Linux's iPod Generation Gap

An anonymous submittor says "Today's young generation can use Linux on the desktop provided it works with their iPod. Linux on the desktop still hasn't reached that stage and has to be compatible with multimedia applications like iTunes and iPod if it has to beat Microsoft's Windows dominance on the desktop. Open source gurus at LinuxWorld discuss solutions to make Linux more consumer-friendly."

Comments

I'm sorry, but fuck the iPod.

[Chas]

I have no use for an iPod. I don't walk around, needing to hear tunes all the time. I have a CD player in my car and an FM transmitter that plays MP3s from any USB-enabled device.

My job has me sitting in front of a computer all day, and I have an entire setup at home.

Additionally, I have exactly zero desire to watch video on a postage-stamp-sized screen.

And, if for some reason I DID, there's already tools available for it.

So please, all you iPod junkies, get a fucking detox.

__

Yeah, go ahead. Classify it a troll.

Make That Music Generation Gap

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Time to wake up. Audio on Linux is just as bad as gaming.

For starters, can you actually play the audio files everyones else takes for granted. No major distro supports mp3s by default. Just install it yourself!!!! Joy. Yeah, this is what I went to Linux for, the convienice of dependancy hell.

And if you thought mp3 support was hell, wait till you browse network shares brimloaded with the fruits of iTunes' labour. AAC and m4a files almost completely dominate collections ripped using the latest versions of iTunes. You want to install support for m4a by yourself? Word to the wise; set aside a weekend. Preferably a long one.

And as to the so called "Jukebox" apps like Amarok and Rhythmbox, dear gods trust me when I say you are better off with xmms and bash scripts. They crash. A Lot. Not only that but they rely almost completely on id3 tags, which sucks if your music collection happens to be anything other than ripped from personal CDs or very good quality rips.

You want to know what Amarok did to me? I decided to add the windows network share music folder to its collection. What did Amarok do? It found every playlist file and helpfully changed all the nice neat relative paths to absolute paths. Yes, that's right! Every single playlist files has entries that begin with /mnt. You should have been there when the rest of my family found out. Joyful memories. Thank you Amarok, you've really shown me the superiority of Linux music players!

If you want music on Linux, I'd recommend something like iTunes or Winamp over WINE or a VM, because the native apps aren't done cooking yet.

Re:Make That Music Generation Gap

[Dragoonmac]

Debian/Ubuntu makes it easy, I can play more formats than windows can before klites codec pack will even finish downloading on windows. I don't know why you are mounting a network share and allowing any media player write support.

(ubuntu users prefix all commands withy sudo, debian users, you should be root)
1. gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
  add deb "http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ breezy free non-free" to the very end
2. add "universe multiverse" to the end of the first two deb lines (usually deb http://us.ubuntu.archive.org/ ... )
3. save and close gedit
4. apt-get update
5. apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-multiverse gxine libxine-extracodecs w32codecs totem-xine libdvdcss2 wavepack gxine-plugin vlc
6. Totem and rythmbox can now play almost anything, you also have a vlc option if you want it.

compare that to windows
1. Get on google
2. Search for K-lite codec pack (if you're like me and know what you're looking for)
3. Find a safe site to download it from
4. download it (it was 17 megs last I checked)
5. install it...
6. hope you can (or have a friend who can) sort out the directshow codec hell you now have
7. install quicktime, realplayer (or their alternatives) and vlc
8. Sort out default media player hell
9. now you can play almost anything...

In conclusion, Linux is a little easier (in my opinion), and you need to stop trolling.

Actually, you just agreed.

[SeaFox]

The only way to have significant appeal is to offer something that the masses want, that Windows can't. Hint: rock-solid security is not something the masses *want*. Yet.

No, you're making it to case-specific. The only way to have significant appeal is to offer something that the masses want, that your competitor can't.

And guess what? The masses want iPod compatability. It's something Windows can offer, and Linux can't.

Re:I use my iPod with Linux

[hazah]

You are simply uninformed. Please refrain from forming an ignorant opinion, since you are not fooling anyone but yourself.