foo_pod - Foobar2000 meets the iPod, iPod -> Foobar2000 0.8 Options

[rexy]

Thanks for the new version, Aero! I really appreciate the effort you put into foo_pod and I'm sure everyone else does too.
Say, does the iTunesDB maintain the data about which song is currently being played? The reason I ask this is I was wondering if it is possible to make it so when you send a playlist to the iPod, you can set it so when you disconnect the iPod, it will be paused at the beginning of the song that was playing on foobar when you were sending the playlist. So, like if you have your playlist in foobar and it's playing and then you're done on the computer and you need to go somewhere so you send your playlist to the iPod and then just disconnect and press play. Otherwise, you would need to go into the playlists, search for your playlist, search for the song you were listening to and play.
So, I was just wondering if it's possible. This isn't really a request because I know you got better things to implement into foo_pod in the time you dedicate to it.
Maybe if it is possible, I would try to write a small menu item component that would look at the playlist that is now playing in foobar, ask foo_pod for the iPod playlists list, check if there's a playlist of the same name there as the foobar one, check which song is playling, check if that song is in the iPod playlist, and then set the iPod to be paused on the beginning of it (or even at the time offset you're at). The last step would be the tricky one, though, as I have no idea where it is in the DB if it is there at all.

[Otto42]

Say, does the iTunesDB maintain the data about which song is currently being played? The reason I ask this is I was wondering if it is possible to make it so when you send a playlist to the iPod, you can set it so when you disconnect the iPod, it will be paused at the beginning of the song that was playing on foobar when you were sending the playlist.

Nope. Can't be done. There's no support on the iPod side for this sort of thing.

[Aero]

Thanks for the new version, Aero! I really appreciate the effort you put into foo_pod and I'm sure everyone else does too.

Thanks!

Say, does the iTunesDB maintain the data about which song is currently being played? The reason I ask this is I was wondering if it is possible to make it so when you send a playlist to the iPod, you can set it so when you disconnect the iPod, it will be paused at the beginning of the song that was playing on foobar when you were sending the playlist. So, like if you have your playlist in foobar and it's playing and then you're done on the computer and you need to go somewhere so you send your playlist to the iPod and then just disconnect and press play. Otherwise, you would need to go into the playlists, search for your playlist, search for the song you were listening to and play.
So, I was just wondering if it's possible. This isn't really a request because I know you got better things to implement into foo_pod in the time you dedicate to it.

I don't believe that is possible. Audiobooks (.m4b and .aa) files have a bookmark feature, so you can be playing a song in iTunes (foo_pod doesn't directly support bookmarks), and when you get to that song on the iPod, it will pick up at the same spot. But I don't know of any way to specify which song to start up with.

Maybe if it is possible, I would try to write a small menu item component that would look at the playlist that is now playing in foobar, ask foo_pod for the iPod playlists list, check if there's a playlist of the same name there as the foobar one, check which song is playling, check if that song is in the iPod playlist, and then set the iPod to be paused on the beginning of it (or even at the time offset you're at). The last step would be the tricky one, though, as I have no idea where it is in the DB if it is there at all.

I think the way it would have to be implemented is you would have a Snapshot menu item in foo_pod, which would look at the current playlist and if the song is on the iPod, create a single song "Snapshot" or "Currently Playing" playlist on the iPod containing that song. Then you could always go to that playlist to play the last playing song in Foobar. Otherwise, I don't see how it could be done...although, maybe it would be a good use for the Notes feature on the iPod. There could be a snapshot notes feature in foo_pod that would create a notes file listing the last 10,20,50 songs played in Foobar, in reverse chronological order.

Actually, you wouldn't need foo_pod to do this at all - just use the History component's interface to get the last played song list, use foo_pod's interface to get the iPod's drive letter, then build the Notes file and copy it yourself. If someone is interested, I'd be willing to help.

[mobyduck]

Sorry for the slightly OT post, but I'd like to know how many iPod/foo_pod users are using the new firmware (3.0.2 - 15-NOV-2004).

I fought with it for one day (I have a 20GB click-wheel) and have now switched back to the previous release.

