Updated - the protection has been reversed!
So, it's finally happened. Unhappy with other media players being better than iTunes, Apple have apparently decided to stop them from working with the new range of iPods.
Who does this affect?
This affects Linux users - there's no iTunes for Linux, so popular Linux iPod management tools like gtkpod and Rhythmbox will not work with the new range of iPods.
Windows users who just plain don't like iTunes and perfer an alternative like Winamp, Ephpod or many of the other iPod management applications out there.
How?
The iPod keeps track of the songs and playlists in your iPod with a database file - the iTunesDB, found in the iPod_Control/iTunes/ hidden folder on the iPod.
Back in the early days of the iPod, the format of this file was quickly reverse-engineered by people who wanted to use iPods without iTunes. This was more important back then because iTunes only existed on the Mac, so Windows users were stuck with Real Player (which was just awful), and Linux users had exactly nothing.
The format of this file has evolved over the years as the iPod added support for video, podcasts, album artwork, smart playlists etcetera. The basic structure of the file has always remained the same, so these changes were easy enough for us to work out and keep up to date with.
With the release of the new range of iPods - the new Nano, the iPod Classic and the iPod Touch, we were expecting more of the same - a few tweaks here and there and everything would be fine. No so.
At the very start of the database, a couple of what appear to be SHA1 hashes have been inserted which appear to lock the iTunes database to one particular iPod and prevent any modification of the database file. If you try to do either of these, the hashes will not match and the iPod will report that it contains "0 songs" when the iTunesDB would otherwise be perfectly adequate.
Can't you get around this?
Well, maybe. We really need people who are excellent at reverse engineering to help.
This is what we know so far about the start of the iTunesDB file:
MHBD header:0x32 is most likely a SHA1 hash, and 0x58 also could be.
0x00 4 mhbd
0x04 4 header size = 0xBC (changed)
0x08 4 filesize
0x0C 4 unknown = 1
0x10 4 version number = 0x19 (changed)
0x14 4 child count = 0x05 (changed)
0x18 8 itunes databaseid
0x20 2 unknown = 2
0x22 2 unknown = 0x0263 (changed, 0x0000 before)
0x24 8 ipod identification? (changed)
0x2C 4 zero padding
0x30 2 unknown = 1
0x32 20 unknown, changing completely from itdb to itdb
0x46 2 language, seen: de, en
0x48 8 library persistent id
0x50 4 unknown, seen: 1, 5
0x54 4 unknown, seen: 0x08, 0x0D, 0x1D, 0x4D, 0x8D
0x58 20 unknown some similarities between versions
0x6C 4 timezone offset in seconds. +2*60*60 -> 0x00001C20, -4*60*60 = 0xFFFFC7C0 (really?)
0x70 76 zero padding 0x00000000
The question is, could you help? Hop along to freenode #gtkpod if you have some serious technical expertise in this kind of thing and are able to obtain a new iPod Classic or Nano.
123 comments:
The ipod classic is also built with noticeably inferior sound hardware than previous versions. Are we seeing a trend here?
A clarification:
"so popular Linux iPod management tools like [...] Rockbox"
Rockbox is a complete firmware replacement, for several different makes of mp3 player. It doesn't make any use of the iTunes database when installed on an ipod, instead it can use its own database format, or simply browse the contents of the drive.
bob: er yeah. I ment rhythmbox.
Will: is it possible for you to correct the article? It's already caused a bit of new confused traffic to come our way (I'm a member of the Rockbox dev team).
If what you say is correct, then I guess there are two options:
(a) Change the iPod firmware to eliminate the integrity check scheme (the verification of the database hash field).
(b) Reverse-engineer the hashing process that iTunes performs and emulate it within all iPod manager software.
I guess (b) sounds easier.
bob: done. sorry for the confusion.
Thanks Will!
Mike: So, what are you waiting for?
fuck linux. nobody gives a shit.
fuck linux. Nobody gives a shit about that shitty operating system! Get fucking windows or osx damnit!
Open Hardware isn't a particularly new or radical idea... so why are companies still resorting to it? Acting out of fear of competition really shouldn't be an option anymore.
