iPod users free from iTunes

[Giraffe }{unter]

IPod users are raving about a plug-in that makes the Winamp digital jukebox a better way to manage the iPod than Apple's iTunes.

The plug-in, called ml_iPod, allows iPod users to bypass iTunes and manage music collections in Winamp instead. The iPod is supposed to work with iTunes only. A new version of the software was released Monday.

Fisher and other developers programmed a slew of features, including the ability to synch multiple iPods with Winamp, create smart playlists and -- the most useful option -- the ability to copy songs from an iPod onto a hard drive.

"A lot of the feedback I get is people thanking me for freeing them from iTunes," said Fisher. "It shows the dissatisfaction people have with iTunes."

Apple Computer did not respond to several requests for comment.

To prevent iPod users from easily copying vast libraries of songs from computer to computer, Apple forbids tracks from being moved off the iPod -- songs can only be put onto the iPod. In addition, each iPod is associated with a single copy of iTunes. The association can be changed, but only if all songs on the iPod are erased.

Someone who keeps music on her computer at work could fill up her iPod with tracks, take it home and copy the songs onto a home computer using ml_iPod plugin and Winamp.

"I firmly believe you should have the right to transfer your music with any application you like and if this requires software which circumvents DRM (digital rights management), then I don't believe this is ethically wrong," Fisher said. "I trust our users to use this freedom responsibly and to not steal music."

For songs purchased at the iTunes Music Store, which are copy protected by Apple's FairPlay DRM scheme, ml_iPod users must download an application from the Hymn project, which unlocks the copy protection. Then the ml_iPod plug-in must be configured to run the hymn.exe file when it encounters protected files, Fisher explained.

The ml_iPod plug-in has been downloaded half a million times. By comparison, EphPod, a free utility that offers similar functionality, has been downloaded 43,000 times from Download.com.

The plug-in works with all varieties of the iPod, but some users have trouble getting the software to work with the iPod Shuffle. Fisher said there are plans to make the plug-in available for other digital music players.

ITunes for Windows is an approximately 21-MB download. By contrast, Winamp is 4.7 MB and the plug-in only takes up 130 KB of space.

"ITunes takes up a lot of resources on the computer. Winamp is a lot faster," Fisher said. "Indeed, a lot of our users are still using Windows 98, which iTunes doesn't work on."

Feedback about the plug-in is generally enthusiastic.

"Everything is a breeze and the interface is even easier to use than iTunes," wrote Doug Sheffer on a Winamp message board.

"Using it with third-gen iPod and Windows ME," wrote Brian Cape in the Winamp forum. "Absolutely superb, no problems at all. Congratulations and thanks -- I thought I was going to have to upgrade my PC to XP in order to use the iPod."

Source: http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,14 ... tw=rss.TOP

[dzjepp]

It also rips the drm protection from the songs, I'd bet apple is going to try and shut the project down.

[+JuggerNaut+]

they've done it before, they'll do it again.

these programs have come and gone in the past.

[MKJ]

It also rips the drm protection from the songs, I'd bet apple is going to try and shut the project down.

and they have a case, too

[dnoyc]

too bad winamp is an even bigger piece of shit than itunes.

[Geebs]

I like the way they mention iTunes as a 20Mb download, as if that's some incredibly huge impostion.

They're going to get shut down, but if there's 500,000 copies of the plugin out there, it's a bit late on Apple's part.

[Chupacabra]

it is annoying when its a 20mb download and not just because it makes it hard for 56k users or people with not much ram. point is...it just shouldnt be 20mb. its just a program that plays music or whatever.

Its kind of like how the original MSN was like 2 mb or something and now its 8 mb...and for what reason? theres just no good reason for that kind of bloatation.

And youre absolutely right Geebs, 20mb isnt incredibly bad. but then think about it this way: what if i said that ill sell you this shoelace for 20 dollars. Sure thats not a huge hit on your income but still, its ridiculous, retarded and unnecessary.

[Foo]

It also rips the drm protection from the songs, I'd bet apple is going to try and shut the project down.

No it doesn't. It's capable of interfacing with an application which can do that, but it doesn't in itself do that.

Read the article?

[MKJ]

itunes a 20mb download? whatve they been smoking

[Geebs]

it is annoying when its a 20mb download and not just because it makes it hard for 56k users or people with not much ram. point is...it just shouldnt be 20mb. its just a program that plays music or whatever.

The iTMS interface in iTunes, at least on the Mac, is a cut down version of Safari; so in some respects it also browses the web. Monitor resolutions are increasing all the time, so graphic elements take up more space.

Still leaves a few Mb unaccounted for, but what the hey.

[R00k]

I think that's a wonderful idea and I'm glad somebody coded it. :icon14:

[dmmh]

that, and they include quicktime in the download

[R00k]

Can you even get the free version of the QuickTime player without downloading iTunes anymore?

[dmmh]

yes, just not the other way around afaik

[Canis]

This is the problem right here: "I trust our users to use this freedom responsibly and to not steal music."

He's bullshitting an excuse to justify his product. In all truth, I highly doubt one can associate good morals to the general population when it comes to this stuff. Frankly, people are greedy sons of bitches who will, in the anonymity this software provides to copyright violation practices, indulge themselves in such violations. It's a minority that wont violate these laws to some degree, and to say otherwise gives people far more credit than they deserve.

[Canis]

Can you even get the free version of the QuickTime player without downloading iTunes anymore?

Yes. http://www.quicktime.com will give you an independent download. They're working on getting Quicktime 7 for Windows finished, so they may not have a downloadable Windows version out yet.

[Canis]

It also rips the drm protection from the songs, I'd bet apple is going to try and shut the project down.

I believe they'd have every right to if it strips the DRM off the songs, and basically circumvents every effort of Apple to distribute songs in a legal manner. Hell, if people want the songs anywhere, go buy a CD and pay a little more for it. The problem is people want them for free, and will stop at nothing either to get the most out of what they paid, or to bypass everything and essentially steal the song.

[dzjepp]

Can you even get the free version of the QuickTime player without downloading iTunes anymore?

Yes it's called quicktime alternative.

[+JuggerNaut+]

Canis owned this thread.

/closed.

[Keep It Real]

i just use itunes because its a lot more logical and stuff than winamp.

[Keep It Real]

oh and because they dont make winamp for macs

[phantasmagoria]

it's a known fact that if you pay for music you're a faggot.

[+JuggerNaut+]

it's a known fact that if you pay for music you're a faggot.

so true! everyone post a pic! yay! \o/

[Keep It Real]

it's a known fact that if you pay for music you're a faggot.

so true! everyone post a pic! yay! \o/

lol