Filed under: iPod Family, Open Source
6th Gen iPods won't work with Linux, Winamp
There's no such thing as a 'naked iPod' -- at some point, if the iPod is going to be useful, it has to be paired with a computer to have music loaded (or, as noted in the comments, you'll be spending a LOT at the WiFi iTunes Store). Despite appearances, the set of iPod owners does not map exactly to the set of iTunes users; there are folks who prefer to manage their iPods via Winamp, Anapod or Ephpod on the Windows platform, and for Linux users (with no iTunes version at all) there are open-source apps and libraries like gtkpod/libgpod (libgpod is also the engine behind Senuti, the freeware reverse-iTunes tool). All of these utilities depend on an understanding of the iTunesDB file found on every iPod to be able to read out the list of songs on the device and manage them independently.
The landscape appears to have changed, however, with the release of the new iPods. According to a post on the iPodMinusiTunes blog, the iTunesDB file now contains a couple of encrypted hashes that validate the information in the music list; this 'fingerprints' the iPod/iTunes pairing and also prevents third-party apps from modifying the iTunesDB without access to the hash key. Those applications now may show '0 songs' if they try to copy songs to the iPod. Tools like Senuti, which only copy files FROM the iPod, continue to work (verified by Nik and his new Nano).
This change has unfortunate implications for those users who depended on the third-party apps to manage their iPods; until and unless the development community cracks the iTunesDB lock, the new gear will be inaccessible to anything but iTunes for management. At this point, we don't know that Apple modified iTunesDB specifically to foil non-iTunes utilities; there may be legitimate technical or infrastructure reasons (WiFi iTunes Store?) to make this change. Still, for the slice of the iPod market that depends on the extra-iTunes management capability, this is going to stifle any plans to upgrade to the latest and greatest until the software can catch up.
Thanks, Dave.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mr. Horse said 2:22PM on 9-15-2007
So, Apple gets a little bit more shizo..., mh - No, Sir - I don't like that.
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Christina Warren said 2:22PM on 9-15-2007
I'm hoping that the software won't take long to catch up -- I read that blog this morning and judging by some of the comments, it seems a little too early to be totally conclusive. I don't have a newer iPod/Nano/iTouch so I can't test anything myself - but assuming this DB change is difficult to work around, this is kind of a shitty move - and I really don't see how it benefits Apple AT ALL.
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A said 2:27PM on 9-15-2007
"There's no such thing as a 'naked iPod' -- at some point, if the iPod is going to be useful, it has to be paired with a computer to have music loaded."
That's not necessarily true, we now have the wireless iTunes store which allows an ipod to be loaded up w/o computer. :-)
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Andrew said 4:10PM on 9-15-2007
"That's not necessarily true, we now have the wireless iTunes store which allows an ipod to be loaded up w/o computer. :-)"
That's not entirely true though, is it? As I understand it the Touch has to be synced with your Mac in order to both get it to work in the first place, and certainly to transfer the settings of your apple account to order music on the Wi-Fi store, so you still need iTunes.
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alxndr said 3:32PM on 9-15-2007
If you can help crack the hash, visit freenode's #gtkpod.
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Paul said 3:34PM on 9-15-2007
The iPod's database has always been closed and proprietary. Apple has never publicly documented the database or ever supported third-party applications that use the iPod. This is the same attitude that Apple has with the iPhone. I've hacked the hell out of my iPhone and I fully expect the next firmware update to break everything.
The reason why Apple does this is so it has the freedom to change any arbitrary function or feature at will without being beholden to developers who have to rewrite everything to deal with the changes. Just look at all the bitching about the move to OS X and then the move to Intel. This is about Apple remaining flexible with its handhelds.
Here's the big reason why Apple isn't an illegal monopoly: If you don't like iTunes or the Ipod, then don't buy one. If you want to use a device in an unsupported or unauthorized way, don't get pissed when stuff breaks.
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eas said 3:36PM on 9-15-2007
What a bunch of customer-hostile crap. I have an iPhone, an iPod, use iTunes, and own some Apple stock, but this really pisses me off.
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Sia said 6:59PM on 9-17-2007
What an interesting PR approach. So instead of making things clear and easier for the users...
Don't they get it? Such actions only prepare the road for Google's inventions. Soon, but really soon... we'll get a gPod... ;)
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Maimon Mons said 4:41PM on 9-15-2007
I'm somewhat dismayed about the change in the configuration. If this is a small speedbump, I'm okay with it. If this is a deliberate attempt to push out non-iTunes users, that's a different story.
