Goodbye Apple

I've owned a lot of iPods. My wife has owned a lot of iPods.

Not anymore.

For the longest time, I could use gtkpod to seamlessly access my iPods from my Ubuntu desktop. It initially took some reverse-engineering effort to understand the iPod's data format to be able to access it from non-iTunes software, but it was possible. All of a sudden, Apple is trying everything they can to prohibit interopability.

First, they encrypted the firmware, blocking the use of third-party firmware like Rockbox and iPod Linux. This doesn't bother me much, as I always prefered the original Apple firmware anyway.

Then, in August 2007, they added a new hash to the database to block non-iTunes software. This was quicky reverse-engineered and support was added to gtkpod once again.

In November 2008, they changed the hash again. This time, Apple used code-obfuscation software on iTunes in an effort to complicate reverse-engineering a second time. When a wiki was put up to start documenting the new hash, Apple sent a takedown notice. Fortunately, some people found an ugly workaround to get gtkpod working again.

In 2009, Palm released the Palm Pre. It supported syncing with iTunes. Apple retaliated by updating iTunes specifically to block Palm Pre interopability. Unfortunately, this changed the iPod database structure, and the workaround for gtkpod no longer works.

While I can understand Apple not wanting the Palm Pre to be able to sync with iTunes, as iTunes integration is one of the main selling points for the iPod, I can't understand why they would actively block third party software from accessing the iPod.

Everyone is now selling DRM-free mp3 music, so it's not a question of protecting DRM. You'd think they would want to sell more iPods, not block a certain percentage of their market out.

My 5G iPod broke today. Dear Apple, the replacement I purchase won't be from you.

Launchpad search plugins for Firefox

If you work a lot with Launchpad, there is a package in the Ubuntu repos that adds Launchpad integration into the Firefox search box. The package is called "firefox-launchpad-plugin":

Launchpad firefox integration
Mozilla Firefox Launchpad integration add quick search for:
- Ubuntu bugs on Launchpad
- Ubuntu specifications on Launchpad
- Ubuntu packages on Launchpad
- Ubuntu support tickets on Launchpad
- People and team on Launchpad

Adobe Reader fonts

Here's another PDF tip while I'm at it: how to fix broken fonts in Adobe Reader in Ubuntu Hardy and Intrepid.

It seems Adobe Reader doesn't use font-config by default. If you open a pdf file that uses Arial or some other font that is installed in font-config, Reader will still replace it with a generic Adobe Sans font. To turn on font-config support, modify the /usr/bin/acroread launcher script and uncomment the following two lines:

ACRO_ENABLE_FONT_CONFIG=1
export ACRO_ENABLE_FONT_CONFIG

Discovering QPDF

A friend of mine asked for help removing the restrictions on a PDF file he made a while ago. It seems he misplaced his original source file because of disk bloat and all that was left was a PDF file he created for the print shop. Of course, he couldn't remember the password he had used when he created the file.

A quick look through google came up with a simple solution: qpdf, available in universe:

QPDF is a program that can be used to linearize (web-optimize),
encrypt (password-protect), decrypt, and inspect PDF files from
the command-line.

Here's the command line that removed the PDF restrictions:

qpdf --decrypt infile.pdf outfile.pdf