Michael: Give it a rest. This isn't an OS battle, and Linux is gaining market share every day. There are lots of people who use it (myself included) and would prefer to be able to keep using their iPod with it.
This makes me angry. I've updated the criticisms section on the iPod wikipedia article in response. This was not an angry edit - I merely stated the facts without the editorial spin. But I gave my real opinion on my blog.
EASY michael...
While this sucks for the open-source community, I'm wondering what other "side effects" may surface - Apple DRM perhaps?
There was nothing in their adverts saying that they had made changes that prevented using the new iPods in the same way as old ones.
I'm going to get my money back.
So there is a problem, you can only use one of the following:
Linux
iPod
So you will have to use a replacement for either of the two. Linux replacements include
Windows
OS X
The iPod replacements include
Too much to list
Then, you don't want Windows or OS X but you still want a media player, isn't the choice quite obvious?
apple is well known for locking operating systems with hardware. So people have to stick with their products regardless of the quality.
KZ
http://www.prankvideoz.com
I was really going to order a new ipod touch next week, and hope it would work with amarok.
This really sucks big time, and I think I will keep my $300 and buy a cheaper mp3 player.
Maybe I will send the maintainers and devs from my distro the money I saved.
My recommendation: don't buy an iPod. I have a Sandisk Sansa. It plays MP3's, MOV video and has a radio. Oh yeah, and it costs about 75% of the price of an iPod Nano of the same Gb capacity and overall chassis size.
Oh yeah, and it works perfectly with rhythmbox.
Time to search for an other mp3 player.. and it's high time for an 'open' mp3 player, or just open gadget platform (audio, video, phone, etc..)
I really wondered when I would make the plunge, I just use my 2g nano for workouts and running. Couldn't really see a need for a video doing this. Seems like Apple is making a market for it's videos on itunes. Well this settles it, if I ever get a new player, it won't be an Apple. I love my Nano, hope it last a while. Using Amorak and it just works fine thanks. Funny thing though I have a g4 behind me but I'll be damned if I put any DRM back into my ipod. Wish I could switch to linux in my ipod but it isn't available, darnit. Love to use OGG.
Ted
I think I'll just continue to use my Sansa e130. It's clear that Apple doesn't want my business so they'll get their wish.
Yeah... in theory, this should only require you to figure out what's been hashed and modify the hashing code for your favorite leenooks app to hash the same stuff in the same order. After all, iTunes has to know how to create these hashes, so it's tractable to figure out how it's done.
I don't think too much reverse engineering has to be done. I'm guessing that rather than implementing SHA1 in iTunes, it simply loads and calls either OpenSSL or CDSA. In theory you can write a simple dynamic lib that dumps all input and output to the hashing routine and then passes control back to the appropriate "real" library.
I would offer to do it, but my iPod gave up the ghost several months ago and I've just not been impressed with it enough to go out and replace it.
IPods are just fashion accessories from a company that has made screwing their most loyal customers a virtue.
Anybody who'd pay for an IPod is an idiot, IMHO. My $70 Zen works just fine, thank you. And when the screen gets scratched or the battery dies, I don't feel compelled to sue anyone.
And by the way, paying $600 for an IPhone or IPod (or any other AYELOOKATMEPOPPI thing from Apple) then using LimeWire or Bittorrent to d/l "free" music and complaining about industry attempts to force you to pay a few cents for legal music downloads is just stupid.
And many of us do care about Linux. Even if it's just because we're, well, cheap bastards.
Delusions of grandeur: You seriously believe gtkpod is on Apple's radar? The new iPods are basically brandishing a new OS. It's in no way unusual that there would be issues with open source interfaces. The open source community will be fix it, and it will work fine. Additionally, since OSX is now running these devices, changes will be more incremental going forward. Take a chill.
they got so close... i was actually thinking of picking up a 'clasic' this holiday. not now my friends... Itunes is garbage software for people who don't know better, i take this as a direct insult.
But the iPod tends to be cheaper or the same price per gb than its competitors. Its clearly superior design and vastly superior UI makes it a much better buy. There is definitely a market to hack the thing.