I use Ubuntu Linux. iTunes is not an option for me. Over the past two years, I convinced numerous friends and family to buy Apple hardware because it "just works". My father alone has bought over $5000 in Apple hardware over the past two years (including 2 iMacs, an iPod, and an iPhone).
I'm not sure what I will recommend in the future. Maybe Dell/Ubuntu?
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thethirdmoose said 4:23PM on 9-15-2007
this-is-why-iDon't
(use iPod, that is)
I don't understand people's fascination with overpriced, underspecced mp3 players? or with drm-encrusted, low-quality music downloads?
Archos is much better
1) 480*800 pixel screen
At 4.3 inches and 220 ppi, this is bigger than any ipod, and has a higher pixel density
2) Web browser
The opera browser - WITH FLASH!!! need I go any further with this one?
3) DivX,Xvid, and pretty much any other format. Unlike the iPod: MP3, AAC, and MOV.
4) Very good WiFi services
Use the archos as a server, or use it to browse your computers - even over the internet
5) Portable DVR
Record TV and watch it later. It outputs in up to 720p resolution
6) Works with a mac
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Michael Rose said 4:30PM on 9-15-2007
#8 -- you hit the nail on the head with the Archos: "bigger than any iPod." It's 20 mm thick (.75") and a completely different product category, pocket player vs. full-size PMP.
I don't see many iPod owners trading up, or over, for the Archos. It's a nice product but it's not the same market.
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William Beem said 4:50PM on 9-15-2007
Hell, I don't care. I'm one of those folks who uses the product as advertised. I like the integration of the iPod/iTunes/iTunes Store. While I'm currently bitching that iTunes hasn't downloaded one of the albums I purchased, that's the ONLY glitch I've ever had with the product line.
If someone wants to hack a closed system, then they have to roll with the punches. Apple builds its products to work as advertised. To expect anything else is just silly.
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Brian said 4:53PM on 9-15-2007
Backstage software for copying your iPod music to a computer still works
http://www.widgetfab.com
The article misses the true effect of the hashing - external programs can still read the iTunesDB, so iPod backup softwareis still possible.
The hashes remove the ability for 3rd party software to write to or modify the iTunesDB, so by extension they can no longer add and remove songs to the iPod itself. It is the iPod that shows 0 songs when programs such as Winamp are used instead of iTunes to add music to the iPod.
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Michael Rose said 5:35PM on 9-15-2007
Brian -- modified the post to clarify that it's writing, not reading, that's problematic.
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Likkie said 6:32PM on 9-15-2007
Sheesh get over it everybody. If its so important to you, get a compatible OS and run iTunes.
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FrankTheCrank said 7:42PM on 9-15-2007
I would love nothing more than to be able to play Shoutcast streams through my iPhone.
BTW, I'm so glad I picked up the 4GB iPhone at $299. I gave up 4GB of storage, but feel the iPhone is so much better than the Touch. Oh, and I don't have a 2 Year...I opted for GoPhone..which I will most likely kill soon.
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derek said 7:59PM on 9-15-2007
I'm going to get flamed for this but.. get over it! Don't use some unsupported OS with your iPod then complain that it doesn't work! Apple can do what they want, and you shouldn't buy an iPod product if it won't work with your computer!
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David Chartier said 8:17PM on 9-15-2007
I wonder if this is part of Apple's move towards subscription models for their products that we first saw with the iPhone. While they haven't admitted they're doing subscriptions for the rest of their products, they did say in their post-iPhone launch earnings call that more products would be transitioning to that model—maybe this is a drawback because of it.
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hessi said 8:32PM on 9-15-2007
I really would like to know the reason for this move.
Right now, I can't imagine any "legitimate" reason for something like this other than keeping users w/o iTunes from using their iPods.
Without knowing the background, this seems incredibly stupid and arbitrary. It certainly lowers my respect for Apple.
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Andrew Harrison said 9:11PM on 9-15-2007
so, after an update, unsupported software doesn't work anymore?
what's everyone up in arms about? Apple doesn't support the use of iPods or iTunes on linux, for whatever reason.
They can do whatever the hell they like with their software. If you're using software that's unsupported, get the devs of that software to fix it. It's not apple's problem, and frankly they've done absolutely nothing wrong.
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