HOWTO: iPod Classic (6g) + Amarok!

[Ghostbear121]

Okay guys, there's a ton of "how do I get my awesome new iPod to work!" questions. I spent a few hours on it when I should've been working... So here's how:


1. I use Amarok because it's pretty similar to iTunes in a lot of ways. The version you can download from apt-get is perfectly fine. (v1.4.7). The trick to getting your "classic" iPod working isn't amarok, it's a library it uses called libgpod.

Just to add here, we all know Apple changed the hashing around on the new ipod itunesdb: basically if it isn't iTunes that's uploading songs, your ipod will display "no songs" and consider itself empty. That's BS. So, libgpod fixes this 'problem'.


2. Go here: http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...ease_id=553119. Download this file: libgpod-0.6.0.tar.gz. Save it to your desktop, your home folder, wherever. I put it on my desktop.

3. Unzip it. I use console commands:

cd Desktop/
tar -zxvf libgpod-0.6.0.tar.gz
cd libgpod-0.6.0

Don't change out of this directory 'till we're done.

4. Now you've decompressed the source code for libgpod. Before anything else, make sure you've got the required dependencies installed:

sudo apt-get install build-essential libglib2.0-dev libgtk2.0-dev libsgutils1-dev checkinstall

OK now:

sudo apt-get build-dep libgpod2

FYI: Build-dep installs all the required dependencies for a program, but not the program itself. This is perfect, 'cause we don't WANT the version of libgpod that's on apt right now. We want the one we're about to compile:

5. Compile it!

./configure 
make

6. Now we build a debian install:

sudo checkinstall

You'll get a prompt that says: "should I create a default set of package docs?" Just press Enter to say YES. On the next screen, type whatever description you'd like. Maybe something like "Compiled libgpod-0.6.0". Press enter again. This is what will show up:

*****************************************
**** Debian package creation selected ***
*****************************************

This package will be built according to these values:

0 -  Maintainer: [ you@yourcomputer ]
1 -  Summary: [ Package created with checkinstall 1.6.1 ]
2 -  Name:    [ libgpod ]
3 -  Version: [ 0.6.0 ]
4 -  Release: [ 1 ]
5 -  License: [ GPL ]
6 -  Group:   [ checkinstall ]
7 -  Architecture: [ i386 ]
8 -  Source location: [ libgpod-0.6.0 ]
9 -  Alternate source location: [  ]
10 - Requires [ ]

Enter a number to change any of them or press ENTER to continue:

Type 2, press Enter. Enter libgpod2 at the prompt. It should now look like this: 2 - Name: [ libgpod2 ]

Press Enter to commit the changes. The package will get automatically installed.

Okay one last thing: we link the libraries:

sudo ln -s /usr/local/lib/libgpod.so.3 /usr/lib/libgpod.so.2
sudo ln -s /usr/local/lib/libgpod.so.3 /usr/lib/libgpod.so.3

There! Now your system has libgpod v0.6.0 installed.

I uninstalled Amarok and reinstalled it fresh, just to be 'safe'.

sudo apt-get remove amarok; sudo apt-get install amarok

Next, plug in your iPod. KDE or Gnome (I use Kubuntu.. so KDE) will see your device and mount it.

df

Find your ipod in that list. Mine looked like this:
/dev/sda1 /media/IPOD

There's a slick little script you have to run that came with libgpod:

ipod-read-sysinfo-extended /dev/sda1 /media/IPOD

**Make sure you swap out /dev/sda1 with whatever your ipod is actually connected to!**
This script will add an XML file called sysinfo-extended onto your ipod's config directory; it's what libgpod uses to 'see' your ipod's firewire device ID, serial number, etc.

Okay, now fire up Amarok. Under the Devices tab, there will be a dropdown menu (top-left area of the window). Move down the menu, select Classic -> (Your Ipod). Mine's an 80gb Black.

That should be it! Try transferring a couple of tracks, then disconnect it properly. You should see your tracks on your ipod now.



Hope this solves some confusion. Enjoy your new 6G iPod!

[Berryjiveuptown5]

Holy crap...if this actually works, I will be soooo grateful!! I've spent at least 36 hours (i'm a noob to ubuntu/linux) trying to get my new ipod to work via will's backdot and paul's packages, with no success. Gonna go try this now!!

[Berryjiveuptown5]

unfortunately, it's asking me for the gutsy cd's while i'm downloading libgpod 6.0 (not sure why, though). i'm going to have to try and re-download gutsy, as both of my disks are broken. let you know then.

[D0minik]

Originally Posted by Berryjiveuptown5 unfortunately, it's asking me for the gutsy cd's while i'm downloading libgpod 6.0 (not sure why, though). i'm going to have to try and re-download gutsy, as both of my disks are broken. let you know then.

