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iCommune 2.0 Alpha Released

Posted by pudge on from the mmmmmm-p3 dept.

droopus writes "iCommune finally has a new release available. It was released a few months back, but it was implemented as an iTunes hardware plugin, and Apple terminated the developer's license to use that interface. But it's back and with source code." It is now a standalone application.

28 comments

  1. For non-Mac OS X servers... by stere0 · · Score: 3, Informative

    This is a small perl script that will generate playlists for servers that do not run Mac OS X.

    Yours truly uses it on his Linux box that serves MP3s to the whole house. /usr/local/bin/icommune_indexer.pl .mnt/music is triggered by a cron job every night. To install the libraries, you can use debian's apt, CPAN, or whatever floats your boat.

    --
    Trollem mirabilem hanc subnotationis exigiutas non caperet
    1. Re:For non-Mac OS X servers... by Onnimikki · · Score: 1

      Is there a solution to go the other way around? The MP3 player is a linux box but my libraries are on my Powerbook ...

    2. Re:For non-Mac OS X servers... by pudge · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I wrote that script, and I don't know if it will work with iCommune 2.0. I tried quickly to see if it would work, and it didn't, but I've yet to do any sort of looking into it beyond that.

  2. Sorry, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    this new iCommune is, well...weak. I mean, anyone with a touch of Apache admin can provide directory access to a folder outside of the web root. I guess for those that lack any Apache savvy this is fine, but otherwise, it is hardly the fun that the original was. There are tons of ways to server your MP3's...like Elsa, the Python MP3 serverlette...controls and hits, etc. Or Netjuke....I like Netjuke. But to release something that simply serves a directory....underwhelming.

    1. Re:Sorry, but... by stere0 · · Score: 1

      iCommune's killer feature is its integration with iTunes. Configure your web server running on your NetBSD box to serve your jazz, launch iCommune, add your server to its list, listen to John Coltrane in iTunes.

      --
      Trollem mirabilem hanc subnotationis exigiutas non caperet
  3. Indeed, it does not work by stere0 · · Score: 1

    The songinfo.pls format seems to remain the same, but there is a new file called library.xml which is strikingly similar to ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music Library.xml.

    If this file is necessary for interaction with 2.0a, do you reckon there's an easy way to get icommune_indexer to generate it?

    --
    Trollem mirabilem hanc subnotationis exigiutas non caperet
    1. Re:Indeed, it does not work by pudge · · Score: 1

      Most likely. If anyone wants to work on it, please send me a patch. :-)

  4. Sign of the times by jadriaen · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It is a pity all the previous work was undone, for the first iCommune really was a nifty utility. Steve Jobs made us thirsty, by the way, when he demonstrated the music-sharing abilities of iTunes together with Rendezvous and AirPort a while ago. He shouldn't introduce such a feature without releasing it in the near future, while at the same time squashing all initiatives (like iCommune) that try to cope with what is certainly very cool. Let's hope the new iCommune will work, and is here to stay (until, of course, Apple comes out with something mindbogglingly more funky).

    1. Re:Sign of the times by Oculus+Habent · · Score: 1

      I think Apple is most likely to aim for a product that streams only - no copy, no local saving.

      I also see the additional possibility that you can only stream a song to one person at a time, thus ensuring that the RIAA won't come after them, and possibly making iTunes a perfect base for setting up an MP3 server for a company or group.

      iCommune may survive because it is contrary to Apple's method of maintaining personal choice with a resonable level of restraint.

      Unrelated question: Do you think Gateway has been playing off Apple in their commercials too much? The Profile commercial playing leapfrog with the iMac, the Rip Burn Respect campaign?

      --
      That what was all this school was for... to teach us how to solve our own problems. -- janeowit
  5. iCommune? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    What's next? iGroupSex?

  6. What a name! by GoRK · · Score: 1, Funny

    iCommune !?! Is this just one more program in the iCult suite?!

  7. doesnt even work by alternatekev · · Score: 1

    adding a music collection crashes the app for me. yay.

