, and tell your audiobook playlists to not include music files.
      You can do the separation by using an id3tag editor and tag all your audiobook files to Vocal or something similar.

      Smart playlists is a very powerful tool. Take advantage of it.

    14. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by afd8856 · · Score: 1

      perhaps in a geeky way, maybe they're doing the decompression without using any special hardware chip inside the ipod, who knows. But I'm surprised you ask. Hand over your slashdot account.

      --
      I'll do the stupid thing first and then you shy people follow...
    15. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by StormKrow · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      He's bitter. he lost his Ipod shuffle up his butt and too proud to go get it removed. So he walks around all cranky and bitter, with no music. (unless he eats a lot of fiber that might brush across the buttosn, but usually that only makes him hear Copa Cabana blaring from his butt, and that'd make anyone bitter.

      --
      Who cares about the ozone layer?...thanks to CFC's I can write my name......IN CHEESE!!!
    16. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by grrrl · · Score: 1

      you can, but it requires more navigation to select shuffle->songs and then the smart playlist, rather than just "shuffle songs" from the main menu

    17. Re:Open and Shut, Perhaps... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's an interesting article. Here's something even more bizarre that I found: a disgruntled ex-Apple employee's journal here at Slashdot talked about this YEARS ago.

      This guy's journal is really VERY frightening -- especially when he talks about subliminal messages in OSX. Everybody thinks subliminals don't exist anymore, but they did exist at one time? So where did they go? Why don't we hear about them anymore?

  2. Running a webserver by moz25 · · Score: 4, Funny

    More importantly, we need to run a web server on it. No linux installation is complete without apache and PHP on it. Now if another ipod has a browser on it, then my ipod can serve webpages to your ipod.

    1. Re:Running a webserver by Leroy_Brown242 · · Score: 5, Funny

      How many web servers do I need?

      I already have netBSD running a web server on my toaster!

    2. Re:Running a webserver by mercuriser · · Score: 1

      Well, if we actually did run a webserver on the said device there would be a moral responsibility to post it on slashdot for the masses to reduce into molten plastic fireball before the RIAA infidels take note!

    3. Re:Running a webserver by halfelven · · Score: 1

      Well, Apache maybe not, but something like thttpd or equivalent should work just fine.
      In fact, I am surprised nobody did this yet. Or?...

    4. Re:Running a webserver by cheesy9999 · · Score: 1

      Don't worry, they're already working on it...

      http://www.ipodlinux.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16 3

      --
      -tom
    5. Re:Running a webserver by Bake · · Score: 1

      Yes, but like its other BSD siblings, NetBSD is dying.

      Linux is not. :-)

    6. Re:Running a webserver by Jicksta · · Score: 1

      So do you toast the bread by overheating the whole thing with HTTP requests?

    7. Re:Running a webserver by mynickwastaken · · Score: 0

      Gee! A webserver on iPOD?! That is non-sense. How about running WineHQ and on top of that Minesweeper. That would be really cool, isn't it?

    8. Re:Running a webserver by einhverfr · · Score: 1


      I already have netBSD running a web server on my toaster!


      Great so now I can do something like
      telnet [your_ip_address] [toast_port]
      GET /toast.pl?style=burnt \HTTP1.1

      Maybe you can add a web service so you can order your breakfast from your bedroom and by the time you get to the kitchen it will be all done for you ;-)

      --

      LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  3. *looks around* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Hey, no one's here.

  4. Apple Apple Apple! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is not the google story I was looking for!

  5. yes, but does it play OGG? by sTalking_Goat · · Score: 2, Informative

    well? does it?

    --

    My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle...

    1. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes.

    2. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by natbudin · · Score: 5, Informative

      AFAIK, the processor in iPod generations 1-3 isn't fast enough to decode Ogg Vorbis in realtime. However, that changed with the 4G, so once that generation is officially supported in iPodLinux, you should be able to play Ogg Vorbis on an iPod (albeit only some iPods).

    3. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by Josh+Coalson · · Score: 1

      They can play FLAC though.

    4. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, it can play "OGG" easily. Of course, Ogg (it's not an acroynm) is just a container format, so it can contain anything; at the moment it contains Ogg Vorbis, Ogg FLAC, Ogg Speex, and some video codecs.

      Asking "does it play OGG?" is like saying "I'm completely clueless about audio, is it okay if I parrot a buzzword to sound trendy?".

    5. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by Englabenny · · Score: 1
    6. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    7. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by EMH_Mark3 · · Score: 1

      Cool, it says exactly what he was saying. What was your point again?

      --
      Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me
    8. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by TheoMurpse · · Score: 1

      It had better eventually play Linux. Video is already somewhat playable on the 3G iPod, Mini and Photo. I've seen it. It's awesome what these hackers have done.

    9. Re:yes, but does it play OGG? by TheoMurpse · · Score: 1

      It had better eventually play Linux

      Should have said:
      "It had better eventually play OGG."

  6. That's good and all.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    but does it run Windows?

    1. Re:That's good and all.. by Fyre2012 · · Score: 1

      who cares

      the real question is...

      Does it run OSX?

      --
      This is not the greatest .sig in the world, no. This is just a tribute.
    2. Re:That's good and all.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, you can use it to boot OSX in a Mac... that's almost the same thing :)

      (Yeah, yeah, I killed your joke. I shall prepare to die. Just call me the six-fingered man and be done with it)

    3. Re:That's good and all.. by Fyre2012 · · Score: 1

      My name is Enigo Montoya, you kill my father, prepare...

      ah never mind...

