How to Make your iPod do Tricks! Compilation by G. Knaebe, 07/2006

How to Make your iPod do Tricks!

When the iPod games and applications found under the “extras” section just don’t cut it anymore, add the applications you really want. There are a group of programmers that worked for over four years on a neat new application called iPodLinux. This is the secret that enables you to expand the usefulness of that iPod - play dozens of games, record voice memos, or browse Wikipedia using your iPod.

iPodLinux is an alternative operating system that is installed free alongside the existing one on any iPod model. Once strictly the domain of geeks, the Linux option can now be added by simply the downloading and double-clicking a new automated installer. Here are the steps to making you iPod do tricks:

  1. The basic installer will load the core Linux system, a Podzilla interface (for Wikipedia), and a good selection of games and applications. Follow this link to ( and click on the Official Installer. You may just want to double-check that your iPod is compatible by clicking on the Project Status button. (Also, be sure you download the installer for your computer’s platform (Windows, Linux, or Mac) and your iPod model.
  1. Connect your iPod in “disk” mode, and run the installer. Choose what operating system you want your iPod to load by default.
  1. Reset your iPod (on most models, hold down “menu” and “select”). Press the “<” key during reboot to launch the non-default system.

Installing the basic iPodLinux setup is a quick and easy way to make your iPod do much more than play your favorite tunes. But it is Linux, so getting down and dirty with it can be a bit intimidating. Thankfully, along with what can be a steep learning curve, iPodLinux also has an accessible community of users to help out if you get stuck on some obscure error message. Here’s where to look for hints, tricks and cool downloads.

  1. iPodLinux.org: The project’s main site is a searchable wiki, full of user-submitted how-to's and links to other downloads.
  2. iPodLinux.org forums: If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the wiki, there’s a good chance someone has been in a similar situation and has written about it on the searchable forums. And if it’s not already on there, ask away. Often you’ll get an answer back in a matter of minutes, and it just might be some of the project’s main programmers helping you out.
  3. If you’re feeling extra bold, you can dust off the old IRC (Internet relay chat) application (or download one free for Mac or Windows), connect to the iPodLinux IRC channel (#ipodlinux on irc.freenode.net), and ask any questions there.

Encyclopodia Trick

If you follow the basic instructions, the iPodLinux Wikipedia reader, Encyclopodia installs its own version of the Podzilla interface that overwrites all the other goodies that come with the basic installation. (If you cannot click on that link, the site is

But since the Encyclopodia application’s source code was, like the code for most Linux programs, opened up to the public to see and change, someone figured out how to install it without deleting all the other games and applications. This info was, of course, posted to the forums, where it remains public for everyone’s consumption.

If you’re using Windows, the instructions can be found atthis forum post ( For Mac, clickhere ( and scroll to the bottom of the page for the post by “dazmax.” When you unpack the Encyclopodia software, you will see an assortment of folders (like “bin” and “lib”) that correspond to those that the iPodLinux installer copies to your iPod. To make Encyclopodia play nice with the rest of your applications, copy the files mentioned in the forum posts from the Encyclopodia folders to their matching folders on your iPod. If you are asked to overwrite any files, say “no.” Then you can run the “epodia” file from the Podzilla file browser.

NOTE: If you have Encyclopodia, it is the only Linux app you can run due to file size of 1 gigabyte.

Podzilla 2

Podzilla 2 is the next generation of IPL’s user interface, and it’s considerably snazzier. It can be outfitted with themes if you have a color iPod and also supports software modules that are easier to install. Podzilla 2 is still in development, but most of its functionalities are very usable at this point.

Depending on what version of the iPodLinux installer you’ve used, you may already have Podzilla 2 installed. If not, installation instructions are here ( There is also an install tutorialfor Mac( on the forums.

Once you have Podzilla 2 installed, check the list of modules( on ipodlinux.org, which is a great one-stop place to find the latest games and applications being cooked up, including Sudoku, Dance Dance Revolution—even a rock-paper-scissors simulator.

iDOOM

Play the popular first person shooter gameDoom with crisp graphics (especially on color screens) and an easy-to-use interface. iDoom is a port of the classic id game Doom to the iPodlinux platform. It is based on the sourcecode from the original doom released by John Carmac in 1997. Just visit idoom.hyarion.com to download. Then copy the “iDoom” folder to your iPod.

iBOY

Visit sourceforge.net/projects/iboy to download the “Gameboy emulator for iPod”and you can play most of the original Nintendo Gameboy’s classics on your iPod just by searching for the ROM files online. The controls can be awkward, but having games like Zelda on your iPod is worth it.

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