How to Guide- Ipod/ipod touch/iphone Music transfer/sync

[cra1g321]

Transfer music to Ipod/ipodtouch/iphone in linux mint 8 (gnome) using libimobiledevice0

Linux mint 9 & later will already have this featured available, this tutorial is for LM8 gnome only.

**UPDATE - Linux Mint 9 gnome users, check out this link on how to add iOS4 support to LM9 !!!
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=53489&start=0

This is my 1st guide ive done . So forgive me if It isnt the best in the world. Ive tried to make this guide easy to follow and understand. It wont take long to do everything in the guide. Please dont be put off by the size of the guide, it only looks like a a lot because ive detailed a lot about each step making it easy for pros and newbies of linux mint.

I have followed this guide step-by-step on my own LM8(gnome) and everything went fine without any errors. I used a ipod touch 32gb MC model (3rd generation) running firmware 3.1.3 (Latest). I dont know yet how to transfer videos. Also Ive only tested it in the gnome desktop environment so im not sure if this guide will work with any other one.

If you follow the guide carefully and take your time, you shouldn't run into any problems. I accept no responsibility if you mess up your LM8.

***Now to begin **** -

Step 1 (Add libimobiledevice repository) -

Open up the Synaptic Package manager, click on the settings tab at the top, then click repositories, click on the other software tab, click on the Add button, copy and paste

Code: Select all

ppa:pmcenery/ppa

then click the add source button, close the software sources window, a popup may come up saying the repositories have changed, just click the close button. Now click on the reload button on the synaptic package manger to reload the new repository.



Step 2 (Installing libimobiledevice) -

Copy and paste

Code: Select all

libimobiledevice

into the quick search text box at the top of the synaptic package window, double click on the "libimobiledevice0" package in the list below, a popup will show notifying of the software that will be installed, click the Mark button, then click on the Apply button on the synaptic package manager window, then click Apply on the summary popup window, the software will then be downloaded and installed. Once it is finished the popup will say changes applied, press the close button.



Step 3 (Installing extra software needed) -

Some extra software is needed for mounting your ipod/ipodtouch/iphone. To easily install these packages, close the synaptic package manager and open the update manager, in the list box, you should see the following packages are available -
gvfs-backends
gvfs-fuse
gvfs-bin
libgpod4
libgpod-cmmon
gvfs
libgvfscommon0
usbmuxd

If you dont see the them then just click the refresh button, then they will show. Install all these updates by clicking the Install Updates button above the list, the packages will then be downloaded and installed. Click on the close button to close the update manger.

The boring part is now over, go ahead and restart your computer and log back in to your account.

**********Time for the fun bit***********

Step 4 (connecting your ipod/ipodtouch/iphone) -

When your logged back in and your at the desktop, go ahead and connect your apple usb lead to your computer, before connecting the ipod touch/iphone, unlock it, so your at the springboard (menu) then connect it to the apple lead. you will see 3 popups show on your desktop, close them all by clicking cancel on all of them. You will also see 2 icons on your desktop, 1 will say iPod and the other will say the name of your ipod/ipodtouch/iphone . just ignore the iPod 1 because it only shows the folder on your ipod/ipodtouch/iphone that contains any pictures. If you double click on the icon that says the name of ipod/ipodtouch/iphone you can view all the files and folders that are on your ipod/ipodtouch/iphone. (Best not to touch them)



Step 5 (Transferring music to and from your ipod/iphone) -

Open up rhythmbox (it is included with LM8), you will see in the tab under Devices your ipod/ipodtouch/iphone, to transfer music to it, just go into your music library by clicking the Music icon below Library. To copy the music just click on the artist or album name you want to copy so that it is highlighted, then drag & drop the artist or album name by holding down the left-click of your mouse on the name of the artist or album from the list, you will notice the cursor will have a file beside it when you move your mouse, then move your mouse over to your ipod/iphone in the tab, you will see the that the ipod/iphone name will be hightlighted, let go of the left-click of your mouse while you have the ipod/ipodtouch/iphone name highlighted, you should now see at the bottom of the rhythmbox window,a a transfer box and text telling you that it is copying the music to your ipod/ipodtouch/iphone. for example (Transferring 1 of 1 tracks - 77%). Once the progress bar is complete it will disappear, after this and during this you should see "Sync in Progress" on your ipod/ipodtouch/iphone meaning that the tracks are being transferred. DO NOT DISCONNECT YOUR IPOD/IPHONE WHILE THE SYNC IS IN PROGRESS MESSAGE IS SHOWING.
EVEN WHEN RHYTHMBOX SAYS THE TRACKS ARE TRANSFERRED, THEY ARE STILL BEING SYNCED, SO WAIT A MIN OR SO AFTER RHYTHEMBOX IS DONE.
Now to test that everything is succeessful, close rhythmbox by right-clicking its icon on the linuxmint bar and clicking Quit. then right click on the 2 icons on your desktop that are of your ipod/iphone, right click then click unmount, the icon will disappear, do this for both icons. Then disconnnect your ipod/iphone and check that the tracks you transferred are on it.


If all the tracks are on it, they you have successfully transferred the music.