      --
      This is not the greatest .sig in the world, no. This is just a tribute.
  7. BUY...A...GAMEBOY.... by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

    147 NES games on my flashcart... last's me just fine on 10 hour flights over the ocean... and better yet you can listen to your mp3cd player ... AND HAVE 200$ in your pocket!!! ;-)

    Tom

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    1. Re:BUY...A...GAMEBOY.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      But it is still not cool as iPod :)


  8. Linux drivers by adzoox · · Score: 1

    I've also seen a few linux drivers for modded devices that use the top serial port (next to the headphone port) - something the Apple firmware doesn't allow.

    Question - if a device has Linux (Desktop drivers) - does that mean it could be modified to work with the iPod - just recompiling the drivers for iPodLinux?

    --
    Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
    1. Re:Linux drivers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, not exactly. The Ipod uses uclinux, which is a version of the kernel for processors without an MMU (Memory Management Unit). So the question is whether your driver is in this fork of linux.

      HTH,

      Stephane

    2. Re:Linux drivers by Jarvo · · Score: 1

      Device drivers usually require assembly code to access the hardware directly. The iPod's system architecture is also different to that of a PCs. The serial port is probably not just a device hanging off a PCI/ISA bus.

  9. Cool Possibilites by Drakonian · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I didn't realize Linx on the iPod was this far along/this easy to install.

    I'd love to be able to add On-The-Go support to my 1G iPod. Does anyone know if anyone has implemented that feature? I'd probably be interested enough to work on it myself if not.

    I gues the question is moot until the audio playback support is up to snuff/can handle real-time without skipping. That and play AACs from iTMS. (Could FairKeys be used?)

    --
    Random is the New Order.
    1. Re:Cool Possibilites by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      They're working on iPod-to-iPod connection - read: USB OTG.

    2. Re:Cool Possibilites by petermgreen · · Score: 1

      hmm can USB OTG be done without special hardware?

      remember IPOD-IPOD could also mean firewire...

      --
      note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
    3. Re:Cool Possibilites by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Good point...

      I forgot about that (I don't have any devices that support FireWire, so it's easy to forget about for me... if nothing else, my Dell has something printed on it that says "1394", but there's no port below it, so no FireWire...)

      And, I forgot that USB is a bit anal about devices being devices, and firmware not being able to work around that. IIRC, though, a host can mask as a device...

  10. Additional uses by damiam · · Score: 5, Informative
    Just recently, there's been development on a video player, several more games (including DopeWars), and a few breakthroughs in support for the 4G iPods (including the Photo and mini). The 4G iPods are now capable of decoding Ogg Vorbis faster than realtime (this should be theoretically possible on older iPods, but would require a lot of decoder optimizations).

    Note, however, that the current interface isn't nearly as slick as Apple's, and that audio playback and recording is still a bit glitchy. So you probably don't want to use Linux if all you do with your iPod is play music.

    --
    It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    1. Re:Additional uses by enjoilax · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Its definetely a cool thing to have, but you are right the UI still feels... Handicapped, as of a lack of a better word. This gives me hope though as the Linux community is unleashing the iPod's potential and opening doors for us commercial programmers.

    2. Re:Additional uses by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 2, Interesting


      Guys, if you want a pocket hard-drive music player that does recording, has video playback, plays games, and has an inferior user experience to the iPod, just get an Archos Gmini 400 instead...

    3. Re:Additional uses by seven+of+five · · Score: 1

      ... also, they're working on a video player app for the ipod photo.

    4. Re:Additional uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      my dog is handicapped you insensitive clod!!

    5. Re:Additional uses by Shazow · · Score: 4, Insightful
      the UI still feels... Handicapped

      Ah, the story of linux. :-)

      - shazow
    6. Re:Additional uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can somebody mod this douchebag flamebait?
      He has a history of being a chump.

    7. Re:Additional uses by fimbulvetr · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you're right. Maybe we should all give up on trying to better our experiences (and hardware) and live with the "innovative" crap that these bloated, monopolist, blood thirsty companies try to shove down our throat.

    8. Re:Additional uses by trixy_1086 · · Score: 1

      monopolist ... companies

      ?

    9. Re:Additional uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... Said the Anonymous Coward...

    10. Re:Additional uses by tepples · · Score: 1

      If you think "monopolist companies" is a contradiction, then see Monopolistic competition.

    11. Re:Additional uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Note, however, that the current interface isn't nearly as slick as Apple's

      what a fucking surprise

      'Linux' and 'interface' are 2 mutally incompatible concepts.

    12. Re:Additional uses by clontzman · · Score: 1

      Uh... are you saying that Archos is a bloated, monopolist, bloodthirsty company? Compared with Apple?

    13. Re:Additional uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... Said another Anonymous Coward...

    14. Re:Additional uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... Said yet another Anonymous Coward...

    15. Re:Additional uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      dude, you're posting ac too. "remove the beam from thine eye..."

  11. from the ipodlinux site by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Help me get a LCD monitor and work towards getting a free one for yourself in the process."

    Real classy.

  12. Don't Overlook Rockbox! by meehawl · · Score: 3, Informative

    Rockbox is a couple of years further along than ipodlinux, and the iRiver port from the Archos is proceeding nicely. I think the two projects have a friendly rivalry.

    --

    Da Blog
    1. Re:Don't Overlook Rockbox! by Paul+Slocum · · Score: 1

      I switched my iRiver H140 over recently when they got playback working. It's fantastic to have true gapless playback and support for FLAC now. And the customizable "while playing screen" and large selection of fonts are nice. Rockbox is good stuff.

