[OPLINTECH] iTunes/iPods on public computers

[Ed Liddle]

2 solutions for i-pod using library patrons :

If a patron downloads a mp3 file legally and wants to put it on an
i-pod, they could always plug the i-pod in and save the file to the
ipod. The computer running microsoft windows will see the i-pod like any
other usb storage device when the i-pod formatted for windows. When they
get to their own computer the patron can plug the ipod in, transfer the
file onto their computer, start i-tunes and use i-tunes to transfer it
back to the ipod so the ipod can play it.

The technical reason for this from
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodFAQ
 iTunes obfuscates the filenames of your music by giving them names such
as DLER.m4a in folders with names like F03. The folders do not match
albums - the tracks are placed randomly in the different directory. The
album/artist/title information is stored in a database file called
itunesdb on your iPod.

Another solution for i-pod users is to set up Rockbox
http://www.rockbox.org/ on the i-pod. This is open source and can
co-exist with the factory firmware on the ipod and does not require
i-tunes to transfer music onto it in order to be playable while using
rockbox.

-Ed  

On Tue, 2007-12-18 at 15:42 -0500, Ed Liddle wrote:
> We do not have I-tunes installed on public computers here. We also have
> a policy preventing the installation of software by patrons on our
> public computers. 
> 
> The main concern I would have about installing an application like
> I-tunes is the loss of data that occurs when the computer is rebooted
> (we use cornerstone). We also use envisionware which is set up to reboot
> the computers when patrons log off them. 
> 
> What I think would be most beneficial would be an application that would
> work with i-pods and other mp3 players that could be used to transfer
> songs, delete songs, edit play lists etc.. on the devices without a
> built-in "store" interface. Then if a patron wanted to download mp3
> files legally, they would be able to transfer then to their players.  
> 
> As far as market advantage, since we offer audio books, videos, and
> music from overdrive, the library is giving "market advantage" to
> devices that can play windows media format files with DRM (Digital
> Restriction Management), of which the i-pod can not do. The way to get
> these files onto a portable device is to transfer them using windows
> media player. Windows media player is on all our public Internet
> stations. 
> 
> -Ed Liddle 
> 
>  
> 
> On Tue, 2007-12-18 at 13:11 -0500, Brenda Fisher wrote:
> > Mary Beth,  
> >  
> > We had a request for iTunes to be installed on a public PC at one of our 
> > branches several months ago.
> > We weren't sure what was involved so we tried it on a couple of PCs at 
> > that branch.   I believe we explained about
> > restarting the PC if they put in personal information.  (We use 
> > Centurion Guard and the Shared Computer Toolkit on those PCs.)
> >   It was a novice user who didn't have a PC at home, so perhaps not the 
> > best test case.   However, she eventually gave up on it as it soon began 
> > requesting and then I guess, requiring an update of the iTunes software. 
> >  
> > Shane raised some great points about the ability to support the 
> > software.  I'm not an iPod owner either.
> > 
> >  Two Other questions I'd want to think about before I installed software 
> > like that on our Public Computers:
> >     1. Are we going to commit to checking for upgrades for this 
> > software, as we do for Adobe Reader, Flash Player, etc.?
> >     2. Are we providing an unfair market advantage to one vendor or 
> > group over another?  If we download the iTunes software are we also 
> > going to provide equal access to other online music vendors by 
> > downloading their software or providing links to their sites? And then 
> > updating those regularly.
> > 
> > This question goes way beyond just iTunes.  We generally bend our rules 
> > on adding software a bit  if the patron is taking an online class, but 
> > we don't have the staff to be adding custom software to each PC every 
> > time a patron asks.  And it would have to be added to Each PC as the 
> > requesting patron can't always plan to have the same PC each time in our 
> > system.  We did do this for a plug-in for some online homeschooling 
> > resource on request.  And I have no idea if it is still in use, but it 
> > still gets added to each new computer, just in case.
> > 
> > Brenda Fisher
> > Computer Services Librarian
> > Highland County District Library
> > Hillsboro, OH
> >    
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Shane Ian Hoffman wrote:
> > > We don't install ITunes for patrons to use, but do allow them to install it
> > > themselves.  We use Compugard Cornerstone and Envisionware.  Cornerstone
> > > makes sure that any changes a patron makes to the harddrive are wiped out at
> > > reboot, and Envisionware has a setting that allows us to make sure the PC
> > > reboots every time a patron ends his or her session.  
> > >
> > > I haven't tried to install ITunes on our PCS as part of the image for two
> > > reasons. 
> > > 1. I'm not familiar with the software not having an iPod, so I don't know if
> > > the personal data MUST be done during the install(if not, it would be
> > > trivial to install the software and just not configure it.  Then each patron
> > > would have a fresh install to configure each time they start)
> > >
> > > 2. I feel that if I install it, I have to support it.  I don't have the
> > > manpower to answer everyone's ITunes/iPod questions.
> > >
> > > Shane Ian Hoffman
> > > IT Coordinator
> > > Pickaway County District Public Library
> > > 1160 N Court St
> > > Circleville, OH 43113
> > > 740.477.1644 232
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org] On
> > > Behalf Of Mary Beth Seith
> > > Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 10:31 AM
> > > To: OPLINTECH
> > > Subject: [OPLINTECH] iTunes/iPods on public computers
> > >
> > > Hi everyone,
> > >
> > > With the holiday gift-giving season upon us, we're starting to receive 
> > > patron inquiries about the availability of iTunes on our public/lab 
> > > computers so they can make use of all the iPods they're buying. 
> > >
> > > Given the considerations with Apple's requirement that you "authorize" a 
> > > computer to an iPod/iTunes account, how are other libraries handling 
> > > this?  Right now, we don't have the iTunes software installed, but we do 
> > > allow patrons to plug in MP3 (or other USB) devices that don't require 
> > > special software.  I have no problem with adding iTunes/iPods, except 
> > > for these issues with maintaining the software installation as being 
> > > generic, privacy considerations, etc.  We don't currently have plans to 
> > > make our music collection available this way, but are simply looking to 
> > > accomodate those patrons who want to use it for their own tracks.
> > >
> > > For those of you who make use of a program like DriveShield or 
> > > DeepFreeze, do you simply make the patrons responsible for unauthorizing 
> > > the workstation they're using before departing?  Otherwise I can see 
> > > people ending up with zombie registrations when the system rebooted... 
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > > Mary Beth
> > >
> > >   
> > 
> > 
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