Dont forget to reply to this guide if it worked for you. If you have any suggestions on how to improve this guide, feel free to PM me.


Link for more info about this great piece of software.

http://www.libimobiledevice.org/

[Aging Technogeek]

Nice How-to, cra1g321.

[cra1g321]

thnx, made it because some posted in the newbie questions section, asking how to do it and thought i would write him a guide on how i did it on my LM. The new gnome desktop (gnome 2.30) will have libimobildevice already installed. so linux mint 9 will probably have it when it comes out . Cant wait

[uiri]

I have all the extra software from step 3 except for usbmuxd. I think I couldn't get the repositories from step 1 to show up Is there anyway for me to get usbmuxd, it seems to be the missing link for me to get my iPod Touch (3rd Gen. 8GB, running version 3.1.3 of the OS and not jailbroken) to hook up with my computer. I'm running Linux Mint 8 Helena if that helps.

[cra1g321]

Open the synaptic package manager, click on the "Reload" button then type "usbmuxd" into the quick search box. If it doesnt show in the main list then you havent setup the repository correctly. You can also check that the repository is enabled by clicking "Settings" at the top, then click "repositories", then click the "Other software" tab then check the tick box beside "http://ppa.launchpad.net/pmcenery/ppa/ubuntu karmic main" is ticked.

[uiri]

Open the synaptic package manager, click on the "Reload" button then type "usbmuxd" into the quick search box. If it doesnt show in the main list then you havent setup the repository correctly. You can also check that the repository is enabled by clicking "Settings" at the top, then click "repositories", then click the "Other software" tab then check the tick box beside "http://ppa.launchpad.net/pmcenery/ppa/ubuntu karmic main" is ticked.

I did what you said but when I hit reload I got an error but after checking other software it looks like synaptic thought it was packages for helena and not for karmic. The usbmuxd package appeared when I fixed that

EDIT: It works like a charm, very good tutorial.

[cra1g321]

Glad to hear you got it working thanks 4 replying to say it worked

[chargingrhino23]

during step 1, after i click reload, i get an error message

"Could not download all repository indexes

The repository may no longer be available or could not be contacted because of network problems. If available an older version of the failed index will be used. Otherwise the repository will be ignored. Check your network connection and ensure the repository address in the preferences is correct.
Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/pmcenery/ppa/u ... ackages.gz 404 Not Found
Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead."

And I tried searching for libimobiledevice in the quick search and it didnt find anything?

does anybody know what i can do to fix this? appreciate it

[cra1g321]

i will run do this how-to again in my virtual LM8 and see if i get the error. ive only tested this for LM8 x64

[cra1g321]

i havent tried the tutorial again but this might fix your problem. Open "synaptic package manager" open the repositories same way i said in tutorial then click on the repository that wasnt working and click the "Edit" button. It should be setup like this -

Code: Select all

Type - Binary
URL - http://ppa.launchpad.net/pmcenery/ppa/ubuntu
Distrobution - karmic
Componenets - main


If the fields dont contain them then change it to match mine, then reload and follow the tutorial normally.

[chargingrhino23]

ok, so i got to step 5, when I open rythmbox, two identical windows popup, "IPOD detected" do you want to initialize your Ipod?" first off i have an iphone but i figure it just says ipod, it has a box for name and model, i enter name and the model drop down menu doesnt even drop down. either way i hit initialize and there is no device tab for my iphone in rythmbox. i dont get it, it followed all the steps correctly. installed all 8 updates. did everything exactly how you said. cant figure it out. in rythmbox i went to help,,portable audio player source and there was message saying "if rbox does not detect your device as portable audio player, you can create an empty file named .is_audio_player at the top level heirarchy of the filesystem of your player". i dont know how to do this, if this will fix it can you tell me how or tell me how i can get this working. i have iphone 3gS 32gb. it would be great to get this working. thanks in advance

[cra1g321]

ive never encountered that error before. though i have only tested this with a ipod touch. you could uninstall any packages installed during the tutorial, restart and try again or wait till the new Linux mint 9 comes out. As it will have ipod touch / iphone right out the box (gnome version will not sure about kde version). sorry to hear it didnt work for you.

[evanisgo]

thank you. this was my first project on mint regarding a little trouble shooting.

went well with out a hitch. cheers.

-Evan in Texas

[cra1g321]

Glad to hear it worked 4 you thanks 4 using the how-to and 4 replying to say it worked

[jessewilliams]

Thanks for the info mate. I just got my gadget and I could definitely use this tutorial to speed things up for me. Luckily i found your post! I should share this to all my friends, I'm sure they too will appreciate you sharing this information to all of us! Cheers!

[cra1g321]

glad to hear it. Though i reconmmend using Linux mint 9 (gnome) becuase it has all this done already 4 you

[lorence]

you can easily transfer music from ipod to pc through a simple software which you can download on the website below..



________________________
http://ipodtoitunes.net/

[celloyd]

So how does one transfer from one's Ipod Touch To one's computer?

[cra1g321]

same way you transfer songs from your music library to the ipod. Open rhythmbox and just drag and drop from your ipod to your music library.

[keljaden]

I am pretty sure this doesn't work with my Ipod Touch...I heard we have to use ssh now.