iPod Touch in Linux [Archive]

Arisian

Nov 5, 2007, 08:17 AM

Howdy guys. So I have three OS's that I run right now. I've been using the Windows (gag) partition for the last month to get all my music onto the touch (don't worry, I have a mac laptop sitting right next to it.) Since I dload all of my movies and tv shows onto my windows desktop, I need to use it. However, I'm wanting to move back to using my Linux drive rather than winblows.

The only thing stopping me from doing that is that fact that, to my knowledge, there is no way to use your ipt in linux. Does anyone know if this has been accomplished or if there is work being done on it right now?

Thanks,
Arisian

evillageprowler

Nov 5, 2007, 09:50 AM

Arisian,

There are several tools available in Linux that you can use to sync an iPod. Just do a google search for "ipod sync linux" or something similar. I use Linux heavily at home, but almost exclusively as back-end machines to support PVR functions and general-purpose server functions. Consequently, I cannot tell you if any of the available software works well or not.

Whichever iPod sync'ing tool you try in Linux, be aware that you cannot use it to play protected files.

Good luck, and please post your experiences here...

EVP

Arisian

Nov 5, 2007, 10:11 AM

thanks for your response. I am familiar with syncing ipods to linux, however, the ipod touch is a different beast.

Xenogenesis

Nov 5, 2007, 01:58 PM

Arisian

Nov 5, 2007, 03:43 PM

You need to first Jailbreak your iPod Touch and install ssh on in (the same exact way you would with an iPhone). Install the latest SVN build of libgpod/gtkpod and sshfs, mount /var/root/Media on the iPod Touch to the directory of your choosing on your filesystem, and transfer away with GTKPod.

If you need more in depth instructions, Google is your friend.

Ok, everything that my friend Google has said is that this method, which I have been using in the past, doesnt work with the ipod touch since the itunes/ipod media db doesnt translate. Are you doing it this way or are you assuming that it will work with the ipod touch? Sorry, thats not a rude question, i just want to clarify here.

thanks,
Arisian

EDIT: also, I would just give it a try but im backing up alot of projects on my windows drive right now and would hate to move the drive and have it explode on me just to test the ipod touch out. beleive me, if you have had my luck with hds you would/will understand.

thanks again!

codingmonkey

Nov 5, 2007, 10:33 PM

Arisian, I have read something similar to what Xenogenesis said. I don't have an iPod Touch yet, and I can't find the post, but people were reporting that the method does work. There are still problems with it, eg. artwork does not sync, so I wouldn't recommend it for now. I'm probably going to have to use Windows to sync my music and movies onto the Touch, but I think I can using Linux to scp third party stuff like ebooks.

P.S. When using the sshfs, you can wirelessly sync music to your iPod Touch ;)

Xenogenesis

Nov 6, 2007, 02:37 AM

What the hell is going on.

ANYWAY, this method does in fact work (its how I use my iPod Touch with Linux). The iTunesDB thing is why you need an SVN build of libgpod; the current stable release doesnt support the checksumming that the iPhone and Touch use in their DBs. And also, cover art support has come a *long* way in only a week or so: you might even at this point be able to write the covers and ArtworkDB directly to the sshfs mounted iPod. If that doesnt work though (and if it doesnt work it will wipe your your ArtworkDB, so backup that directory first), the work-around I've been using is to keep a copy of the iPod Touch's directory structure on a local directory on my filesystem, use GTKPod to write to that, and *than* mount the iPod and copy the files over with cp -urv.

libgpod apparently has some problems correctly scaling the cover art if its less than 320x320px large (the covers will end up being one pixel to small in either dimension), and it doesnt center the coverart if its not square, but those are trivial to deal with.

Arisian

Nov 6, 2007, 07:57 AM

awesome, thanks for the responses. Ill be trying that as soon as I get everything backed up.

Thanks again.
Arisian

wow, i just noticed that response by that guy being a jerk was removed...

thats interesting.

linas

Dec 30, 2008, 06:26 PM

You need to first Jailbreak your iPod Touch

Any updates on this jailbreak hack? Its been a year+ since above post.

My kid just got one for Christmas, and it didn't work out of the box, insists that you connect it to iTunes first, stupidly blinking a USB logo at you. Well, we don't have Windows or Mac at home, and thus no iTunes. Took it to an Apple store "Genius Bar", where the "genius" unlocked the thing, and then started some inane argument about how great iTunes is. What a dork. Anyway, it now surfs the web just fine, plays youtube videos, etc. but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to download music onto the thing.