      -paul

  13. cluster? by BobVila · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is there some way to cluster a several of these linux ipods together? That seems like the next logical step to me. Either that or running a web server on one.

  14. Why switch back to iPod OS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Best of all, one soft reset, and you're back in Apple's iPod operating system, listening to your tunes.'

    Why would I want to do this?
    I should hope that if any version of Linux had an MP3-player app, it would be the iPod version.

    1. Re:Why switch back to iPod OS? by PitaBred · · Score: 1

      Way to RTFA. Or are you trolling?
      It's stated in the article that it's not great playback, skips and a bit and such. It'll play, but it's not pretty. That's what happens when you have low-powered machines doing many things, they run out of resources.

    2. Re:Why switch back to iPod OS? by JeffTL · · Score: 2, Informative

      Probably because many people do not use their iPods as MP3 players, but as MPEG-4 (usually with AAC or Apple Lossless) players.

    3. Re:Why switch back to iPod OS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean all 2 of them?

    4. Re:Why switch back to iPod OS? by vialation · · Score: 1

      It's not that its running too much, but its that the portalplayer chip inside the Ipod isnt known very well (closed specifications). It has two ARM processors--one normally for playback and one normally for the GUI, except currently linux is utilizing only one of the processors.

    5. Re:Why switch back to iPod OS? by BrainInAJar · · Score: 1

      I'm currently listening to AAC audio (pulled off of my ipod... it's mounted as a harddrive) through XMMS.

      libfaad would i assume be pretty trivial to put in to uClinux on the ipod.

  15. eheh by neurokaotix · · Score: 0

    Step 1: Install Linux on iPod Step 2: Play Othello Step 3: ??? Step 4: PROFIT!!!

    --
    "...if people respected copyright more, like you guys do with the GPL so religiously, [the DMCA] wouldn't be necessary."
  16. Re:Whats next? by Grinnblade · · Score: 1

    Yeah, but "ISR" jokes are getting old too. And you don't see them stopping.

    *looks around deftly*

    In Soviet Russia, lame jokes and gags overuse YOU!

    --
    gamedrain: A weekly gaming/internet cultu
  17. why... by Jason1729 · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I have an embedded app custom made for the iPod by a team of programmers dedicated to that one appplication. Why would I want to replace it with a more general OS and an app hastily written by a few people?

    Which is is going to make a better mp3 player? After all, the iPod makes a great mp3 player but the UI stinks for anything else.

    If I want to make a "studio-quality" recording, I'm not going to use an iPod and a regular old microphone. If I want to play tetris, pong, etc, I'll use my PDA with its nice big touchscreen and more suitable hardware buttons instead of my iPod with its tiny screen and clickwheel.

    This is a great example of "just because you can't doesn't mean you should"

    1. Re:why... by engine+matrix · · Score: 2, Funny

      You're new here right?

    2. Re:why... by sneakers563 · · Score: 1
      Why would I want to replace it with a more general OS and an app hastily written by a few people?

      Well, first off, if I understand TFA correctly, you're not replacing OS - the two of them live side by side.

      If I want to make a "studio-quality" recording, I'm not going to use an iPod and a regular old microphone. If I want to play tetris, pong, etc, I'll use my PDA with its nice big touchscreen and more suitable hardware buttons instead of my iPod with its tiny screen and clickwheel.

      Which is fine, but what about those of us that don't have a PDA (I know - on /. even!) or a handheld game machine? What about those of us that don't want to carry around 4 different devices? You're right about the interface being sub-optimal, but there have been plenty of times I've been sitting on an airplane, having read "Sky Mall" for the 5th time, wishing I had something on the iPod other than Breakout (I have a 1G still going strong). At 5mb, I'd be happy with just about anything.

    3. Re:why... by biglig2 · · Score: 1

      Gawd, didn't I answer this like a year ago the first time this story appeared? OK, I'll do it again. There are 2 very good reasons to port Linux to the ipod:

      1) A certain class of frankly disturbed (and disturbing) class of people find it fun to port Linux to strange hardware. Well, it's better than Sudoku.

      2) If you put Linux on the iPod it means you can put software on that Apple aren't going to bother with, because they are market driven. For example, Apple know that Ogg support isn't worth the effort of implementing it to them because it will only lead to a few hundred extra sales; but Joe Linuxporter has about three terrabytes of Ogg files already ripped, so it's worth the effort to him to make an Ogg decoding ipod.

      --
      ~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
    4. Re:why... by entrigant · · Score: 1

      This has nothing to do with the best tool for the job, and this is hardly a good example of "just because you can't doesn't mean you should". That phrase is meatn for things such as the US can obliterate the entire nation of iraq w/ our nuclear arsenal, but that doesn't mean we should.

      This is a personal project. A toy if you will. It is simply some peoples cure to boredom. This is more akin to saying "just because I can play w/ legos doesn't mean I should". The big distinction here is they are releasing their work in the rare case that somebody else might want to play with them. It is really unfortunate that you cannot understand their motivations because it is likely they are having a great deal of fun playing with this stuff. However, just because you can't understand how someone could derive enjoymeny from something with no real world value doesn't mean you should dismiss them so easily. Let tham play, and hope one day you can enjoy it as much as they do.

    5. Re:why... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's true: Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean you should. For any true Geek, and if it's challenging enough, then "just because you can" might be a reason. However, you can now go to a web site and download a gui-based installer to load Linux on your iPod. It's not challenging at all-- so it hardly passes the test of being geeky enough to justify "because you can."