Also: the nano and the classic do *not* run OS X. Still pixo.
I don't have a problem with Apple making life difficult for the hackers, so long as they don't use the law to enforce their schemes. I think this is a pretty significant difference. A company has no legal or moral duty to make life easy for its competitors-- even a monopolist generally has no duty to assist upstarts. So my question before judging Apple is whether they have some legitimate technical need for the change to the database. If so, then what's the problem?
don't cry about apple, we all know they are money grubbers...check out the meizu m6 8gb...drag and drop...hey, hey...works fine with ubuntu...works with ogg too!
Susan,
Spoken like a true Apple fanboy, er, girl.
IPod only gets cheaper per gig at the upper end of its product line. Compare a Nano and a Sansa of the same size and last I checked, the Sansa is cheaper. And their UI is just as good, if not better.
Hell, my friend got a 512MB player at Walmart for $20 that his 9 year old daughter could figure out. So exactly how many gigs do you need to store a few songs? How much UI do you need? And where is the $20 IPod? (Or is that what the new price of the IPhone will drop to in 6 weeks?)
Yeah, yeah, I know, the IPod isn't just an MP3 player. You need a couple dozen gig to store all those videos and movies you want to watch on a 2" screen while you're jogging or riding a bike.
@mike
the meizu does not play AACs. trash.
if you have a ipod now make
a backup of your firmware NOW!!!!
Maybe, in a month we will have
a news: New Ipod firmware
update cut access for third-party
applications.
It might also be that Apple will release an iTunes for Linux shortly?
0x54 4 unknown, seen: 0x08, 0x0D, 0x1D, 0x4D, 0x8D
On my new iPod Nano (last 3 digits of the SN: Y0P) I see a 0x05
Otherwise the values posted above describe what I see in my mhbd as well.
I'm not planning on getting another iPod anyway. Every one of my phones has an MP3 player built in. Those generally are completely open and you can just copy files over to them. Unlike iPods, they also have A2DP support.
And the iPhone is too proprietary and too tied to the desktop for my tastes as well.
I have had problems with Amarok and my iPod... It always makes it so that the word "The" is recognized in the "T" section and I hate that. If there are any fixes to that then I wouldn't even need to dual boot my system anymore -- but I need itunes so that my catalog is not messed up.
wow, these replies sound like a hippy smelly linux user nerd fest.
"since apple doesn't support my fraction of a percentage super-power-user only market i'm going to SHOW THEM by not buying one of their products and purchasing an inferior POS with a crappy user interface instead"!
Ah yes, AAC, the format pushed onto you by iPods. Are you complaining because all those mp3s you converted to AAC for your ipod will have to be converted back again?
Honestly people, get a creative zen. The sound quality is excellent and apple copied the ipod menu system from the older creative players so you can't complain bout the UI :) I bought mine a couple of generations ago but same price, better screen than an ipod video.
Aw crap - guess this breaks syncing with Winamp (which is a real shame, because Winamp let's you transfer music both to AND from your iPod)
I was thinking about getting the new 160GB iPod... but I'll wait until someone unbreaks it to work with Winamp.
Funnily, it doesn't matter too much - it will be reverse engineered anyway, one way or another.
Running rockbox on iPod Touch seems to be a waste, until Rockbox gets a nice gesture-oriented UI, but it will do if you want to use your mp3 player for .. erm.. playing mp3s.
Technical question..
After Wine's release of 0.9.45, it states:
" - Many improvements to the crypto dlls (should make iTunes work)."
If iTunes functions in Linux (only IF).. would one be able to sync in Linux? As a temporary replacement until your the wonderful Linux apps get up to speed?
Typical Apple.. oi, what's this with worse audio quality? Could anyone link me in on a page with that?
Cheers.
/nox-Hand
How likely is it that a current or future Firmware will do the same thing on older iPods?
I hate iTunes with a vengeance. I'd be very sad to see Winamp and Sharepod lose the ability to copy/sync.
dudes, i know its off the point, but it genuinely made me feel nice to see will and bob offer and accept constructive criticism on the article rather than some shit like starting another boring comment war of words, kudos guys.
