superduper.net : Sam's blog

I have had my IPod for several months now. Its a G3 30Gb model and I use it with Linux and gtkpod. I've been using the new HFS+ driver and the 2.6 test series of kernel and had no problems at all. This means I can mount both Windows (FAT32) and Mac (HFS+) formatted IPods. gtkpod already has lots of great features that are missing from iTunes such as duplicate track detection using MD5 sums. I am working on a feature that will allow a 2 ways sync between the ipod and linux. This will allow to detection of exectly which tracks on the ipod are not present on the PC and to copy those tracks back accross. This feature is very usefull if you carry your IPod with you and use it collect tracks from other peoples iTunes.

Secondly, I have noticed that it is perfectly possible to use a FAT32 IPod with OS X and iTunes. It seems like Apple could have saved themselves some hassle and formatted all the IPods for Windows. That said, I sure there are serveral technial benifits to HFS+ especially on large IPods. However, the key point here is that if you want to use your IPod on Windows and OS X (and Linux or course :) then format it FAT32.

Tue, 09 Dec 2003 10:48 | tech | # | TB | 0 comment(s)

For some reason I haven't been writing in this blog for a very long time now. Since my last entries I have now completed my MSc. My thesis, along with some of my other school work can be downloaded from here.

I've also been in Brussels for about a month and am now looking for work in London. If you're reading this and you know of a programming postions in London that involves Linux and is with an innovative, lively, young company please get in touch.

Tue, 09 Dec 2003 10:35 | personal | # | TB | 0 comment(s)

I spent a bit more time looking at CSS this week and gave the site a little revamp. You may notice some tricks from Paul Sowden, Nicholas Theodorakis and Eric Meyer. The site now uses a little bit of javascript to change CSS styles and store the selection in a cookie. If you have cookies disabled you will always get the default style, sorry.

The photo section has also been improved with lots of whiz-bang stuff. Images will appear to load faster thanks to some javascript preloading. Next feature is to make a javascript slideshow that doesn't need a page reload simply to change the current image.

Tue, 09 Dec 2003 10:24 | site-updates | # | TB | 0 comment(s)