This thread suggests "jailbreaking", but other threads suggest that jailbreaking will void warranty. So:

1) Is there a non-warranty-voiding jailbreak now available?
2) Can I get someone at the Apple store Genuis bar to perform this for me?
3) Besides a jailbreak, are there any other alternatives?

This is like the most expensive gift my 13-year-old has ever gotten, and its been tears and strife and emotional breakdown with both kid and wife since then; my wife is taking this a lot harder than the kid, who sort of glumly holds out hope. This is far and away the suckiest Christmas present of all time, but I'm in this for the long haul, and want to make it right. So, (aside from installing a pirated copy of WinXP under VirtualBox to run #$%^ iTunes), what are the options?

aethelbert

Dec 30, 2008, 06:31 PM

Any updates on this jailbreak hack? Its been a year+ since above post.

My kid just got one for Christmas, and it didn't work out of the box, insists that you connect it to iTunes first, stupidly blinking a USB logo at you. Well, we don't have Windows or Mac at home, and thus no iTunes. Took it to an Apple store "Genius Bar", where the "genius" unlocked the thing, and then started some inane argument about how great iTunes is. What a dork. Anyway, it now surfs the web just fine, plays youtube videos, etc. but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to download music onto the thing.

This thread suggests "jailbreaking", but other threads suggest that jailbreaking will void warranty. So:

1) Is there a non-warranty-voiding jailbreak now available?
2) Can I get someone at the Apple store Genuis bar to perform this for me?
3) Besides a jailbreak, are there any other alternatives?

This is like the most expensive gift my 13-year-old has ever gotten, and its been tears and strife and emotional breakdown with both kid and wife since then; my wife is taking this a lot harder than the kid, who sort of glumly holds out hope. This is far and away the suckiest Christmas present of all time, but I'm in this for the long haul, and want to make it right. So, (aside from installing a pirated copy of WinXP under VirtualBox to run #$%^ iTunes), what are the options?
You have no options. I strongly suggest that you read the system requirements next time before purchasing an expensive device. On the package, it is very clear that it requires iTunes with Windows or mac OS. The thought into such an issue should have been happening before you bought it, not after.

linas

Dec 30, 2008, 09:23 PM

You have no options. I strongly suggest that you read the system requirements next time before purchasing an expensive device. On the package, it is very clear that it requires iTunes with Windows or mac OS. The thought into such an issue should have been happening before you bought it, not after.

Heh. A little out of touch with reality? These system requirements are nowhere advertised, nor printed on the box, nor posted on the shelf next to the product, nothing. The box is tiny, see-through, and shows the player device.THATS IT. The device is marketed as an mp3 player. It's been five days, and the thing hasn't played a damned tune yet. Where is a customer supposed to "read the system requirements"? At the Apple store? Have you actually *been* inside an Apple store? They're bleached white and sand-blasted glass and chrome on the inside. There are no signs. Certainly no signs warning users that, hey, the product might fail to function as advertised, or that you have to make warranty-voiding modifications to obtain the functionality that you paid a pretty penny for? Uhh, yeah.

From what I can tell, the thing is damaged by design, intentionally mis-engineered by Apple engineers to fail to function as advertised. What was also not clear at the time of purchase was the motive for this rather unpleasant experience. They are actually selling a vending machine, not a music player, and they want you to stick nickels and dimes into the damned app store to get the thing to work. As if $300 wasn't enough for the thing! WTF! I mean, yes, there's an economic crisis and Wall Street died and all, but all of a sudden Apple is so desperate to raise cash that it has to screw over their customers? That's inane! I'm still planning on plowing onward with this one, do the jailbreak thing if that's what it takes, but sheesh, I feel like a sucker. Does Apple seriously believe that they can sucker-punch their customers, and expect repeat purchases?

I mean, I know that Apple has hip marketing meant to attract hip people, and I'm uhh, kind-of not hip no more -- kind of just happens when you have kids. But I don't see how anyone who isn't totally hip-fetishized would put up with this B.S. I would have returned this by now, if my kid wasn't gaga nuts hypnotized by it. :apple:

aethelbert

Dec 30, 2008, 09:35 PM

<snip>
I bring to you: the back of the box. You can read the requirements if you're so inclined...

SnowLeopard2008

Dec 30, 2008, 09:56 PM

Heh. A little out of touch with reality? These system requirements are nowhere advertised, nor printed on the box, nor posted on the shelf next to the product, nothing. The box is tiny, see-through, and shows the player device.THATS IT. The device is marketed as an mp3 player. It's been five days, and the thing hasn't played a damned tune yet. Where is a customer supposed to "read the system requirements"? At the Apple store? Have you actually *been* inside an Apple store? They're bleached white and sand-blasted glass and chrome on the inside. There are no signs. Certainly no signs warning users that, hey, the product might fail to function as advertised, or that you have to make warranty-voiding modifications to obtain the functionality that you paid a pretty penny for? Uhh, yeah.

