[srndsnd]

While only semi-related, this reminds me a lot of iPodLinux, a project from around 2006/2007. I'm on the younger side, and this project was my first real introduction to the possibilities of computing. It let my grayscale iPod Classic play videos and Doom, which at the time, was mindblowing to me and my middle school classmates. In the process I was fortunate enough to actually learn a thing or two about Linux and computers in general.

While they're not always the most practical, they can definitely encourage the hacker ethos in people who wonder what their devices can do that Apple might hide outside their walled garden.

[peterburkimsher]

Same! iPodLinux was my introduction to Embedded Systems, and that's now my actual job :-)

I was only a teenager at the time as well, yet read the whole forum as a moderator. It was always fascinating to learn what new hacks people had made to let the iPod do everything it's capable of!

It's so nice to see Linux becoming available for the iPhone and iPad too.

Now the iPod is discontinued, I wish Apple would release its intellectual property (schematics, board views), so I can repair the old ones. The screen's a bit glitchy on my 1st gen, and I'm not sure how to fix it.

[dazhbog]

Oh man, the iPodLinux project was the first thing I ever compiled. It took me so long to figure out how to do it, as I was typing Unix commands in Windows and it wasn't working. Best time ever as a smelly teenager pretending to hack stuff.

[apocalyptic0n3]

iPodLinux (and the semi-related iPodWizard and iPodWiki projects) were some of the best years of my childhood. I loved all the time I spent customizing my iPod and helping others do the same.