      So, what's the point? Well, last week I downloaded the installer and put Linux on my iPod. Here's my review: it's better than the default OS.

      My iPod dual-boots. (If a friend borrows my pod and boots it, they might never notice that it's different from the usual.) When booted into Linux, the menus and such work basically the same as in the default OS. There's absolutely no loss in functionality. However, there are additional games and things. An extra game or two really can make a big difference if you're on the airplane or bus for a few hours and didn't bring anything else to play with. =)

      The biggest difference for me is psychological-- As my iPod came from the factory, I know that it's already reached it's full potential-- Apple is never going to provide new programs for it. But now, I know that people will keep writing new things that I can run on my pod someday. Linux is the fountain of youth for your iPod.

    6. Re:why... by bradrock · · Score: 1
      This is a great example of "just because you can't doesn't mean you should"

      No linux on the iPod doesn't hurt anybody. Running your own mail server without a good understanding of how to secure it from spamers is a great example of "just because you can doesn't mean you should."

  18. Studio quality my ass by Rufus211 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm sorry, but stating that you can record studio quality sound using an ipod is just inane. I mean it won't be terrible, but it'll be the same quality as any of the other small handheld recorders. I'm sure even a Soundblaster would do better at recording than an iPod.

    1. Re:Studio quality my ass by petsounds · · Score: 1

      True, if you're using a bargin bin microphone, all you're going to get is high-quality garbage.

      I'm surprised Apple hasn't released a GarageBand for iPod application yet. The best use for a portable device like that is not capturing studio sessions, but sketching out quick musical ideas.

    2. Re:Studio quality my ass by ezthrust · · Score: 1

      Not to mention it is mono only. Which is great for a guitarist doing a solo gig, but no good for those of us that like to record the concerts we go to. The iPod would be the best cover ever. I have my doubts that the meatheads at the gates would consider taking it away from me.

    3. Re:Studio quality my ass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not to mention it is mono only.

      Not to mention you didn't RTFA, dumbass.

    4. Re:Studio quality my ass by justforaday · · Score: 1

      I don't know what you're talking about. I tried it on my iPod and it sounded as good as anything else I've recorded in my studio apartment...

      --
      I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
    5. Re:Studio quality my ass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah - a "regular old microphone" will give you "studio quality" sound. If that's the case, why hasn't RadioShack run AKG, Neumann, and all the other high-end manufacturers out of business?

      The submitter is just completely wrong about microphone quality having no bearing on audio quality - it, along with the ADC, is a crucial piece of audio hardware if you're recording digitally.

    6. Re:Studio quality my ass by emandres · · Score: 1

      Yes, mono if you are recording under the original iPod os. With iPL you can recond stereo at absurd rates (like 88.2KHz or maybe the next one up, not sure). That's one of the reason's I can't wait for iPL to support the 4G iPod. The iPod os limits it to mono at some piece-o-crap rate (like 8KHz, I think), plus you have to buy Griffin's crappy little device that sucks your battery life for around US$40.

      --
      The only way to tell the difference between a hamster and a gerbil is that the hamster has more white meat.
    7. Re:Studio quality my ass by RobertLTux · · Score: 1

      If that's the case, why hasn't RadioShack run AKG, Neumann, and all the other high-end manufacturers ----- Market Forces and Not What They Want the only reason a pro would need a mic from RadioShack is because he is minutes away from a gig and needs a mic NOW (btw they are oemed by Shure). but yes "Weakest Link" rules apply here

      --
      Any person using FTFY or editing my postings agrees to a US$50.00 charge
    8. Re:Studio quality my ass by ezthrust · · Score: 1
      I am replying to this in the hopes that you take the time to go back and check who has replied to you... from the website of linuxforipod:

      Could I get more information about the audio recording?

      Recording is not supported on the 1 and 2G iPods due to hardware limitations however if you are lucky enought to own a 3G iPod you can! The recording feature allows you to record mono audio at different settings that range from 8kHz to 96kHz.

    9. Re:Studio quality my ass by ezthrust · · Score: 1
      I am replying to this in the hopes that you take the time to go back and check who has replied to you... from the website of linuxforipod:

      Could I get more information about the audio recording?

      Recording is not supported on the 1 and 2G iPods due to hardware limitations however if you are lucky enought to own a 3G iPod you can! The recording feature allows you to record mono audio at different settings that range from 8kHz to 96kHz.

      Who is the dumbass, really?

  19. Yes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Step 1. iPod running Linux

    Step 2. ??????????????

    Step 3. PROFIT!

  20. I've got Linux on my 2G iPod... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... the results, so far, are not so impressing: malloc errors all the time, remaining Apple firmware not working well, some data corruption...

    BUT it's very fun, interesting, useful... I guess in one or two years it'll be ubiquitous.

  21. FOR THE LAST TIME by jb.hl.com · · Score: 0

    NO. The iPod will not play ogg under any circumstances. The processor is not powerful enough.

    --
    By summer it was all gone...now shesmovedon. --
    1. Re:FOR THE LAST TIME by WireRider · · Score: 1
      I can confirm that OGG plays just fine on my iPod photo.

      Note that iPodLinux isn't officially supported on 4G (inc'l photos and minis). However, it IS possible (relatively simple, actually) to install and use. Milage will vary, but it's working for me.

      I used the http://www.ipodlinux.org/4G_Installer guide as a basis, and simply replaced the included kernel with the latest daily build - http://www.ipodlinux.org/builds/ before doing the installs. I also used a "super-alpha" version of Podzilla which supports OGG: http://booc.coob.org/podzilla-ogg. The guide emphatically recommends that you backup your iPod first -- I would heartily agree.

