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How to Use Your iPod Under Linux

Posted by pudge on from the mp3-ing-into-the-new-year dept.

Jon writes "For those lucky readers who received an iPod for Christmas I've put up an article on LinuxLookup.com on how I got my iPod working under Linux. I've given a little overview on the different options available, and which one worked best for my needs. All in all, I'm extremely happy with the outcome. I can transfer my music, create playlists, and add all of my contacts. The only thing missing is a nice GUI."

12 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. Re:No iPod by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    iPod can't record

  2. slashdotted? by kernkopje · · Score: 2, Informative

    Site appears to be slashdotted already? What's the point in submitting your self-authored article
    to a community that you can expect to hammer your server into oblivion?

    Sigh.

  3. Been over this... by djupedal · · Score: 5, Informative

    I put up this iPod Comparison Chart/site for those looking to compare the iPod with other hd based players.

    While it hasn't been updated since the 20gb units w/remote came out, it does allow for review of more elements than most buyers ever consider (also tips, links and related trivia).

    Bottom line...FireWire is the only way to go (transfers and charging), and at 7 oz., an iPod will truly fit in your pocket. And yes, the new remote is backwards compatible...just be sure to update your iPod.

  4. my 20GB works great :) (and howto) by warrior · · Score: 5, Informative

    Apparently the site is already /.'ed. Here's a way to get it working with a nice GUI.

    I'm using the latest stable kernel (2.4.20). 1394/ohci/sbp2 are all working great. Be sure to check "prompt for development drivers", then add the 1394 module and be sure to add OHCI and sbp2 (these also help if you're into dv ;). Be sure to have SCSI compiled in or as a module!! Also be sure to inlude the HFS (if you've got the mac version) or msdos/vfat (for windows ipod) if you don't want to reformat your ipod. Reboot with you new kernel.

    modprobe the 1394 and ohci modules. Do a tail -f on /var/log/messages and plug in your ipod and wait for the magic :) You should see Apple iPod being added as a (5/10/20)GB SCSI disk. Add a mount point for the drive in /etc/fstab using vfat if you've got windows or hfs if you've got a mac. You should now be able to access the iPod as a removable SCSI drive! modprobe -r sbp2 to safely remove the ipod (you have to unmount it first, too).

    Now, for the GUI. Download ephpod. Install it using wine (wine ephpod.exe). Change your wine config (probably ~/.wine/config) to use wherever you mounted your ipod as a drive. Startup ephpod. Be sure you've added some nice fonts to your wine install.

    Enjoy!

    --
    Intel transfer the difficult from Hadware to software, for get more power, programmer need more technology. -- chinaitn
  5. Re:iPod again? by Toraz+Chryx · · Score: 5, Informative

    Find me a 5GB >>>1.8" Toshiba harddisk on ebay (or otherwise) for $15 and I'll eat my hat.

    The price/capacity is even worse for the IBM Microdrive, but I'd rather stick one of those in my camera than a 120GB WD1200JB

  6. Re:Can you get it to take ogg files under linux? by pyrros · · Score: 2, Informative

    The problem is not getting oggs in the ipod, the problem is getting the ipod to play them. This would require a firmware upgrade from either apple, or some very smart people.

  7. Re:iPod is great but.... by MasterOfMagic · · Score: 3, Informative

    It already works under Linux. It is accessed as a USB Mass Storage device using the ISD-200 chip with a VFAT filesystem. The driver is in the vanilla kernel, and the web site for it is here. Also, there is open source firmware (which Archos will be including on its CD-ROM with future players) located at this page. This firmware doesn't support recording yet, but it will very soon now according to the web site.

    I have my whole MP3 collection on it, and it's great. Although I have to admit that it's not as visually pleasing as an iPod.

  8. Re:Nifty, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Quicktime 6.02 just now supports .OGG files as per two articles on /. So, it seems iPod support of .OGG will be around the corner and ready possibly for the next iPod Firmware update. However, this is just wild speculation on my part.

  9. Re:Nifty, but... by tbmaddux · · Score: 2, Informative
    if I remember correctly, the ipod does support ogg.
    Pretty sure you're thinking of QuickTime and/or iTunes through the plugin that got posted about twice.
    --
    Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?
  10. Re:Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by Eravau · · Score: 3, Informative
    Sure...Apple doesn't publish anything else but a gray version of aqua. They're proud of their interface and want everyone to use it. So what? You can download/create your own themes if you'd like.

    Check out the 3rd-party utilities and web sites to get what you'd like:

    Are the themes as varied yet as something like Kaleidoscope allowed on pre OS X? Of course not. But the appearance themes aren't near as limited as you think.
  11. Re:Nifty, but... by geniusj · · Score: 2, Informative

    This could be informative, if it were correct. I don't know why it was slashdotted, but there has been a plugin available for a while to play OGG files in Quicktime and anything that uses the quicktime frameworks (e.g. iTunes). It's not a plugin made by apple nor is it supported by apple. It's just a 3rd party plugin and therefore doesn't really affect Apple's support of it.

    Cheers,
    -JD-

  12. your site is way out of date by g4dget · · Score: 5, Informative
    Both Archos and Creative have entirely new product lines out there. Some Archos drives are much sleeker and more capable and support both FireWire and USB2 (as well as MPEG4 video and audio).

    The Creative Nomad Zen is sleek and small, and supports both FireWire and USB, as well as recharging through USB.That alone makes it a much better choice for Linux users than the iPod. It also seems to have somewhat better battery life, and it supports recording.