I just want to share this enthusiasm I have, when I yesterday discovered this stuff. Did you know that you can actually install linux to your iPod and run different kind's of applications... Well,
Now how this stuff all works? Simple, iPods are in fact, a microcomputers, they had everything you need to call them microcomputers, screen, cpu, input device, memory, hdd, and even a sound
WARRNING!
I am not responsible for any damage you may done to your iPod or yourself as a result of reading this text. Consider yourself warned while you are reading this! If you don't know what is this, and what you will do to your iPod, please STOP here, and don't try to do it yourself. You might end up with bricked iPod. Ok, now when i warned you, but you didn't scareed and you want to continue, we can move one to next step...
[ What you need to do to get yourself and Linux iPod ]
--> First of all you have to go on www.ipodlinux.org and read trough stuff. If you understand things you'll be able to figure it out yourself, if you don't understand, keep reading this...
---> Download windows version of Linux installer from here and unpack the zip archive to folder "c:\LinuxInstaller" on your HDD
---> Download latest podzilla software 2006-01-12-podzilla.gz
and and unpack the gunzip archive to folder "c:\Linux-Podzilla" on your HDD. You will need an WinRar software to unpack this archive and also for next step. Get WinRar here
---> Download latest kernel for linux here and unpack the gunzip archive to folder "c:\Linux-kernel" on your HDD.
---> Now, open your folder "c:\Linux-kernel" and rename "YYYY-MM-DD-kernel.bin" to just "linux.bin" and copy it to "c:\LinuxInstaller" folder replacing the old one.
---> Run the windows version of linux installer form folder "c:\LinuxInstaller" (.exe file with icon)
---> Follow the installer, and make a backup when asked, so you can always make uninstall and restore your iPod if something goes wrong... Read detailed instruction for install procedure here. Oh, and you will need to connect your iPod to your PC via Firewire or USB now, before running the installer. When you finish installing eject your iPod and restart it holding the right key combination. Read here for all key combinations.
--> After rebooting to linux, your screen might be too contrasted on iPod, so look for Settings > Contrast and reduce it a bit...
--> Now reboot your ipod to regular Apple software holding keycombination for reset and then when it resets hold REWIND button while iPod is starting to boot, until it boots to Apple original software. Connect it again via cable to your computer. And go to next step.
--> After installing, it's time to update PodZilla. Go to folder "c:\Linux-Podzilla" unpack the file and rename it to just "podzilla" without anything else. Now in same folder create with Notepad txt file and write in this:
mv /hp/podzilla /sbin rm /hp/startAnd now rename that txt file to just "start" without anything else. Now, copy these two files ("start" and "podzilla") to root folder of your iPod. If you don't know where the root folder is, it's a top level folder, just like c:\ on your hdd, so for the ipod is usually e:\ or f:\ but depends on your computer setup...
Reboot your ipod now holding the right key combination. Usually is "menu" + "play/pause" buttons together for 5 seconds...
---> You just got yourself and Linux powered iPod. It will probably be high contrasted display, so look carefull and go to Settings and choose Contrast and reduce it a bit to be able to see normally. This is because Linux has differend setup than original apple software.
---> And what now... Let's look what it can:




* This last one is my favorite... DOOM on iPod!! I would newer say it's possible... well hell yes, you can find ported version of DOOM called iDOOM for iPod Linux here.
Enjoy.