      The interface is still pretty basic (you use the filebrowser to point to the OGG you want to play and then select it), but it works...

  22. WHY? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

    Other than for its Linuz zealot masturbatory appeal, why on Earth would anyone possibly want to put Linux on an iPod? Really, what's the point?

    1. Re:WHY? by atomm1024 · · Score: 1

      For iPod-zealot masturbatory appeal. Duh.

      I do find it hard to believe that they haven't gotten NetBSD running on it yet, but I'm sure that's coming soon.

      --
      Signature.
  23. oblig. by dstewart · · Score: 1

    I think you meant "Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these..."

    --
    Not every argument requires reduction to absurdity.
  24. The iWas ...just replace the OS, case & headph by digitaldc · · Score: 1

    You can also replace the case and the headphones, and really make it your own, it would be brilliant!
    Just think, a Linux recorder/player with a revamped O/S and customized user interface.
    They will call it the iWas. (as in I was something completely different and fully functional before you tinkered with me)

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  25. Too pricey. by Kaenneth · · Score: 4, Funny

    A iPod is expensive enough, without having to pay another $699 to SCO.

  26. how safe is it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    iPod hd's are only supposed to last on the order of tens of hours of continuous use. I can't find any info about how well this software minimizes hd access.

    1. Re:how safe is it? by nametaken · · Score: 1

      hd's lasting tens of hours? I'm afraid you've misread something. Perhaps the battery won't last long, but the hd's are not that faulty.

  27. Mac Download by wintermute1974 · · Score: 1

    The download is a DMG file, so presumably the installer is only for Mac.

    Is there a Windows equivalent?

    1. Re:Mac Download by casings · · Score: 4, Informative

      http://sourceforge.net/projects/ipodlinuxinst

      This is the link to the windows installer

  28. User Input by Evets · · Score: 1

    This will definitely put to the test an alternative user input mechanism. The iPod wheel is great for navigating menus, but how is it with text input? It may just be a better solution than graffitti and it certainly is better than what cell phones are doing (for the most part). It will be interesting to see all the different ways that people come up with to accomplish things using only a wheel and a few buttons.

    1. Re:User Input by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's a nokia phone that does exactly that. It was slow..

  29. Not quite true by josh42 · · Score: 4, Informative

    4G and later iPods have been, in development, running at 110% realtime with the Tremor OGG player. So yes, recent iPods can play OGG. However, these iPods aren't officially supported yet.

  30. Re:Good linux article. by Leroy_Brown242 · · Score: 1

    All this time, I thought all OSes sucked.

  31. I'm almost impressed by Evets · · Score: 1

    These days linux is running on everything. It will really impress me if they could get it running on an iPod shuffle! Then of course, how would you know if it was working? :)

    1. Re:I'm almost impressed by theurge14 · · Score: 1

      You'd know it was working when it told you there were no drivers for the flashing LED.

  32. Hasn't this by neurokaotix · · Score: 0
    --
    "...if people respected copyright more, like you guys do with the GPL so religiously, [the DMCA] wouldn't be necessary."
  33. iPedantic by Eil · · Score: 2, Insightful



    You are not ever going to record studio-quality audio with a "regular old microphone" and an iPod.

    </PEDANTIC>

    1. Re:iPedantic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People on Slashdot really like the word "pedantic", don't they?

    2. Re:iPedantic by slavemowgli · · Score: 3, Funny

      Depends on the studio. ;)

      --
      quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
    3. Re:iPedantic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is not pedantic. The comment itself was just plain fucking stupid. I agree with you.

  34. The End is Near! Repent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First trumpet: Apple switches to Intel
    Second trumpet: Apple magazine shows how to run Linux on iPod
    Third trumpet: (stay tuned)

  35. yes, imagine! by farble1670 · · Score: 1

    playing othello! the future is now my friends.

  36. buffering... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The included buffering... mp3 player buffering... sucks.

  37. less than half a million idiots by rebug · · Score: 1

    Don't forget the pirates...

    Yarr.

    --

    there's more than one way to do me.
  38. Am I the only one who by Man+in+Spandex · · Score: 1

    never accessed any feature of the ipod that isn't related to music or the calendar?

    1. Re:Am I the only one who by ldspartan · · Score: 1

      Clock! Everyone loves clocks!

    2. Re:Am I the only one who by biglig2 · · Score: 1

      Hell, I think there's only about 4 of you who've used the calendar.

      --
      ~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
    3. Re:Am I the only one who by damiam · · Score: 1

      No, all I do with my iPod is play music. But that's partly because the included games/apps don't appeal to me. The advantage of Linux is that you can install new games and apps and unlock new capabilities (like recording and video playback) that you would want to use.

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    4. Re:Am I the only one who by rmart · · Score: 1

      I play Solitaire too!

      (very handy for those long bus trips!)

    5. Re:Am I the only one who by endlessoul · · Score: 1

      Actually, I work a night shift, and my schedule rotates 3 days (nights) on, 3 days off.
      As you can imagine, figuring out if I have the 3rd Tuesday of next month off can be hell. (Which, incidentally, I do! Thanks, iPod!)

      So, yes, some people use the iPod for more than music. Actually, I have iPodAgent, and get /. summaries loaded onto the Notes function of my iPod, and get to get my fix on the go. iPodAgent handles movie times and weather for me as well.

      I have iPodLinux installed on my 3G iPod as well, but I rarely use it. If the music bugs were more worked out and it rivaled the UI and/or ease of use of Apple's, then maybe I would use it more. Oh well.

