Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Install iPod Update in Linux

Posted by pudge on from the dd-4-eva dept.

Espectr0 writes "Following the recent iTunes update, someone has been able to install the iPod update from Linux! The article explains how to hack the iPod's firmware in order to get it installed which is required to take advantage of new features in iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store."

162 comments

  1. Now we just need phpTunes/itms-4-all working again by cbrocious · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm working on reverse-engineering the new stuff...
    damn... they break it 4 days after I get purchasing working in phpTunes...

    --
    Disconnect and self-destruct, one bullet at a time.
  2. Hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Is illegal hacking really the best way to show our gratitude, after all of the great things Apple and its iPod have done for us?

    1. Re:Hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I paid hundreds of my hard earned dollars for this iPod. I will do whatever I damn well please with the software and hardware I rightfully have a right to use as I please@

    2. Re:Hacking by gid13 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Let's see... Users supporting a platform Mac hasn't bothered to... Could lead to more iPod sales... I'm going to go with yes.

    3. Re:Hacking by Quobobo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Hmm. So now updating your iPod from a non-mainstream OS is illegal?

    4. Re:Hacking by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The only way the hacking could be illegal would be if it were due to the DMCA somehow. The DMCA is a terrible, terrible act which never should have been signed into law. So yes, this is the best way to show our gratitude. Besides, it's not like we're hacking the firmware to run on something else (yet.)

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    5. Re:Hacking by DAldredge · · Score: 0, Troll

      I would think that the parent post being moded up 3 times shows just how broken and biased the moderating system on /. has become.

    6. Re:Hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is illegal hacking really the best way to show our gratitude, after all of the great things Apple and its iPod have done for us?

      By "us," I assume you mean "you." And by "you," I mean "not me."

      Because, damn, all I got was an iPod with a defective battery.

    7. Re:Hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      blame bill clinton for the dmca

    8. Re:Hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do you subscribe?

    9. Re:Hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      The fact that this got a modded as Insightful has caused my to remove Apple from my Slashdot profile.

      The story earlier today showed how easily Apple can change it DRM scheme which could potentially effect your entire music collection and thousands of dollars tied up in the hardware and music files and you are happy about it and actually justifing the action. Meanwhile completely oblivious to the fact that you have absolutely no control over what they decide to do and you have no choice but to accept it. If MS, the RIAA, TurboTax, or any one else for that matter did something like this, it would be the collective trend that it was a scary thing. Not with Apple though. I feel sorry for you guys/

    10. Re:Hacking by DAldredge · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      I don't. I biched about the subscription not being worth paying for because they didn't edit the site and someone gave me a sub, I guess to shut me up. :->

    11. Re:Hacking by modecx · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hmm. So now updating your iPod from a non-mainstream OS is illegal?

      Of course not! iPods update from MacOS, too!

      *ducks*

      --
      Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.
    12. Re:Hacking by goMac2500 · · Score: 1

      Sure you can... but.. why?

    13. Re:Hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      but never blame the republican congress for drafting and passing the bill!

    14. Re:Hacking by Powercntrl · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The story earlier today showed how easily Apple can change it DRM scheme which could potentially effect your entire music collection and thousands of dollars tied up in the hardware and music files and you are happy about it and actually justifing the action. Meanwhile completely oblivious to the fact that you have absolutely no control over what they decide to do and you have no choice but to accept it. If MS, the RIAA, TurboTax, or any one else for that matter did something like this, it would be the collective trend that it was a scary thing. Not with Apple though. I feel sorry for you guys/

      I couldn't agree more. I'm even willing to put my karma on the line to echo your sentiments.

      Hey Apple, my shit works fine right now!!! Maybe other people like to trust Apple with a new iTunes version AND new iPod firmware at the same time... I'm more of the mindset that if something isn't broken, messing with it will probably break it. I don't want the newest hottest version of iTunes & iPod firmware just because Apple says so. It brings nothing to the table that I need and could potentially introduce new problems.

      Then, there's the issue of DRM. I happen to own another MP3 player besides my iPod... Burning and re-ripping is slow and a pain in the ass. I had less than 19 songs before FairPlay - now I have over 150. It's funny how it seems more worth the $0.99 when I don't have to deal with DRM saying "No, you can't listen to tracks on your MuVo2 or laptop that still runs Windows98." This latest version of iTunes not only updates the DRM scheme so FairPlay no longer works, but it also reduces the number of unchanged playlist burns down to 7, from the original 10. Apple giveth, Apple taketh away.

      Fine, so don't upgrade, you say? I won't - and because of that fact, I can no longer make new purchases at the iTunes music store. Oh well, Pepsi's promotion is over anyway... Mark my words, it's all gonna be downhill from here... Do you honestly think $0.99 a track is going to last? If you believe that, I've got some "$9.99 albums" I'll sell you for $13.99.

      Apple can keep their update.

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    15. Re:Hacking by eclectro · · Score: 5, Funny

      Is illegal hacking really the best way to show our gratitude, after all of the great things Apple and its iPod have done for us?

      Please, Apple/Steve Jobs can not walk on water, part the seas, or turn water into beer.

      Only Linus Torvalds can do these things.

      --
      Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    16. Re:Hacking by mirko · · Score: 1

      When you bought the iPod, you knew you obviously would not be able to connect it o a Linux computer, but did buy it anyway so you are in a very questionable position.

      The hack is technically nice but it still require legal acceptance to be spreadable.

      --
      Trolling using another account since 2005.
    17. Re:Hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it is illegal under the US laws, it can still be used in other countries.

