iPod Tip #2
Some people may not even realize that they can use an iPod as a Firewire Drive. All that is needed is to enable it. This is done in iTunes preferences while iPod is connected to your machine. Just check “Enable disk use” (see below). Now you can store data on your new “iPod backup drive”. Just connect the firewire cable to and iPod and Mac OS X machine. You can drag folders and files on and off iPod just like any firewire HD. Back up stuff, move stuff from a machine at work to one at home, etc.

Advanced Users
Can you install OS X on an iPod and boot a Mac with it? Can you install Linux on an iPod and boot Linux (Very “geeky” indeed)? Sure you can, to both.

Creating a bootable iPod can save your Mac (Windows PCs can’t be booted from an iPod) if it is in trouble or help recover it’s data for a Mac that will not boot. You can boot another Mac with your “own” install of OS X with your settings. How do I do this? Well you need to use Carbon Copy Cloner donationware, to “clone” an installation of OS X onto an iPod, as you usually cannot install OS X directly on an iPod. You will want to keep the installation of OS X small to fit on an iPod and still be able to use your iPod as well, an iPod.

Launch Carbon Copy Cloner, choose your Mac’s hard drive as the Source and your iPod as the Target Disk. In the “Items to be Copied” list, delete some of the selections or you’ll will not risk running out of room on your iPod. These items must stay .hidden, Applications, Library, System, Users, bin, mach_kernel, private, sbin, & usr so the iPod is a bootable start-up disk. Also make sure you select “Make bootable” in Carbon Copy Cloner’s preferences. It is a good idea to also check “Repair permissions before cloning”. See below. Now you have a “pocket” version of your OS to take with you that you can run on another Mac.

Interested in running Linux on an iPod. It is very doable. But beyond the scope of a Quick Tip. Start your research here.

All Mac Users
PodLock from Micromat is a shareware ($40) utility that you also might find useful. Keep your stored data safer. It allows you to create an invisible partition that hides your important files, run backups and restores, moving the iPod volume to your Mac drive, defrag your iPod, manage pictures and voice recordings more conveniently, learn when and where your iPod was manufactured, along with other technical details.

All Windows Users
For Windows users, PowerHouse Technologies’ Migo is shareware $40-$60 that lets you take your desktop, email, Internet Explorer Favorites, and other documents along in your iPod. Sorry no cloning or booting for Windows.

    | Tags: backup, iPod