      Oh, and one more thing, I extensively used the Photo Import function when on vacation in Florida a few months back. Not being able to load my 256MB CF card onto a computer (I took something like 500 pictures for a week vacation), the iPod helped immensely. Man, what a time and money saver.

    6. Re:Am I the only one who by grikdog · · Score: 1

      Little Brickout on the Apple ][+ was a favorite, so it was fun to see it on the iPod ... for about 5 minutes :) The Linux version (assuming they ever get wheel oversensitivity figured out) is nice because it has Invaders and other things like chess that don't work well with a wheel, a central button that doesn't know when "Now!" is and four arrows (possibly with a shift function). What I'd REALLY like to see on my iPod is Link To The Past, or Gnu Go 3.7.6 using Scott Liniger's rotation b&w stone cursor.

      --
      ``Tension, apprehension & dissension have begun!'' - Duffy Wyg&, in Alfred Bester's _The Demolished Man_
  39. About iPod clusters... by MS-06FZ · · Score: 1

    From the iPodLinux FAQ...

    "Can you imagine a Beowulf cluster...

    Basically, yeah, the thought has occurred to people before. As they say, "Yes, but it's just silly."

    --
    ---GEC
    I'm but the humble pupil, seeking to snatch the scratchbuilt pebble from the master's fully articulated hand
    1. Re:About iPod clusters... by doggo · · Score: 1

      Why "silly"? A cluster inter-connected by firewire. Sounds like a plan.

  40. Killer app for portable media by JeTmAn81 · · Score: 1

    There will come a day when there will be a device that you can carry around in your pocket which will play movies, tv shows, music, video games (and emulate old systems), allow you to surf the web with minimal hassle and carry a low pricetag. The iPod ain't it.

    --
    "Me? Lady, I'm your worst nightmare -- a pumpkin with a gun."
    1. Re:Killer app for portable media by damiam · · Score: 1

      You mean the PSP?

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    2. Re:Killer app for portable media by ken_devon · · Score: 1

      My phone does this now (except for the bit about the price, dag nammit).

  41. Amazing Features...not by zelurxunil · · Score: 1
    'Imagine using your iPod and a regular old microphone to record studio-quality audio...(snip)'


    Yea that and what other wonderful things could be achieved if apple where to really leverage the iPod platform as more than just a hip looking overpriced fashion accessory.
    --

    What's another word for Thesaurus?
    -Steve Wright
    1. Re:Amazing Features...not by feloneous+cat · · Score: 1

      Yea that and what other wonderful things could be achieved if apple where to really leverage the iPod platform as more than just a hip looking overpriced fashion accessory.

      Well, if you look at it from a business perspective, it HAS done some wonderful thing. Apple has gone from a "they'll die any day now" company to a "iPods will overtake Macs in terms of revenue" company. It has gone from a "yeah, but they use a strange processor" to a "they use a standard processor". Face it, you may think that it is pricey, which is fine, but to the business folks, this HAS been leveraged.

      Sure, it isn't cheap. But, last I checked it was whether you can SELL the devices, not whether everyone can afford them.

      --
      IANAL, but I've seen actors play them on TV
  42. Recording by laxian · · Score: 1
    I'm curious, what would you use to record high quality audio with?

    I'm looking for a good solution and maybe you've found one.

    --

    our written thoughts are gifts to our future selves

    1. Re:Recording by Nasarius · · Score: 1
      I'm curious, what would you use to record high quality audio with?

      I'm looking for a good solution and maybe you've found one.

      It really depends what and where you're recording, now doesn't it? If you're making a cheap home studio, a laptop with a decent interface and a couple condenser mics will do it. If you're recording concert bootlegs, you probably want a DAT recorder and a couple high-end dynamic mics if you can't get a feed from the mixing board.

      --
      LOAD "SIG",8,1
    2. Re:Recording by shakey_deal · · Score: 1

      Personally I would not recommend anyone to get a DAT in the year 2005. DATs can be very unreliabe and it is a hassle to transfer them for editing.

      Get a Marantz PMD670 Portable Compact Flash CF Recorder (has phantom power, spdif in/out etc). You can use a external A/D and feed it spdif over coax.

    3. Re:Recording by laxian · · Score: 1
      Yeah, but that Marantz thing is like a million dollars. There's that Edirol thing, too, but I'm waiting for M-Audio's pocket recorder thing.

      I guess I was secretly hoping that someone would recommend one of those Asian-market-only hard disk MP3 players but that actually records at really high quality and not just enough for voice notes. I guess there's still a chance.

      THUMP THUMP THUMP ... is this thing on?

      --

      our written thoughts are gifts to our future selves

  43. It's called the iLiving Room by theurge14 · · Score: 1

    Coming to stores near you.

    1. Re:It's called the iLiving Room by JeTmAn81 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, for now it's called a decent laptop, and the only requirement it fails to fulfill is fitting in your pocket.

      --
      "Me? Lady, I'm your worst nightmare -- a pumpkin with a gun."
    2. Re:It's called the iLiving Room by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it also fails to have the low pricetag.

  44. Video Playback by Junior+Samples · · Score: 1

    It would be nice if it had enough power to play back Xvid or Divx video files, but if mp3 files skip under Linux, there's probably no hope. Does anybody know what processor the latest iMacs use?