Alessandro

[FreydNot]

Sorry for the slightly OT post, but I'd like to know how many iPod/foo_pod users are using the new firmware (3.0.2 - 15-NOV-2004).

I'm using it on my 4th gen 20Gig now. I haven't noticed anything unusually wrong. The newest version of foo_pod was giving me some hard crashes (detailed above) but those have gone away once I rebuilt the database on the iPod (a clean wipe and total re-sync).

What problems did you have?

[mobyduck]

Well, I tried it on both my home PC (XP SP1) and at work (W2k SP4).

At home, when I attached the iPod the first message I saw was an error from foo_looks () complaining about an unrecognized file on the device.

Then I tried creating a couple of Smart Playlists. No errors, but:

1) I couldn't disconnect the device (neither closing foobar nor via the tray icon)
2) My playlist was empty (but the songs where still physically present on the iPod

So, I tried re-synching and... boom! the PC rebooted (did 3 or 4 times).

On W2k, with iPod connected, I was having problems even at startup: OS complaining about an unrecognized format device. So I didn't bother to test any further.

Sorry but I don't remember the exact error messages I got.

I should also mention that I tried both the latest foo_pod and the previous release.

After downgrading, all problems gone except that (on W2k) it seems that disconnect no longer works and I have to shutdown the PC : anyone knows how can I fix that?

Alessandro

[mobyduck]

it seems that disconnect no longer works and I have to shutdown the PC : anyone knows how can I fix that?

It's NAV: stopping the service I am now able to disconnect the iPod. Wasn't necessary before, though...

Alessandro

[Aero]

Version 0.9.6 is now available.

This is another release that deals mostly with playlists. The major enhancements are the ability to open all iPod playlists in Foobar, as well a new Update Playlist context menu item, and the ability to create normal playlists in the Playlist Editor, as well as removing songs.

Here is how I have been using the new features to manage playlists and songs:

First, I still create a new iPod playlist by creating a Foobar playlist, then using the Send Playlist To iPod feature. You can also create new blank playlists in the Playlist editor, if you choose.

When I want to add, remove, or reorder songs in an iPod playlist, I select the Open iPod Playlists As Tabs menu item. The iPod playlists are shown as the name of the playlist plus the " [iPod]" suffix. Don't edit this...

After I add/remove/move songs in an iPod playlist, I right click on one of those songs and select the foo_pod/Update Playlist On iPod menu item. This will copy any files not already on the iPod, as well as updating the playlist.

To delete a playlist, just use the Playlist Editor. It is also possible to delete (but not add or reorder) songs in the Playlist Editor.


From the Readme:

CODE

Version 0.9.6 - December 8, 2004
*  Improved the playlist editor by adding the ability to remove songs (highlight one or more songs and press the delete key).

*  Added the "Open iPod Playlist As Tabs" feature in the foo_pod Component menu.  This creates a new Foobar playlist for each playlist on the iPod.  These playlists are noted by the suffix "  [iPod]" at the end of the playlist name.  There is also a "Close iPod Playlist Tabs", which will close all iPod playlists in Foobar.
 
  The iPod playlists can be edited (songs added, removed, reordered) like any Foobar playlist, and when you are done, right click on a song in the playlist and select the "Update Playlist On iPod" option.  This will copy files (if necessary) to the iPod and create the specified playlist.

*  Added the ability to create both normal and smart playlists from the Playlist Editor.  Normal playlists can now be created directly in the Playlist Editor, or via the Send Playlist To iPod feature.

[mobyduck]

Version 0.9.6 is now available.

Hi Aero.

Thanks for your work!

I have just downloaded the latest version and synch'ed my playlist (I'm experimenting with per-track ReplayGain).

The files were all transferred (presuming from their date on the iPod) but at the end I got a crash and foobar closed.