From what I can tell, the thing is damaged by design, intentionally mis-engineered by Apple engineers to fail to function as advertised. What was also not clear at the time of purchase was the motive for this rather unpleasant experience. They are actually selling a vending machine, not a music player, and they want you to stick nickels and dimes into the damned app store to get the thing to work. As if $300 wasn't enough for the thing! WTF! I mean, yes, there's an economic crisis and Wall Street died and all, but all of a sudden Apple is so desperate to raise cash that it has to screw over their customers? That's inane! I'm still planning on plowing onward with this one, do the jailbreak thing if that's what it takes, but sheesh, I feel like a sucker. Does Apple seriously believe that they can sucker-punch their customers, and expect repeat purchases?

I mean, I know that Apple has hip marketing meant to attract hip people, and I'm uhh, kind-of not hip no more -- kind of just happens when you have kids. But I don't see how anyone who isn't totally hip-fetishized would put up with this B.S. I would have returned this by now, if my kid wasn't gaga nuts hypnotized by it. :apple:

Not to burst your bubble, but MOST families for the sake of simplicity either use a Mac or a PC. I would never force a command-line driven OS onto my future 13 year old. It's your own fault for not reading the box. The post above me even showed you a picture. If not, go look at the back of your own box; assuming you didn't throw it away. Linux stinks rotten eggs, just like your observation skills (can't even bother to read the back of the box). No wonder you people use Linux. There's no serial number, which is usually located in the packaging. Everything is free/open source.

TwinCities Dan

Dec 30, 2008, 09:58 PM

Heh. A little out of touch with reality? These system requirements are nowhere advertised, nor printed on the box, nor posted on the shelf next to the product, nothing. The box is tiny, see-through, and shows the player device.THATS IT. The device is marketed as an mp3 player. It's been five days, and the thing hasn't played a damned tune yet. Where is a customer supposed to "read the system requirements"? At the Apple store? Have you actually *been* inside an Apple store? They're bleached white and sand-blasted glass and chrome on the inside. There are no signs. Certainly no signs warning users that, hey, the product might fail to function as advertised, or that you have to make warranty-voiding modifications to obtain the functionality that you paid a pretty penny for? Uhh, yeah.

From what I can tell, the thing is damaged by design, intentionally mis-engineered by Apple engineers to fail to function as advertised. What was also not clear at the time of purchase was the motive for this rather unpleasant experience. They are actually selling a vending machine, not a music player, and they want you to stick nickels and dimes into the damned app store to get the thing to work. As if $300 wasn't enough for the thing! WTF! I mean, yes, there's an economic crisis and Wall Street died and all, but all of a sudden Apple is so desperate to raise cash that it has to screw over their customers? That's inane! I'm still planning on plowing onward with this one, do the jailbreak thing if that's what it takes, but sheesh, I feel like a sucker. Does Apple seriously believe that they can sucker-punch their customers, and expect repeat purchases?

I mean, I know that Apple has hip marketing meant to attract hip people, and I'm uhh, kind-of not hip no more -- kind of just happens when you have kids. But I don't see how anyone who isn't totally hip-fetishized would put up with this B.S. I would have returned this by now, if my kid wasn't gaga nuts hypnotized by it. :apple:

Easy there! Before you shoot your mouth off about established users like akonradi helping YOU with YOUR problems, why don't you turn over that "tiny, see-through" box AND READ THE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS! :mad:

"the thing is damaged by design, intentionally mis-engineered by Apple engineers to fail to function as advertised."

Are you joking!?! It functions exactly as advertised, to be used in conjunction with iTunes software. The app store is a bonus to the touch, it is still an iPod. :rolleyes:

The only person to blame for this is YOU. YOU did not do any research about a large purchase, YOU did not ask any questions about iTunes or OS requirements, YOU did not even turn it over and READ the requirements. Attacking akonradi because YOU made a mistake is very immature. :mad:

EDIT: It seems I am not the only person who reads the system requirements before purchasing large items... :eek:

justan

Dec 30, 2008, 10:53 PM

Another thing to take notice of, you aint gonna be able to jailbreak that thing...You got a second gen and i wouldnt be expecting a jailbreak any time soon.

TheJut

Dec 31, 2008, 12:57 PM

I (finally) registered on MacRumors after a few months of reading. There is a non-jailbreaking solution to this problem, and it is less a solution and more a work around.

