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Description

Got an old iPod? Install iPodLinux on it and make music with Pd! Want to play Doom on your iPod Video? Install Rockbox on your iPod, and still use the original Apple software too. Free that PDA and turn it into a 8-bit sequencer or touchscreen guitar. Or hook up an Arduino to your old wifi router and make a sensor controlled streaming radio.

Until recently, only the very skilled hackers were able to untether their own devices. Thanks to the work of so many hackers, it is getting easier and easier. There are, of course still annoying technical details, and that is what we are here to help with.

This workshop is a place to get exposed to the possibilities. We’ve been collecting a wide range of devices and hacking on them to see what’s possible. Lots of this software is kind of raw, but you can do lots of fun stuff now. We are just getting started, there is lots of free software that you can put on your own devices. Now we want to help you do the same.

Check out our wiki to see if your devices are supported:

http://dev.eyebeam.org/projects/reware/wiki/Workshop

Supported Hardware

Here is a list of devices to hack, ranked from easiest to hardest, that we will be working on for this workshop:

1. OpenMoko Neo 1973 and Freerunner
2. wifi routers (supported hardware)
3. iPods, 1st through 5th generation and nano (see pictures here)
4. mp3 players: (supported hardware)
5. Compaq/HP iPAQ PDAs
6. Palm Tungstens, Treo 650, Palm TX, Palm LifeDrive, and Palm Zire 71/72

Activities

• installing Linux on iPods, PDAs, and wifi routers
• installing Rockbox images on iPods and other media players
• uploading Pd patches and python scripts
• adding a serial port/JTAG to a wifi routers for arduinos and other uses

Equipment On Hand

• 1 or 2 Windows computers
• 1 or 2 Ubuntu computers
• SD and CompactFlash card readers (multiple if possible)
• USB extension cables
• USB-serial convertors
• serial ports for routers
• null modems
• ipod cables
• 5V power adapters for iPAQs
• serial gender changers Male-to-Male and Female-to-Female
• desktop speakers / headphones