  3. easy and useful by quelrods · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is something that can help some linux users out. Though, it would appear if you have to use a windows computer to this in the first place you mine as well update your firmware that way. Perhaps use this method to backup your pre-existing firmware? I've not seen the .exe, can anyone tell me if it has an option to backup your old firmware?

    --
    :(){ :|:&};:
    1. Re:easy and useful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Forget getting it to run in Linux. I'm still waiting for it to work in BRITAIN. It seems my country isn't ready for the desktop.

    2. Re:easy and useful by Pope · · Score: 1

      Blame the record companies in Europe, not Apple.

      --
      It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
  4. What's The Point? by rsmith-mac · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't mean to undermine what the author did, but what's the point of being able to do so? I mean, you have to pull the Firmware from a Mac/Wintel machine in the first place, and even when you get it updated, you still can't actually use the iTunes Music Store on Linux to take advantage of any of the new features in the Firmware. It's a cool hack, but a useless one at that.

    1. Re:What's The Point? by Nuclear+Elephant · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You probably won't have to have a Windows machine come morning, just a good copy of xMule and an Internet connection. If it's this easy to update firmware from Linux, perhaps this will nudge Apple in the direction of releasing Linux images.

    2. Re:What's The Point? by ItMustBeEsoteric · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I can see a use or two for it. You have a firewire card, iPod, and no Windows. You want the latest firmware for whatever reason. Your friend has Windows, but no firewire card. You have him let you borrow his machine, get the firmware output, and then use your machine to put it on the iPod.

      I know, a bit of an exotic situation, but I can see it.

    3. Re:What's The Point? by sparrow_hawk · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Not so exotic. I had to take the FireWire card out of my box and put it in my sister's so I could install the update before this one, and though XP handled it fine, the hardware swap was a pain in the butt.

      This should make it much nicer whenever I get around to updating again.

    4. Re:What's The Point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can see a use or two for it. You have a firewire card, iPod, and no Windows. You want the latest firmware for whatever reason. Your friend has Windows, but no firewire card.

      But then you're totally gay, so it doesn't count, just like your Californian "marriage."

    5. Re:What's The Point? by nathanh · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I don't mean to undermine what the author did, but what's the point of being able to do so? I mean, you have to pull the Firmware from a Mac/Wintel machine in the first place, and even when you get it updated, you still can't actually use the iTunes Music Store on Linux to take advantage of any of the new features in the Firmware. It's a cool hack, but a useless one at that.

      It's not useless. It's another piece of the puzzle. This guy works out how to upload the firmware. Another guy worked out how to unlock his downloaded songs. Another guy worked out how to download and play the previews from the iTunes Music Store. Another guy worked out how to upload songs to his iPod. You highlight that obtaining the firmware requires Windows or MacOS. So that means getting the firmware purely with Linux is the next piece of the puzzle.

      You remind me a little bit of the people who said the same thing about Linux back in the early 90s. "It doesn't have SCSI". "It doesn't have networking". "What's the point, without the feature I need it's useless". Ok, maybe it was useless to them at that time. But Linux isn't useless now. You keep adding a piece at a time until the entire solution is there.

    6. Re:What's The Point? by sld126 · · Score: 0, Redundant

      You keep adding a piece at a time until the entire solution is there.

      For a jigsaw puzzle, this is great. For a useful operating system, not so much.
      Sure they're both pretty in the end, but it's the middle that both look like crap.

      --
      You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
    7. Re:What's The Point? by nathanh · · Score: 0, Flamebait
      For a jigsaw puzzle, this is great. For a useful operating system, not so much. Sure they're both pretty in the end, but it's the middle that both look like crap.

      You're seeing the glass as half empty. Adopt the more positive attitude. You're watching the development process. You are enjoying ringside seats where you can watch Linux (really GNOME, KDE, X, Ooo, ...) being created. So you see the mess, the clutter, the "crap" that goes into a development process. The same thing goes on at Microsoft and Apple, you just don't see it!

      You throw your hands up in disgust and go "I don't want that, I just want the final product". Well, sure, come back in 2-3 years time when the next release is ready. But the rest of us are happy that we can use whatever is ready today, rather than having to wait until it is completed. Because the reality is, even though it is half finished it most certainly is useful... at least to some people.

    8. Re:What's The Point? by MWelchUK · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Or just write some alternative firmware to make it work well with existing open protocols.

      Seriously, people have hacked arround with the Xbox, why not hack the iPod to play the file types (minus DRM) that geeks want (I.E. Ogg...). I know its difficult, It probably doesn't have a standard PC architecture, or mac architecture, but I bet it's got a known processor in it.

    9. Re:What's The Point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, people can run Linux on the iPod (the iPod uses 2 ARM7 cores iirc). Due to some memory issues, Tremor (the integer-only ogg vorbis decoder) currently only runs at 80% real time, but the folks on the vorbis dev list are optimistic about getting it to run, there just needs to be some optimization for the platform.

      There was a slashdot story about this a while back.

    10. Re:What's The Point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > The same thing goes on at Microsoft and Apple, you just don't see it!

      Sure you do. Remember Win 1.x-3.x / 9x? Remember OS X 10.0?

    11. Re:What's The Point? by OblongPlatypus · · Score: 3, Informative

      Possibly less exotic: VMWare won't recognize my firewire card, but it'll let me download and extract setup.exe just fine. Basically, there are tons of ways to get the firmware that don't involve using a computer that could do the actual update.

      I've actually already used this procedure, for the previous update: The exact same method has been described here for ages.

