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It seems at the beginning of every year, almost like clockwork, someone has to declare the next year to be “the year of the Linux desktop.”  We haven’t yet reached the point, and it is doubtful if we’ll ever reach that point.  There are always new reasons for some people to jump ship to Linux, and this time we have a pretty big one.

For years now Linux has been able to support nearly every iPod, so users wouldn’t have to switch from the dominant music player.  However, until now there was no support for the iPhone and iPod touch.  There was no easy way to sync the music on an iPhone OS device with an Ubuntu computer.  It looks like the new version of Ubuntu, Lucid Lynx, will support syncing with said devices through the Rythmbox media player.  Users will also be able to access the files on their iPhones and iPod touches via the Nautilus file manager, so they can have full access to the devices.

The idea of being able to sync media to an iPhone/iPod touch from a Linux computer is very tempting.  Paired with the apparent Ubuntu One Music Store, Rythmbox on Lucid Lynx could possibly replace iTunes for users (save, of course, for the apps which will have to bought on the devices themselves).  It is doubtful that anyone who relies heavily on an iPhone or iPod touch would want to use Ubuntu as a main desktop client, but some might want to.  Although, if using Ubuntu on the desktop, perhaps it would make more sense to use Android devices rather than the rather tightly regulated iPhone OS devices.

Read [Download Squad]