Benavent

This days I’m planning to use free software to manage my iPod instead of iTunes. So, which application should I choose?

Before choose one of them let’s rebember what I said before; if I may find the same software across different distributions or even the same software across Linux and MS, this is a clear advantage for me.

I’ve found this choices:

• gtkPod
  • fairly mature software
  • no new libraries needed, as long as it’s a gnome app
• amarok
  • it’s a kde software, and I prefer not to run more libraries than gtk in order to keep my so limited memory free
  • it’s a mature solution
• Banshee
  • developed with mono, so it requires an extra runtime
  • plays AAC formats but I don’t know they manage the whole license stuff
  • in their page does not appear nothing related with the iPod’s
• Yamipod
  • it seems to be the most iTunes similar solution
  • non free software
  • quite odd instalation
  • screenshots and features looks fine
• Rhythmbox:
  • may require added software for tag edition
  • it seems no so mature software, very early versions at the moment

Does any of them support m4p format?… Banshee does it, and Yamipod seems to be able to do it, but Yamipod is not free software.

Everytime I’ve tested some software with my iPod, iTunes does not recognized later I have to attached again to my iTunes… nasty thing. Best solution would be if Apple relases a Linux version. You may sign a petition to port iTunes to Linux

Bossie Awards are granted to the best Open Source Software for the enterprise, keep attention on that man!: for the enterprise.

Via Slashdot I’ve arrived to the list where appear 2007 Bossie Awards, once you’re there you choose a category. I’ve had a look on Best of open source in platforms and middleware and there is my dear CentOS.

Most interesting thing is that it has been choose instead of RHEL but they specified that is exactly the same, even they say:

That means you can install applications for RHEL on a CentOS server without any incompatibilities, and all RHEL updates are applicable to CentOS as well. Obviously, no support contracts are available for CentOS, but that’s the draw for many Linux veterans – the familiar Red Hat distribution, including updates, without the onus of having to purchase a support contract that is never used

The funny part of the story is a comment on slashdot, somebody says:

Interesting that CentOS won for server OS. Shouldn’t that go to RHEL?


…and somebody elses anwser:

Actually, RHEL won and Centos just made a copy of the award and changed its name.

By the way, Ubuntu wons at desktop category, actually I got a Ubuntu LiveCD to show what Linux is at work, and everytime I can I run it, they flip when they see cube desktop 😉

Via an article about Flickr Architecture I discover some apps quite interesting:

• System Imager: automates Linux installs, software distribution, and production deployment
• Ganglia: scalable distributed monitoring system for high-performance computing systems such as clusters and Grids.
• Subcon: allows you to store your essential system configuration files in a subversion repository and easily deploy different configurations to machines in a cluster.

I’ll comment each one on next post … by now, I’m thinking about my lack of practise in sysadmin stuff this days grrrr!