When Apple updated their iPod lineup a couple of weeks ago, I started to drool. I’ve wanted an 80G iPod for a while, but when I finally had the opportunity to buy one – May of this year – I recognized that the then current generation of iPod had been around for a while and that a new one would be out soon.
This really pisses me off: New iPods reengineered to block synching with Linux
The 160G iPod “classic” and the iTouch are a couple of really sexy sweet products. However, I wouldn’t buy a toaster oven that I couldn’t empty the crumb tray, and I won’t buy an iPod from a company that intentionally limits my ability to use their product.
Zune is lame at 30G. Creative has some offerings but Apple is so far ahead simply in user experience. This is why I wanted an iPod over something else. If you have never used an iPod for more than 5 minutes that you don’t know what you are missing. Maybe this is a case of ignorance is bliss. I might have been happy with a Creative product if I had never touched an iPod. Alas, I have touched an iPod. The menu system and “click wheel” interface are superb.
-ANGRY
Well, the new Classic iPod checksum has already been broken by the GTKPod team, so you can use them with Linux. No idea about the iPod touch.
BUT.. I wouldn’t buy any product from a company that has already demonstrated their willingness to make these kinds of low level changes, that serve no apparent reason other than to break compatibility with every third party tool out there.
It started with the second nano with its encrypted firmware, then the breaking of third party hardware compatibility, and now this…
I agree that UI is awesome, but not something that’s essential. I’ve lived quite happily for the past few years with Cowon’s players. Recognized as UMS devices, OGG Vorbis and FLAC support and Linux support stated on the specs (yes, they actually give a damn). They’re more expensive though.
Stuff like this is why my last player was an iAudio player. It’s not as nice, although it does have the advantage of longer playback life. It’s pretty nice though in the fact that it’s just a mountable drive. Place muisc on device and play.
Fortunately the hash has been reversed, but there’s still a view that Apple should be boycotted for even attempting such a thing.