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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. iPod again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    20GB iPod: $499 20GB Nomad Zen: $299 (w/rebate) Apple is smoking crack on the iPod pricing. The 5GB one should be no more than $99-$149. How much can a 5GB hard drive cost these days? $15 on eBay?

  2. Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by Spencerian · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There was a time, not long ago, where Apple made interesting, even innovative technology--but designed it so it worked only with its Macintosh hardware.

    It's great for the industry and many others that Apple is slowly crawling out of the mindset that all of their products must work strictly with a Mac. Their move to Mac OS X would be contradictory to such a philosophy since *nix is a widely supported and tinkerable OS.

    The iPod is mostly a glorified FireWire drive, so this software doesn't impress me as much as the relative enthusiasm of developers to make it work. Even if you don't use it, Mac OS X and the iPod is a nice catalyst for a drab, uninventive computer industry at the moment.

    --
    Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.
    1. Re:Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 3, Insightful
      There was a time, not long ago, where Apple made interesting, even innovative technology--but designed it so it worked only with its Macintosh hardware.

      So.... just like the iPod then, which works on other platforms only due to 3rd parties reverse engineering parts of the on disk format?

      It's great for the industry and many others that Apple is slowly crawling out of the mindset that all of their products must work strictly with a Mac

      No it isn't. Otherwise why are Apple buying up app vendors (I don't recall the name of the product i'm thinking of, some graphics/music program), and scaring all the customers silly because they think Apple will make them Mac only?

      Their move to Mac OS X would be contradictory to such a philosophy since *nix is a widely supported and tinkerable OS.

      Except OS X isn't tinkerable at all. Practically all the code Apple has written is closed source, and the Mac parts of MacOS are generally only capable of doing things one way. Unlike every Linux and Windows, MacOS is still not capable of being themed by 3rd parties (unless you consider a grey version of the default a "theme").

    2. Re:Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by nullard · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So.... just like the iPod then, which works on other platforms only due to 3rd parties reverse engineering parts of the on disk format?

      Here is proof to the contrary. It took them a while, but Apple did release a Windows compatible iPod.

      Even Dell sells them.

      You must have missed the announcemnt a few months ago.

      Anyway, the Mac version just uses HFS. There are 3rd party HFS readers for *nix and Windows. I don't know if they were reverse engineered or created from Apple specs.

      Except OS X isn't tinkerable at all. Practically all the code Apple has written is closed source, and the Mac parts of MacOS are generally only capable of doing things one way.

      If you ignore the fact that you can recompile the kernel and change most OS variables using XML plists and NetInfo, you are absolutely correct. If I ignore my need for oxygen I can breathe in space too.

      --


      t'nera semordnilap
    3. Re:Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by SensitiveMale · · Score: 5, Insightful


      So.... just like the iPod then, which works on other platforms only due to 3rd parties reverse engineering parts of the on disk format?

      mmm, go to www.dell.com and buy an iPod for windows by ..... wait for it .... Apple. Or buy an iPod for windows by Apple. Or do you consider the manufacturer of the iPod a third party?

      Except OS X isn't tinkerable at all. Practically all the code Apple has written is closed source, and the Mac parts of MacOS are generally only capable of doing things one way. Unlike every Linux and Windows, MacOS is still not capable of being themed by 3rd parties (unless you consider a grey version of the default a "theme").

      I could list half a dozen OS X theme managers AND a few dozen themes. Sure, there a lots more for windows but OS X has been around much less time than Stardock.

      As for the "OS X isn't tinkerable at all' look at the hundreds of programs that 'tinker' with OS X. Fruitmenu, XSounds, WindowShadeX, ASM, CeePeeYou, A-Dock, Synergy, and tons of other cursor, menu items, haxies, and other enhancements.

      And if you want a full cocoa Finder you can get Path Finder from cocoatech.com.

      Just because you don't have the source code of OS X doesn't mean that you can't tinker with it to your heart's content.

    4. Re:Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by mbbac · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think he was talking about the general trend of Apple using (*and creating) standards where possible nowadays: Java, USB, FireWire*, IP, 802.11, ZeroConf*, IDE, ADC*, MPEG4*, WebDAV, FiberChannel. I'm sure there are many more examples of Apple's support of standards, those are simply off the top of my head.