I have VirtualBox installed on my machine with Windows XP SP2 installed inside a VM. If you installed the VMTools functionality (or whatever its name is, I am on my iPod Touch at the moment ;)), you should be able to share your music folder under linux and mount it within Windows. You can enable USB support under VirtualBox and plug in your iPod Touch to sync it with iTunes installed inside the XP Virtual Machine.

And I agree with everyone else, you shouldn't be arguing with someone for offering a solution, or telling you to read the System Requirements.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM me if you have questions, although I may be unavailable on and off.

Posted from iPod Touch :p

linas

Jan 1, 2009, 05:04 PM

Not to burst your bubble, but MOST families for the sake of simplicity either use a Mac or a PC. I would never force a command-line driven OS onto my future 13 year old. It's your own fault for not reading the box. The post above me even showed you a picture. If not, go look at the back of your own box; assuming you didn't throw it away. Linux stinks rotten eggs, just like your observation skills (can't even bother to read the back of the box). No wonder you people use Linux. There's no serial number, which is usually located in the packaging. Everything is free/open source.

I don't want a relgious war about operating system choices, so please don't turn it into one. It is clear from your remarks that you have never actually spent any time using Linux (which is, in my opinion, light years better than Windows, and better than a Mac -- its easier to use, has a nicer/more elegant GUI, its faster, speedier, and has a broader selection of higher-quality software that is easier to install, etc. Oh, its cheaper too. And 13-year-olds (not just mine) think its one of the coolest things on this planet).

But that is a complete distraction from the FACT that Apple has saddled the beautiful, supremely elegant iPod Touch hardware with crippling software. It has taken what was designed to be a music player and turned it into a vending machine that urges you to pump nickels and dimes into the Apple app store to buy new trinkets as often as possible. In order to turn it into this cash machine, it made software design choices that crippled the product. They designed it, on purpose, to not work out of the box, so that users would be *forced* to install iTunes, and be *forced* to register at the App Store, in order to get a functioning, usable product. Don't try to imply that this is somehow "my fault" for "not reading the box"; it is not: it is very clearly Apple's esign choice, and Apple's fault. Don't try to imply that this has something to do with Linux, its not: it is Apple that made this choice.

Do you think that I am somehow unique in seeing through this bad design/marketing choice? If you do, you google "iPod jailbreak": there are about 2 million hits for this term -- there are millions of web pages where iPod customers are expressing their dissatisfaction with this terrible design choice. I can guarentee you that, of these two million expressions of unhappiness, that 99% of them are either Windows or Mac users. This has nothing at all to do with Linux.:apple:

TheJut

Jan 1, 2009, 06:16 PM

Alright so back to the task at hand, were you able to try the solution I posted, or did that not work for you?

Also, Linux fills a very small (but growing) niche of the general population. I hated it too, but then I started needing to use it for work and grew accustomed to it, and now I find Windows much harder to use, but thats just my 2 cents.

Cheers.

aethelbert

Jan 1, 2009, 06:25 PM

Alright so back to the task at hand, were you able to try the solution I posted, or did that not work for you?
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that it's a no-go.
So, (aside from installing a pirated copy of WinXP under VirtualBox to run #$%^ iTunes), what are the options?

TheJut

Jan 1, 2009, 06:41 PM

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that it's a no-go.

Wow. I feel like a retard now. I totally missed that when I was reading through.

Sorry everyone.

Macfanboy1963

Jan 1, 2009, 07:42 PM

Have you tried Songbird?

http://getsongbird.com/

iPod touch support:

http://wiki.songbirdnest.com/Docs/IPod_Device_Support

steviem

Jan 1, 2009, 07:46 PM

While I have a lot of faith in Songbird's potential, it still has the same problem as everything else that isn't iTunes.

It should work one day with iPod Touch/iPhone, but so far it doesn't.

Macfanboy1963

Jan 1, 2009, 07:59 PM

Installing LinuxMint into a virtual machine now on my mac and will try songbird with my iPod touch, will report back..

Also try itunes under linux..

http://www.linuxscrew.com/2008/12/15/use-itunes-in-linux-including-apple-music-store/

Will even try that if the first suggestion doesn't work....

Macfanboy1963

Jan 1, 2009, 08:56 PM

ipod touch will NOT work under songbird with ipod add-on.

iTunes under Linux doesn't recocnize the iPod touch either....