I tried the synch a second time: no files sent but another crash:

CODE

Illegal operation:
Code: C0000005h, flags: 00000000h, address: 00433CAAh
Access violation, operation: read, address: 0000000Eh
Call path:
WinMain=>app_mainloop=>playback_format_title_ex=>titleformat_i::run
This is the first crash logged by this instance.
Code bytes (00433CAAh):
00433C6Ah:  5F 80 24 06 00 5E 5B C2 08 00 56 8B 74 24 08 56
00433C7Ah:  E8 95 4D 00 00 59 8B C8 EB 11 0F BE 04 31 50 E8
00433C8Ah:  9D FE FF FF 83 C4 04 84 C0 75 07 49 79 EC 33 C0
00433C9Ah:  5E C3 8D 41 01 5E C3 8B 51 14 4A 78 17 8B 49 04
00433CAAh:  0F BE 04 11 50 E8 77 FE FF FF 83 C4 04 84 C0 75
00433CBAh:  06 4A 79 EC 33 C0 C3 8D 42 01 C3 56 33 F6 39 71
00433CCAh:  14 76 2A 8B 41 04 8D 14 06 8A 02 3A 44 24 0C 74
00433CDAh:  16 0F BE C0 50 E8 66 FE FF FF 83 C4 04 84 C0 74
Stack (0012EE78h):
0012EE58h:  0012FE80 B25B7948 8199E054 B25B7C1C
0012EE68h:  8045E9F0 80405558 FFFFFFFF B25B7C2C
0012EE78h:  0042EE16 0000000E 0012FAA8 0012EF54
0012EE88h:  0012EEA8 004467B0 00000000 0012EF90
0012EE98h:  00434896 01C046B8 0012EED0 02F84748
0012EEA8h:  78462A06 007E0000 02F84740 02F84748
0012EEB8h:  0012EEAC 007E0688 0012EF64 78461F55
0012EEC8h:  78462A40 FFFFFFFF 0012EF00 02F84748
0012EED8h:  78462A06 007E0000 02F84740 0012EF14
0012EEE8h:  01389598 78462A06 007E0000 01389590
0012EEF8h:  01389598 0012EEF0 007E0688 0012EFA8
0012EF08h:  78461F55 78462A40 FFFFFFFF 0012EFB8
0012EF18h:  784AC71E 007E0718 0043946C 00000000
0012EF28h:  00000010 00000010 00000000 0000000F
0012EF38h:  00000000 0012EF78 0042E8A1 0012EF55
0012EF48h:  01BE6388 01175678 0012F0C0 7269645F
0012EF58h:  6F746365 616E7972 0000656D 0012F04D
0012EF68h:  0012F084 0012F05B 0012FAA8 0012FAA8
0012EF78h:  0012F040 0042E411 0012EF54 0000000E
0012EF88h:  0012F0C0 00000010 0012F084 0012F04C
Registers:
EAX: 00000000, EBX: 00000000, ECX: 00000000, EDX: 0000000E
ESI: 10002911, EDI: 0012EF55, EBP: 0012EF3C, ESP: 0012EE78
Crash location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h

