iPod Slave is a software that permits KIO aware Linux applications such as Amarok or Konqueror to gain access to the music library of an Apple iPod. It is used to manage and transfer music files from the device to the computer.
With the iPod Slave, users can copy songs from an album to a playlist, move tracks between playlists or albums, and add new mp3 files to the collection. However, it's important to note that any changes made must be saved manually through the "Synchronize" utility under "ipod:/Utilities". Make sure to have a backup copy of the original iTunesDB file, which can be found under "iPod_Control/iTunes/iTunesDB" in the directory structure of the iPod. The Synchronize utility will provide a link to this file that can easily be saved.
Key features of the iPod Slave include browsing and opening mp3s with KIO-aware apps, browsing and copying songs and playlists with Konqueror, copying tracks and albums from the iPod, copying mp3 files to the iPod, renaming/moving albums, and accessing playlists.
There are a few limitations to keep in mind when using the iPod Slave. When deleting a track from a playlist, the numbering of the remaining tracks won't get reorganized until synchronized with the iPod's database. Additionally, mp3 files need to have sufficient id3 information (album, artist, title, and track number) and the sort order heavily depends on the id3 track number field. Sometimes, it may be necessary to hit the "reload" button to make changes visible.
The 0.7.3 stable release has fixed a bug where the itunesdb wouldn't get written when the slave was compiled with gcc4. The 0.8-pre2 development release has also brought in enhancements and fixes from the latest libqtpod release, including better compatibility with iTunes 7, smart playlist handling, and speed optimizations. Overall, the iPod Slave is a useful tool for Linux users looking to access their iPod's music library.
Version 0.8-pre2: N/A