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Ubuntu 10.04 supports iPhone and iPod Touch out-of-the-box
And it looks as though Canonical has stepped up to the plate. According to reports at Ubuntuforums, Lucid Lynx supports Apple's hardware without breaking a sweat.
The Nautilus file manager can browse and access files, but that's really not too interesting to the average user. What does matter is that Rythmbox can play your tunes right from your iPhone or Touch. Pair that with the Ubuntu One Music Store, and it's clear that Lucid is well on its way to becoming an extremely consumer-friendly distro.
It may not sound like much, but when I had Ubuntu systems on display for retail customers nearly everyone asked "can I do all the same things I can on Windows with this?" which they followed with "can my kids use their iPod with it?"
Since I'll soon be able to answer "yes" to that question, it might not be long before Ubuntu systems reappear on our shelves -- and those of other system builders as well.
[via webupd8]
Comments
24
Subscribe to commentsDrew GreenFeb 28th 2010 2:13PM
Is this functionality something that Apple can break with a firmware upgrade (sort of how they broke Palm Pre support by upgrading iTunes)?
ipxnsvFeb 28th 2010 2:53PM
Think about it like this.. if they broke that they would break older version of Itunes also.. which would suck.
Drew GreenFeb 28th 2010 2:58PM
Good point, however, that wouldn't necessarily be the case. Seems like it would be more of a cat-and-mouse game, causing Apple more work, rather than with the Pre, where it caused Palm most of the work. Since it's probably much easier to make a few modifications to the software application than to firmware, I guess Apple may not find it worthwhile.
cWjFeb 28th 2010 5:33PM
Since the Pre used iTunes and this does not, seems less likely. Apple would have to make a change to the player itself, or sue Canonical for (something).
simonMar 1st 2010 5:02AM
There is no way apple could sue for this. If they did they could be fined for anti competitive practice and forced vendor lock in (which isn't allowed in the UK , where canonical is based).
I don't understand how canonical have managed to do this, as the data stream was meant to be encrypted. But good on them.
FredFeb 28th 2010 6:07PM
Interesting, but really not the reason that people don't use linux, in my experience. Sure, it's linked to the whole "Can I do X from Windows", but it has more to do with software rather than hardware support. Hardware support has always been decent, and I suspect that this compatibility won't last long.
When I can use Office, my Zune software, Steam, Itunes AND Outlook (~redundant I know), then I might consider a linux distro.
MatthewFeb 28th 2010 9:20PM
Thats actually EXACTLY why I don't use linux. I have an eeepc and would much prefer to use ubuntu netbook remix but it takes up to much memory on my little netbook to run a virtual machine, and since I use my iPhone for a lot, I wouldn't want to be without syncing it. As for the others you mentioned, I wouldn't know about the Zune, but I can do everything else
FredFeb 28th 2010 9:36PM
I have a netbook too, an Acer Aspire One (standard N270 fare), with Windows 7 Pro on it, and I would not use anything else at this point. Outlook uses less memory than Thunderbird, as does MS office compared to Open Office, not to mention that there is no OneNote equivalent for Linux.
And I don't use my iPod toouch for music given my ZuneHD, so without iTunes to backup my apps/upgrade firmware, linux would be a waste.
As for the Zune software, go check it out. Even if you don't have a zune, it's a great media player. Sluggish on a netbook, but otherwise great.
ZintinioFeb 28th 2010 6:31PM
I can do this already. Search for the pmcenery ppa and install ifuse. It allows even non-jailbroken devices to be mounted. It then can be mounted by rhythmbox, or you can add files to /var/mobile/.
FredFeb 28th 2010 9:39PM
Yea... no idea what that means...
ZintinioFeb 28th 2010 9:45PM
Really easy. You go to software sources, paste the link, then install ifuse. It will automatically mount the device.
Sebastian AnthonyFeb 28th 2010 6:58PM
OMG it's 'touch', not 'Touch'! OBEY THE TRADEMARK.
cloud858rkMar 1st 2010 1:38AM
At least he didn't say iTouch. *cringe*
Sebastian AnthonyMar 1st 2010 8:55AM
I believe I called it the iTouch in one of my earlier Download Squad posts :P
omgFeb 28th 2010 8:28PM
@Zintinio
Sure you can, but I'm sure Canonical is helping somewhat to make the process better and easier for people, rather than adding the fuse group, the ppa, mounting it in a terminal, etc.
ZintinioFeb 28th 2010 9:41PM
No, it really only takes adding a single source and installing ifuse. Then it can be mounted automagically, with a nice little icon. There ain't no terminal voodoo.
snowninja3Mar 1st 2010 12:43AM
What ubuntu really needs is a "Windows Combatiblity mode". So it can run all windows programs especially iTunes. I know it's not impossible because Wine does it. But Wine has some bugs.
dwightedwards77Mar 1st 2010 1:19AM
It's impossible to run all of Windows products on a Linux/Unix system because some are private held companies. I am surprise we even have Skype which does not release the grand daddy of codes to the Linux/Unix system and created a package for Ubuntu.
LilyMar 1st 2010 9:50AM
Ubuntu has had solid support for iPods for some time now. The real news is support for iPhones and touches. I can't wait!
michael57Mar 1st 2010 11:29AM
You know you can download the 3rd alpha that has this support right now, in fact I already have it installed on my 'Linux test box'. My test box is just a computer that only had a version of ubuntu on it, but since my family doesn't use it I use it now to test the latest releases on ubuntu. Anyway I didn't try it yet, I was checking the facebook and other new things that were included. Now since I've seen this, I've got to try this when I get home later today!