You have a unit ? Why don't you post a few different database files and serial numbers so people that don't have new iPods can take a look at them ? I mean, I'm sure you know the best way to reverse engineer the hash is to try to generate it using different algorithms the data and match the number in the file, and I don't need an iPod to do that, just my computer and sample files to test. If apple used a standard algorithm, we'd find it in a few rounds.
Sorry, a typo: "...using different algorithms AND the data..."
I'm calling for a protest campaign against this move by Apple.
The iPod has never supported anything other than Mac OS X and Windows with iTunes. The format of the database has never been open. This newer format will be reverse engineered just as previous versions have.
All I see here is a bunch of whining by people who want a product to do something it was never designed to do.
If i were trying to figure how these hashes are related i would ( the only reason i dont do this is because i dont own an ipod touch ):
1) Clear the ipod library
2) Dump the hashes with 0 songs in the db
3) Upload 1 file, dump the hashes again
4) Delete file, dump the hashes
5) Upload a different file than in step 3), dump the hashes.
If hashes from 2) and 4) are the same its probably very good since the hashes would probably only depend on the files on the ipod and not some nonce.
If one of the hashes from 3) and 5) is the same and the other one is different then it is likely that hash is only dependant on the ipod, or the ipod+itunes combination and the other hash is dependant on the files on the ipod.
Hope thats useful to someone.
I have to go with the people saying that this is a non-issue. The iPod was never designed to work with Linux; it's designed to work with either the Mac OS or Windows. Although it would be lovely if there was a version of iTunes for Linux, Apple is under no obligation to make it possible for iPods to work with Linux tools. Don't like it? The solution is simple: Keep using your old iPod or buy a different brand of MP3 player. The iPod is no longer the only game in town.
All this is nothing more than whining about a non-issue.
I agree with Orac. Anyone who thinks that ANY company, whether it be Apple, or Microsoft, or whoever, can create a system that can't be bypassed just hasn't spent enough time in the Open Source community.
We always find a way. Bottom line. So cheer up, guys! It probably won't be long, ne?
I'm not a reverse engineer, but I say kudos to all you guys/girls who are working on this project. Good luck!
Hey there Jeffrey, for your synching in Amarok to not care or include the The as in the "T" section, Configure Amarok and go to Media devices, pick the device (IPod), and click the gears to configure the device, 3/4 down the dialog box, click a checkbox that says "Ignore "The"", and presto, no more need to dual-boot :P
Enjoy man, APPLE SUCKS!!!!
Don't worry i'm sure the courts will soon force apple to open up their ipod. Apple has a near monopoly over ipods and them forcing users to use their program itunes and discarding linux users won't go well with higher ups.
Apple has no problem using all of the free sweat, blood and tears produced components of Apache and so many other great Open Source Masterpieces on their server but when it comes to giving back, they don't do so much. I think Apple owes it to the open source community to at least leave a way to use it's hardware. Steve Jobs will not pay attention to this at all unless we people who enjoy the competition between three OSes to take a stand and let Apple know we are unhappy. Many of the features for the new anticipated OSX release are borrowed from the Beryl and Open Compositing which is fine, but give back dammit.
Jason Bogovich (Geekspeaker)
http://geekspeaker.spaces.live.com
Thanks Eric, but I'm still having the problem. I went to the configuration settings and went to the devices part and went to configure the iPod and it had no option for ignoring the "The" am I at the wrong place.
I don't think you can compare a Sansa to a Nano of the same size, SomeCheapBastard. There is no such thing. The Sansa thing is a brick. 8.8mm thick, the iPod Nano is 2mm slimmer.
I will say the new Nanos look like a downgrade as far as form factor is concerned. I never watch video on portable devices, and so I am unimpressed with the new screen or the 4:3 proportions. I'd much rather have a 16Gb or 32Gb Nano "classic" that just plays music.
Just want to drop in a note of support.
I'm an iTunes hater but there are really no other MP3 players out there that physically compare to the iPod classics. How they fit all that in such a slim device while other manufacturers can't, I just don't understand.
Once we get the new ipodDB figured out, or once rockbox runs on it, I'll be buying a classic. I just hope it's soon.
