iTunes 8 running in wine recognizing an iPod
UPDATE: 6/18/2009: I am not actively working on this project but you are welcome to check out the resources.
UPDATE: 12/7/2008: I have documented the method and am actively soliciting help to get this working at http://www.huanix.com/sync-in-linux/index.php/ITunes_8_through_modified_Wine
I am not sure if anyone else has accomplished this yet – i know some people have run iTunes 8 in wine, but tonight I was able to get iTunes 8 running in Wine to recognize an iPod. I saw that this was kind of possible with iTunes 7.6, but it was infeasible because of incredibly slow and erroneous transfer speeds.
Anyway, I have been hammering away at this constantly for more 40 hours now and I believe I am getting closer. To tell the truth, since this screenshot I have not been able to replicate the connection (okay, i just figured out how to replicate it). And there happens to be this tiny little secret… I’ve never really used Wine before last week and I really don’t know what I’m doing.
My ultimate goal, however unlikely it may seem, is to sync my iPhone in iTunes through wine without complication. This will allow many of us to finally get rid of the windows install that has been slowing us down!
Update 11/13/2008: I was asked how I would distribute this if it works; It will be distributed as a free shell script under GPL to give complete transparency to the process. The fix will likely require kernel driver modifications as well as Wine source modifications. Any potential fix will free; but let’s be realistic about the chances (slim).
Update 11/14/2008: If you were reading the comments you’ll note that I was stuck on the iPhone hash algorithm, and I referred to http://bluwiki.com/go/Ipodhash. Unfortunately, that site has received a takedown notice from Apple while attempting to decrypt the algorithm. While I don’t agree with laws that reduce the flow of information, I do honor them. I think I’m moving on, but i’m also realizing that the search was probably a red herring. I’m not trying to decrypt the iTunes algorithm, I need to get the usb interface to communicate properly…
This is very exciting – if or when you get this working you should also check to make sure that you can restore the iPhone or iPod touch as well. — I’m pretty sure that functionality is not present when you use virtualbox with iTunes..
Dear you!
I consider your project sincerely exciting and I hope for further progress in this mission of your’s.
I have successfully used your “no-device”-script on my Ubuntu 8.10 machine and it worked like you said: iTunes installed but no iPod (an iPod Nano 4 gen.).
If you wish to see my log-file from installation, or any other output, I would be happy to send them over to you.
Thanks
Keep up the good work.
I wanted to see if you have any thoughts on why it is running too slow to play music effectively for me. I’m running Intrepid with itunes as per your earlier post and my most basic specs are 1009.01MB of memory and a single Intel P4 3GHz Processor. It doesn’t seem to use all of my system resources when running although I feel like it does run better with everything else closed. I dunno if other people are having this issue or not but it is slow to the point of not being able to properly run music without severely cutting in and out. Can’t donate any more until it’s worth it for me to run it, but good luck with the devices!
Not sure why it runs slow sometimes. i have had compiles +installs where i believe it runs properly (smooth music), and others where the music is choppy. the build where the ipod detects is also very choppy, but i think that’s the usb implementation.. i think there’s a way to work on that though (?)
stuck here: http://bluwiki.com/go/Ipodhash
I am going to script this fix and put it out this afternoon (11/14/2008). It’s basically Wine 1.0.1 with the EA Durbin patch and 5 Marteen Lankhorst patches from May, 2008. Just for the record, it does “see” pods, it doesn’t recognize them and it’s incredibly choppy.
Update: 11/15/2008: I didn’t get around to scripting this – i’m irritated with it. I’m focusing on the VirtualBox method now; if you want a script and my notes, let me know when you contribute by paypal at huanix@gmail.com
That sounds terrific. I look forward to try it and see if it manage to “see” my iPod Nano 4G and if it can perform any sorts of operations on it.
I’m really supposed to be working on my Finance class for some master’s degree i’m doing, but this is so much more fun. I discovered that I can edit the contents of the iTunes installer with Orca. This will allow us to cut out some dependencies that were causing trouble (i.e. Bonjour) and install the iTunes components separately. check out http://talentlesshack.com/ht/169
Thanks for the $17 in paypal love. As silly as it seems, it makes me feel like my time is worth it – let’s see.. i’m getting about forty cents an hour!
No news on this side (run iTunes directly with WINE and synch with iPhone) ?
Haven’t had time to work on it. Maybe over break. I’m at one of those awful points where I can’t even identify the problem that needs to be solved
i do use kubuntu, but i didnt get iTunes to start. even using your script.
problem might be, I’m linux-newbie, so i dont know how to handle this
so far, i did start your script and there are some new folders. How can i get rid of them?
