Don Owen's dashboard

Don Owen replied on November 23, 2009 20:38 to the question "One Library, Multiple Computers" in Songbird:

I would imagine that you can use a similar tactic to 'trick' Songbird. Just set up a network mapping as usual, like you did with iTunes, and then use the "watch folder" support in Songbird to watch that folder. Any Songbird instance connected to that network-mapped-watched-folder should stay up to date.
One other tip - make sure you don't use the library management feature that automatically renames/moves your music because if you don't have all the various Songbirds identically set up they may cancel out each others changes. Just a thought.
Does that help?

A comment on the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

Yeah, I'm not very confident about it getting solved either. It doesn't look like it'll get any work unless someone(s) take over the ipod add-on and really start making progress. I foresee more problems cropping up as the add-on gets more and more out of date... – Don Owen, on November 10, 2009 18:20

Don Owen started following the idea "Songbird + android = ipod killer" in Songbird.

Don Owen replied on October 29, 2009 22:09 to the question "Do you use Android?" in Songbird:

Planning on it sometime... just not yet.

Don Owen replied on October 23, 2009 17:01 to the problem "ipod not connecting on Ubuntu Karmic 9.10" in Songbird:

I've had, I believe, the same problem. My workaround is to plug in the iPod, logout, login, and bring up Songbird again. So, no terminal commands, but forces you to logout.

A comment on the question "Administrator rights required for install" in Songbird:

http://portableapps.com/apps/music_vi...

Should be at version 1.2. Good Luck! – Don Owen, on October 23, 2009 00:19

A comment on the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

Thanks for pointing some of the devs to the bug - it at least has been noticed and marked for community attention. Thanks. – Don Owen, on October 23, 2009 00:15

A comment on the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

I think one can do an about:config change to the same effect as well:

about:config > extensions.checkCompatibility > False
(If it doesn't exist, create it and initialize to false.)
Reboot SB.
No more add-on version checking.

However, this is a bit of a blunt, bludgeoning, it means ALL of the add-ons are not version-checked, but is easier for the average user instead of messing with add-on code. (Unless there's an iPod add-on about:config setting that does the same thing.) – Don Owen, on October 23, 2009 00:13

Don Owen replied on October 21, 2009 18:42 to the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

Quite a useful proposal, thanks for the how-to. I really wish there was more active development for the iPod add-on. I actually resisted buying an iPod until Songbird came out because I wanted to avoid iTunes as much as possible (at least on Windows). Now Songbird iPod support is slipping away... And like you said, I don't think it'll improve in the near future unless someone organizes some developers to take over the add-on.

A comment on the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

Mkay... Here is the link for the bug I files at Songbird's bugzilla a week or so ago. http://bugzilla.songbirdnest.com/show... – Don Owen, on October 20, 2009 00:24

Don Owen replied on October 19, 2009 04:00 to the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

Does anyone know where to file a bug with the team (hopefully one exists...) that owns/publishes the iPod add-on now? I will gladly report the problem, but unfortunately my programming skills are more on the Python/Tcl/Sh scripting side of the world...
I have split feelings about open-sourcing the iPod add-on. On the one hand, more free open-source software for the win. On the other hand, no more dedicated support team for the loss.

A comment on the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

Thanks for the info.
Darn, I was hoping I was on to something... – Don Owen, on October 17, 2009 15:57

Don Owen replied on October 16, 2009 23:20 to the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

On the idea of all systems in question being x64: very good idea, unfortunately debunked by jeslimak.

It did get me thinking though - it seems that a common aspect between all of our cases is that these are all iPod Nanos that are not syncing. Can someone confirm/deny this?

Don Owen replied on October 16, 2009 23:18 to the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

I created a bugzilla bug for this a few days ago, but it has been completely ignored so far :(
http://bugzilla.songbirdnest.com/show...

Don Owen started following the idea "Awesome Library Bar!" in Songbird.

Don Owen replied on October 15, 2009 03:49 to the problem "The song order of my albums on my ipod" in Songbird:

That is quite strange. Consider filing a bugzilla (linked) bug about the discrepancy between right click > ... and dragging.
You are not alone, I am also OCD about tagging my music :)

Don Owen replied on October 15, 2009 01:30 to the problem "iPod sync broken, 'transcoder not available' but transcoder should not be needed" in Songbird:

Also confirmed the problem for myself on the same computer, but running Linux, Ubuntu 9.10 (Beta) x64, with the sane 4th gen iPod Nano. Downloaded a fresh tarball from the getsongbird nightly site, but no improvement.

A comment on the problem "Update in Ubuntu Linux 8.10" in Songbird:

Help > Check For Updates... ?

Also, installation via .deb does generally disable update checking. This same thing happens in Firefox, Thunderbird, and other applications. This is because a self-updating application would cause problems with the .deb format - it could gain or lose files, change names, etc. - thus unleashing havoc that a package manager would not be able to fix. So, if there is a package repository that you can add, that would solve the problem, but self-updating Songbird via .deb installation is highly unlikely to work well, if at all, hence why the update mechanism is disabled by .deb packagers. – Don Owen, on October 15, 2009 00:47

Don Owen replied on October 15, 2009 00:43 to the problem "Update in Ubuntu Linux 8.10" in Songbird:

Oi! Please *don't* run as root. As wonderful as Songbird & Mozilla are, it is still a Mozilla application at the core, which means that it could be vulnerable to Mozilla security problems. Running as root means an attacker could gain root access, not good :)

Don Owen replied on October 15, 2009 00:38 to the problem "The song order of my albums on my ipod" in Songbird:

Can you verify that your tags for your songs are correct?
Right click the file(s), click 'view metadata' and make sure everything is correct.
What format are the files in? MP3, AAC...?