To Susan:
When you refer to iPod's UI as "superior", are you referring to the UI that they stole from Creative?
And are you also aware that there are other players out there with far superior sound quality that also supports AAC? One good example would be the new Creative Zen.
To everyone else out there who isn't eating out of Apple's hand: Regardless of whether this new hash problem can be worked around or not, why even reward Apple for screwing the customer yet again? There are so many other outstanding DAPs out there that work quite nicely without workarounds. Reward those companies with your purchase instead!
Why volunteer your time fighting against Apple, only to add value to their products? Wouldn't a boycott make more sense? Why reward them for their misbehaviour by helping their crap be able to reach a wider audience?
other people have said it and I agree:
**
The solution isn`t to buy a new ipod and reverse engineer it to make it work like you want it to. Instead, buy a different player that works like you want out of the box.
**
@Katheryne
Don't make shit up. Creative makes some good products, but their audio players today are without exception derivative of the iPod. The Nomad pre-iPod was *nothing* like what iPod became. It was shit. I owned one and returned it two days later.
"Ah yes, AAC, the format pushed onto you by iPods. Are you complaining because all those mp3s you converted to AAC for your ipod will have to be converted back again?"
You wouldn't need to convert mp3s "for your iPod," since the iPod is perfectly capable of playing mp3s. I rip CDs as AACs, because at the same bitrate as an mp3 they have better sound quality. It baffles me why people still knowingly choose to use MPEG-2 technologies such as MP3. Even VBR/Lame MP3s sound worse than VBR AACs at the same bitrate-- unless you start getting up into the 320 kbps range.
I am not claiming that AACs are the best technology-- they're clearly not. MPC, as just one example, is a superior-sounding format at the same bitrate. But AAC is absolutely better than MP3, and it's the only non-WMA "alternative" format to have somewhat widespread support.
AAC is a format-- part of the MPEG-4 specification, remember-- as "open" as mp3 ever was. It's not Apple's. Any modern player should support it.
Shame on Apple!!! This is one of their worst moves ever!
And it's quite clear for me why they do it: They want to force people to use iTunes, because that in turn brings more customers to the iTunes music store. And I bet they make lots of money with ITMS...
Its like Linux fans to bash anything that is not from the Open-source community, just as OS X or Windows users like to do the very same thing to the other guys. If you can't have it... bash it!
From the opinions of many posting here, it seems that, 'hell, who needs the iPod, iTunes.. we don't!' Well, if that is the case, what are you whining about?
If the other players are so called 'better' and the other music software better than iTunes, then by all means, use them! Why cry like spoiled little brats because a 120-billion dollar corporate giant does things its way with its very own products...... just as Linux or Windows users like to do things their way, Apple likes to do things their way!
Also, if Sansa, Amarok, etc. are so much better than either the iPod or iTunes, why is that the iPod and iTunes both have a whopping 80% or more of the market?
Certainly, iPods and the iTunes are not dominent because they they suck and everyone and everything else is far better then they? Over 700 million people have downloaded iTunes, is it because Amarok, Windows Media Player, etc. are all so vastly superior? I don't think so; its the opposite!
I like Linux and use it from time-to-time, but I shall stick with the Apple products for a reason... I like em! If you don't like em.... don't use em! Its as simple as that. To each their own.
Linux is a great system, its very Unix like, but the next version of OS X, Leopard has already been certified as 100 % UNIX 3! Almost, or simply 'Unix like' is not quite the same as 100 certified Unix. Therefore, I shall use OS X, just as others will continue to use Windows and still others use Linux.
In 2006, six years after OS X client was releashed, Complz, Beryl and other Linux projects started to copy features from OS X. Expose, the Cube effect, Animations, etc.
Also, virtually all older Gui systems use Apple creations such as pull-down menu's, the trash can, drag and drop, etc., but you Linux users, like Windows users don't complain, so why start complaining now because Apple chooses to make their systems the way they want, be it in the music area or otherwise?
Personally, I think its a shame that Apple doesn't open up iTunes for Linux users, but its not my decision to make, any more than its Window or Linux users decision to make...... its Apple's decision.
