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This iBook's next steps

I

InsightsIE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 29, 2008
672
42
Hey there!
After browsing these forums amongst others I brought my iBook Clamshell back to life.

It now has a 32GB CF SSD and 576MB of memory on this little Blueberry 300MHz. I managed to put Tiger on it with some Open firmware commands and restoring the DVD to a partition on the CF card to install on to another partition on the iBook and it's running TenFourFox... pretty well considering it's age with Classilla browser agent.

Just some questions:
1) Why can't the Airport card detect open no password wifi networks? Have even unsecured networks updated their standards? It can see WEP and WPA but not WPA2 (obviously) but now it seems Unsecured Wi-Fi. I even tried sharing the Wi-Fi from my Laptop without a password and the iBook couldn't pick it up.

2) Has anyone managed to get 3GP videos playing on YouTube. For some odd reason H.264 is not this iBooks friend so I think the only way YouTube will be feasible on this thing is with 3GP but I can't get it playing in TenFourFox, did anyone figure out the solution yet? I followed the TenFourFox guide but all that does is allow you to download in 360P in H264 and that didn't even work! :(


And this is the biggie!
3) I still haven't seen a decisive winner of Linux to put on this iBook and I'm looking for recommendations. My use case for putting Linux on this would be to have the most modern BUT usable browser out there. That means it runs the fastest, if need be it's versatile to change the user agent on it and it supports the most modern web technologies going. (Like TenFourFox supports responsive web design etc) Fellow iBook users, what distro of Linux are using? Mint, Debian or LUbuntu? Let me know! :D

Here are some pictures of it!

iBook 1.png


iBook 2.png




EDIT: Update 02/05/19

I made a video showing off exactly what this is capable of, feel free to watch from 4 mins in as the beginning is basic upgrading stuff this forum knows.

 
Last edited:
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The browser you require would be Arctic Fox, which at the moment, is only stable on Snow Leopard and PPC Linux. Linux Mint for PPC shut down years ago, and the newest version of vanilla Lubuntu is not a good option for several reasons. And, Debian Sid is unstable and would not be the greatest choice for you.

As far as Linux goes, I'd say to check out my signature thread, and go from there. It's always being improved. ;)

As for the issues in OS X, I'll let the others help you there.

Nice iBook, by the way. :)
 
GeekOFComedy said:
1) Why can't the Airport card detect open no password wifi networks? Have even unsecured networks updated their standards? It can see WEP and WPA but not WPA2 (obviously) but now it seems Unsecured Wi-Fi. I even tried sharing the Wi-Fi from my Laptop without a password and the iBook couldn't pick it up.
Click to expand...

You may want to double-check this to be sure:

Is the wifi network you’re trying to connect to with this iBook set to broadcast in b-only, b/g-only, or b/g/n?

I have found that using the AirPort card and trying to connect to networks using the latter b/g/n scheme is not possible, even if the AirPort card can see the SSID for that network. I don’t know the technical reason behind why, but there is apparently a header or preamble associated with a blended network which doesn't play nicely with legacy b-only wifi cards like AirPort (and possibly legacy b/g-only cards like AirPort Extreme).

If you can, try to temporarily set your network to b-only or b/g-mixed, no encryption, and see whether the iBook will then connect. I found what I had to do for a time for my iBook clamshell was to dig out an old Linksys WRT54GL router and set its broadcast to 802.11b-only (and WPA Personal, since I was running 10.4.11 with a 128-bit version of the AirPort card, as WPA Personal/TKIP will only be recognized if OS X is updated to 10.4.11 and is using the later, 128-bit original AirPort cards), and have that Linksys router connected by ethernet to my main 802.11ac wifi router for outside internet access.

If you do choose to try this scheme but also have devices which connect to your main router using the 802.11n 2.4GHz band, make sure this and the supplemental router with 802.11b-only are set to opposing ends of the channel spectrum (e.g., main on channel 1 or 2, supplemental on channel 10, 11, or if in Europe, 12).
[doublepost=1555882528][/doublepost]
z970mp said:
The browser you require would be Arctic Fox, which at the moment, is only stable on Snow Leopard and PPC Linux.
Click to expand...

