Is IPod Use with Linux Practical?

[MattyJ]

> That sounds good in theory, however at least on this box, the easy part  
> is missing. Although the iPod shows up on the desktop - even has a  
> cutesy little ipodish icon - Amarok does not see it, so the Connect  
> button has nothing to do (yes, I mounted the ipod).

I'm not in front of my Linux box right now, but if memory serves, Amarok  
wouldn't automatically recognize my mounted iPod, either. I had to go into  
the settings and tell it where the iPod was mounted. I believe it's the  
actual mount path (i.e. /mnt/ipod) not the device (/dev/hdb) But after you  
set it once it remembers.

> I have proven that Amarok will _play_ most anything. But what file  
> format specifically does the *iPod* expect?

I don't know what an iPod would *expect*, it supports several formats. Any  
iPod should at least accept flac and vanialla mp3. I ripped all my CD's  
with lame as the encoder and they play on my shuffle just fine.

According to the manual for the shuffle:

YES

AAC (M4A, M4B, M4P) (up to 320 kbps)
MP3 (up to 320 kbps)
MP3 Variable Bit Rate (VBR)
WAV
AA (audible.com spoken word, formats 2, 3, and 4)
AIFF


NO

"iPod shuffle does not support Apple Lossless, WMA, MPEG Layer 1, MPEG  
Layer 2 audio
files, or audible.com format 1."

I would imagine all iPods are essentially the same in this department.


-Matt