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Syncing Music Players In Linux?

Posted by kdawson on from the keeping-it-consistent dept.

Daengbo writes "I recently sold my old laptop to a friend, and she asked me to keep Ubuntu on it rather than installing Windows for her. To help her with the transition, I wrote two intro lessons for her, but we've hit a stumbling block. The iRivier Clix (4GB) she's been using syncs with Windows Media Player. My research shows that the model has both an MTP for the sync and a UMS mode which acts as a mass storage device. Rhythmbox's 'Scan Removable Media' doesn't pick up anything from the USB mass storage device, and although Syncropated claims to support these types of devices, it doesn't find any supported devices. Unless you use an iPod, this appears to be a real weak point in the Linux desktop. Do you sync your mass storage devices and music players? What do you use?"

5 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. What do you use? by Rik+Sweeney · · Score: 5, Informative

    Amarok

    --
    Summation 2
  2. I never liked the iRiver by bssteph · · Score: 5, Informative

    My experience with iRivers is a bit old (it's before there was a libmtp), but here goes.

    libmtp should work, in the normal "well, it's supposed to work" sense, (as listed at http://libmtp.sourceforge.net/index.php?page=compa tibility) but note I've never used that model. The sparse Syncropated page doesn't say if it actually *uses* libmtp, and in fact, I can't see any mention of MTP on their website; it only mentions mass storage.

    My iRiver required some incantation when turning on the device to put it into mass storage mode, I would assume this is still the case. I think you had to hold stop while turning it on, but it's been so long and it was so immediately frustrating that I've purged that experience from my brain. It could have been anything.

    Since this is an Ask article... I use an iAudio X5 (http://www.cowonglobal.com/product/product_X5_fea ture.php). The mother company is Korean, so the website and docs can be a bit funny with the English at times, but otherwise it's a great product. Rockbox (http://www.rockbox.org/) is a safe firmware replacement, and it also, well, rocks. In either firmware, the device is a simple mass storage device (with no funny business other than an obnoxious adapter necessary for USB), and KDE ([insert dig on Gnome]) picks it up immediately.

    For actually syncing, I'm a junkie for simplicity: I use rsync and a directory full of symlinks to the music I want.

  3. It's the Linux (tm) way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Write your own Driver you n00b!
    Seriously though.

  4. Re:Please -- Mount Man by wiggles · · Score: 5, Funny

    My thoughts exactly.

    It's obvious that this girl is interested -- otherwise, why else would she switch to Ubuntu?

    Advice to the geek who posted this: This is not about the OS or her mp3 player or whatever. This is about her wanting to get with you. That's why she kept Ubuntu, because she wants to show you she's open to the things you like. She could give a rat's ass what OS she uses otherwise.

    Go get some.

  5. Re:Please -- Mount Man by sYkSh0n3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Advice to the geek who posted this: This is not about the OS or her mp3 player or whatever. This is about her wanting to get with you. That's why she kept Ubuntu, because she wants to show you she's open to the things you like. She could give a rat's ass what OS she uses otherwise.

    Slashdot: Relationship advice from my mother's basement, next caller please.