No, you don't have to. Simply disable the CD-ROM repository: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...e3a2292ac7d187

[runsink]

Good job GB !

I tried it, but I'm getting a error at "sudo checkinstall"

All seems to go fine, I have no errors at configure or make, but when it is installing libaries from ".libs/" I get an error like this :

test -z "/usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod" || mkdir -p -- "/usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod" /bin/bash ../../libtool --mode=install /usr/bin/install -c '_gpod.la' '/usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.la' libtool: install: warning: relinking `_gpod.la' (cd /home/joost/install/libgpod-0.6.0/bindings/python; /bin/bash ../../libtool --tag=CC --mode=relink gcc -g -O2 -o _gpod.la -rpath /usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod -module -avoid-version _gpod_la-gpod_wrap.lo -lgobject-2.0 -lglib-2.0 -lgdk_pixbuf-2.0 -lm -lgobject-2.0 -lgmodule-2.0 -ldl -lglib-2.0 ../../src/libgpod.la ) gcc -shared .libs/_gpod_la-gpod_wrap.o -L/usr/lib -lgdk_pixbuf-2.0 -lm -lgobject-2.0 -lgmodule-2.0 -ldl -lglib-2.0 -L/usr/local/lib -lgpod -Wl,-soname -Wl,_gpod.so -o .libs/_gpod.so /usr/bin/install -c .libs/_gpod.soT /usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.so /usr/bin/install: setting permissions for `/usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.so': No such file or directory /usr/bin/install -c .libs/_gpod.lai /usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.la /usr/bin/install: setting permissions for `/usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.la': No such file or directory /usr/bin/install -c .libs/_gpod.a /usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.a /usr/bin/install: setting permissions for `/usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.a': No such file or directory chmod 644 /usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.a ranlib /usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.a ranlib: could not create temporary file whilst writing archive: No more archived files make[5]: *** [install-gpodLTLIBRARIES] Error 1 make[5]: Leaving directory `/home/joost/install/libgpod-0.6.0/bindings/python' make[4]: *** [install-am] Error 2 make[4]: Leaving directory `/home/joost/install/libgpod-0.6.0/bindings/python' make[3]: *** [install-recursive] Error 1 make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/joost/install/libgpod-0.6.0/bindings/python' make[2]: *** [install] Error 2 make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/joost/install/libgpod-0.6.0/bindings/python' make[1]: *** [install-recursive] Error 1 make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/joost/install/libgpod-0.6.0/bindings' make: *** [install-recursive] Error 1 **** Installation failed. Aborting package creation. Cleaning up...OK Bye.

What does is mean by .libs ? I can not see it with "ls -a"
If I run that line by hand I get :

sudo /usr/bin/install -c .libs/_gpod.soT /usr/local/lib/python2.5/site-packages/gpod/_gpod.so /usr/bin/install: cannot stat `.libs/_gpod.soT': No such file or directory

Any idea what is going wrong ?

Thanks,
Joost

[D0minik]

Originally Posted by runsink Good job GB ! I tried it, but I'm getting a error at "sudo checkinstall"

Try "sudo make install" - worked for me

Important: set your iPod in AmaroK to the correct version ("classic silver 80GB") or the files copied via AmaroK won't show up on your iPod!

[Rustyk1]

Originally Posted by D0minik Important: set your iPod in AmaroK to the correct version ("classic silver 80GB") or the files copied via AmaroK won't show up on your iPod!

I've tried this and it still does not seem to work. My ipod accepts the files fine but then, when i disconnect it, it just says it's got many GBs of 'Other' data. On reconnection to my XP install (in vmware), iTunes detects that it cannot read from the iPod so I have to do a restore. I'v eonly had my ipod a day and done about 4 restores!

I guess I'll just have to stick to using it in my virtual XP install, rubbish.

[D0minik]

Originally Posted by Rustyk1 I'v eonly had my ipod a day and done about 4 restores! I guess I'll just have to stick to using it in my virtual XP install, rubbish.

Both _exactly_ the same for me.. this really, really sucks. I want to start *using* my iPod :/

[citizenkeith]

Originally Posted by D0minik Both _exactly_ the same for me.. this really, really sucks. I want to start *using* my iPod :/

Yup. Thank you, Apple.

I may try the Virtual Box solution for now. But in the meantime, I will continue kicking myself for buying this damn thing.

[runsink]

Ghostbear121, what firmware version is in your ipod ?

(It took me some time, but it is under settings > about -> and then press the center button 2 times).

I have the 80Gb white, I followed the howto and also have the problem that there is no music on the device. I will look in to it tonight.

Thanks