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."
Now we just need phpTunes/itms-4-all working again
by
cbrocious
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· 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.
What's The Point?
by
rsmith-mac
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· 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.
Re:What's The Point?
by
ItMustBeEsoteric
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· 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.
Re:What's The Point?
by
nathanh
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· 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.
"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.
iTunes is MOL-able (LinuxPPC users can run MacOS in a virtual session with full audio and networking).
Re:Hacking
by
Anonymous Coward
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· 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@
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.
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.
Why bother?
by
Anonymous Coward
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· 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?
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.
Re:Awesome!
by
Anonymous Coward
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· Score: 5, Funny
Bunch of rocket scientists, these guys.
Who peed in your kernel today?
Re:iTunes update benefits
by
TravisWatkins
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· 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."
Re:iTunes update benefits
by
TravisWatkins
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· 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."
Re:Now we just need phpTunes/itms-4-all working ag
by
cbrocious
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· 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.
Re:Is it just me
by
falcon5768
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· 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."
Re:How hard can it be?
by
Jon+Proesel
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· 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!
In other 'Just Becasue You Can' news...
by
Anonymous Coward
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· Score: 5, Funny
Install Garage Door with Cruise Missile Install votive candle with Forklift Install new batteries in Outer Space
Re:How hard can it be?
by
burns210
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· 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.
Re:How hard can it be?
by
Spolster
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· 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.
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.
If it was me....
by
Rick+Zeman
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· 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]
MS is NOT an investor in Apple
by
DavidinAla
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· 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.)
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.
Slashdot Mirror
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.
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.
"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?
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@
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.
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.
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?
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.
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."
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."
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.
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."
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!
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
Install Garage Door with Cruise Missile
Install votive candle with Forklift
Install new batteries in Outer Space
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.
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.
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.
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.
...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]
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.)
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.
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"