Loaded modules:
foobar2000                       loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
ntdll                            loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
KERNEL32                         loaded at 796B0000h - 7976A000h
USER32                           loaded at 77E10000h - 77E75000h
GDI32                            loaded at 77F40000h - 77F7B000h
ole32                            loaded at 77A50000h - 77B3F000h
RPCRT4                           loaded at 77120000h - 77191000h
ADVAPI32                         loaded at 79260000h - 792C2000h
COMCTL32                         loaded at 71710000h - 71794000h
utf8api                          loaded at 10000000h - 1000D000h
comdlg32                         loaded at 76B10000h - 76B4E000h
SHLWAPI                          loaded at 63180000h - 631E9000h
msvcrt                           loaded at 78000000h - 78045000h
SHELL32                          loaded at 77590000h - 777D9000h
foo_ape                          loaded at 00800000h - 0081F000h
foo_cdda                         loaded at 00820000h - 0082E000h
foo_clienc                       loaded at 00830000h - 0083B000h
foo_console                      loaded at 00840000h - 00847000h
foo_dsp_extra                    loaded at 00850000h - 00865000h
foo_flac                         loaded at 00870000h - 0088C000h
foo_infobox                      loaded at 00890000h - 008A3000h
foo_info_samurize                loaded at 008B0000h - 008CD000h
foo_input_std                    loaded at 008E0000h - 00982000h
MSACM32                          loaded at 773F0000h - 77403000h
WINMM                            loaded at 77550000h - 77581000h
SYNCOR11                         loaded at 6BD00000h - 6BD0D000h
foo_looks                        loaded at 00A10000h - 00A7D000h
gdiplus                          loaded at 70D00000h - 70E91000h
MSVCP60                          loaded at 780C0000h - 78121000h
foo_lyricshow                    loaded at 00A90000h - 00AA7000h
foo_masstag                      loaded at 00AB0000h - 00AC4000h
foo_mod                          loaded at 00AD0000h - 00AD9000h
BASS                             loaded at 00AE0000h - 00B3A000h
foo_output_std                   loaded at 00B40000h - 00B49000h
foo_out_dsound_ex                loaded at 00B50000h - 00B59000h
DSOUND                           loaded at 51080000h - 510DA000h
VERSION                          loaded at 77820000h - 77827000h
LZ32                             loaded at 75980000h - 75986000h
foo_out_ks                       loaded at 00B70000h - 00B7B000h
SETUPAPI                         loaded at 783C0000h - 78450000h
USERENV                          loaded at 79060000h - 790C2000h
foo_playlistfind                 loaded at 00B80000h - 00B89000h
foo_pod                          loaded at 00B90000h - 00C00000h
OLEAUT32                         loaded at 779B0000h - 77A4B000h
foo_read_http                    loaded at 01010000h - 01019000h
WS2_32                           loaded at 74FE0000h - 74FF4000h
WS2HELP                          loaded at 74FD0000h - 74FD8000h
foo_repeat                       loaded at 01020000h - 0103F000h
foo_rgscan                       loaded at 01040000h - 0104D000h
foo_shuffle                      loaded at 01050000h - 0105B000h
foo_speex                        loaded at 01060000h - 01078000h
foo_ui_std                       loaded at 01080000h - 01097000h
foo_wavpack                      loaded at 010A0000h - 010B2000h
CLBCATQ                          loaded at 72C90000h - 72D20000h
msi                              loaded at 01E60000h - 02064000h
wdmaud                           loaded at 77540000h - 77548000h
msacm32                          loaded at 773E0000h - 773E8000h
KsUser                           loaded at 5EF80000h - 5EF84000h
browseui                         loaded at 71500000h - 715FD000h
browselc                         loaded at 71960000h - 71973000h
imagehlp                         loaded at 77920000h - 77943000h
DBGHELP                          loaded at 729A0000h - 729CD000h

Stack dump analysis:
Address: 0042EE16h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 004467B0h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 00434896h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 78462A06h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78461F55h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78462A40h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78462A06h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78462A06h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78461F55h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78462A40h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 784AC71Eh, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 0043946Ch, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E8A1h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E411h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 78461F55h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78462528h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78001E00h, location: "msvcrt", loaded at 78000000h - 78045000h
Address: 78461F55h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78462518h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78001532h, location: "msvcrt", loaded at 78000000h - 78045000h
Address: 0042EE5Eh, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 7800BD6Ah, location: "msvcrt", loaded at 78000000h - 78045000h
Address: 78032250h, location: "msvcrt", loaded at 78000000h - 78045000h
Address: 780014CFh, location: "msvcrt", loaded at 78000000h - 78045000h
Address: 0042E37Dh, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E391h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E300h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E31Eh, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042AE70h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042D617h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0043946Ch, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E557h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E5B6h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 78462A06h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78461F55h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78462518h, location: "ntdll", loaded at 78460000h - 784E2000h
Address: 78001532h, location: "msvcrt", loaded at 78000000h - 78045000h
Address: 78001532h, location: "msvcrt", loaded at 78000000h - 78045000h
Address: 0042E391h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 00420029h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E31Eh, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042AE70h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042B3FAh, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0043946Ch, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 0042E5B6h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h
Address: 00433C21h, location: "foobar2000", loaded at 00400000h - 00452000h

Version info:
foobar2000 v0.8.3
UNICODE

Alessandro

[jkwarras]

Thanks Aero!

