need iTune-like program

phantom_cyph · 07-13-2008, 12:27 AM

I have an a1059 40gigabyte, black and white screen iPod. my problem is, I can't seem to find software that works with it. I would prefer to use it with my computer as opposed to transferring files from a USB drive to a windows laptop in order to use iTunes.

I would not be asking for help if I hadn't tried any programs. I have tried: gtkpod, floola, and trying to see if banshee will work.

All help is appreciated.

kahlil88 · 07-13-2008, 12:50 AM

There are several good programs that should support iPods. My favorites are Exaile (for Gnome) and Amarok (for KDE). There's also Banshee.

phantom_cyph · 07-13-2008, 09:20 AM

Amarok has too many dependencies, I tried to install them all, but when I actually did, it said the dependency still wasn't installed.

Exaile looks good, but I get this when trying to start:

Code:

bash-3.1# exaile
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/exaile/exaile.py", line 91, in <module>
    from xl.gui import main as exailemain
  File "/usr/lib/exaile/xl/gui/main.py", line 23, in <module>
    from xl import library, media, audioscrobbler, equalizer, burn, common
  File "/usr/lib/exaile/xl/library.py", line 20, in <module>
    from xl import common, media, db, audioscrobbler, xlmisc, dbusinterface
  File "/usr/lib/exaile/xl/media/__init__.py", line 1, in <module>
    from xl.media import mp3, ogg, flac, wav, wv, mpc, tta
  File "/usr/lib/exaile/xl/media/mp3.py", line 2, in <module>
    from xl import xlmisc
  File "/usr/lib/exaile/xl/xlmisc.py", line 54, in <module>
    import common, prefs
  File "/usr/lib/exaile/xl/prefs.py", line 22, in <module>
    import cd_import, xlmisc, audioscrobbler, burn, advancededitor
  File "/usr/lib/exaile/xl/cd_import.py", line 23, in <module>
    import pygst
ImportError: No module named pygst
bash-3.1#

phantom_cyph · 07-13-2008, 12:19 PM

And with Banshee, I need the following (ghost) dependency:

Quote:

gconf-sharp-2.0

Ironically, its not listed as a dependency on the package documentation.

b0uncer · 07-13-2008, 02:14 PM

Rhythmbox? It's somewhat iTunes-like if you ask me..except that it doesn't have all the major problems of iTunes (like emptying your device without asking) and it's a whole lot lighter than iTunes.

I'm just wondering..don't most of the programs still use the same library for accessing iPods (libgtkpod)? Check that out -- if one app doesn't work that uses it, the others probably don't either, so you can skip directly to software that uses some other library.

Amarok is a nice one indeed, but KDE thing, and heavy as a mammoth.

phantom_cyph · 07-13-2008, 06:03 PM

Now I need something called "libgnutls". This is a pain in the ***.

A friend recommended Slackware because you don't deal with dependencies. How does that work? I've used Slack for a while now, and have had to look for dependencies as much as when I used Ubuntu.

simonapnic · 07-13-2008, 06:14 PM

I strongly suggest Amarok, which works in both GNOME and KDE (I'm using it on GNOME as we speak).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slapt-get
Maybe you should use the Slackware package manager to install the dependencies quickly ?

If you don't want much trouble with dependencies and such issues, I strongly suggest you switch to a Debian-based distribution, which features the infamous Aptitude.

phantom_cyph · 07-13-2008, 07:20 PM

I just tried to use slapt-get to install amarok. It said it was, and no such luck.

I'm just about ready to go back to Ubuntu, except from a server install and build up. Not just over this iPod problem, but I have a business and need to be able to install things quickly. I can't deal with this crap very well.

kahlil88 · 07-13-2008, 09:47 PM

I've never experienced any dependency issues after installing a program, so I'm not too sure what to say about that. Ubuntu is a great distro, I highly recommend it. Amarok is pretty heavy, and I would only recommend using it if you're running KDE. If you're a GNOME guy, Exaile and Banshee seem to be the best.

b0uncer · 07-14-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phantom_cyph

A friend recommended Slackware because you don't deal with dependencies. How does that work? I've used Slack for a while now, and have had to look for dependencies as much as when I used Ubuntu.

Had your friend used Slackware and installed software on it, not using the CD-sets/DVD, or did s/he misunderstand you? No offense, I just mean that Slackware is fairly known not to come with a nice apt-like "automatic" package manager that does everything automagically (including a security hole or two)..there are several options available, but you need to install them yourself; the other way is to use the pkgtools that come with Slackware that don't automatically get you the dependencies. You can easily get into some sort of dep-hell if you use for example installpkg and just blindly download and install one package at a time

Seen it, tried it, fried for it. I never use an "automatic package manager" that works with reposities like apt or yum, but that's just me..and I don't install that much software anyway, and when I do, I most of the time compile them from source anyway. So, shortly: yes, Ubuntu is more "user-friendly" in this aspect, but that's not the full story.

See the Slackbuilds site for your package needs on Slackware first!

And the others that are alike..

EDIT: oops, above I meant I don't use automatic package managers on Slackware, but like it says in my profile, I use Ubuntu and do use apt on it..