Rather then complain to one another, which does nothing to help the situation, why not simply ask Apple for what you want? You want it, other wise you wouldn't be complaining, and since they have what you want, then ask them and maybe, just maybe, you shall receive? 'The squeaky wheel gets the grease,' so point that out to them, not one another.
Steve Job may be one of the world's richest men, one of the most famous and one of the most influential men in the world, but he recently demonstrated, with his extremely fast reversal of the iPhone $200 credit rebate, that he also is one of the fastest to admit that he made a mistake and man enough to make admends.
Maybe if you Linux users show him the errors of his ways he will give you what you want, be it iPods or iTunes?
Apple products are overpriced and over-hyped.
I looked at the iPhone and looked at the Nokia N800. I chose the N800 because I didn't have to sign up with AT&T for two years, didn't have to fork out $600 and didn't have to wait until someone figured out how to use a terminal on it. I have my sturdy little cell phone and my 16Gb N800 for $400.00
iPods never impressed me, iRiver products were more reliable and sounded better at the time I was shopping, three years ago. My iRiver still works!
Screw Apple, alternatived exist!
Cheers,
Alex C.
I was considering buying a new ipod classic because there aren't any others sporting 80/160GB storage for $250/$350. That's a great price. I'm not sure how I will get all my music to a windows machine, but it only has to be done once because of the large capacity.
I am definitely willing to do tests on it, pull it apart, rewrite firmware, whatever to help the amarok and other teams.
Working in the software industry you have to be aware that the best thing to do for your clients is read the maximum of users you can. it's funny how people are quick to give critism to apple for not including linux into the fray. But they ultimately want to reach the biggest audience possible. Which is why iTunes made it's way to Windows. To say apple cut you off is a bit short sighted what apple is trying to do as a business. They are in the business to make money. Sure their computers are overpriced but for those who have purchased it (I have a Windows Vista Machine I use as well), you find that the life span of their products are much longer than just regular PCs. I'm not saying Macs > PCs because the argument is just like Console Gaming > PC coming. Each have their strength and if you want to have bought you can. It's about options but joining in on the internet hate machine about how a company's product sucks because you decided to go a different route is silly. Apple is doing what they think is best for their clients in a broad sense.
"michael said...
fuck linux. Nobody gives a shit about that shitty operating system! Get fucking windows or osx damnit!
14 September 2007 16:58"
C'mon dude. OSX was based on the *unix kernel for crying out loud. And Safari was based on Konqueror. So STFU n00b =P
i am a lover of childrens literature,
While your post was and well thought out, you speak as if there is only one opinion here in the comments. That is not the case: some people are saying we shouldn't buy iPods because Apple this and Apple that, and others are bewailing the fact that they temporarily no longer with with Linux (and, incidentally, many Windows and OSX programs other than iTunes). I think the majority of iPod owners would like to keep their iPods and use it with Linux. You can't equate popularity with virtue as you are doing - for instance, you say you prefer OSX because it is certified UNIX - well, so are the less-popular-than linux solaris, unixware etc... but those can't connect to ipods either!
Incidentally, I don't own an iPod any more, but I did, and I didn't use it with itunes just because I don't like itunes. I like you have the privilege of using all of windows, linux and osx, and if I owned an iPod, I would like to use my player with all of them. As it happens, my mp3 player works fine with all three.
regards
This really is not a surprising move from Apple. They have always been very controlling with their product platforms.
For Linux users, I wouldn't be too worried. With the popularity of the iPod, my guess is that within a month there will be a work-around. This hack will be a top priority, just like the iPhone hacks were for the past few month.
ZOMG THEY CHANGED THEIR ARCHITECTURE THEY MUST BE TRYING TO CUT ME OFF
Right, because changing their DB architecture has no other purpose. Seriously, I read a retard's interpretation of your whining on engadget, and while he fucked it up even further than you originally did, come on. Just suck it up and reverse engineer the hashing algorithm. You've created enough trouble as it is.
- Crappy sound quality.
- Oversimplified, made for dummies UI.
- Ties you to a single software to synchronize. BTW, a crappy software.