      --
      -- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
    12. Re:What's The Point? by OblongPlatypus · · Score: 0, Troll

      Steps 1-8 in the article describe how to get the firmware. There are tons of alternatives to those steps; all it takes is for someone to put the firmware on the net somewhere, or for you to borrow a friend's PC, or just have him email you the .exe file, ... and the list goes on. Personally I used VMWare to extract the file.

      As for iTunes; as others have mentioned, there are several improvements in this update that don't rely on iTunes. And this method will work for any past and future updates as well.

      --
      -- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
    13. Re:What's The Point? by Dot.Com.CEO · · Score: 1
      OR

      You take the ipod with you to your friend's house and you update the ipod there. Simpler, isn't it?

      --
      Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
    14. Re:What's The Point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wtf? how is this flamebait? moderator on crack, for sure. please metamod as unfair.

    15. Re:What's The Point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, sure, come back in 2-3 years time when the next release is ready.

      Maybe the iPod will work beautifully under Linux by then, maybe it won't. But it won't matter either way because in 3 years time there will be some new, better hardware that Linux developers will be futzing with to try and make work.

      I'm not against Linux by any means. I use it exclusively. But it still annoys me that all of the best supported hardware is years old. I know, I know - I *DO* blame the manufacturers. But when I have a real need/want for something *now*, playing the blame game doesn't really help.

      And I'm not a developer, I don't have any plans to be a developer - that wasn't the path I chose in life. So comments like "stop bitching and contribute some code" are just zealotic and narrow minded.

    16. Re:What's The Point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is precisely what scares me about the increasing commercialization of linux. It's becoming less about lots of people using their time and skills to contribute to a tool for everyone's free use, and more about how some corporations can make money off this great common tool.

      Someone please tell me that I'm wrong; I'd love to hear that.

  5. Well... by ItMustBeEsoteric · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "Compatibility with iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store" and this matter for linux, why? While I admit it's cool to be able to apply the update from Linux for the enhanced playback and for the ability to play Apple Loseless for the audiophiles out there, that doesn't seem like it would matter for those who are, you know, using their iPod with an OS that is unsupported in iTunes.

    Or am I clueless and is iTunes wine-able?

    1. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      for the enhanced playback and for the ability to play Apple Loseless for the audiophiles out there

      AAC is by no means lossless, as you say

    2. Re:Well... by ItMustBeEsoteric · · Score: 2, Informative

      No kidding. I was referring to the new, loseless codec called "Apple Lossless" which this adds support for.

    3. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rhythmbox supports the IPod. Also and I know this must seem shocking but not everyone who owns an Ipod uses the Itunes Store. Many people have no need for it and just want a good portable music player.

    4. Re:Well... by nathanh · · Score: 4, Informative
      Or am I clueless and is iTunes wine-able?

      iTunes is MOL-able (LinuxPPC users can run MacOS in a virtual session with full audio and networking).

    5. Re:Well... by Nailer · · Score: 3, Informative

      Or am I clueless and is iTunes wine-able?

      It works fine using any Linux web browser and PhpTunes

  6. iPod on linux by Stevyn · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wasn't the iPod and iTunes supposed to lure windows users over to apple? I'm not surprised apple hasn't been quick to do this themselves.

    1. Re:iPod on linux by System.out.println() · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Originally, maybe. Then Apple realized they could make a hefty profit off the iPod alone, and decided to use iTunes to lure people to the iPod instead. Which has been a lot more successful.

      --
      I've got more mod points and GMail invi
    2. Re:iPod on linux by sc00p18 · · Score: 1

      They don't need the iPod and iTunes to lure windows users, they've got Mac OS X for that :-)

  7. Why bother? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Steps 1 and 2 from the article are to download and install the windows version of the update first....if you have to download the windows version of the update to get this to work then why bother?

    Is the "Linux way" now to take more steps then you need to just to prove you can do something?

    1. Re:Why bother? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, that's always been the "linux way".

    2. Re:Why bother? by Deagol · · Score: 1
      I can't speak for iPod users, but Plextor has this annoying habbit of releasing Plexwriter firmware updates wrapped in a Windows-only installer (or at least I can't find the bare Opal_10x.bin files anywhere on their site.

      My solution? Fire up Win2k in a VMware session, d/l the installer, launch the installer, then snag the binary image from the Windows temp directory. I can then use the "pxupdate" utility from Joerg Schilling (the guy who writes cdrecord).

      I can't flash the firmware under VMWare, and Windows will not be allowed to boot natively on my PC anymore.

      I suspect that Linux-only iPod users could use a similar scenario using VMWare, Win4Lin, bochs, or maybe even wine to extract the update files.

      A major pita to be sure, but it still beats having a real install of Windows. Plus, as others have pointed out, those Windows-centric steps need only be taken once, then the necessary files can be spread far and wide on the 'net.

      --
      Method of processing duck feet
    3. Re:Why bother? by inquisitor · · Score: 1

      The European site seems to have bare firmware for most drives (excepting one DVD recorder as far as I can see). It even links to an updater program for the Amiga.

    4. Re:Why bother? by Deagol · · Score: 1

      Sweet! -- thanks for the link. Why the difference between the US and European sites? Maybe they feel us USians can't handle anything other than a GUI tool. :)

      --
      Method of processing duck feet
  8. Awesome! by Caiwyn · · Score: 5, Funny

    Woo, awesome! Now we can use Linux to load a firmware update that lets us take advantage of new features for iTunes! All that's missing is the ability to run iTunes on Linux!

    Bunch of rocket scientists, these guys.

