Don't know if you guys knew this or not, but it is possible to copy and add content from an iPod via the terminal without using the iTunes media library. This makes it possible to, for example, copy all the mp3's from your friends iPod without having the delete everything when connecting to the computer. This doesn't even need any kind of "hacking", just a few normal commands using terminal. I don't know how they plan to add this feature on the OS, but as far as I know, the same is possible with Windows. Unless it's protected heavily, this won't prevent access to the memory card in any way.
-Qtis
That's the current state of things, as was stated, but for a while you couldn't (while still letting the ipod's software access the disc).
comparing this new format with iTunes may not have been the best thing to do. iTunes is just trash! it doesn't have a lot of the most basic features one who owns an ipod would expect.
What? It's the same sort of deal, they're trying to lock users into using a specific program to write to the device.
To be honest I understand Sony's effort to prevent piracy with their memory cards. Just look what the open memory sticks have done to the PSP.
Yeah, with a program like this they can update it quicker than the Vita's firmware, so if an exploit was found they could quickly push out a forced software update to make it not transfer those known files...
Of course on the PC there's ways you could fake no updates and such (hosts file with custom server giving specific response), but that's a lot of workaround for the average user, and hell they might include some sort of DRM rootkit and/or have the thing access via IP instead of hostname or crap. I wouldn't put it past Sony to try to lock this thing down tighter than some MMOs we see, we've seen time and time again how batshit-crazy they are with DRM stuff.
And the bad thing about that is the DMCA would make cracking it illegal as far as I know.
They can't easily install a rootkit into your system and expect it to stay functional, so...
At least, Ipods could be connected on computer without Itunes, and the content was listed on FAT32 drives, though you couldn't add content accessible from Ipod's menu, it was only meant as a storage. The only "security" was the files were all renamed and scrambled.
That was if you put the device into disc mode, it wasn't the normal operation everybody was familiar with.
I didn't like the synchronisation program from Itunes, which deleted computer's files if you deleted ipod's content from another itune'd computer.
Yeah, synching can go to hell. Not only is it a pain in that way, but it also stops normal users from learning how to manage their files, which is a core computer concept I see more than more people totally unfamiliar with.