iTunes for Linux

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Level 1

9 points

iTunes for Linux

Since there is no general iTunes channel, I guess I will put this post in both the Using iTunes for Mac and Using iTunes for Windows.

I recently decided to make the choice to convert many of my Windows PC's to Linux (Ubuntu). I did this for many reasons. My only problem is that only two of my applications that I commonly use are not compatible with Linux. I was able to solve one of those by keeping one of my PC's a Windows PC. Unfortunately, this is a laptop though, and does not have a lot of space on it. My media collection is on one of my Linux PC's, and is now my main computer.

I know that there is no stable way to run iTunes under in Linux and thus, sync my iPhone. If you do a fast Google search though, there are many ways to "Sync," but you don't get the features that iTunes offers, and many of those ways requires a jail broken phone. I really don't want to jail break my phone, but I want to be able to use the features that iTunes offers.

<Edited by Moderator>

Other OS

Posted on Mar 31, 2009 8:20 AM

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Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

182,662 points

Mar 31, 2009 9:09 AM in response to TUOggy

Sorry, but is there a question here? If you're asking if there is a version of iTunes for Linux, the answer is no, there isn't. If you want to suggest to Apple that they consider one, you can use the iTunes feedback page. Whether or not Apple will ever see sufficient business opportunity to invest the necessary development resources I don't know.

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Answer 2

Sep 3, 2009 5:55 PM in response to TUOggy

Will Apple create a version of iTunes for Linux? Like many PC Users I have switched my older PC to Ubuntu Linux and would kill to have iTunes on my machine. I also run an older G-4, but have been considering a new netbook to travel with on my Harley, but really want to have iTunes availability. So how about it Apple, why not add a third option of iTunes for linux?

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Answer 3

Wozzeck

Level 1

20 points

Sep 3, 2009 7:10 PM in response to burnn4more

Apple will not make a version of iTunes for Linux. There actually is no making complicated, GUI applications for "linux" because there is no "Linux" to release iTunes for. Linux is a kernel, the most basic level of an operating system, as well as associated drivers, and some higher level operating system functions. The OS X equivalent is the Mach kernel and BSD. Linux distributions then add many programs and tools from GNU and other sources, as Apple does with OS X. That gets you as far as a command prompt and a cursor. From there various Linux distributions use several windowing systems, GUI widget sets, installation systems, etc. Some use the installation/package system from Debian, but each distribution using Debian's .deb system needs applications repackaged for each distribution. Other distributions use Red Hat's rpm packaging system. Others use there packaging systems, or are intended to have users build their system from source code. So Apple would either have to build dozens of versions of each iteration of iTunes for all the different linux distributions (oh, and each distributions release new versions regularly, and packages need to be built for each version), and would face pressure from numerous linux activists to release iTunes source code. And Apple needs to provide iTunes support, so would need to have troubleshooting instructions for each possible combination ("Hi, I'm trying to get iTunes working with my iPhone and my linux computer. Which kind of linux---oh ubuntu. Which ubuntu? Umm, 8.04. KDE or gnome? Oh, either." etc.)

Not gonna happen.

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Answer 4

Sep 3, 2009 9:00 PM in response to burnn4more

As we are all just fellow users, none of us are privy to Apple's plans. Speculation prohibited by the Terms of Use.

That they have not chosen to do up until now may be an answer itself.

Best of luck.

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Answer 5

Sep 18, 2009 6:32 AM in response to TUOggy

I don't need iTunes to fill my iPod (I use gtkPod for that purpose), but I want to buy music in the iTunes store, without the use of the iTunes software or with an alternative to it for Linux. Does someone have any suggestions?

Message was edited by: Julius Caesar

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Answer 6

varjak paw

Level 10

182,662 points

Sep 18, 2009 7:50 AM in response to Julius Caesar

I want to buy music in the iTunes store, without the use of the iTunes software

You can't.

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Answer 7

Sep 21, 2009 2:11 AM in response to Wozzeck

Wozzeck wrote:
Apple will not make a version of iTunes for Linux. From there various Linux distributions use several windowing systems, GUI widget sets, installation systems, etc. Some use the installation/package system from Debian, but each distribution using Debian's .deb system needs applications repackaged for each distribution. Other distributions use Red Hat's rpm packaging system. > Not gonna happen.

You are making it worse than it actually is. You can use gtk for the GUI and just two package systems: DEB and RPM. With this Apple can serve the majority of the linux market, just like most of the software suppliers for the linux market

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Answer 8

Oct 3, 2009 9:51 PM in response to Wozzeck

Well, since all major companies can provide applications, why can't apple do the same? I'm currently triple booting Windows 7 RC, Mandriva Linux, and Ubuntu 9.04. Ironically, the reason why Windows is still present is because of iTunes, Quicktime, Safari, and Google Chrome (Apple and Google, Microsoft's main Competitors). Thankfully Google has Picasa for linux and even a beta version of Chrome. Now if only Apple could do that.. I'd be satisfied with less than a Beta version of these three applications!! So please Apple if not for all Linux distributions, then at least for Ubuntu!!

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Answer 9

Oct 3, 2009 9:58 PM in response to varjak paw

Hi. You Suggested Using the iTunes Feedback to request iTunes for Ubuntu. What should we use as Feedback type and topic?

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