iPod and iTunes Hacks

Put the Ogg in iTunes

Turn iTunes into an Ogg Vorbis–playing application and enjoy the fruits of open source ripping and playing.

The MP3 and AAC file formats are just two ways of compressing large CD music files. They also happen to have licensing fees attached to them. Say, for example, you wanted to write an MP3 player; you’d have to pay a license fee to develop the application! Ogg Vorbis, on the other hand, is an open source codec, much like Linux is an open source operating system. Just as back in the day when audiophiles debated the efficacy of different chassis systems for turntables, now audiophiles (and geeks) argue about which codec is better. Some argue, quite vociferously, that Ogg Vorbis files just sound better. Not only that, but some bands that post files to download on the Internet post only in the Ogg Vorbis format. If you want to find out for yourself but don’t want to give up on iTunes, this hack enables you to listen to Ogg Vorbis files in iTunes.

First you need to download the Ogg Vorbis decoder plug-in for QuickTime http://www.illadvised.com/~jordy/; free). It works with QuickTime 6.2 and with Mac OS X 10.2 and later. Once you have downloaded the plug-in, quit iTunes. Navigate to the disk image folder: QuickTime Vorbis Component. In there, you will find a file called OggVorbis.qtx. iTunes uses QuickTime behind the scenes to play your MP3s and AAC files. By adding ...