Install IpodLinux on your iPod

Posted on May 20th, 2008 in Applications by admin

iPodLinux is an open source venture into porting Linux onto the iPod (http://www.apple.com/ipod/). So far, they have successfully ported a customized uClinux (http://www.uclinux.org) kernel to the iPod, and written a simple user interface for it dubbed podzilla. Additional applications and modules have been written, adding many capabilities not found in Apple’s firmware. iPodLinux currently works on all iPod generations with the exception of the 2nd/3rd generation iPod nano, 6th generation iPod classic, all iPod shuffles and the iPod Touch. Donations always help when it comes to supporting new hardware. Progress can be tracked on the Project Status.

From Windows

Now that you’re backed up, it’s time to add some new weapons to your iPod’s arsenal. The first step is putting a basic version of iPodLinux on your iPod. Then, we’ll upgrade that version of iPodLinux to get all the latest features.

First step for 1G and 2G iPods
If you are installing iPodLinux on a first-generation or second-generation iPod, you need to first make sure the correct version of Apple’s iPod Updater is installed on your PC.

The iPod Updater software dated 2004-11-15 is the latest version of the iPod firmware that makes iPodLinux installation possible on your 1G or 2G iPod. Later versions of the iPod Updater won’t work, so make sure the Updater is dated 2004-11-15 or earlier.

Follow these steps to find out if you have that update installed.

  1. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add Or Remove Programs.
  2. Scroll down to iPod Updater and make sure the date listed is 2004-11-15.
  3. If there are newer versions in your Add Or Remove Programs list, you’ll need to uninstall them to complete this project.
  4. If the 2004-11-15 updater isn’t on your computer, you can download it from Softpedia.com.

How to install iPodLinux

  1. Download the iPod Linux installer from SourceForge.net.
  2. Create a new folder on your desktop named iPod Linux Installer.
  3. Extract the files from the ZIP package you downloaded. Save the files to the iPod Linux Installer folder you created on your desktop.
  4. Connect your iPod to your computer.
  5. Open the iPod Linux Installer folder on your desktop. Double-click the ipodlinux-installer.exe file to run the installation program.
  6. The iPod Linux Installer window should launch. Click Next to begin the iPodLinux installation wizard.
  7. The next window lets you select the OS your iPod will load each time you turn it on. We suggest selecting the radio button next to iPodLinux, then clicking Next to continue.
  8. The next window allows you to make a backup of your iPod firmware in its current state. We also suggest making that backup so that you can restore your iPod to its current state if you decide to uninstall iPodLinux. Check the box next to Yes, then click Next.
  9. After the backup is complete, click Next to begin the iPodLinux installation.
  10. Click Finish to exit the installation wizard.
  11. Disconnect your iPod from your computer. Your iPod should reboot automatically.

Once your iPod reboots, you’ll see the familiar Apple logo. Ho-hum. But shortly thereafter, you’ll notice a change: the Linux penguin appears on your iPod’s screen, then some lines of scrolling code. And then you’ll get your first glimpse of Podzilla, iPodLinux’s navigation interface.

Take a moment to poke around Podzilla and see what it has to offer. You’ll notice a similar look to iPod’s official firmware, but with additional features and menu options.

Because the iPodLinux installation created a dual-boot system, you have the option of switching to Apple’s iPod firmware at any time. Simply hold down the menu and play buttons simultaneously to reboot your iPod manually. As it reboots, hold the rewind button down. That will boot the original iPod firmware.

So we have iPodLinux up and running on your iPod, but you’re still missing several new iPodLinux features.

The iPodLinux Installer includes the latest stable release version of the kernel and Podzilla. Subsequent beta versions of iPodLinux and Podzilla have added the ability to play movies, and they also include several more games and fun apps.

To get those goodies out of Podzilla and iPodLinux–including the ability to watch movies–you’ll need to upgrade the iPodLinux kernel and the version of Podzilla running on your iPod. It’s easy to do.

Update the iPodLinux kernel
Roughly every day, the iPod Linux Project releases a nightly build of the iPodLinux kernel available at ipodlinux.org/builds.

  1. Download the latest nightly build of the kernel from ipodlinux.org/builds. The most recent versions are at the bottom of the page.
  2. The only file in the ZIP package will be the iPodLinux kernel binary. Extract the kernel binary from the ZIP package. Save the file to your desktop as linux.bin.
  3. Drag and drop the new linux.bin file into your iPod Linux Installer folder. This replaces the older version of linux.bin that you installed in step 4 of this project.
  4. Connect your iPod and launch the iPodLinux Installer.
  5. First we’re going to uninstall the old version of iPodLinux from your iPod. Select “Restore backup (Uninstall iPodLinux)” from the iPodLinux Installer.
  6. Now, launch the iPodLinux Installer again and reinstall iPodLinux. This will update the kernel with the new version.

How to update Podzilla
Just like the kernel, there’s a fresh nightly build of Podzilla at ipodlinux.org/builds.

  1. Download the latest Podzilla binary from the Podzilla nightly build page at ipodlinux.org/builds. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the newest version.
  2. The only file in the ZIP package will be the Podzilla binary. Unzip and extract the Podzilla binary from the ZIP file. If there is an error trying to extract the ZIP file, this just means the ZIP file has been mislabeled and the binary is already unzipped.
  3. Change the file name to just “podzilla,” with no file extension. This is very important–make sure the file is named “podzilla” and is showing up as an unknown file type, not another type of file.
  4. Open Notepad or any text editor, type the following text, and save the file to your desktop as start.txt:

    mv /hp/podzilla /sbin
    rm /hp/start

  5. Now, locate the start.txt file on your desktop and remove the .txt file extension from the filename. This is very important–make sure the file is named “start” and is showing up as an unknown file type, not a text file.
  6. Boot your iPod into Disk Mode by holding down the Menu and Play buttons to reboot it. Then hold down the rewind button as it reboots. It should boot into the original Apple firmware.
  7. Connect your iPod to your PC.
  8. Open My Computer and locate your iPod. It should show up as a connected device, such as the E: drive. Double-click your iPod’s icon.
  9. Drag and drop the podzilla file and the start file into the root directory of your iPod.
  10. Disconnect your iPod. It should reboot automatically and load the new version of Podzilla.

Thanks to the updated version of Podzilla, you have some nice new games and apps on your iPod. Take a look at them by scrolling down and clicking Extras, then Games. Invaders is a Space Invaders clone, Steroids is Asteroids for the iPod, and you’ll be gettin’ your Tetris on with BlueCube.

Also, check out Extras > Stuff. You’ll see some surprises waiting there for you.

And thanks to the updated kernel, your iPod now has the power to play videos.

From Linux

These packages (get them here) are self-extracting archives which, when run, installs the installer2 binary to /opt/iPodLinux and also installs a kde/gnome/freedesktop .desktop file/icon for easy launching of the installer.
Linux x86 (32bit)
% gunzip /tmp/ipodlinux-installer-2.2l.run.gz
% chmod +x /tmp/ipodlinux-installer-2.2l.run
% /tmp/ipodlinux-installer-2.2l.run
% /opt/iPodLinux/installer (or use the icon)
Linux amd64 (64bit)
% gunzip /tmp/ipodlinux-installer-2.2lx.run.gz
% chmod +x /tmp/ipodlinux-installer-2.2lx.run
% /tmp/ipodlinux-installer-2.2lx.run
% /opt/iPodLinux/installer (or use the icon)

Also see:

  1. Manual Installation
  2. Installer2 IpodLinux Page

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