    1. Re:Awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
      Bunch of rocket scientists, these guys.
      Who peed in your kernel today?
    2. Re:Awesome! by Turmio · · Score: 1

      The holy penguin, as usual.

  9. What we need by ikkonoishi · · Score: 1, Interesting

    What we need now is a torrent or a download for the clipped .bin file.

    1. Re:What we need by colinleroy · · Score: 1

      If I had an iPod, I wouldn't trust it and install it on the iPod.

      --
      blah
  10. Re:iTunes update benefits by Have+Blue · · Score: 2, Informative

    There's a way to access the iTunes store from Windows right here.

  11. Is it just me by JazzXP · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Or does it seem really dodgy just to hack the firmware for the OS... shouldn't Apple be doing this? It should be easy for them to do as there stuff is already BSD based anyway (isn't it?)

    1. Re:Is it just me by falcon5768 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And I will use the standard Windows user line given to mac users, why? there are more PC users than mac users so PC support was a eventual outcome, and it's Apple so mac support is a must, but why does Apple have to support Linux, especially when they might want to persuade linux users to Apple BECAUSE of the fact it has better support from companies but has unix underpinnings so you can still run your linux programs after a few tweeks

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

  12. Re:iTunes update benefits by TravisWatkins · · Score: 5, Informative

    Uh, you can access iTunes from Windows. They wrote a windows version a long time ago.

    --

    "But I'm still right here, giving blood and keeping faith. And I'm still right here."
  13. Re:iTunes update benefits by aacool · · Score: 2, Informative
    I should have been more specific - I meant I would like a way to access the iTunes store external to the iTunes player - i.e. from a browser, perhaps.

    Now, I know that iTunes is a free browser, and all, but I'd prefer to use other players perhaps, and not build up my library in two places

  14. Re:iTunes update benefits by TravisWatkins · · Score: 5, Informative

    phpTunes lets you access iTunes from a browser, although buying might not actually work since the upgrade. I'm out of cash so I can't test.

    --

    "But I'm still right here, giving blood and keeping faith. And I'm still right here."
  15. Re:iTunes update benefits by vonsneerderhooten · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not only that, but if he RTFA, he would've noticed that the hack involves using a Win2K or XP box to get the Binary for the firmware update.

  16. Re:iTunes update benefits by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i'm pretty sure he meant linux while i'm here...why would you need to use linux to install this firmware so you can use it w/ itunes/itms...because you can't use itunes in linux anyway....or am i missing the point ?

  17. Re:iTunes update benefits by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you can't play itunes music store songs in anything other than itunes or the ipod (without resorting to some DRM stripper, all of which now seem to be null and void). so what's the point in being able to browse from the web?

  18. Re:Now we just need phpTunes/itms-4-all working ag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    what the fuck good is purchasing protected AAC files when you can't play them?

  19. Re:Now we just need phpTunes/itms-4-all working ag by cbrocious · · Score: 5, Informative

    When the songs are bought, you're handed both the encryption key for the file, and your "account key" ... those can still be used with PlayFair or DeDRMS, given that you know how to create the key files properly.

    --
    Disconnect and self-destruct, one bullet at a time.
  20. How hard can it be? by Fiz+Ocelot · · Score: 1, Insightful
    If iTunes works in OSX, why is it they don't release a linux version? Can it really be more difficult than creating a windows version?

    I know they have some marketing sence, so why not?

    1. Re:How hard can it be? by Jon+Proesel · · Score: 5, Informative

      iTunes relies heavily on OS X libraries. The user interface, QuickTime playback, CD burning, ... the list goes on and on.

      If Apple would just release QuickTime for Linux, then we could really get the ball rolling. The GNUStep program is getting better by the day, so hopefully Apple could use that for the windowing.

      Here's to the collaboration of GNU coders and Apple!

      --

      --
      Using GNU/Linux - Windows-free zone!
    2. Re:How hard can it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      As a poster previously pointed out, itunes relies heavily upon OS X libraries. It seems that a lot of people have the misconception that it's not that hard. When you have a massive application such as itunes, converting graphical interfaces really sucks and is not that easy/worth it for a small user base. Some things, I imagine, wouldn't be that hard to replace with opensource libraries but then there would be DRM issues(RIAA would not be happy about easily hacked software). Plus compatibility would become a big issue from box to box. Apple probably could have a little bit better success using the windows code to port, but writing from scratch is probably the best option. The only problem is that the cost does not outweigh the profit. In fact, Apple would probably use money. Steve Jobs and his cronies aren't morons, they know that the linux user base if they are going to buy an ipod, will and they will find a way to use it(most wouldn't use itunes anyway). On the other hand, it makes sense to port it to windows, because most teenagers with affluent parents or just most users, won't deal with setting up ephpod; the windows users just won't buy it if it doesnt work.

    3. Re:How hard can it be? by burns210 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Apple spent X dollars and Y man-hours porting iTunes to Windows because they had data/figures/hopes that it would Generate A sales for iPods over a given time and B sales on the iTunes store... in a given ammount of time, Apple likely believed that A+B >= X+Y, so it would be profitable to spend the money and port to Windows... can that same calculation have the same result when porting to Linux? Honestly, I don't think so.