It may not be stable officially, but I have been using ArcticFox on my clamshell 466 and it’s largely been OK so far. It’s less load on the processor than even the user-optimized TenFourFox.
 
B S Magnet said:
It may not be stable officially, but I have been using ArcticFox on my clamshell 466 and it’s largely been OK so far. It’s less load on the processor than even the user-optimized TenFourFox.
Click to expand...

But Arctic Fox is only on Leopard though, isn't it? No clamshell can go to Leopard (putting aside a G4 upgrade).
 
B S Magnet said:
You may want to double-check this to be sure:

Is the wifi network you’re trying to connect to with this iBook set to broadcast in b-only, b/g-only, or b/g/n?

I have found that using the AirPort card and trying to connect to networks using the latter b/g/n scheme is not possible, even if the AirPort card can see the SSID for that network. I don’t know the technical reason behind why, but there is apparently a header or preamble associated with a blended network which doesn't play nicely with legacy b-only wifi cards like AirPort (and possibly legacy b/g-only cards like AirPort Extreme).

If you can, try to temporarily set your network to b-only or b/g-mixed, no encryption, and see whether the iBook will then connect. I found what I had to do for a time for my iBook clamshell was to dig out an old Linksys WRT54GL router and set its broadcast to 802.11b-only (and WPA Personal, since I was running 10.4.11 with a 128-bit version of the AirPort card, as WPA Personal/TKIP will only be recognized if OS X is updated to 10.4.11 and is using the later, 128-bit original AirPort cards), and have that Linksys router connected by ethernet to my main 802.11ac wifi router for outside internet access.

If you do choose to try this scheme but also have devices which connect to your main router using the 802.11n 2.4GHz band, make sure this and the supplemental router with 802.11b-only are set to opposing ends of the channel spectrum (e.g., main on channel 1 or 2, supplemental on channel 10, 11, or if in Europe, 12).
[doublepost=1555882528][/doublepost]

It may not be stable officially, but I have been using ArcticFox on my clamshell 466 and it’s largely been OK so far. It’s less load on the processor than even the user-optimized TenFourFox.
Click to expand...


You may have solved it!

So I can't test that because I'm on Campus and they control the router but that's my guess since my room mate (who has a Mi-Fi for some reason) can have their signal picked up by the iBook but they probably do have it switched to N and AC only since it's campus wide Wi-Fi.

Good catch with ArticFox, if it works there's not really even a reason to use Linux... or at least go through all the effort - looks like Debian needs a DVD mod for the iBook as it's like 4GB and Ubuntu's servers are down for the PPC 16.04 version
 
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Very nice iBook!

I have been continually running into the same Wi-Fi original AirPort card issues you mentioned. The newest AirPort Extreme 802.11ac router we got recently doesn't seem to have an option to run lower radio encryptions/schemes. This is sad since I have a few Macs with original AirPort cards that I now must use Ethernet or tether from another device to use those with internet...

Hopefully you can find a solution that works for your setup!
 
The easiest (free) WiFi solution I found with the original Airport cards is to setup another Mac to run Internet Sharing (Ethernet -> WiFi). Older systems like Leopard allow for WEP encryption which let your iBook and other G3/G4 systems with original AP cards connect to the shared network.

I have also found Internet Sharing from my 2009 iMac running High Sierra would allow the clamshell iBook to get online so long as the shared network is setup without any security options (as there is no WEP option).
 
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AphoticD said:
The easiest (free) WiFi solution I found with the original Airport cards is to setup another Mac to run Internet Sharing (Ethernet -> WiFi). Older systems like Leopard allow for WEP encryption which let your iBook and other G3/G4 systems with original AP cards connect to the shared network.

I have also found Internet Sharing from my 2009 iMac running High Sierra would allow the clamshell iBook to get online so long as the shared network is setup without any security options (as there is no WEP option).
Click to expand...