[jackalope]

when i try and send to the ipod i just get an "ERROR (foo_pod) : Error #3 copying C:\Documents and Settings\schuyler\My Documents\My Music\iTunes Music\Frantic Situations (CU)\Bridge Commander Funnies\Earl Grey Bass.mp3 to f:\iPod_Control\Music\F46\Earl Grey Bass.mp3" or whatever it is im trying to send...

im useing a brand new ipod(got in the mail today), and up to date everything in foobar

any help?

[Aero]

when i try and send to the ipod i just get an "ERROR (foo_pod) : Error #3 copying C:\Documents and Settings\schuyler\My Documents\My Music\iTunes Music\Frantic Situations (CU)\Bridge Commander Funnies\Earl Grey Bass.mp3 to f:\iPod_Control\Music\F46\Earl Grey Bass.mp3" or whatever it is im trying to send...

Error #3 is "The system cannot find the path specified.", meaning that foo_pod could find the source file. Make sure that the file exists (can you play it in Foobar?), and if it does exist and can be played, also check that f:\iPod_Control\Music\F46 exists.

[jackalope]

it does exist, i can now send music to the ipod, but nothing shows up on it(it shows the transfureing window, but nothing happens on the ipod)

[MOCKBA]

Sorry if it's a bit of topic, where can I get sources of foo_pod? I maintain some program decoding iTunesDB and I have some dark spots, so sources could help me better understand iTunesDB format.

[Aero]

Sorry if it's a bit of topic, where can I get sources of foo_pod? I maintain some program decoding iTunesDB and I have some dark spots, so sources could help me better understand iTunesDB format.

foo_pod is not open source, but the library that it uses - iPodDB - is. Everything I have learned about the database format has gone back into iPodDB, and since foo_pod is really just Foobar <-> iPodDB glue, it wouldn't be too useful.

Even better than the source code is the iTunesDB Wiki that Otto42 put up. In fact, I'd start there since it is a lot easier to understand than the source code.

[infrared]

Is there a good place we could make a Wiki for foo_pod? I find it really hard to sift through all these pages trying to find what I think are simple answers. I'll help maintain and get it started if anyone knows of a good host.

Besides that, I was wondering how foo_pod is designed to update our iPod. I have yet to use the "sync on playlists" function since it seems that it will want to have the files on the active playlist on the iPod, deleting the rest. When I try it I always select "no" and chicken out. Right now, I create a new playlist, then send files to iPod, then send playlist to iPod. Surely this program has a better way of doing things. How is it supposed to be done?

[Xecter]

Would it be possible to use foobar formatting strings to determine which text is sent to each field?

IE:

Artist (On the ipod) = $if(%album artist%,%album artist%,%artist%)
Album (on the ipod) = %album% [%date/year%]
Songs (on the ipod) = $num(%tracknumber%). %title%
Rating (ipod) = $div(%PLAY_COUNTER%,$put(play_counter_divider))

etc.


isn't this technically possible, since foo_pod builds the itunesDB on the ipod?

[infrared]

Would it be possible to use foobar formatting strings to determine which text is sent to each field?

Not sure about that one. I know that you can use the "Alternate Metadata Prefix" in the foo_pod options. From the Readme.txt:

CODE

The alternate metadata feature now allows for TAGZ strings in the metadata.  This allows you to have dynamic metadata created by any legal TAGZ string.

and

CODE

Added a preference item to append to certain metadata items, which allows the user to use a second set of metadata items for the iPod while not distrubing the regular metdata.

The following metadata items are supported: TITLE, ARTIST, ALBUM, GENRE, COMMENT, COMPOSER, and TRACKNUMBER

For example, if the Alternate Metadata Prefix setting is "POD_" and "POD_ARTIST" is set, the artist field on the iPod will be the value from POD_ARTIST.  Otherwise, it will fallback to ARTIST.

[infrared]

Version 0.9.5 (final) is now available.
Also new is the much asked for 3G Sound Check Line Out mode. 

I'm curious. What is this line-out port you're speaking of. Do you mean the sendstation's lineout? I have the 3G but don't have an extra lineout port.

