Episdode 7 – iLinux
In this brief episode, Matt discusses the new iPods, the Digg “Picture of the Year”, and why PC World doesn’t like Linux.
- My first Ubuntu Screencast – http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/skype
- The iPod Touch Preview – An iPhone without the Phone – http://computeruser.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/the-ipod-touch-preview-an-iphone-without-the-phone/
- iPod Touch unpacking tour – http://computeruser.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/ipod-touch-unpacking-tour-and-first-look-photos/
- Digg’s Picture of the Year – http://computeruser.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/diggs-picture-of-the-year-pic/
- PC World refuse to repair hardware fault because of Linux – http://computeruser.wordpress.com/2007/09/13/pc-world-refuse-to-repair-hardware-fault-because-of-linux/
You’ll find that picture is fake to an extent, if you examine more closely… they don’t appear to have a computer on them with which to unlock iphones
Also, people need to realize that Apple has *never* supported using anything other than iTunes to synchronize iPods. They do not provide any documentation of the format of the iTunesDB, in part, because they want the ability to change it on their whims or to support new features without making sure everyone else writing a client is moving in lockstep. Support and documenation of this format would incur costs for Apple that simply wouldn’t make sense for them. The iPod makes Apple a lot of money from people buying music in the iTunes store. This is revenue that can’t be realized from people who use other client software. To document the format would essentially be to shoot themselves in the foot (and no, increased sales to Linux users would be likely to make up for the cost). A Linux version of iTunes is similarly plagued by cost/benefit issues, compounded by the fact that it would be even more costly than other platforms to test, due to different distributions.
The good news is also that, despite the fact that Apple doesn’t publish iTunesDB documentation, the alternative iPod clients for Linux and Windows have been able to use the format thanks to it being reverse engineered. The new modifications will likely be reverse engineered soon, and all will be well again.
There’s no need to blame Apple for this.
er, an error in my previous comment… I meant to say “increased sales to Linux users would *not* be likely to make up or the cost”, rather than imply that it would.
You win Wesley