I would try virtualbox with a 'copy' of XP.

eddmond

Jan 2, 2009, 01:13 PM

Linas,

I, too recently bought my son (12-years old) an iPod Touch for Christmas. It's his favorite gift ever! I have owned an older iPod Touch for a while. On the main computer in the house I run Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex). I have been searching for a solution to the "iPod Touch" problem for a while now. The most promising thing I have found is this link:

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/03/04/itunes-syncing-now-works-in-linux-with-wine/

I had jailbroken my iPod Touch, but I "un-jailbroke" it when I upgraded to take advantage of the new apps store. As for my son, I simply set up an old windows computer (running XP) for him to sync with. Until I work through an easy set up on Ubuntu, this was the least stressful solution. I imagine that Banshee or Rhythmbox will eventually support the iPhone and iPod Touch (I use these with the older iPods I have). Perhaps you can find an old computer nerd like myself with a lot of older machines lying around, to give you one, or buy a laptop cheap on e-bay. For myself, I had an old Dell Inspiron where the Display had died - I just hooked an external monitor and keyboard to it and use it to sync my iPod touch (I have it wirelessly networked, so I can easily transfer songs from my Ubuntu box).
To quickly alleviate "familial stress" I would suggest that you get music onto you son's iPod as quickly as possible: put his music collection on a flash drive, find a windows computer with iTunes (friend?, library?, computer store?), plug in the flash drive, iPod, and just manually move all the music onto the iPod. Then, at least he has something to listen to until we solve the ITouch on Linux problem :)
I put my son's music collection, some videos, some apps, a movie on the iPod and fully charged the thing before I gift-wrapped it (I also had the old windows PC ready). (By the way, there's no problem at all using the Linux machine to charge the iPod).
To get back on subject, I'm thinking another solution may be to see if Touchcopy (http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/) will run under WINE...

later,
edd

paco525

Jan 3, 2009, 05:27 PM

1.- Yes, you have to jailbreak your iphone/ipod ....there is a really nice app to do this painless.... on windows or mac : http://download.ziphone.org/
You can unjailbreak it with this app............
2.-Of course, ubuntu guys figured out this...
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PortableDevices/iPhone
I have an ipod touch with a 1.x firmwire and an iphone 2.x firmwire........ works with both...
3.-Why we use linux :
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/shouldbefree.html

aethelbert

Jan 3, 2009, 05:31 PM

1.- Yes, you have to jailbreak your iphone/ipod .... <snip>
That's the problem... it cannot be done.

JoeDuncan

Jan 4, 2009, 08:14 PM

That's the problem... it cannot be done.

Actually, that's not true. The newest firmware (2.2) has been jailbroken almost since it came out in November:

http://www.installerapps.com/2008/11/21/jailbreak-22-iphone-and-ipod-touch/

The only issue is that you need either a Mac or a PC to do the jailbreaking. After that there are a number of Linux tools you can use for syncing/transferring. I hear GTKPod is the best.

boast

Jan 4, 2009, 09:21 PM

this is just an idea, but, you can try finding a way to mounting the ipod on linux (http://matt.colyer.name/projects/iphone-linux/index.php?title=Main_Page) and then using something like pwnplayer (http://www.pwnplayer.com/?page_id=6) to play the mp3's you would place on the mounted folder.

:confused:

aethelbert

Jan 4, 2009, 09:23 PM

Actually, that's not true. The newest firmware (2.2) has been jailbroken almost since it came out in November:

http://www.installerapps.com/2008/11/21/jailbreak-22-iphone-and-ipod-touch/

The only issue is that you need either a Mac or a PC to do the jailbreaking. After that there are a number of Linux tools you can use for syncing/transferring. I hear GTKPod is the best.
If you'd have rounded comprehension of the issue at hand here, you'd realize that he cannot modify the software because it isn't supported on the current revision of the iPod due to hardware issues.

Omni-Tom

Jan 15, 2009, 10:30 PM

Hi , was taking a quick read and noticed this thread. Also a Linux user and just got a touch , late Christmas Gift.

K not sure on jailbreak but found some interesting vids on youtube.

As for access tried out a free app called Orb for file access from your computer to the touch. Last I checked today they stated a Linux version comming soon.

Also read somewhere that soon you might not have to jail break it but rumors are rumors.

cheers

goosnarrggh

Jan 16, 2009, 08:40 AM

According to WineHQ, iTunes 8.0.2 has a "Silver" support level under current releases of Wine. (Silver support is categorized as "Applications with minor issues that do not affect typical usage".)

http://appdb.winehq.org/appview.php?iAppId=1347

Perhaps that is an appropriate alternative?

(Edit: Sorry, I just noticed that Wine was already mentioned previously, and apparently seamless iPod synching isn't considered a "typical usage" of iTunes... That's weird, because personally the only time I ever run iTunes is when I want to do something with my iPod.)

cyberey66

Jun 3, 2009, 11:27 AM

I came across this threading searching if there are any updates with Linux and the iPod touch. There are way to many mac fanatics posting false propaganda.