    4. Re:How hard can it be? by Spolster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Releasing a Linux version legitimises Linux, at least in the eyes of Apple, which is not something they want to do. Apple is competing with Linux for the No. 2 operating system place behind Windows and anything that helps Linux, hurts themselves. For people who are, or become, dissatisfied with Windows, there are basically two choices: Mac or Linux. (I'll admit I'm simplifying slightly so dont complain about me ommitting the *BSDs etc.) Why should Apple give users one less reason to choose the Mac over Linux by porting iTunes over to Linux. It would be like Nintendo porting Mario Kart: Double Dash to the Xbox, it would be one more reason to choose the Xbox over the Gamecube.
      With Windows it makes financial sense to port to that platform because of the huge user base, the same can't be said for Linux since the market is relatively small and actually porting iTunes to linux is non-trivial since all of the libraries that iTunes relies on (e.g. QuickTime) would need porting as well.

    5. Re:How hard can it be? by gremlins · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They could just get codeweavers to add in functions so they can just use the libaries they install, that way they don't have to offically support it but you can do it if you want

      --
      just because your a schizophrenic doesn't mean people arn't really out to get you
    6. Re:How hard can it be? by trouser · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If iTunes relies so heavily on OS X specific libraries then how do you explain the Windows version.

      The big problem with GNUStep is that it looks like shit. I've used it, it's great, all that Objective-C magic with all that NSFandanglery and NSThingamingywhattsit, but the GUI looks terrible.

      And the tools crash. A lot.

      Mind you XCode, man is that unstable lately.

      --
      Now wash your hands.
    7. Re:How hard can it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stop comparing apples and oranges damn it

    8. Re:How hard can it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > If Apple would just release QuickTime for Linux, then we could really get the ball rolling. The GNUStep program is getting better by the day, so hopefully Apple could use that for the windowing.

      > Here's to the collaboration of GNU coders and Apple!

      It is NOT in Apple's interest to do this, see the other post in this thread. Apple would much rather have Linux stay on the server and not improve much on the desktop. Ask yourself, what if someday GNUStep (or Gnome or whatever) + a new Xserver equals or surpasses Aqua + Quartz? 10 years ago nobody thought Linux would be compete with the commercial Unixes either.

    9. Re:How hard can it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      It's amazing how many people don't (want to?) see this very obvious fact. Somehow they think that because Apple also competes with MS or because Apples uses Open Source software, Apple and Linux are on the same side or something.

    10. Re:How hard can it be? by am+2k · · Score: 1
      If iTunes relies so heavily on OS X specific libraries then how do you explain the Windows version.

      It was easy to port iTunes, because the original version uses the Carbon API, which was mostly ported to Windows a while ago (under the name "QuickTime").

      Note that Apple has a Windows-port of Cocoa, too (called "Yellow Box", it's used by WebObjects).

    11. Re:How hard can it be? by zhenlin · · Score: 1

      Quicktime is an integral part of OS X and iTunes, and it has already been ported. The only thing left concievably would be the GUI, and if they could port the Quicktime GUI, they can port the iTunes GUI.

      GNUStep isn't aiming for the OS X look anyway... (Hint, OS X predecessor is OPENSTEP/NeXTSTEP)

    12. Re:How hard can it be? by matticus · · Score: 1

      Good analogy with nintendo and x-box and so on, but did anyone else notice the juxtaposition of microsoft and linux in this analogy? Quite unexpected. Like Apple is to Linux as Nintendo is to Microsoft. But wait, is Sony to Microsoft as Microsoft is to Linux? Is Aiwa to JVC as JVC is to Panasonic? This is heavy.

    13. Re:How hard can it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      >> Here's to the collaboration of GNU coders and Apple!

      Apple is not interested in helping Linux, and ESPECIALLY not the Gnu project. Reps from Apple and Microsoft met a couple years ago and the topic of the meeting was "Responding to the free software movement"....

      The idea both groups agreed upon was that free software (GPLed software that we can't use in proprietary products, as opposed to BSD-licensed apps, which are freely available "unofficial R & D") had to be slowed as much as possible, for our own survival, to protect our "way of life". Our plan of attack: Microsoft would actually put effort into making a functional system (which turned out to be 2000 and XP), and Apple would try to draw in as many Linux users as possible and get them on a proprietary system again... If you're using a closed source OS, you're statistically much more likely to release any software you write under a closed (non-GPL) license.

      Basically, Apple will NEVER help Linux unless it directly benefits Apple themselves (they will contribute to BSD or other licensed projects that they can draw code from later), and they are not out to steal Windows users as much as *nix users (believe it or not). Linux users are the primary target of OS X, although any Windows users who switch are icing on the cake. The logic being that if Apple can get half the Linux users to switch over, who are statistically large hardware purchasers (multiple computers), and influential in businesses (network admins, programmers, etc.), they can not only slow the advancement of free software, but get Apples into businesses, onto servers, and -- DOUBLE their market share. With a niche market share, Apple only has to plunder the growing Linux community in order to double their size.

      The ultimate goal is to kill the Free Software movements by draining it dry of developers, thus getting back to business as usual -- Apple vs. Microsoft. We were comfortable with that, everybody made money. Now we're both in danger of being wiped out by high-quality freeware that will soon be better than our commercial offerings.

      This is not a troll, but will likely be modded as such.

      Doctor Scooby
      http://slashdot.org/~doctorscooby

    14. Re:How hard can it be? by Delphiki · · Score: 1

      If this is, as you say, not a troll, then I've never seen anyone more deserving of a tinfoil hat prize.

      --

      Feel free to mod me "-1 - Angry Jerk".

  21. Re:Linux doesn't use .exe files by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    mono executables end with .exe

  22. Re:iTunes update benefits by NotAnotherReboot · · Score: 2, Informative

    No offense, but you clearly just skimmed the last article on iTunes and then regurgitated it and added a bit without actually knowing what you're talking about. A Windows version of iTunes has been out for quite some time.