[musicmusic]

Another question: I've also uploaded some songs that do not have a album title. When viewed on iTunes 4.7 (I forgot to state the version..  ), they display as [Album].

Just to ask, could this be due to foo_pod, or could this be due to my playlist formatting strings?

This is foo_pod's doing. If there isn't an artist metadata item, foo_pod uses [Artist], and if there isn't an Album, it sets the album metadata (in the iTunesDB database only) to [Album].

This is so you can easily find songs on the iPod which don't have album or artists. Sort of a catch-all artist/album.

Hi, I also noticed this, do you think you could make it optional or change it to something like [None] or [Unspecified]?

[Aero]

Is there a good place we could make a Wiki for foo_pod?  I find it really hard to sift through all these pages trying to find what I think are simple answers.  I'll help maintain and get it started if anyone knows of a good host.

Yeah, a Wiki would be perfect for the type of documentation that foo_pod really needs.

Besides that, I was wondering how foo_pod is designed to update our iPod.  I have yet to use the "sync on playlists" function since it seems that it will want to have the files on the active playlist on the iPod, deleting the rest.  When I try it I always select "no" and chicken out.  Right now, I create a new playlist, then send files to iPod, then send playlist to iPod.  Surely this program has a better way of doing things.  How is it supposed to be done?

The way I tend to use foo_pod is Send File/Send Playlist and Delete Files From iPod, along with the newly enabled Playlist Editor to delete playlists. I actually never use the Sync functions, and therefore, they get much less testing and more likely to have bugs. But in general, sync should work but it is much more dangerous (as in deleting files that you didn't expect) than Send File and deleting files manually.

[Aero]

Would it be possible to use foobar formatting strings to determine which text is sent to each field?

IE:

Artist (On the ipod) = $if(%album artist%,%album artist%,%artist%)
Album (on the ipod) = %album% [%date/year%]
Songs (on the ipod) = $num(%tracknumber%). %title%
Rating (ipod) = $div(%PLAY_COUNTER%,$put(play_counter_divider))

infrared's reply was correct - the alternate metadata feature does exactly what you are looking for (as of version 0.9.5).

For example, to use your Artist string, you would add a new metadata item to your songs named POD_ARTIST. The prefix is configurable, but defaults to POD_. Then set it to:$if(%album artist%,%album artist%,%artist%) and you should be set.

[Aero]

This is foo_pod's doing.  If there isn't an artist metadata item, foo_pod uses [Artist], and if there isn't an Album, it sets the album metadata (in the iTunesDB database only) to [Album].

This is so you can easily find songs on the iPod which don't have album or artists.  Sort of a catch-all artist/album.

Hi, I also noticed this, do you think you could make it optional or change it to something like [None] or [Unspecified]?

I suppose I could make it configurable, with a blank string meaning to disable the feature completely. I'll try to squeeze it into the preferences somewhere...

This post has been edited by Aero: Dec 11 2004, 19:20

[Aero]

And just a heads up for upcoming features. I got an iPod Photo as an early Christmas present (don't tell my wife that I already opened it! ), and I have been figuring out the new database format and how album art works.

First of all, be very wary of using iTunes to add album art to your music. It stores the art as a JPEG in a ID3v2 tag in the MP3 song itself (I'm sure there is something similar for AAC, and I have no idea what they do for WAV and AIFF). If you do this directly on the files already on the iPod, it will create problems for foo_pod since the song will have changed and foo_pod will send it again. I'm not sure why it puts the album art in the file itself, because the iPod doesn't access this directly - it uses pre-sized thumbnail images.

Also, since there isn't a really good way to use the Foobar interface to access album art, foo_pod's artwork editor will be a separate application, almost definitely written in .NET. This will mean you will need the .NET Framework on your computer if you want to use the artwork editor (and I don't want to hear any complaints about needing it, either...).

Although I have the db and image formats figured out, the artwork editor hasn't even been started, and won't be available until at least 2005.

[jackalope]

it does exist, i can now send music to the ipod, but nothing shows up on it(it shows the transfureing window, but nothing happens on the ipod)

ok, it does add it to albums now, but if its just a playlist(like my favorits playlist) it does not add it to the playlist folder