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Apple iPod on Linux Project

Posted by pudge on from the where-there-is-a-financial-investment-there-is-a-way dept.

lotion writes "I'm trying to get the Apple iPod to work with Linux. I want to be able to read/write MP3s, songlists, and so forth. Since I don't own a modern Mac, I'm stuck with a $400 mirror until I get it working. Now if that's not incentive ..."

8 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. Re:FireWire Harddrive? by peperone · · Score: 3, Informative

    That is correct. However, the file system is HFS+. On Windows for example, you need something like MacDrive to mount it...

  2. Re:FireWire Harddrive? by jasonwileymac.com · · Score: 4, Informative

    Only for files and folders. You can't just fill up the HD with music and expect the iPod to play it. When connected to iTunes, it creates a hidden folder with it's own database of music, and that is the only way the interface itself will see the tracks.

  3. Darwin must have HFS+ code by Whatchamacallit · · Score: 4, Informative

    Take a look at the Darwin HFS+ code. http://publicsource.apple.com/

    Also look to http://sourceforge.net/projects/linux-hfsplus

    Nothing is complete or very useable yet, but if you are a programmer, I am sure they could use all the help they can get.

  4. not as easy as just writing mp3s to disk... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    the iTunes:iPod combo doesn't seem to just write to disk. If you mount the iPod on a normal Mac's desktop and write mp3's as files to the thing, they won't show up in the iPod's library of songs to play. They're treated as files.

    The synched mp3's are there in some other format. Possibly as a single file, or probably just as hidden files or something.

    You should figure that out before going any further. Because big deal if you get a 5gb firewire hd working in linux. You can buy those for a lot less than an iPod's price.

    1. Re:not as easy as just writing mp3s to disk... by self+assembled+struc · · Score: 3, Informative

      the problem with them not showing up is not how they're stored, it has to do with the iTunes database.

      the iTunes database is a binary proprietory format from Apple that stores much the information that the ID3v2 tag in your MP3 stores. This allows iTunes and the iPod to sort through your mp3 files quicker and the such.

      In order for files copied into the iPod to show up on the playlist, they need to updated in the iTunes playlist stored on the iPod's harddrive.

      This would require someone to figure out how to parse the iTunes database format and update the database when the files are copied over, so you would need some sort of tool to do this automatically for you on Linux.

  5. Re:There's a surprise... by raytoler · · Score: 3, Informative

    I had no idea that Hillary Rosen had a /. account! Welcome Hillary!

    (BTW, you might want to revisit your music lit class - the classical composers were constantly "stealing" from each other, e.g. any "Variations on a theme..." piece. None of those compositions, including many of today's classic radio staples, would survive in our overly litigious music industry.)

    As for getting the iPod to run on Linux, I agree with the post saying to check through the darwin code for HFS+.

    The trick is going to be getting the mp3s into the appropriate folder for the iPod to recognize them. And while the iPod is mostly a 5 gig drive, formatting it will remove the mpeg playback software.

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    "Words are relative. They're only symbols. If we don't use ugly symbols, we won't have any ugliness."
  6. Re:There's a surprise... by raytoler · · Score: 4, Informative

    I believe this is correct - the iPod OS is contained within the firmware, but it also relies on the iPod disk having a specific configuration, including the hidden music directory. Formatting the drive completely (as opposed to erasing the drive through the Mac OS or iTunes) will destroy the configuration that the iPod's OS expects. I suspect that anyone mucking around with the iPod in a non-Mac OS like Linux runs the risk of formatting the drive in a way that the iPod OS won't like.

    Apple Knowledge Base Article 60983 provides information on how to restore a formatted iPod using iTunes. I don't suppose this will help anyone trying to use the iPod with a non-Mac system, but it gives some insight into how the iPod works.

    If it were me, I'd want access to an iPod compatible Mac before I started trying to write iPod software for a different OS - it's too easy to cripple the unit with no way to restore it if the Mac's not there, plus it would be helpful to be able to watch the communication between the Mac and the iPod...

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    "Words are relative. They're only symbols. If we don't use ugly symbols, we won't have any ugliness."
  7. hacks available to reveal MP3 folder by johnpaul191 · · Score: 2, Informative

    there are easy easy hacks to reveal that "hidden mp3 folder"..... it's Apple's lofi way to discourage mass swapping of MP3s from the ipod (apple legal called for it maybe?). in general Apple's take on the MP3 issue is that the file format should not be blamed for the illegal activities of some users..... anyway i have a few friends with ipods and they all did the hack... though since they are all mac owners, i do not know how that helps it play with linux.

    if you did not yet buy one, you might want to hold on a little... the company that makes the HD is supposed to ship a 10 gig drive any day now, and a 20 gig version in about a month. we might see these in the ipod as soon as MacWorld Tokyo (this thursday). ok, that info is mostly from rumor sites, but the ipod has been out about 5 months now and these days that seems to be about how often Apple tweaks hardware. anyway my point is if you were going to buy one tomorrow, wait till thursday to see what happens.

    granted 20 gigs of MP3s is an insanely high amount, but the thing also is a portable hard drive, and can be used as a boot drive for macs. kinda cool for a diagnostic tool.