  23. Re:iTunes update benefits by TravisWatkins · · Score: 1

    Probably because in a week or less playfair and DeDRMS will get a new version that does work.

    --

    "But I'm still right here, giving blood and keeping faith. And I'm still right here."
  24. Linux on iPod by goMac2500 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I still find it ironic that the only thing missing from Linux on iPod (http://ipodlinux.sourceforge.net/) is a Linux installer....

  25. Why we need iTunes for linux by dcstimm · · Score: 2, Interesting

    goodread

    --
    keanmarine.com
    1. Re:Why we need iTunes for linux by Single+GNU+Theory · · Score: 1

      The author of that page has a point, but I think it's a bit incomplete.

      Playfair (actually, this could apply to decss and other programs of that sort) doesn't necessarily exist because Apple didn't provide a way to play iTunes songs, but because someone else did find a way to do it.

      Sir Edmund Hillary didn't claim to climb Mt. Everest because no one else had done it, but because "it was there." (maybe the quote is apocryphal, I can't find a good reference at the moment, but you get the picture)

      Like programming perl: there's more than one way to do it.

      --
      Little Debian: America's #1 Snack Distro!
  26. Try...no. by JohnTheFisherman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They screw you over, you say thank you sir, may I have some more, and I'll write the program to do it with?

    Er....no thanks. I think the proper way to show gratitude is to buy a Rio Karma or other portable player that includes Linux software.

    --
    +5:offtopic,but anti-American
  27. In other 'Just Becasue You Can' news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Install Garage Door with Cruise Missile
    Install votive candle with Forklift
    Install new batteries in Outer Space

  28. Re:Install my fist into your anus by user+no.+590291 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Nope. We 'lunix" users already have the IP blocked with iptables, thank you very much. I hope you enjoyed the show.

  29. Re:Now we just need phpTunes/itms-4-all working ag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Care to share how to properly generate the key files so DeDRMS will work?

  30. Buy two! by dj245 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Get two ipods, so when some Anonymous Coward comes along and says, "well, yeah, but does it run linux?" You can poke his eye out with a sharp stick and then explain to him that the one with the new firmware which you updated from linux does not actually run linux but the other one sort of kind of runs linux command line it you log into it remotely...

    --
    Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
    1. Re:Buy two! by siliconoddity · · Score: 0

      Actually the new ipod-linux can play mp3s and has a gui on the ipod itsself. kthxbye.

    2. Re:Buy two! by bsd+troll · · Score: 0

      Wow! Linux is aways two steps ahead of the proprietary offerings.

    3. Re:Buy two! by illusion_2K · · Score: 3, Informative

      Why poke his eye out when you can make him see the light?

      Hint: iPods do run linux. Yay.

  31. If it was me.... by Rick+Zeman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...I'd have just updated it from the Windows box. I guess I'm not enough of a linux geek to want to do everything the hard way just to do it the hard way. [shakes head]

  32. MS is NOT an investor in Apple by DavidinAla · · Score: 4, Informative

    Please, please, please retire this worn-out piece of disinformation. As part of a much larger agreement nearly six years ago, MS paid millions of dollars for some preferred stock (which means non-voting stock) in Apple. When Apple's stock went up after the company started doing well, MS sold the stock a LONG time ago for a nice little profit. MS does NOT own any piece of Apple and NEVER had any ownership influence through ability to vote stock. (I won't go into the details of why the deal happened, but it was a combination of Apple wanting MS's public endorsement and MS wanting to settle some patent infringement claims that Apple was pursuing.)

    1. Re:MS is NOT an investor in Apple by sld126 · · Score: 2, Informative

      One minor nit because people always seem to think this as well:

      MS bought $150 million in preferred stock with this deal. They did NOT 'save' Apple with this cash as Apple had almost $4 billion in cash at the time.

      --
      You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
  33. No iTunes on Linux = Why do you need the new firm? by Anonymous+Freak · · Score: 1

    Exactly. Since iTunes isn't on Linux, why would you need to support the new iTunes features?

    Likewise, if you *DO* need the new iTunes features, then you must have a platform that can run iTunes (Mac or Win,) in which case, you have a method to install the firmware legitimately.

    I was going to post a first-level comment about this, but your ending remark just sums it all up perfectly.

    (For the record, yes, I *AM* a rocket scientist.)

    --
    Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
    The purpose of that site was not known.
  34. There's more in the firm than iTunes support... by Otto · · Score: 4, Informative

    It adds support for:

    -The "Grouping" fields in the iPod's Database (with regards to live updating smart playlists)
    -A new Smart Playlist field for referencing other playlists
    -Support for playing the new lossless compression format
    -Bugfixes with regards to live updating smart playlists that reverse their order for no obvious reason (I'm betting that's in there anyway)

    And probably other stuff that hasn't been found yet. There's not exactly a fountain of info on the new firmware yet.

    --
    - Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
    1. Re:There's more in the firm than iTunes support... by kiwioddBall · · Score: 1

      They fixed the reversing order smart playlist bug?? Man, that one bug has been annoying me so much on my iPod - I had seen no-one else complaining about it and thought it was only me!!

      Yay for Apple!!

    2. Re:There's more in the firm than iTunes support... by Otto · · Score: 1

      They fixed the reversing order smart playlist bug??

      Well, maybe. I haven't had my playlists get out of order since the new firmware, but then it always happened pretty randomly anyway. One can only hope.

      --
      - Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
  35. If you're running Linux . . . by levin · · Score: 2, Insightful

    required to take advantage of new features in iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store.

    Did I miss something? If you're running Linux in the first place, what do you care if your iPod can take advantage of the new features in iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store?

