Linux IPod users cut off

If you used any of the open source systems to synchronize your IPod with your Linux machine, you are pretty well cut off from doing that until someone figures a hack around on this one.

This is on the new generation of IPods, and it is not just regulated to Linux as an issue either. Some unofficial devices for IPods will also not work with them, like speaker systems unless they can pass a verification check as an official Apple IPod add on.

Of course, this is going to have most of the tech blogs in an uproar, Boing Boing, Download Squad, and Engadget are just a few covering the issue.

Here is the good news on this one, given history of hacking, gear hacking and software hacking, eventually, and maybe within the first 45 days of being released, someone is going to figure out a way to get Linux working with the new generation of IPods.

The news is good to know if you have an alternative system like Linux that is not officially supported by Apple, The reality is thought that this issue is not going to last that long, people will figure out a work around.

The standard arms race is firmly in progress, and hackers will be more than happy to take this one. As well, Linux programmers and Linux fanboys will have some very real stake in making sure that the system works with major devices. Even if those devices are not officially supported by Apple themselves.

Apple has basically said that it is ok to hack the IPhone, they have not supported Linux, but they also have not sued people and companies out of existence for making a Linux system that works with the IPod.

In all it is a great way to get attention, but it is also a great way to throw out the challenge, who is going to be first to crack the new IPods so that they work on Linux again, and what new cool apps are going to come along that take advantage of other hacks for the system.