Support and General Use > Audio Playback, Database and Playlists
[iPod 5G] Read iPod native playlists in Rb database
runawaywind:
forgive the double post...
--- Quote ---What playlist creation functions does iTunes offer that Rockbox does not within its database functionality?
--- End quote ---
iTunes offers the ability to create playlists from a computer rather than from the iPod. It also has the capability to create smart playlists using pre-configured criteria without touching a line of code (only drop down and user-input).
I haven't explored dynamic playlists on Rockbox to know whether supported or not, but iTunes is able to refer to other playlists, match checked items, and sort by tag fields. It is also easy to order things the way it needs to be in an efficient manner (such as selecting multiple selections and making custom ordered playlists using criteria from various tags).
--- Quote ---The guy who started this thread is essentially saying something similar.
I've only got a 60gb iPod, but I have hundreds of gigs of mp3s on my pc and I'm pretty sure that iPod capacities and MP3 collections are only going to be growing.
--- End quote ---
I am in complete agreement and in the same boat. I've got the 60G, with much more than that on my computer. So I need a compatible solution that is mutual between the iPod and the computer (so I can do my dirty work without using the hamster wheel to scroll).
Ideally, I would have a marriage of Rockbox and foobar2000, but together they miss what are some great functions. It does not support playcount and ratings between the firmware and media player. Granted it might be foobar's problem, but it lacks the ease of use and support that iTunes/iPod combo has. Apple has obviously made it hard to do without it. If you would like to enlighten me about how others use rockbox with a second library on a computer without iTunes, I'd love to get ideas.
Llorean is right that I can't manage to get other software to do what I want, but Rockbox is founded on this fact. Rockbox does things that other software/firmware can't do. That's why I like it.
robin0800:
Are you aware that rockbox already has these WPS Tags
%rp Song playcount
%rr Song rating (0-10). This tag can also be used in a conditional tag, %?rr
which implies some asspects of smart tags are already in place.
Llorean:
The file structure is NOT an attribute of the iTunes firmware. It is simply files on a disk though, that's where your logic is incorrect. They are simply files on a disk, if you move them to any other disk, they're still the same files on a disk.
I know that A->B is not equivalent to B->A, but I understand your statement to mean that Rockbox parallels iTunes' database. In absolutely NO way does Rockbox incorporate a part of it, and I think that's where your understanding is flawed since you seem to think it does.
If Rockbox takes MP4 metadata and makes a database, and iTunes takes MP4 metadata and makes a database, what part of that involves Rockbox using part of the iTunes' database? If their database is present, or not, or even if you delete their database afterward, Rockbox's will continue to work as long as the files are left on the disk in their position.
Rockbox accepts *any* positioning of files. It's a simple as that. As long as iTunes copied the files anywhere to the disk on a FAT32 partition, Rockbox would be able to add them to its database.
runawaywind:
--- Quote from: Llorean on July 08, 2007, 04:32:19 PM ---The file structure is NOT an attribute of the iTunes firmware. It is simply files on a disk though, that's where your logic is incorrect. They are simply files on a disk, if you move them to any other disk, they're still the same files on a disk.
--- End quote ---
OK, here's the deal. We are in agreement, we just have different ways of explaining it. My beginning posts were referring to the iTunesDB incorrectly. After re-explaining, I thought I was clear.
I do think the directories and filenames as an attribute of the original iPod firmware. We can continue arguing for hours for linguistic reasons, but I'd rather not because it doesn't solve anything. I define an attribute as an abstraction of a characteristic of an entity or substance. The original iPod firm has, without a doubt, a distinct directory structure. The "simply files on a disk" (an abstraction) were put in place (a characteristic) in this case by an entity other than Rockbox. Rockbox just reads, whereas iTunes writes it to the iPod disk.
--- Quote ---I know that A->B is not equivalent to B->A, but I understand your statement to mean that Rockbox parallels iTunes' database. In absolutely NO way does Rockbox incorporate a part of it, and I think that's where your understanding is flawed since you seem to think it does.
--- End quote ---
No. You are right. I don't mean they parallel.
--- Quote ---If Rockbox takes MP4 metadata and makes a database, and iTunes takes MP4 metadata and makes a database, what part of that involves Rockbox using part of the iTunes' database? If their database is present, or not, or even if you delete their database afterward, Rockbox's will continue to work as long as the files are left on the disk in their position.
--- End quote ---
That's where I went wrong and tried to explain. I misused "database" to refer to the entire iTunes/iPod system and it contents (the files). This is the only thing that needed clarification, as I didn't actually think iTunesDB was used by Rockbox.
--- Quote ---Rockbox accepts *any* positioning of files. It's a simple as that. As long as iTunes copied the files anywhere to the disk on a FAT32 partition, Rockbox would be able to add them to its database.
--- End quote ---
And proof that we agree.
Llorean:
Then why is the fact that iTunes puts files in a structure that Rockbox has always been capable of reading relevant in any way toward an argument that Rockbox should accept their playlists?
Rockbox has had support for the FAT filesystems since before iPods worked.
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