  8. Doesn't work... at all? by cyrius · · Score: 1

    Has anybody been able to get this to work at ALL? I first tried connecting to his test site at http://www.icommune.net/Music and iCommune did sucessfully connect (gave me the blue globe "yay" icon) but clicking update did NOT give iTunes access to the songs. So I followed the instructions to share my own music and I would try to connect to that. It shared fine (going to the address in a web browser gave me a full listing of my mp3 collection) but when I tried to access it in iCommune, I get the red exclamation mark of doom. And yes I already RTFMed (is that even a word uhm expression uhm whatever hehe). If everyone else is having the same problem, I'll take a look at the source and try and see whats-what, but if its just me then well thats weird lol --Timothy

    1. Re:Doesn't work... at all? by jmgorman · · Score: 1

      I'm in the same boat. Have you seen any lists of servers so that this might be used to its potential

  9. Streaming? Been there, done that .... by UNIBLAB_PowerPC · · Score: 3, Informative

    I think Apple is most likely to aim for a product that streams only - no copy, no local saving.

    Um, maybe you didn't know, but they already have that ... it is called Darwin Streaming Server. The source code is available and they were even kind enough to create binaries for Mac OS X (client; it's already included with OSX Server), Solaris 8, Windows NT Server or Windows 2K Server, and Red Hat 7.x. The Web-based interface is the same on all systems, but the thing most people don't know about: free MP3 streaming. Check it out, I've been running this for quite a few months now at home on a Pentium 233 (Red Hat 7.1) and on an iBook 366 (Mac OS X 10.2.x).

    --


    Even superheroes once were losers
  10. Old Server List Sites by jgoeres · · Score: 1

    There used to be a site with an informal list of iCommune servers at some place or other (i-commune.kicks-ass.net comes to mind). I doubt those are still available, but have any others popped up yet?

    --
    Come play at the only online poker room with a Mac-native client
  11. Use w/iPod? by djupedal · · Score: 1
    Is it just my imagination, or could a person use the new release of iCommune to allow for iPod uploads from a computer that the iPod isn't authenticated for originally?

    Example:
    • iPod is owned by Bob and is normally sync'd with Bob's G4.
    • Mary sets up her TiBook with iCommune and serves her iTunes library.
    • Bob connects to Mary's library, and loads it into iTunes on his G4.
    • Bob then sync's his iPod with the list of songs from Mary's TiBook, thus effectively bypassing the standard iPod reluctance to sync with another computer.
    hmmmmm...for those of us with two or more computers, and only one iPod, this might come in handy, if it works.
    1. Re:Use w/iPod? by birdman666 · · Score: 1

      You can do this anyway. Just turn of autosyncing on both computers and choose which music you want to upload to the iPod. My brother and I do this all the time because his powerbook doesn't have enough space to hold all the music we own.

      --

      Nothing from nowhere I'm no one at all
    2. Re:Use w/iPod? by djupedal · · Score: 1

      You sure? When I try this, it says this iPod is registered to another computer/user, and if we move any music files at all, it deletes the ones that are already present on the iPod first....effectively wiping out the original archive and starting with a fresh set. I want to keep the ones that are already there, and add to them from my other computer (mix/match), without disturbing anything. I've never bothered to disable autosync, however.

    3. Re:Use w/iPod? by birdman666 · · Score: 1

      yes, i'm sure. but once you turn off autosync for an ipod you can't turn it back on without erasing the contents of any ipod that you synced while it was off.

      --

      Nothing from nowhere I'm no one at all
    4. Re:Use w/iPod? by djupedal · · Score: 1

      really? ...funny. Ok, thanks. I'll test moving files via an iCommune linked list tonight and see what kind of luck I have.

  12. works ok for me by djupedal · · Score: 1

    works for me....at least on my lan, between my G4 and airport equipped iBook. Works very well indeed. I need someone I can trust to try it from the internet, tho....

    1. Re:works ok for me by djupedal · · Score: 1

      This does indeed work over the internet. I just served up 3 days worth of songs, from Asia, to an individual in Portland, Oregon. No problem....thanks to the author!

  13. Talk about synchonicity... by Big+Sean+O · · Score: 1

    I was just looking at O'Reilly's Mac OS X Hacks in the book store after work today and they had a HOWTO on the Darwin Streaming Server.

    It appeared to be a real step-by-step run down. I might have to go back there and peruse it more thoroughly... Heck, mebbe I'll buy da ting...

    --
    My father is a blogger.