      --

      mbbac

    5. Re:Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      The windows compatible iPod is simply an iPod with a FAT32 harddisk iirc, they didn't release any official Windows software for it, nor do they support it.


      They didn't release that FAT32 iPod until they had a company lined up to handle software and support for it. It makes perfect sense for them to not want to deal with support for a competitor's system. This way everyone wins. Apple sells more iPods but doesn't have to waste money supporting them for PCs, consumers get iPods on whatever platform they want.

      Obviously the Linux support is a different issue, but I can understand Apple not supporting it. Apple isn't a software company, they're a hardware company. Their software development exists purely to sell more hardware.

      As for plist/netinfo not being enough, download the source to darwin and play around. The only thing really missing is Aqua. But again, Apple is a hardware company. If they opened Aqua up it would only be a matter of time before it was ported to X86, cutting into their marketshare. They'd be shooting themselves in the foot opening it all up. Opensource is nice, but there are times when it won't help (and would in fact hurt) a company.

  3. Nifty, but... by Badge+17 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Kneejerk response #1: Yeah, but what good does that do me if all my files are .OGG?

    Although I'd seriously consider going through and re-ripping all of them if I had the money... The iPod is just one of the coolest little gadgets I've seen in a while - especially the clean interface.

    Has Apple indicated any wish to support alternate compression? A quick Google didn't find anything.

    I suspect Apple should start researching OGG, as it seems much more likely than MP3 to remain un-DRM-contaminated... and Apple seems to be placing itself in the position of "use our computers - no stupid DRM!"

    I also wonder if Apple could be persuaded to issue a release of iPod software for Darwin... that way it could more easily be converted.

    1. Re:Nifty, but... by tbmaddux · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Apple should start researching OGG, as it seems much more likely than MP3 to remain un-DRM-contaminated...
      MP3 is already un-DRM-contaminated. For it to become contaminated, it would have to be changed, at which point I would argue it's not really MP3 anymore. And all the old MP3 files and codecs would still work just fine, unless Apple starts playing games with our software. And as you noted, Apple's cultural position is opposed to that.

      It's my understanding that OGG is a good format, but my gut says is you're more likely to see MP4 support on the iPod first.

      --
      Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?
    2. Re:Nifty, but... by mbbac · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I wish Apple would give me a firmware update to enable playing Ogg files on my iPod as well.

      Hopefully, we'll get that on January 7th along with official Ogg support and Rendezvous streaming in iTunes. I have a feeling the AAC codec is more likely, though.

      --

      mbbac

  4. Re:Been over this... by Oculus+Habent · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's really too bad that so much effort was put into USB 2.0 when FireWire was available.

    They have virtually identical practical transfer rates, so the additional capabilities of USB 2.0 go to waste - unless, I suppose, you find yourself doing huge amounts of simultaneous data transfer to multiple USB 2.0 devices on the same bus.

    FireWire also sports two great benefits: more power (requires the 6-pin verion that is sadly not found on many smaller devices and x86 laptops) and no host-specific controller. People talk about putting Linux on a PDA and using USB to control devices from it, but until USB On-the-Go becomes pervasive, this cannot be a reality. On the other hand, Any FireWire device can communicate with any other.

    FireWire is a more flexible standard, and with planned upgrades to 800 Mbps and higher, there's no shortage to it's possibilities.

    If someone would just make a drive that doesn't use an IDE/FireWire bridge but actually has an on-drive FireWire interface, the benefits could be substantial.

    *sigh*

    As a note, you can get FireWire hard drives, , scanners, printers, and the Kodak DCS Pro 14n 14 megapixel camera will use FireWire

    --
    That what was all this school was for... to teach us how to solve our own problems. -- janeowit
  5. Re:alternatives by geek · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Nothing from Archos even comes close but the Nomad Zen is nice for the money. It just lacks a decent interface which has been creatives problem with all of their products for years. I have a Nomad IIc right now from Creative and love it. I've dropped it several times and the case is all scratched up but it still works like a charm and iunes plays quite happily with it.

    I really like the looks of the iPod but I refuse to pay that much money for it right now. Maybe when I find a new job but even then it will be a serious decision.