iPod apps - a possibility

For all you nay-sayers, this is idea is like going the TI calc route (for those that don't know about this then please read up at ticalc.org). I just read somewhere that the current iPod OS is no more than an image stored on the iPod's hard drive, so it could theoretically be replaced.

TI was still able to issue firmware updates to their calcs, and this usually required a simple fix to the OS that TI calc programmers had created. But most games/apps were unaffected (as long as they called OS hooks, and not direct ROM calls that might be changed.)

I think this could really be cool. We could create apps for the iPod to extend its functionality beyond what Apple first thought of.

First a new iPod OS would need to be written, and then someone could write an mp3 app, someone could write a game, someone could write a contact manager, etc. As long as the OS was multitasking, mp3's could play while doing other things (looking up contacts, playing a game, etc).

Some good games were written in assembler for a 6 MHz Z80 processor (a TI-83 for example). Now, we have a good size display, some decent controls, and a faster processor (2 if I am not mistaken).

I believe the original gameboy was no more than a 6 MHz Z80 (modified a bit). Discussion of this goes on in the TI comunity every so often.

Well going off of what I said above, I just ordered a free evaluation CD (which I hope I get!), but it contains the following:

[quote]What's On the Evaluation CD

The evaluation version comprises:

C and C++ compilers
Assembler and linker
An Integrated Development Environment
Powerful GUI based debugger
Instruction Set Simulators
ROM-based debug tools
Support for all ARM cores
An interactive demonstration of features and benefits of ADS
Documentation in PDF format


The tools included in the evaluation version are in no way different in functionality to those provided in the full product. The evaluation tools are supported on Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 and 2000.

The built-in evaluation license lasts for 45 days from the date of installation. No technical support is provided with the software.<hr></blockquote>

I have two things to say/ask.

1) Do you think that is enough to start writing new iPod apps? I am thinking yes, but am not sure. A full package is like $6000, so actually ordering it is out of the question, but tinkering around for 45 days would be cool. And yes they only have a PC version (so people would need to fire up VPC for this to get going.)

2) Please don't everyone go asking/requesting these kits. They would probably stop the program. If all works out, I would be happy to put a disk image on an ftp server so others could try it out as well.

Ben

[ 12-27-2001: Message edited by: kupan787 ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by Codename:
<strong>Are you aware of the iPod's main easter egg?

Hint: You can do something other than play MP3's...

[ 12-27-2001: Message edited by: Codename ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes I am aware you can play breakout. What I am talking about is way more than just a simple breakout game.

People were able to write Super Mario Bros, Solitare, Chess (with AI), etc for a 6MHz Z80. We have here a much faster (and better) processor in the ARM.

I would love to see these kinds of games developed for the iPod, as well as usefll things like a contact manager, maybe a txt file reader (so you can load text files onto the iPod and read them, not write them on the iPod), a picture viewer.

This could be really cool.

[quote]Originally posted by waffffffle:
<strong>Why rewrite the OS? The OS is fine. What it needs is applications. A finder, to browse the rest of the hard disk would be nice. And of course more games would also be nice. Pixo's developer information doesn't seem to be that helpful though. I hope someone can figure it out, or at least maybe let Apple create some nice APIs so more apps can use the iPod.</strong><hr></blockquote>

The OS would need to be rewritten so that other apps could be called. As it is right now, people could write the apps, but there is no way for the iPod to run them.

With a new OS (I aint talking anything super GUI like, but something simple like the current one), then we could actually launch the apps we have made.

I just got my iPod and need to know where the current OS is stored. I had heard it is on the hard drive, but I don't see it anywhere (I even tried one of those utilities that supposedly show the hidden stuff, but I couldn't get it to work).

Ben