    --

    `which fortune`
  36. It's doubly pointless. by BillyBlaze · · Score: 2, Insightful
    to take advantage of new features in iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store.

    Ooh, I can't wait to take advantage of the new features! Like, PlayFair no longer works. Yay! I'll never have to boot Windows again. Unless I want to play my music. I can't wait.

  37. You got to give the title credit... by Thaidog · · Score: 3, Insightful

    For a second there I thought it was a hack for itunes on linux... but no... Update you fscking firmware on linux! Gee, that's just the thing to get everybody to switch to linux! You can update your firmware... on linux! There's 2 thing's that will never happen for 99% of everybody who owns an iPod... "wft is frimware?..."

    --

    ||| I still can't believe Parkay's not butter.

  38. I don't understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You people do realize that your tracks can be burned to CD-R and ripped back into .MP3 form, all without even leaving iTunes, right?

    If that level of DRM bothers you, you are heading for a long, boring life devoid of any form of popular entertainment.

    1. Re:I don't understand by Powercntrl · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You people do realize that your tracks can be burned to CD-R and ripped back into .MP3 form, all without even leaving iTunes, right?

      If that level of DRM bothers you, you are heading for a long, boring life devoid of any form of popular entertainment.

      So what you're saying is, instead of buying large chunks of music (Read: $$$ for Apple!) and converting them to a DRM-free format en masse while preserving the metadata, I should buy SMALLER amounts of music so it will be easier and less time consuming to convert by the burn/re-rip method? Despite the flamebait mods from ravenous Apple fanboys, I still would much rather purchase my music from iTMS than from AllOfMP3...

      Time will tell if FairPlay rides again.

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    2. Re:I don't understand by jkovach · · Score: 1

      Can you read? It says in the post you replied to:

      Burning and re-ripping is slow and a pain in the ass

      Yes, he does realize that tracks can be burned to CD-R and ripped back into MP3 form all without leaving iTunes. He doesn't find that an acceptable solution - probably because it's not a solution, it's a kludge.

    3. Re:I don't understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It may be a pain in the ass (Wow, two whole clicks), but it's also necessary as hell. Apple isn't exactly going to be enthusiastic when you come to them asking to re-download your purchased music after your next hard-disk crash. You're responsible for archiving the music you've purchased, and it just so happens that you can remove the DRM at the same time. Sounds good to me!

    4. Re:I don't understand by Nick+Harkin · · Score: 1

      I would have to suggest writing a script to do it automatically, but instead of burning to CDR, writing it to a virtual image, and ripping that.

      However, it need someone who can script better than me, by that I mean, at all.

      P.S, I still don't think this is an acceptable solution, but it could be good until one comes out.

  39. way to go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So some one spent the hours of time required to figure out how to hack into the iPod so that the iPod software update could be run from Linux, so the iPod could take advantage of features of the new version of iTunes... THAT DOESN'T RUN ON LINUX. Brilliant.

    Way to go guys. World hunger would be a solved problem if some one could only figure out how to harness the idle hands of people like you to work on something that is actually worthwhile.

  40. vmware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this lets you run the updater under vmware (which cant access your firewire card) and update the firmware under linux (which can)

  41. Re:iTunes update benefits by CoolCat · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm out of cash so I can't test.

    Dude! it's only 99c! :)

  42. And others? by divine_13 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How does it run on BSD systems? My guess would be pretty well, because of the fact that MacOS is based on BSD. Is that correct?

    1. Re:And others? by giraphe · · Score: 2, Informative

      No, as said here, it runs on OSX libraries.

    2. Re:And others? by duck_oil · · Score: 1, Informative

      Yah, OS X uses parts of FreeBSD. The kernal is the mach microkernal though, different than BSD. But the majority of the "guts" are 'BSD.

  43. Is this news? by ChronoWiz · · Score: 1

    iSlashpod
    iNews for iNerds. iStuff that matters.

    Or how about i. or /pod or i/.
    Maybe that'll be the next poll. And lemme guess, there wont be a CowboyNeal option either.

    1. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You iClod

  44. Re:Install my fist into your anus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    host file biznatch... change j00 ip to whatever you'd like.

  45. I don't own an by ChronoWiz · · Score: 1, Funny

    I don't own an iPod, you iClods!

    iFor one welcome my trendy new overlords!

  46. This isn't new... by sprouty76 · · Score: 1
    I've updated the firmware on my 2G iPod a few times now from Linux, this isn't really that new.

    The issue is getting hold of the firmware file, as other posters have said.

    --

    No, I don't want a free iPod

  47. Gender-specific. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    It's not useless. It's another piece of the puzzle. This guy works out how to upload the firmware. Another guy worked out how to unlock his downloaded songs. Another guy worked out how to download and play the previews from the iTunes Music Store. Another guy worked out how to upload songs to his iPod.
    With an attitude like that, no wonder IT has virtually no females involved, and why none of you have girlfriends...
  48. Firmware onto an original 5gb ipod??? by gareth6889 · · Score: 0

    i wonder if i tried this on my 5gb ipod it would work????? (playlists on the fly and whatever new feature firmware 2.x has)

    should i risk destroying my "little music player that could"??? :D

  49. Ad Infinitum by __aamkky7574 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is Slashdot destined to be be have endless pointless updates to this particular story ("Linux for iPod now supports a new font")? Why not come back when the damn thing actually does something useful?

    Pl.