I used to use OS X, I think its a great OS and Apple's laptops and music players are top notch. It's at the point now though where Debian/Ubuntu are just as good if not better in some areas (installing new apps and the OS itself, customizing desktop). It's as easy to install as putting in a CD and clicking next for the great majority of computers.

For music players, Apple is still by far the best in my opinion, and there are many Linux users that agree. The iPod touch works well in Linux. I can watch videos, sync music and pictures.

For syncing I use GTKpod and for connecting, I use this program called itunnel.

Here is some info,

jailbreaking via virtualbox
http://www.squidoo.com/iPod-Jailbreak-via-VirtualBox

syncing
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PortableDevices/iPhone

I might just make a tutorial on how to sync with a cable. It would help a lot of people it seems.

dserebren

Jul 21, 2009, 09:08 AM

[QUOTE=TwinCities Dan;6841934]Easy there! Before you shoot your mouth off about established users like akonradi helping YOU with YOUR problems, why don't you turn over that "tiny, see-through" box AND READ THE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS! :mad:
/QUOTE]

Hey, come on. Yes, the guy was being somewhat unreasonable, but then again, how many MP3 players say they "support Linux" on their box? Yet most of them do. Same with the rest of the hardware out there. How is one to know ahead of time?

(Yes, that's what Google is for, but that's beside the point.)

GroovyLinuxGuy

Jul 21, 2009, 09:28 AM

I don't want a relgious war about operating system choices, so please don't turn it into one. It is clear from your remarks that you have never actually spent any time using Linux (which is, in my opinion, light years better than Windows, and better than a Mac -- its easier to use, has a nicer/more elegant GUI, its faster, speedier, and has a broader selection of higher-quality software that is easier to install, etc. Oh, its cheaper too. And 13-year-olds (not just mine) think its one of the coolest things on this planet).

But that is a complete distraction from the FACT that Apple has saddled the beautiful, supremely elegant iPod Touch hardware with crippling software. It has taken what was designed to be a music player and turned it into a vending machine that urges you to pump nickels and dimes into the Apple app store to buy new trinkets as often as possible. In order to turn it into this cash machine, it made software design choices that crippled the product. They designed it, on purpose, to not work out of the box, so that users would be *forced* to install iTunes, and be *forced* to register at the App Store, in order to get a functioning, usable product. Don't try to imply that this is somehow "my fault" for "not reading the box"; it is not: it is very clearly Apple's esign choice, and Apple's fault. Don't try to imply that this has something to do with Linux, its not: it is Apple that made this choice.

Ouch...It is your fault. You didn't read the box. Linux in all its glory doesn't work with everything. I bought an iPod, I use it on my Mac because it is meant to be used with iTunes. The fact that it may be able to work on linux is a bonus, but I sure don't expect it to work. The iTunes market is Mac and Windows based. If they ever build a linux port of iTunes, I'll be the first to get it. Until then, I won't whine and complain that the iPod is broken or that there is any fault from Apple. It works the way THEY intended. If you don't like the fact that it is not working the way you would like it you probably should have just bought a generic mp3 player that you can mount like an external storage device.

It is posts like yours that make it an embarrassment to say I use linux. Get off your (not so) high horse and join reality. Linux is a great OS, but not everyone supports it. Get it? Got it? Good.

I would like to apologize to everyone here on behalf of legitimate linux users. We are not all zealots. Every OS has it's place, some better than others yes, but all have their place.

Cheers!

ComputerEntity

Oct 18, 2009, 03:06 AM

Linux stinks rotten eggs, just like your observation skills (can't even bother to read the back of the box). No wonder you people use Linux. There's no serial number, which is usually located in the packaging. Everything is free/open source.

Hey SnowLeopard2008 THERE'S NO REASON TO BE A D*CKHEAD ABOUT THIS. You say that Linux stinks rotten eggs. Then Google stinks rotten eggs. Google uses Linux servers. Most servers use linux. It's d*cks like you that keep society from advancing. I don't care I'm not forcing Linux on you. You don't need to bash a perfectly good, open source operating system, that's probably better than most propriety operating systems. All I'm saying is, you don't need to insult all of us that use Linux.

Linux stinks rotten eggs, just like your observation skills (can't even bother to read the back of the box). No wonder you people use Linux.

Good Day to You,
CompEnt

thehypnotist

Dec 27, 2009, 07:06 PM

Okay, so..

I just got a new 32gb ipod touch, I knew it wouldn't play nice with linux so I haven't yet opened the packaging; now it is time to do some research..

