Getting The Most From Your iPod

jeffy777 · May 19th, 2006, 03:02 AM

So has anyone tried running additional firmware on your iPod in order to get more features/games/bells & whistles?

I just installed Rockbox:
http://www.rockbox.org/
(pretty easy to install and you can always remove it if you don't decide you don't like it. Supposed to be totally safe)

The extras seem pretty cool so far (mainly the games). If you have a color screen, you can even play Doom images/smilies/smile.gif

And there's even a Tetris clone. I haven't really tried much listening yet; just messing around with the plugins. The nice part is that you can still use the standard Apple firmware anytime you want to.

Or if you have an older iPod, you can install Linux:
http://ipodlinux.org/Main_Page

Looks cool, but my iPod isn't compatible. It also allows you to still boot from the Apple firmware anytime you so desire.

However, if you're worried about warranties and that sort of thing, you may not want to mess with this stuff. I buy my iPod second hand, so I have no worries images/smilies/wink.gif

Both projects (Rockbox and iPodLinux) are usually updated just abour daily (Rockbox especially).

jensked · May 19th, 2006, 01:36 PM

mmm does something like that exist for a Creative Zen Micro? Anyone? Google didn't find me anything

bartboy9891 · May 19th, 2006, 02:32 PM

ive seen linux on the slightly older color screen Ipod, and it can play videos and such. the quality is WAY better than i would've ever expected. sure it takes a little while to load it each time, but if you are strapped for cash its not a bad idea.

jeffy777 · May 19th, 2006, 09:38 PM

Here's some screens from Rockbox on a 5th Gen Video iPod:

Tetris:

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/9528/tetris4kc.jpg

Doom:

Various Now Playing screens:

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/5007/green5gplaying3le.png

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6093/nudelgreenalbum6qu.png

http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/3940/rockampblue5zu.png

http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/7012/arcticdesert5g6pz.png

More here:
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WpsIpod5g

Here's a list of all the games, plugins, etc:
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/PluginIndex

Cosworth · May 19th, 2006, 10:00 PM

That looks waaaay too complicated for my simple little brain ...

jeffy777 · May 19th, 2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cosworth

That looks waaaay too complicated for my simple little brain ...

The installation instructions? Naw, tis really pretty easy. The hardest part is pasting in some lines into the command prompt....

EDIT: Turns out there is an easy GUI isntaller:
http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=8585
More info here:
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=3391.0

So now all you have to do is run that, and then manually copy over the rockbox files to your iPod (very easy, just put it in disc mode then drag and drop the files)

Here are a few more game screens:

Jewels:

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/475/jewelscolor8wg.png

Chess:

Bubbles:

And it has Draw 1 Solitare (I was always bugged by the standard Draw 3 version)

Now, I just need to get a 5 gen iPod so I can enjoy the colors images/smilies/wink.gif

My 4th gen is not as nice in the graphics department (obviously)

which means I can't try PacMan yet since it's only available in color:

http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/6787/pacbox320x2406bd.jpg

SL65 · May 20th, 2006, 04:11 AM

Wow very cool images/smilies/ohmy.gif

I need to get me a video iPod now just for this great program.

Also my current 4G pod is having problems right on queue...just after a year of using it images/smilies/thumbdown.gif

AxlxA · May 20th, 2006, 05:53 AM

I just installed rockbox and uninstalled it. It's so glitchy when it's playing my mp3s. If i try scrolling within a dir... whenever i hit the end of the file listing, the music pause for like a second. It annoys the hell out of me.

jeffy777 · May 20th, 2006, 10:36 PM

I just use it for the games images/smilies/wink.gif

I haven't really tried mp3s so far, but I know that it doesn't really support high bitrates that well yet (like over 128kbs).

To me, it's worth it just to have tetris images/smilies/thumbup.gif

And you can still use the normal iPod firmware for listening (hold menu when booting up), and use Rockbox for the occasional game, so it doesn't hurt anything by leaving it on your ipod....unless the games are of no interest to you....

AxlxA · May 21st, 2006, 02:09 AM

Well, and the fact that everytime i shut down rockbox or plug in usb cable... the ipod's power is CUT OFF instead of a shut down, it scares me to hear the harddisk suddenly stop and hear a "weee---oonnn" sound as the disk slows down.

I uninstalled that crap.

jeffy777 · May 21st, 2006, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxlxA

Well, and the fact that everytime i shut down rockbox or plug in usb cable... the ipod's power is CUT OFF instead of a shut down, it scares me to hear the harddisk suddenly stop and hear a "weee---oonnn" sound as the disk slows down.

hmmmmm, I haven't experienced that....

