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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."

15 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. iPod by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't know about you, but I was planning on being evil with my iPod. Pirating music, harvesting the Anarchists Cookbook, etc. Naturally I wouldn't do this under any other operating system.

  2. "All that is missing is a nice GUI" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that for Linux, or for the iPod??? ;-)

  3. 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 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
    2. 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.

    3. Re:Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by geek · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Umm, they pushed USB and they made Firewire to name just two. Think a little harder on that and then post again.

      To compliment their achievments in hardware they open or offer freely a lot of software now as well, Darwin and Rendevouz not to mention the quicktime streaming server.

    4. Re:Goodbye "Not Invented Here" days by SensitiveMale · · Score: 5, Funny

      Even the Windows registry does much better than that

      Well, that is the first time I have ever read anyone praising the registry.

      That damn registry is the worst thing ms ever came out with, including Bob.

  4. The only thing missing is a nice GUI. by digitalsushi · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The only thing missing is a nice GUI."

    *avoids smart alec temptation to link to apple.com

    --
    slashdot: where everyone yells sarcastic metaphors to themselves to understand the issue
  5. Re:iPod again? by rigga · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow, Ill bet you just saved Apple millions. They prolly never thought that they could purchase the hundreds of thousands 5GB drives needed for iPods on Ebay. Stupid Apple, Why buy drives directly from manufactures at huge discounts when you can purchase them from Frank in Winsconsin who has 3 5gb drives for sale. Hmm, now they just need 999,997 more. Any more brilliant ideas?

    --
    RiGgA
  6. 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.

  7. 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
  8. 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

  9. 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?
  10. 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.

  11. D'oh! by PCM2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I first skimmed the headline for this story, I was saying to myself: "Wow, cool! They have iPod tools for Linux? Maybe I can get them to compile under Mac OS X!"

    --
    Breakfast served all day!