- Not support for OGG, FLAC, MPEG-4 video files.
Any more reasons to keep me away from the iPod and going for something way better?
It amazes me how many people post comments that are entirely off-topic and unrelated to reverse-engineering of the iPod db.
To those who advise others not to buy Apple products in the future, consider that you are ignoring the *installed* linux/iPod user base - just as Apple has apparently done - and are not contributing any solutions to the people who have no other options. Regardless of your personal OS fanboy-ism, realize that attacking people who have a legitimate complaint only makes you appear small-minded and inconsequential. Please go to some blog where first-time buyers are hungering for iPod alternatives, and peddle your opinions there.
I'm also confused as to why people think Apple made this change for no reason. Consider: Apple has just released two new products with 802.11 (and possibly Bluetooth) connectivity built in. I theorize that this database change is a preemptive move to prevent third-party wifi-based song sharing systems from appearing on the iPhone and iPod Touch. At the very least, Apple is trying to *appear* as if they are cutting off this avenue, in order to appease their content providers and preclude RIAA litigation. It's sad that they seem to think that it's worth alienating their non-iTunes-using customers, on *all* platforms, not just the wifi-enabled devices, in exchange for heading off possible financial repurcussions, but if one considers NBC's recent defection it looks like Apple may be feeling the heat a little more than in the past. The iPhone and Touch have the potential to far surpass the Zune in the wireless sharing arena, just as they have in other areas, but (probably) due to legal and financial exigencies Apple apparently has chosen to limit users' options instead.
Finally, regardless of Apple's reason or the (admittedly many) other options in the PMP arena, Apple should at the very least be scolded for lying. To wit, they recently stated - or, at least, a well-placed representative of the company stated - that they would not release any updates for iTunes, the iPhone, or the iPods that would intentionally break third-party apps; of course they make no guarantees about how routine updates might break unsanctioned applications, but that is understandable. However, this database change is so obviously designed to prevent a specific type of third-party application that one wonders how Apple reps managed to make the above promise with a straight face. For shame, Apple, for shame.
I chose the Zen Vision:M because it plays more types of video. I don't understand why people INSIST on an apple product that just lockes them into one music store, one type of video format, etc.
And the Zen has a better picture and sound to boot. I do not get it.
@I am a lover of children's literature.
I can agree with what you say, but someone also said: "If billions of flys eat shit, they cannot be wrong!"
So we have everybody to eat shit?
IPod is so widely spread because is a status symbol, NOT because it is the best music player...
People, think before to be a fly! ;)
I'll add $5 to the pot for the person who figures this out.
simple use wine itunes 6 can run in wine
Get a roku to listen to music guys. You'll stay away from your computer for a while to do real life things. I bought a creative zen a while ago, and did not used it a lot. If you're on the train you have to put the volume super high to ear it and kill your hears. If you're biking it's a bit dangerous. Read books. Do your workouts with friends so that you don't need a mp3 player.
One has doubts about an underlying evil Apple motive behind the change and hears too many voices too quick to find conspiracies. Some whine-less addition:
There has been much publicity about publishers observing the iPod ecology was too open to protect their property. How many other player authors, beside Apple, deal with these major media publishers because they have a "store?" Isn't it more likely Apple may be trying to protect their agreements with the publishers rather than screw some small percentage of their client base?
Next math problem: Apple does not own all of the code under iTunes. iTunes is greatly built on a rotting bag of code from C&G (defunct) which also contained other licensed code. Apple cannot blithely release to the GPL code licensed from other companies.
Apple balances priorities, now adding the GPL into the mix would call for expensive and complicated solutions that would move the user pain to the greater body to the advantage of a minority.
Now for my whine: the last good iPod was the second generation "classic" brick. One can Frankenstein it to 40gb, 18 hr playback, with Linux while not requiring a special interface. Too bad it doesn't fit into my wallet.
What happened to 'thank you'? The tekno-logical advance alone is worth all the hassles involved. Thank You Apple employees, for the incredible experience(s).
Do the new iPods work with older format databases?
Do the newest versions of iTunes write this new protected database version to older iPods?