  50. I'd be a good reason. by ebbomega · · Score: 2, Funny

    I went to their competition and have been singing the praises of the Karma ever since. I'm coercing a lot of friends that the iPod is overexpensive for the size, with less useful features and a few annoyances due to esthetics (I can feel around my karma blindly without accidentally skipping to the next track). Now I tell all my friends not to waste their money with Apple.

    And to think that all that happened simply because I was looking for something with decent linux support.

    --
    Karma: Non-Heinous
  51. Not as simple as all that by fdobbie · · Score: 1

    iTunes is a Carbon application, not a Cocoa one, so GNUstep won't help you one bit.

    Apple could of course only ever release it binary-only, as it has dependencies on third party code (just from reading iTunes about box, you see that it uses Gracenote's CDDB, ACELP, Audible, Dolby and Whitecap stuff).

    There are third party clones of QuickTime, the file format is pretty well documented. See OpenQuicktime. The main missing bits are codecs, but you're free to write your own for standards (MP3, hook in XviD for MPEG 4, yadda yadda) and bitch at the third party companies (Sorenson) to get them to release binaries of theirs.

    Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's not going to happen

  52. My God, this is nothing new! by ZackSchil · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is essentially what you do to get Linux on the iPod, only this guy isn't extracting the firmware and merging it with a Linux image, he's just extracting the Apple image from the firmware updater and using that. I wonder why he chose the Windows updater, the Mac updater contains a file called "Firmware" right in the application package's Resources folder, no hex editing involved.

  53. Re:How hard ...Apple FOR legitimacy of Linux! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, no, no: Apple is not against legitimizing Linux!

    Any progress for Linux, is all-good for Apple: it increases the mindshare of *Nix-world, which Apple now belongs to. Anything good for *nix is good for Apple. Some reasons:

    1. It's easy to port linux/unix apps to Mac machines, especially since Panther (X11 ships with it). Apple's already been the beneficiary of this, massively. (How long since you've seen those formerly ubiquitous 'number of Mac applications versus Windows apps available' claims?)

    2. A lot of cutting edge stuff happens in unix/linux, especially in tech/scientific fields, e.g. biotech. Especially lately the creative tech types are coming out with Linux backgrounds, not Windows. For (1), this can only be good for Apple, not so good for Windows.

    3. Even in a world with lots more linux boxes there'll always be a place for the Apple polish and fit-and-finish; some people prefer the whole enchilada, nicely prepackaged and ready to work on topic-of-choice, while others prefer (and know how) to roll-their-own. A company can have Linux boxes maintained by their in-house geeks and still want Macs for the front office. Or anyone without a geek of their own. But it still plays nice with Linux.

    Apple saw all this; that's why they *support* open source.

    Ack. Your claim is entirely off-base, even pernicious. Really. Consider:

    Microsoft would *love* for Linux users to think Apple is against Linux. Because, actually, the Linux and Apple world has a chance against Microsoft. Much stronger together, than apart. The different strengths of each (cheapness vs ease-of-use, etc), add up to a package of play-well-together options that is much more compelling against Windows than either alone.

    Now, whether all this means Apple should spend money creating a Linux iTunes, is a good question...

  54. Re:Now we just need phpTunes/itms-4-all working ag by nandhp · · Score: 2, Informative

    I managed to get iTMS-4-All working again. You just have to take out the call to wget and replace it with something like this. They seem to have started checking for extra headers that iTunes doesn't send.

    This worked for me (iTMS-4-All). YMMV.

    sub iTunesFetch {
    my ($searchStringSafe) = @_;
    my $sock = IO::Socket::INET->new('phobos.apple.com:80') or return '';
    binmode($sock);
    print $sock "GET /WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/com.apple.jingle.searc h.DirectAction/search?term=$searchStringSafe HTTP/1.1\r\nAccept-Language: en-us, en;q=0.50\r\nUser-Agent: iTunes/4.2 (Windows; U; Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4 (Build 1234)) DPI/96\r\nCookie: countryVerified=1\r\nAccept-Encoding: gzip, x-aes-cbc\r\nHost: phobos.apple.com\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n";
    my $rv = "";
    my $tmp;
    while (read($sock,$tmp,2560)) {
    $rv.=$tmp;
    }
    return $rv;
    }

  55. Re:Bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, the 100 or so songs I have playing in my car CD player that were bought from the iTunes Music Store and ripped to CD from within iTunes (yes, even in v.4.5) says you're wrong. The songs on those CDs can then be used on any MP3 playing portable music player.

    It's this new thing called "burning." Heard of it?
    http://www.apple.com/itunes/burn.html

  56. Possible use for this "hack" - Win4Lin by blixel · · Score: 1

    I run Win4Lin for my windows "needs". Unfortunately Win4Lin doesn't allow me to access my firewire ports. So I could use this guy's method ... fire up Windows under Win4Lin, download and run the setup.exe to get the updater.exe, then shutdown Win4Lin and hexedit the ~/win/Program Files/(Whatever)

    Though more likely I will just wait until I reboot into my real Windows session (whenever that will be) and update it from there. I have reservations about this guy's method ... it may be perfectly safe, but I lack the expertise to know for certain.

  57. Re:Now we just need phpTunes/itms-4-all working ag by cbrocious · · Score: 1

    You won't need to soon... once we get searching and all working again, you'll be given the option to download an already made DeDRMS key file.

    --
    Disconnect and self-destruct, one bullet at a time.
  58. Re:iTunes update benefits by cbrocious · · Score: 1

    You of all people should know I already have a semi-working (though in PHP... a _tad_ slow) version of DeDRMS with nice phpTunes integration :)

    --
    Disconnect and self-destruct, one bullet at a time.