The REALLY small screen.

The iPodLinux project, which allows iPod users to run a variety of programs on their iPods by emulating the Linux OS, has made a leap in the "coolness factor". Using an iPod runing Linux and iPod MAME (iPod Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator), you can now play the original arcade versions of Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man on your iPod!

Scott Lawrence has added a nice cherry on top by building an actual "stand-up" arcade cabinet for his iPod nano. Perhaps not the most usable thing in the world, and it's still a little rough around the edges. Nonetheless, the MAME / cabinet combo wins FreeiPodGuy's "Coolest thingy I saw this week" award.

NOTE: FreeiPodGuy (and probably nobody else) will make any representations about how legal it is to run the games unless you actually own an original arcade game. However, I theorize that if you own the $19 Jakks Pacific version of Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man (which also are claimed to contain the original software), you may have the right to use them on MAME as well. Just a theory.

In any case, this hack is not for everybody. If there's a way to make Linux accessable to the average iPod owner, then it will take off like wildfire.  

There was some noise several months ago about iPods being sold in vending machines at some point. Looks like the concept has hit the street. Or at least the concourse.

The "Notes from the terminal ward" blog pointed out a recent iPod vending machine siting at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

I can see this making sense. Airports and airplanes are places where people spend time waiting to take off or land with little to do. However, the iPods are of little immediate use unless they are charged and loaded with some music. There's no word on that at this point.  

Wiremedia, a company specializing in producing wireless media for portable devices such as phones, announced today that they are expanding operations to provide wireless music and video sales to portable media players, including the iPod. The cited article doesn't mention the fact that there is currently no such thing as a Bluetooth-enabled iPod.

This could be a sign of things to come.