How to Put Wikipedia on Your IPod for Mac Owners

Wikipedia shot to popularity much like that of YouTube and Google. The website, referred to by some as the human encyclopedia project, has amassed a tremendous amount of information, all of it entered by the anyone who takes the time to learn Wiki code. A quick search of the online encyclopedia will show entries for everything from the latest conspiracy theory to the fine art of cooking Okonamiyaki.

To maintain it's position as a free, population oriented sources of knowledge, Wikipedia is free for anyone to download. You can download the entirety of it's contents in several different formats, including simple HTML to actual site copies of the entire website.

In the past, the only way to carry this vast amount of knowledge with you would be in the form of a very large, very heavy paper book. In modern times, however, thanks to technology and everything that has come with it, you can have all the knowledge of the web at your finger tips, at any time, sans an Internet connection, by using your tiny-sized Apple iPod.

The iPod is a small, nifty device that thousands of users have found alternative uses for. If you're one of those people, and you'd like to carry Wikipedia around in your pocket, follow the next simple steps to get started.

Note: This only works with Macs.

Items Needed:

An iPod
iPod data transfer cable
Mac with Internet access
A couple gigs of free space
Wikipod

Step 1: This process is going to use Wikipod instead of Encyclopodia. This is because Encyclopodia, while a very nice app, only works with players that are supported by iPod Linux, which means you're limited to 1st-3^rd generation iPods. Wikipod doens't have a generation limitation, so we're going to use it.

Step 2: Download the Wikipod file from HERE - http://swannman.wordpress.com/2006/10/01/howto-read-wikipedia-on-an-ipod/ .

Step 3: Connect your iPod and mount it in disk mode.

Step 4: Open the Terminal and turn the Wikipod into an executable script. Make sure the Wikipod code is saved to your DESKTOP. Type

cd ~/Desktop

Now, type

chmod 755 wikipod

Finally, type

./wikipod