Hey man, if you are still working on this, I came accross this little snippet of info from the apple forums.
the iPhone needs a daemon (AppleMobileDeviceService) to communicate with iTunes so even if you could find an iTunes client that ran on linux this Windows Service or Mac daemon would not run on it.
Maybe you need to see if the AppleMobileDevice Service is running correcly? or is there at all?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8224447�
I am absolutely still interested in getting this to work, though it is on the back burner for a couple weeks. I was slightly aware of the AppleMobileDevice Service, but I haven’t investigated it yet – thanks for the heads up. Does anyone know if the AMD service is related to the Bonjour install?
Hey, I’m from Argentina.
You know that if you make new iPods (iPod nano 4G, iPod Touch 2G, iPhone) to work under Linux you’re going to be a lots of people hero, right?
I’m looking forward to see if this finally get to work sometime (it would be soooo great!)
Keep trying!
PS: Sorry about my english
Hello,
Rhythmbox does the job rather well (I use a iPOD classic, on Ubuntu Desktop). What is the advantage of using iTunes? Just a question.
What I want to do is easy CD ripping into M4A format (far better than MP3…)
Good luck with your project (have lots of Wine when you take your wife out).
Daniel
Many of us are running the iPhone along with Cydia; (and dual booting with Linux) – while I’m not a huge fan of iTunes, i do recognize that it is the only way to access some features, like the app store, firmware upgrades, and (as cool as i am) – it really is the best tool for sync right now. I truly believe that iTunes support is one of those things keeping people tied to proprietary operating systems.
C’mon guys, thanks for working on itunes 8 over wine. I’m a linux user with an Ipod Touch 2G, I can’t sync music under linux and I need a special partition with XP just for this function.
From the research that I’ve done so far I think your solution is the most likely to provide the most functionality. I may delay getting an iphone if I can’t sync on linux in some way.
Any progress? Anxiously awaiting! Thanks!
This is one reason why I refuse to buy apple products, no matter how slick they are.
So… what is wrong with Apple!!! Why the hell don’t they just join the Ubuntu party. My laptop is Ubuntu 8.10 but I’ve kept Windows ShitP on my desktop simply because apple suckered me with the awesome iPods. And now iTunes 8 is overpowering my shit desktop — it was supposed to run at 2.4 mgz but barely runs over 1 — iTunes makes it hard for it to even sync. Anyway… time for a new desktop — but I can’t go with Windows or Apple. I will relearn all my graphics stuff and switch from Adobe to Gimp — that’s been something holding me back too — but iTunes — we’ve got to get it working in Ubuntu! I’m ready to donate to your project but I can’t tell if you’re still on it and I can’t see why there aren’t about ten other dedicated dudes on this with you. What’s the update?
Hi! Any other news from this project? I really need something to sync my iPod touch with linux since I want to free some disk space currently used from VirtualBox to virtualize windows xp. I use it only for iTunes (and even in VBox there are problems with syncronization…)
Please solve this problem for all of us. I really love my iPod touch, but not being able to sync it with anything is a big problem and if apple thinks that I’m going to drop with linux just because I cannot easily use my iPod with it well, I’m going to sell my ipod touch today.
Has anyone found a way to run iTunes on Ubuntu 9.04 without errors? This is the only thing holding me back from fully converting to Linux. I have an iPhone and I need iTunes to work Pls. help!!!
I also have an iPod touch 2G and can’ t sync it in Linux. Ok, I still use Windows for playing some games but I try to use it as less as possible. Pls I need help!
Having trouble with jailbreak → Need iTunes to work in Linux!
i am a ipod nano 4g user and i havae tried alots of apps out there in ubuntu like amarok,gtkpod ,rhythmbox ,hipo ipod management tools but not able to success in sync song with their album cover.its totally boring not to get the full feature of ipod.i am planning to dual boot my computer cauz u dont think any one will succeed in running itune in wine cauz here you c no progress at all
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Badboybiky, How do you sync your music to your 4th gen nano? I’m new to linux and need some help.
Also checking in for any status.
I have iTunes 7 running via Wine in Karmic Koala, but it can’t see the iPod although it’s mounted and visible/accessible outside iTunes.
One of the users above articulates properly why I’m not using any of the open source alternatives to iTunes – yes they’re functional, but I really like having the *correct* album covers sync’d to the albums/songs.
My solution for the time being under Karmic is iTunes via Sun VirtualBox XP session, so looking forward to a complete Linux/Ubuntu solution.
Mp
I am thinking of using Amarok, I hear it syncs with ipods