    1. Re:Video Playback by emandres · · Score: 1


      Well, let's see... it's called the iMac, what?... oh that's right, the iMac G5!
      </sarcasm>

      Oh! are you talking about the iPod? Check out this

      --
      The only way to tell the difference between a hamster and a gerbil is that the hamster has more white meat.
    2. Re:Video Playback by Jozer99 · · Score: 1

      An IBM PPC970 Processor, based on the IBM Power4 64 bit processor, with less cache and the Altivec Unit added on (I think there is a different unit on the Power4). You can get iMacs in 1.6, 1.8, or 2.0 GHz versions. That enough info?

    3. Re:Video Playback by Junior+Samples · · Score: 1

      Actually, I meant the iPod or more specifically, the new 60gig photo ipod with a color display. Do you know what processor is used here?

  45. Re:Apple should make a Linux dist. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Funny you say that:

    [root@TBRoom taylor]# uptime
    18:50:27 up 133 days, 22:43, 2 users, load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00
    [root@TBRoom taylor]#

  46. Re:Whats next? by BobVila · · Score: 0, Troll

    You must be a BSD user. What is it like to kiss girls?

  47. Studio quality sound on a regular microphone? by wealthychef · · Score: 1
    Gee, I guess that money spent on studio microphones is all wasted, eh? :-)

    Seriously, why would I want to do this again? I can already play Pong on the train. I can maybe see as a musician wanting to record sound on the go occasionally, but given the user interface, how would you type into it for any general Linux-y kinds of stuff? I already hate using cell phones to type text... imagine on an iPod! Bleh.

    --
    Currently hooked on AMP
    1. Re:Studio quality sound on a regular microphone? by damiam · · Score: 1

      Linux has had graphical interfaces for 13 years. There's no need to type anything on an iPod command line (although you can, it's kinda cumbersome).

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    2. Re:Studio quality sound on a regular microphone? by mrjb · · Score: 1

      Why would you want it? For the same reason that you want Java on your phone. As a musician, that allows you to use it as metronome, tone-generator, guitar-tuner... I'm sure other uses are there, it's just a matter of thinking of them.

      --
      Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
    3. Re:Studio quality sound on a regular microphone? by clackerd · · Score: 1

      install it, then you can telnet into the ipod from your computer at home if you want to type.

      on the go, it really is similar to the ipod interface, aside from the small, notcieable ideosyncrosies, it almost doesn't even feel like linux. ipod linux is one of the cooler things i've done with my ipod.

      i'm not a huge linux fan, but this is one of the coolest applications of linux i have seen.

  48. 4G support yet? by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    Last time i looked 4G support was still 'coming soon', perhaps 'soon' has arrived?

    Nope, cant look myself as it wont load.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
    1. Re:4G support yet? by damiam · · Score: 1

      Source code and unofficial builds have been around in various stages of maturity for a few months. 4G iPods aren't officially supported yet, but a lot of people seem to have gotten theirs working.

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
  49. Application Server by nurb432 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What would be cool is if you could run Xclients ( or i suppose cli stuff too ) on the ipod and use a 'local' pc to X11/Telnet to it..

    Take all your apps AND data with you as you travel...

    Yes, i know a laptop would do the same, but no where near the same formfactor...

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  50. Oh yeah?!? by PorkChopExxpress · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well I'm running Windows on my iPod Shuffle. Haven't blue-screened once.

    1. Re:Oh yeah?!? by Jozer99 · · Score: 1

      Well, with my mad H4x0r sk1lz, using only a metallic chewing gum wrapper and a post it note, I turned my iPod Photo into a Radeon 9700 Pro!

  51. Imagine an mp3 player with built in voice record by geekee · · Score: 1

    "Imagine using your iPod and a regular old microphone to record studio-quality audio."

    Or I could just buy this mp3 player instead, which has built in voice recording, instead of having to hack an iPod.

    --
    Vote for Pedro
  52. ipodslave by otis+wildflower · · Score: 1

    The ipodslave KIOslave for KDE is pretty nifty, though it should (or perhaps Konqueror should) let you choose to use the file's id3 tag to generate the icon text as an option when you view an ipod:/ URL. ipodslave integration into amarok could be better: ideally you would use amarok as a hook right into the ipod's playlists and such.

    Also, if you're gonna use an iPod with Linux, go with udev. Additionally, format the pod for fat32, it's a bit more convenient, though you could still use hfsplus in modern 2.6 kernels.

  53. Imagine? by Transcendent · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Imagine using your iPod and a regular old microphone to record studio-quality audio.

    Hmm... don't think so.

    Perhaps the writer doesn't understand much about analog signals. I like the overall idea of the article, but that "little" exaggeration kind of deters me...

  54. Yes, you can play music on a Game Boy. by tepples · · Score: 1

    147 NES games on my flashcart [...] and better yet you can listen to your mp3cd player ... AND HAVE 200$ in your pocket!!!

    Or try GSM Player for GBA. It's nowhere near CD quality (18 kHz, 30 kbps), but it'll do better than an MP3 CD player for jogging.

  55. Regular mics? What about binaural? by tsarin · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The notion that I could record 24/96 audio on my 'pod with a "regular mic" is ludicrous. I have a pair of Core Sound binaural microphones, however. Provided I had the disk space, am I wrong in thinking that might make a sweet kit for bootlegging concerts?

    (Yes, yes, bootlegging's naughty, blah, blah, blah.)

    I've been able to get reliably decent boots on my ancient (as in, bought in '98) Sharp MiniDisc, even considering how lossy ATRAC is. By clipping the mics to the ends of the bows of my glasses -- i.e., an inch away from my ear canals -- I get a recording that's damned near exactly what I heard live. Using my iPod instead would be ideal. AFAICT, the recording wouldn't be compressed, the bit- and sample-rates are vastly higher, I'd be able to extract it digitally by mounting the device as a disk and venue security probably wouldn't look twice at an iPod.