Currently working great on my 4G images/smilies/wink.gif

May 19th, 2006, 03:02 AM	#1
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: 10:43 PM Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	Getting The Most From Your iPod So has anyone tried running additional firmware on your iPod in order to get more features/games/bells & whistles? I just installed Rockbox: http://www.rockbox.org/ (pretty easy to install and you can always remove it if you don't decide you don't like it. Supposed to be totally safe) The extras seem pretty cool so far (mainly the games). If you have a color screen, you can even play Doom And there's even a Tetris clone. I haven't really tried much listening yet; just messing around with the plugins. The nice part is that you can still use the standard Apple firmware anytime you want to. Or if you have an older iPod, you can install Linux: http://ipodlinux.org/Main_Page Looks cool, but my iPod isn't compatible. It also allows you to still boot from the Apple firmware anytime you so desire. However, if you're worried about warranties and that sort of thing, you may not want to mess with this stuff. I buy my iPod second hand, so I have no worries Both projects (Rockbox and iPodLinux) are usually updated just abour daily (Rockbox especially).

May 19th, 2006, 01:36 PM	#2
jensked Joined: Mar 31st, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Flanders, Belgium Age: 25 Posts: 4,007 Car: RIP Opel Astra -> 2006 Toyota Corolla Wagon Rep Power: 43	mmm does something like that exist for a Creative Zen Micro? Anyone? Google didn't find me anything __________________

May 19th, 2006, 02:32 PM	#3
bartboy9891 I'm not Moe Joined: Dec 1st, 2004 Last Online: 10:50 PM Location: University of Michigan Age: 19 Posts: 7,774 Car: 1996 Grand Am SE sedan, and dad's 2006 S60 2.5T Rep Power: 43	ive seen linux on the slightly older color screen Ipod, and it can play videos and such. the quality is WAY better than i would've ever expected. sure it takes a little while to load it each time, but if you are strapped for cash its not a bad idea. __________________

May 19th, 2006, 09:38 PM	#4
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: 10:43 PM Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	Here's some screens from Rockbox on a 5th Gen Video iPod: Tetris: Doom: Various Now Playing screens: More here: http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WpsIpod5g Here's a list of all the games, plugins, etc: http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/PluginIndex

May 19th, 2006, 10:00 PM	#5
Cosworth Joined: Mar 24th, 2005 Last Online: 09:31 PM Location: Waterford, Rep of Ireland Age: 22 Posts: 1,725 LFS Status: Rep Power: 27	That looks waaaay too complicated for my simple little brain ... __________________ Catch My Drift? W:www.pmcgphotos.com Powered by Canon.

May 20th, 2006, 04:11 AM	#7
SL65 Ambitious but rubbish! Joined: Jul 12th, 2004 Last Online: 05:42 AM Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 18 Posts: 9,189 Car: 1998 Subaru Legacy 2.5L Rep Power: 41	Wow very cool I need to get me a video iPod now just for this great program. Also my current 4G pod is having problems right on queue...just after a year of using it

May 20th, 2006, 05:53 AM	#8
AxlxA Joined: Jan 3rd, 2005 Last Online: December 19th, 2008 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,541 Rep Power: 18	I just installed rockbox and uninstalled it. It's so glitchy when it's playing my mp3s. If i try scrolling within a dir... whenever i hit the end of the file listing, the music pause for like a second. It annoys the hell out of me. __________________ My FlickR Gallery! Rig: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0ghz with Artic Freezer 7 Pro. 4gb PC6400. MSI 8800GT OC 512mb. 2TB of space. Antec Nine Hundred Case. Logitech G25. Logitech G7 gaming mouse. Logitech VX Revolution. Saitek Eclipse Keyboard. Dell Ultrasharp 2407wfp-HC and Ultrasharp 2007wfp. Senheiser HD280 Headphones.

May 20th, 2006, 10:36 PM	#9
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: 10:43 PM Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	I just use it for the games I haven't really tried mp3s so far, but I know that it doesn't really support high bitrates that well yet (like over 128kbs). To me, it's worth it just to have tetris And you can still use the normal iPod firmware for listening (hold menu when booting up), and use Rockbox for the occasional game, so it doesn't hurt anything by leaving it on your ipod....unless the games are of no interest to you....

May 21st, 2006, 02:09 AM	#10
AxlxA Joined: Jan 3rd, 2005 Last Online: December 19th, 2008 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,541 Rep Power: 18	Well, and the fact that everytime i shut down rockbox or plug in usb cable... the ipod's power is CUT OFF instead of a shut down, it scares me to hear the harddisk suddenly stop and hear a "weee---oonnn" sound as the disk slows down. I uninstalled that crap. __________________ My FlickR Gallery! Rig: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0ghz with Artic Freezer 7 Pro. 4gb PC6400. MSI 8800GT OC 512mb. 2TB of space. Antec Nine Hundred Case. Logitech G25. Logitech G7 gaming mouse. Logitech VX Revolution. Saitek Eclipse Keyboard. Dell Ultrasharp 2407wfp-HC and Ultrasharp 2007wfp. Senheiser HD280 Headphones.

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