I use a hotspot on my phone, with a MAC address whitelist that only includes my ibook G3's. It isn't ideal, but it's more secure than leaving it wide open.
 
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Well what do you folks know... Lets take a look at exactly what this iBook 300MHz is capable of! :D:D:D


Feel free to skip past 4 min mark as that is basic upgrading content. :)


Dronecatcher said:
The 300Mhz iBook was more than capable of playing 3GP video, alas, Youtube have phased the format out now - the small video files they have now are DASH formats that mix audio and video separately which are more CPU intensive.
Click to expand...

I got 3GPP?
 
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InsightsIE said:
Well what do you folks know... Lets take a look at exactly what this iBook 300MHz is capable of! :D:D:D


Feel free to skip past 5 min mark as that is basic upgrading content. :)




I got 3GPP?
Click to expand...

If you search this forum for Youtube under my username you'll see I've done a ton of stuff to enable playback - particularly 3GP, however, whether it's because of my location (UK) or ISP, I can no longer access 3GP files via any method.
 
Dronecatcher said:
The 300Mhz iBook was more than capable of playing 3GP video, alas, Youtube have phased the format out now - the small video files they have now are DASH formats that mix audio and video separately which are more CPU intensive.
Click to expand...

It seems everytime someone comes up with a way to play YouTube videos in OS 9, they go and change something so you no longer can. Bastards...
 
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swamprock said:
It seems everytime someone comes up with a way to play YouTube videos in OS 9, they go and change something so you no longer can. Bastards...
Click to expand...

I think it's a regional/ISP thing - the guy in the video is clearly playing 3GP video - I've tried accessing the exact same video here and it's just not there.
 
Wait....Arctic Fox works on Tiger, and a G3? Damn...I might have to rip my tangerine ibook apart and replace the dead HD.
 
Dronecatcher said:
I think it's a regional/ISP thing - the guy in the video is clearly playing 3GP video - I've tried accessing the exact same video here and it's just not there.
Click to expand...

Seems like it's only a matter of time. I should fire up my 667mhz TiBook and see if I can still access 3gp video from genyoutube...
 
swamprock said:
Seems like it's only a matter of time. I should fire up my 667mhz TiBook and see if I can still access 3gp video from genyoutube...
Click to expand...
If you check the video I posted you should be able to access them from regular YouTube with artic fox if fingers crossed!

Imixmuan said:
Wait....Arctic Fox works on Tiger, and a G3? Damn...I might have to rip my tangerine ibook apart and replace the dead HD.
Click to expand...

Definitely do it! Buy the right components and do the quick hack of getting in to the drive. Taking the display apart is a hassle
 
InsightsIE said:
If you check the video I posted you should be able to access them from regular YouTube with artic fox if fingers crossed!
Click to expand...

My 667mhz TiBook runs OS 9 exclusively, on an SD card. Genyoutube is/was the only way I know to download 3gp video on that OS.
 
@InsightsIE Nice video. However I noticed one thing in your arctic fox. You didn't copy over the profile included in the download. It's required to have working forward/back buttons and adblocking enabled. Just an fyi. :)

Cheers
 
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wicknix said:
@InsightsIE Nice video. However I noticed one thing in your arctic fox. You didn't copy over the profile included in the download. It's required to have working forward/back buttons and adblocking enabled. Just an fyi. :)

Cheers
Click to expand...

My bad. I think I did it at some weird hour and was trying to get YouTube working for ages so once it was working the camera began recording! :D You did a really great job porting the software over - it works so well!
 
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wicknix said:
Btw which UA did you end up using for youtube? I like downloading "some" but not all.

Cheers
Click to expand...

So I show the general one in the video which was taken from Classilla's optimised one.

The YouTube one I believe does in fact belong to Dronecatcher!

Code: 
General.useragent.override = NokiaN90-1/3.0545.5.1 Series60/2.8 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 (en-US; rv:9.3.3) Clecko/20141026 Classilla/CFM


YouTube user agent: Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; MSIE 10.0; Windows Phone 8.0; Trident/6.0; IEMobile/10.0; ARM; Touch)

itJoEy8.png
 
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