    I think I know what I'm doing this weekend.

    1. Re:Regular mics? What about binaural? by Jozer99 · · Score: 1

      Its not 24/96. Its 16/96 in mono. Also, a high sampling rate does not make up for a crappy A/D converter. It probably has a horrible self noise rating. Basically, the guy was trying to make the point that Linux unlocks MORERATELY better recording abilities.

    2. Re:Regular mics? What about binaural? by Jozer99 · · Score: 1

      Its not 24/96. Its 16/96 in mono. Also, a high sampling rate does not make up for a crappy A/D converter. It probably has a horrible self noise rating. Basically, the guy was trying to make the point that Linux unlocks MORERATELY better recording abilities. Whatever you say about MiniDisc, Sony sure packed their MiniDisc Recorders with good A/D converters. Real audiophile stuff. You would find that compressed high quality recordings from the MD would sound better than the vast uncompressed crappy recordings from the iPod. If you are so worried about mobile sound quality, there are plenty of solutions out there, many rather cheap. There are several solid state 4 track recorders that can do uncompressed audio onto a compact flash card. Look on musiciansfriend.com. You also might want to check out portable CD burners, or a laptop with a USB recording soundcard.

    3. Re:Regular mics? What about binaural? by TheoMurpse · · Score: 1

      Bootlegging is not naughty if you see Ben Folds, Phish, String Cheese Incident, or any other band who says recording their live concerts is OK

  56. are you crazy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i guarantee you that both stylus input and cellphone input is faster than using a freaking wheel to scroll around.

  57. Sounds good ... by Heisenbug · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If I want to play tetris, pong, etc, I'll use my PDA ...

    Sweet, so if *I* want to play tetris, pong, etc, I can use your PDA too? ...

    No?

    Oh, maybe saying that a free software install is worthless because you have hundreds of dollars of hardware that can do the job better isn't really that insightful, after all.

  58. Re:Why Linux is going nowhere by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    So turn Linux into Windows? What's the point of that?

  59. I've tried this by Mechcozmo · · Score: 1

    Tried this on my 1G 5GB iPod. Nothing to see really. A lot of crashing, a lot of not working, a lot of copying-the-iPod's-UI, and in the end, I needed to reflash my iPod to restart into Apple's firmware because their bootloader ran into issues after a while. Linux may be great, but this really doesn't do much to show off Linux except for a bunch of gobbledegook text and kernel panics that you don't know about-- the iPod just resets.

  60. Wow. by dangitman · · Score: 1
    MacWorld.com is showing users of the iPod a way to install and run Linux on their favorite portable music player.

    You mean, I can finally install Linux on my Technics 1200 turntables? I find this quite astonishing.

    --
    ... and then they built the supercollider.
    1. Re:Wow. by Jozer99 · · Score: 1

      You can, but you need 13,542,343,634 analogue delay effects units to load a basic kernel into memory, and at least 1,000 telephone relays.

  61. You don't own a 'Pod, do you? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've had linux installed on my iPod for some time. Although the mp3 player sucks I've killed many hours with the games (chess!) and the calculator has saved my butt a few times.

    And you can't record on an iPod without liunx unless you buy a special adapter. :^/

  62. Battery charge is an issue, too by grikdog · · Score: 1

    Installing uCLinux on the old 2 Gb iPod seems to prod the charge state display to force recharge. Maybe this proves that Apple really did mess that up, because the charge state on the Linux side is 100% (or something). As far as "Linux" goes, Tux is wearing earphones, the wheel is hypersensitive and "Action Debounce" is inscrutable, but I suspect very very necessary for a usable lnxPod. It comes with Space Invaders and a chess game with a user surly HI. Fascinating toy. I'll keep it on my iPod long enough to see if the recharge works properly.

    --
    ``Tension, apprehension & dissension have begun!'' - Duffy Wyg&, in Alfred Bester's _The Demolished Man_
  63. Imagine using your iPod... by mrjb · · Score: 1

    Imagine using your iPod and a regular old microphone to record studio-quality audio. No can do, this is slashdot. However, if you want, I can imagine a beowulf clusters of iPods.

    --
    Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
  64. Only works on HFS iPods by Bander · · Score: 1

    I eagerly downloaded the installer, only to discover it does not work on iPods that have been formatted with FAT.

    That's a pity. I deliberately chose to format my iPod as a FAT drive since that would allow me to use it with all the OS'es I currently use (Linux, OS X, and Win32) -- I imagine many other nerds have done the same for just that reason.

    I don't remember seeing this restriction mentioned on the requirements pages, but maybe I missed it... If you have a FAT-formatted iPod, don't even bother downloading the installer at this point.

    Bander

  65. Use Windows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Look you linux suxx0rs, why don't you just drop that piece of s*** OS and use windows instead, then you won't have to cry - 'ohhhh nothing works on this magnificent communist OS - it's all micro$ofts fault wahah wah wah'
    Linux uncle fuxx0rs.

  66. Not realtime by derubergeek · · Score: 1
    Having installed this on my iPod in the past, I have 4 complaints:
    1. ASCII spaces in the mounted volume name of the iPod cause the installer to puke.
    2. Songs don't continue to play when you access the menu.
    3. The games (such as asteroids) don't have audio.
    4. Major complaint: try adjusting the volume on a playing song - the audio is interrupted. Suck!
    This was on a 2nd gen iPod. YMMV.
    --
    Trust me. This is an inactive account. Regardless of what the /. bean counters might report.