Alternative iPod song-loading software other than iTunes?

[chipzoller]

Regardless of how you may feel about Apple and the iPod (all things aside), I was recently given a new iPod as a gift (30GB, video, picture, audio and all that good stuff-capability) and find myself plunging into the iPod world not wanting to rely on Apple's software as the only solution. Is there some other software out there that can do what iTunes does besides iTunes? I don't buy music, only load my CDs, so the store issue really isn't an option and thus the DRM-encoded MP3s. iTunes/Quicktime has in the past screwed up my machine something awful and plus I really don't like the layout and usability of iTunes. I'm hoping some folks out there already asked this question and so can advise me further. I'd also be open to hear about any other must-have Apple-alternative iPod software (how about Videora video converter or StaxRip?)

Many thanks,


CZ

[Sirber]

Anapod maybe? (shareware)

[chipzoller]

Just found that one. Any that are completely free and opensource yet?

[Sirber]

Songbird don't allow that yet.

[foxyshadis]

You'd probably have to load it with rockbox in order to use FOSS software with it, sadly.

[Sirber]

rockbox has no video playback for iPod 5G :(

[chipzoller]

So does plugging up an iPod to an otherwise "clean" PC prompt you to load drivers? Or does it recognize it as a USB mass storage device? I don't a "clean" machine on which to test it or I wouldn't be asking this question.

[Angelus]

I'm pretty sure it will recognize it as a mass storage device. This means you'll be able to put data onto the iPod, but you wont just be able to drag and drop songs on the iPod and then play them on there. As you probably know, you need a software to do this.

[Sirber]

iPod use a database as a playlist and a file system. you can't just drag files in and expect them to work.

[chipzoller]

I know you can't drag them in, but you CAN drag them off (even though they get renamed). I'm more interested in it being recognized as a MSD and be able to access it as a drive without itunes or drivers.

[Sirber]

Get iPod2Pc to keep the names

[Bootsy]

foo_pod, a plugin for foobar2000 allows you to transfer music to your iPod. Unfortunately it isn't ported to version 0.9 yet so you'll have to use 0.83.
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=19156

[chongy5]

Ephpod possibly? I'm not sure how good it is but I guess you can give it a shot.