How are things now on this platform?

mmulin

Dec 27, 2009, 10:25 PM

From what I can tell, the thing is damaged by design, intentionally mis-engineered by Apple engineers to fail to function as advertised. What was also not clear at the time of purchase was the motive for this rather unpleasant experience. They are actually selling a vending machine, not a music player, and they want you to stick nickels and dimes into the damned app store to get the thing to work. As if $300 wasn't enough for the thing! WTF! I mean, yes, there's an economic crisis and Wall Street died and all, but all of a sudden Apple is so desperate to raise cash that it has to screw over their customers? That's inane! I'm still planning on plowing onward with this one, do the jailbreak thing if that's what it takes, but sheesh, I feel like a sucker. Does Apple seriously believe that they can sucker-punch their customers, and expect repeat purchases?

Look, I feel with you but Apple has been selling iPods since 2001 and they always required iTunes. In the past it might have been easier to sync/ access the database inside the iPod but it was never intended by Apple. IMHO, I am a bit surprised that you weren't aware of the fact nor do the savvy thing any longtime Linux user knows to do when buying peripherals etc - and anyone should do anyway. Check the requirements or at least try to make some educational research beforehand. If the money spent does hurt the budget somewhat, even more so. Really sorry this happened to you and I wish you good luck that soon someone cracks the recent pod DB and you can use it with the old Linux apps.

flopticalcube

Dec 27, 2009, 10:31 PM

Okay, so..

I just got a new 32gb ipod touch, I knew it wouldn't play nice with linux so I haven't yet opened the packaging; now it is time to do some research..

How are things now on this platform?
I think iTunes 9.0.2 runs under Wine at Silver level. The only other "solution" I can think of is a copy of XP and Virtual Box.

Kbattista

Dec 28, 2009, 09:10 AM

I don't want a relgious war about operating system choices, so please don't turn it into one. It is clear from your remarks that you have never actually spent any time using Linux (which is, in my opinion, light years better than Windows, and better than a Mac -- its easier to use, has a nicer/more elegant GUI, its faster, speedier, and has a broader selection of higher-quality software that is easier to install, etc. Oh, its cheaper too. And 13-year-olds (not just mine) think its one of the coolest things on this planet).

But that is a complete distraction from the FACT that Apple has saddled the beautiful, supremely elegant iPod Touch hardware with crippling software. It has taken what was designed to be a music player and turned it into a vending machine that urges you to pump nickels and dimes into the Apple app store to buy new trinkets as often as possible. In order to turn it into this cash machine, it made software design choices that crippled the product. They designed it, on purpose, to not work out of the box, so that users would be *forced* to install iTunes, and be *forced* to register at the App Store, in order to get a functioning, usable product. Don't try to imply that this is somehow "my fault" for "not reading the box"; it is not: it is very clearly Apple's esign choice, and Apple's fault. Don't try to imply that this has something to do with Linux, its not: it is Apple that made this choice.

Do you think that I am somehow unique in seeing through this bad design/marketing choice? If you do, you google "iPod jailbreak": there are about 2 million hits for this term -- there are millions of web pages where iPod customers are expressing their dissatisfaction with this terrible design choice. I can guarentee you that, of these two million expressions of unhappiness, that 99% of them are either Windows or Mac users. This has nothing at all to do with Linux.:apple:

Le sigh.

It is no secret that iPods require iTunes. My 14 year old sister could have told you that. All you have to do is read the box or, you know, open google and do a quick search before you plunked down $300 or go to an Apple store and just ask before you make the purchase. You are an adult, it is your fault that you did not look into system requirements beforehand. I would never spend that much money without proper research. You claim this is Apple's fault, yet everyone here seems to know how to get their iTouch to function yet you did not ask this question before you wasted your money and ruined your son's Christmas.

I really really hate when people can't take responsibility for their own actions. The internet is a great tool for consumers, I think I have literally saved myself hundreds of dollars just by googling reviews for products I wanted to purchase that turned out to be not worth the money.

This isn't a mac vs. linux issue. This is an issue of being an informed buyer, plain and simple.:mad:

TraceyS/FL

Dec 28, 2009, 09:17 AM

FYI, when you reply - realize that *most* of the thread is a year old.

What is funny is that i remember reading this thread last year - and I didn't even have my Touch yet! LOL!!

Which doesn't change the issue.... the requirements are on the box, don't blame Apple if it doesn't work on something else.

goosnarrggh

Jan 4, 2010, 09:12 AM

For what it's worth, there is progress being made. Most regular iPods have already been unleashed from iTunes, and work is ongoing for the iPhone and iPod touch too. Initial success has been reported, even on iPhones (and therefore iPod touches) that aren't jailbroken.

http://gtkpod.wikispaces.com/FAQ#iphonesync

It's all being done by volunteer labour without any help from Apple. (And in all reality, there is no reason why we should expect Apple to offer such help.) As such, there is no official recourse for support if things go wrong.

