The nice thing about having two iPods is that I can actually endanger one by running experiments on it. A couple Mac sites were talking about a new installer which can turn an iPod into a dual-boot Linux/Mac PDA. The installer, available at ipodlinux.com, turns out to be quite easy to use. My iPod has increased functionality now, if I boot into the Linux-based Podzilla OS: little things like the ability to record voice-notes (through the left earphone), a calculator, a rudimentary Etch-a-Sketch, and additional games. It can even display low-grade grayscale images. Plus, I can still access my music files. It’s quite easy to reboot back into the more familiar iPod GUI too. Only a small Tux logo remains (following the Apple logo) to give away the fact you’ve turned your iPod into a Frankenstein’s monster of a hybrid.About the only drawback I found was that the contrast was extremely weak when Podzilla first booted up. Thank God some of the websites [here and here] had screenshots so I was able to refer to them as a tried navigating my way to fix the display settings. Other than that, the new OS works fine and has breathed some life into my older, forgotten iPod. (Note: iPodLinux does not work on newer models.)