Jeff (http://sharepod.sturm.net.nz)
The iAudio fange by cowon are a lovely alternative, My iAudio 5 gives me 20+ hours on a NiMH AAA and supports ogg, speex and just about everything besides. Its solidly built and the sound quality is the best i've heard from a portable. (no i'm not an employee, just I replaced my nano with it when the battery failed and have never looked back)
Re: Michael, Linux is better in every respect to Windows with the exception of game availability. Just because you don't understand an OS(or more than likely have not taken the time!!) doesn't mean you have to rant twice about f"çking Linux. Linux Rocks, and millions worldwide would disagree, including me!
Re: Ipod, I would agree with all those that say forget about the Ipod, I've 4 PCs and Itunes is a highly invasive program that wants to put .dll files everywhere. So I've stuck it on one PC, unconnected to the net of course while I reconvert all those .m4a files back to .mp3 or .ogg.
I bought the 4 GB mini Ipod version 1.0, a few years back, the first and without any doubt the LAST Ipod I'll ever buy. Apart from itunes battery life is horrendous, my brother bought a mini three months ago and apparently battery life sucks also - funny it hasn't been changed in the last few years...surprise surprise
And it is so typical of these large companies, open source of course will release better material than their 100 engineers working on Itunes or the like cos there are 10,000 programmers worldwide looking at alternatives in their free time to reinvent the square that is Itunes.
Forget about buying an Ipod, buy a nice USB stick player that you can stick into ANYTHING, Mac, Linux, Windows and move and transfer music, its half the price and will, i'm 95% certain have a longer battery life :-)
I'm still looking at various models and am open to tips/suggestions, its time I chucked my Mini Ipod off the balcony!
Erm, perhaps the hash is only there to sanity-check the database? You know, in the sort of way that hashes have been used, well, forever? Probably short-cuts a lot of expensive defensive code when reading the database...
Or maybe it really is a conspiracy entirely targeted against Linux! I mean what more fearsome enemy can Apple have?
You'd better ensure your tin-hats are firmly pulled down over your eyes guys!! ;)
I waited for the new nano, but so i want buy it.
Nowe i have a new Cowon IAudio 7, and i think an ipod didnt sound better.
So f... off apple!!!
This maybe a stupid question because I'm really not up to date with how the Linux community have been "reverse engineering" (if so) the iPod, but have anyone just tried asking Apple for specifications that could help the Linux community use the new iPod?
This obviously isn't a way to lock out Linux users. I can't really see how Apple could win that. it maybe a side effect of locking out players... But again, has anyone asked Apple?
Thanks for the heads up.
I actually had a 16gb touch on pre-order (I'm in Europe, there not out till month end), and it was set to be the first piece of Apple kit I've ever brought.
That order has now be cancelled, I really don't like iTunes, and this extra step of awkwardness (I'm already going to have to re-rip aload of my music currently held in various lossless formats), and I can't be arsed.
Problem solved ;)
http://amarok.kde.org/blog/archives/496-iPod-Classic-Will-Be-Supported.html
Linux Community is great. And FREE.
Doesn't an iPod work as an external hard disk?
If so, how about jsut hooking up the iPod to your computer and playing it that way?
Naah! it doesnt work that way because itunes puts the media files into a database and without the database you got nothing,
no names no nothing.
but you can store your private files to your ipod as an external disk, but, again then you cannot play or watch them if theyre media files. and the have not ben put there by itunes (or a similar program) that puts them into the database.
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I own an iPod classic... The sound is just fine, Everything is good except how apple rudely cut us off. Someone help me crack it, it just has to be cracked :P
Couldn't you look in iTunes to see where it's storing the hash and then replace it with the modified one on the iPod?
Hi
I just received my new Ipod Classic 160 GB, but i've found a very big problem!!!. Doesn't work with W2000(actually doesn't work without Itunes 7.4, and 7.4 can't be installed on w2000) and I'm not considering at all to upgrade my whole system for an Ipod.
So I've searched a little bitand have found that J.River media center CAN sync the Ipod and manage all kind of file transfers.
So, if they have beenable to surpass the protection, why the linux community will not at last succeed?
Be Optimistic!!!!
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