Hardwired

Feb 12, 2010, 12:04 AM

I've really gotta laugh at a lot of this thread guys... Sure, the OP might be at fault for expecting the ipod to work in linux, but the few of ya that jump on the fanboi wagon against *nix is totally hilarious considering Mac stole a freebsd core. Guess what kind of OS that is... here's a clue.... Apple didn't have any hand in making it... =P Anyhow, yeah, Ipod Touch doesn't work in linux, and Apple isn't gonna make itunes for freebsd either, so go back to supporting Creative Labs, at least you'll be working with a company that's done nothing BUT sound devices for the past few decades. They spend their money on product instead of marketing, so the mac guys probably haven't heard of 'em. I own an ipod, I like a few features, but there's comparative devices and some that even 1-up the ipod that are cheaper and will work with linux, windoze, and even mac (or should we call it freebsd with a pretty apple fanboi gui now?) If you wanna wait this out, good luck to ya =D

jtmx29

Feb 12, 2010, 12:13 AM

Hardwired

Feb 12, 2010, 12:18 AM

Technically Apple didn't steal a BSD core. BSD UNIX was available at large and open source correct?

just my bad rant wording, lol! still, mac isn't free and clear when it comes to the mac vs. *nix wars. They're the same damn thing now at the base of it all, so nobody should be getting fanboi unless they're yelling at some poor windows user =P hehe

Newskool

Mar 12, 2010, 01:20 AM

syam

Apr 6, 2010, 09:29 AM

Okay, simply, i know this is an old thread, answers have been given, the word has been spread, there has been both mac and linux bashing. the basics of it is my friends with an ipod touch. You have two basic options:

A) Purchase Windows, or a Mac, get itunes, pay for your music, download it properly, and play nice with the big boys. If you use linux, just make a small partition and simply reboot to windows / mac to do your music.

B) Completely bypass the headache, pirate xp or vista or 7 (they are there) dont register, or even go online with it. Partition it to small corner on your harddrive, download all your music on linux, put it on a flash drive (which will work on both OS's) and a setup for itunes, reboot to windows, install itunes, and from than on just reboot to move music from one hard, to the itouch on the OS, via flash drive. I know damn well illegal, but after 225 dollars for an itouch, im not buying a 150 dollar OS that has security limitations, and for the people squashing linux, yes it uses commmand line, but it does everything your OS does, and more.....for free.
gtkpod with latest libgpod4 library works fine in Linux. You don't need those 'illegal' Windoze or Mac's iTunes!
I came across this thread accidentally and found that several people rate Apple's decision to control iPad and its cousins by providing a totally closed software as something great! iPod and its cousins implement nothing but standard USB storage to store music and other files. They just tried to make it proprietary to make life of others more difficult. I can not see it as any innovation. By making it normal USB storage without those clumsy encrypted checksums, they could have made an open product and everyone would have loved it.

amsk1982

Sep 26, 2010, 10:31 AM

At the end of the day syncing these devices should only involve copying files and updating some noddy database. The problem is that Apple want to force people to use iTunes so they can maximise the sales of music via their store. The iPod is now the only portable music player on the market that doesn't use an open standard for syncing with mobile music devices; I think it is understandable these days why a customer would expect such a simple device to "just work" anywhere. Its a shame that such a great company as Apple don't seem to want to play ball with the rest of the industry.

However Ubuntu Linux now claims to support the iPod touch -- has anyone tried this? I don't have linux at the moment so I can't verify.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PortableDevices/iPhone

HappyWifey

Oct 8, 2010, 04:41 PM

So I am guessing that there still isn't any new non jailbreaking alternatives? I just installed iTunes through PlayonLinux (a wine... something sorry I am just your average computer user who chose Linux because it's the only thing that will work at a reasonable speed on my eeepc. :) ) but it won't recognize my iPod Touch still. :P I was really hoping that it would. :(

Because of the size of my memory I can't do partitions. I will be able to buy more probably in a couple months or so. I haven't been able to update my iPod Touch for nearly a year now and it is frustrating because it's not updated to the newest version of software so I can't download hardly any new programs for it.

My parents have windows on their computers that I could use but because they don't have the latest and greatest versions of Windows (which they have Vista and XP so I don't understand the big fuss :P) iTunes won't work on their computers. I have been told that an older version of iTunes should work, but haven't gotten around to it yet. *sigh* :P.

So I am posting hoping that something new has occurred recently allowing me to use my Eeepc to update and sync my touch.

HappyWifey

Oct 8, 2010, 04:51 PM