Linux on iPod

The Linux on iPod project is currently focused on porting the uClinux kernel to the iPod, a propriatary MP3 player made by Apple. Apple has not supplied very much technical information for this hardware platform so a lot of reverse engineering and guess work has gone into the project. The uCLinux kernel is a pretty solid embedded version of the Linux kernel that supports systems without a Memory Management Unit (MMU).

This is a new project. The author, Bernard Leach, recommends that if you really love your iPod, don't try installing Linux on it just yet. For the adventurous hacker there are plenty of challenges left. Here's the status as of January 27, 2003.

Current features:

• Basic frame buffer
• Audio device (44.1kHz 16bit little-endian)
• Directional buttons via tty interface
• HDD support
• FAT (and UMSDOS) filesystem support

The following features are not present:

• Scroll-wheel input
• Firewire
• Remote control
• Peizo
• Power Management (suspend etc)
• Battery Status
• Hold button status
• HFS+ support
• Flash support

You can find some of the technical details of the iPod hardware here, and the instructions for building a uClinux system for the iPod are here.

---

(Log in to post comments)