Topic: Repeatable albumart issue with ipod (Read 9310 times)

zxsix · « **on:** December 16, 2005, 10:28:42 pm »

I've been reporting this for the last few builds.
It's worse with build 83. Under build 83 I get NO ART on the ipod or nano.

The issue is that album art works correctly on the ipod after initial sync, but any additional albums sync'd after that are missing the art.

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Here's the exact steps to reproduce on the ipod.

1) Used windows explorer. Browsed to \ipod_control\artwork folder and deleted the three files.
2) Updated MC to build 83 and started MC.
3) Under options, tree & view, deleted all thumbnails (may not be related to ipod art at all but can't hurt).
4) Under options, tree & View, build missing thumbnails. Says 17,000 were created.
5) Rightclicked the ipod in the tree under drives and devices. Chose the "initialize ipod" option.
6) Option under portable devices is to sync playlists.
7) Clicked on "handheld player" in the action window and clicked on the ipod. Pressed the sync button.

Exited MC.
9) Verified via windows explorer that the 3 files are now again in the \ippod_control\artwork folder and recorded the timestamp on the files.
10) Verified albumart is being displayed properly when playing songs.

Good so far......

11) Redocked the ipod.
12) Started MC.
13) Edited tags for a couple of albums to cause them to be included in the sync list.
14) Clicked on "handheld player" in the action window and clicked on the ipod. Sync'd files.
15) Exited MC.
16) Verified via windows explorer that the 3 files are still in the \ippod_control\artwork folder and recorded the timestamp on the files, which is still showing the original time/date stamp from the first sync.
17) Verifyied albumart is being displayed properly for the original albums from the first transfer, but the new albums are not showing any artwork

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Device Info: (From the "about" screen on the devices).
Ipod is a 60GB Photo, running firmware version 1.2. Model M9830LL.
Nano is a 4GB, running firmware version 1.0. Model MA107LL.

Advanced option settings for both devices under the handheld options in MC:
Auto-sync on connect = unchecked on both
Delete from handheld files not in sync list = checked on both
Get data from handheld on sync = Ipod checked, nano unchecked
Enable album artwork support = checked on both

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System info from MC:

Media Center Registered 11.1.83 -- g:\Program Files\J River\Media Center 11\

5.2 Service Pack 1 (Build 3790)
AMD Unknown 1004 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 1048 MB, Free - 450 MB

Internet Explorer: 6.0.3790.1830 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.82.3790 / Shlwapi.dll: 6.0.3790 / Shell32.dll: 6.0.3790 / wnaspi32.dll: N/A
Ripping / Drive L: SONY DVD RW DRU-700A Mode:Normal Type:Auto Speed:Max
Digital playback: Yes / Use YADB: Yes / Get cover art: Yes / Calc replay gain: No / Copy volume: 32767
Eject after ripping: Yes / Play sound after ripping: No

Burning / Drive L: SONY DVD RW DRU-700A Addr: 1:2:0 Speed:40 MaxSpeed:40 BurnProof:Yes
Test mode: No / Eject after writing: Yes / Direct decoding: Yes / Write CD-Text: Yes
Use playback settings: No /

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I turned on handheld logging when trying it on the Ipod.
Here's the log from the initial sync right after it was initialized.
http://zxsix.dyndns.org:81/Log3.txt
The artworkdb and 2 .ithmb files were created.
Fine at this point.
Exited MC completely.
Ejected ipod from windows system tray.
Cover art is working on device at this point.
Dock ipod and start MC.
Edit tags which will result in 1 album being deleted and 1 album added to the smartlist.
Resync.
The artworkdb file wasn't touched, still has the old timestamp.
Art is missing on the ipod for the album that was added.
Here's the log from this sync.
http://zxsix.dyndns.org:81/Log4.txt

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I turned on handheld logging when trying it on the Nano.
Here's the log from the initial sync right after it was initialized.
http://zxsix.dyndns.org:81/Log1.txt
Cover art not working on device at this point. No artworkdb file was created and no ithmb files were created. The folder is completely empty.
http://zxsix.dyndns.org:81/artworkdb
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Matt · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2005, 08:04:27 am »

Thanks for the great step-by-step. We'll do our best to hammer this out next week.

(BTW, it's normal for the artwork files to not change dates after upload -- they grow in big chunks to help speed and reduce fragmentation)

zxsix · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2005, 11:06:43 am »

that's good to know. I just figured the artworkdb file would change dates as MC "touches" it.

Here's a little more detail....
I use a smartlist called IPOD with the filters that determine what gets sync'd. Then there are 6 other smartlists that start with Playlist=IPOD in their search and then filter further by genres and others by ratings. But they all are a subset of the original smartlist IPOD. Under handheld options, all of these are checked to be included in the sync.

It did it for me in manual sync also, so it doesn't appear to be related to the sync method setting.

Let me know if you need any additional files or whatever.
Have a good weekend.

Matt · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2005, 09:55:08 am »

I'm having troubles reproducing this using small test samples.

Could you try a similar thing using a small sample size, and see if you still see it? (i.e. add 2 files, remove 1, add another 2, etc.)

Thanks for all the help!

zxsix · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2005, 09:59:31 am »

I'll try tonight.
Is there a registry section I can export so you can use the same config that I have?
When I do the smaller test, what do you want me to send? Do you want logfiles again? Anything else?

The nano isn't getting any album art at all now, even after a fresh initialization.
Someone else mentioned art not getting copied at all in the 11.1.83 thread.

Matt · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2005, 11:29:51 am »

For the Nano, look for CPortableDriveIpod::DetermineIpodType in the log after a connect.

Tonight's build should output "Ipod Type: 2" after this. If that isn't happening, it means we're not detecting it's a Nano. If this is the case, send the F:\iPod_Control\Device\SysInfo file to matt @ jriver.com -- there may be a Nano model number we didn't know about.

Thanks.

zxsix · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2005, 06:20:12 pm »

Ok. I'll start with the Nano.

1) Went to tools > options > handheld > device management > redetect devices.
2) Exited MC.
3) Docked the Ipod and the Nano.
4) Restarted MC and it found both devices and added them.
5) Double checked on both that the correct smartlists were checked, sync mode set to playlists, and the checkbox to enable artwork is checked.
6) Rightclicked nano in the tree under drives & devices and chose Initialize.
7) Viewed folders on nano. Noted that an artworkdb file was just now created. No ithmb's yet (as expected).

At this point if I try to synchronize, MC says it's over the space limit. It hasn't refreshed the space after I initialized and cleared all the space.
9) Exit and restart MC due to issue in step 8.
10) Rightclicked nano in the tree under drives & devices and chose Synchronize.
This time it calculated properly and starts copying files.
11) Now there are 2 ithmb files present in the artwork folder on the nano and the timestamp of the artworkdb was updated to just now.
12) Shut down MC and eject the nano.
13) Artwork working correctly on the ipod where I couldn't get any art before!

The only differences I can see? I removed and re-added the devices from MC this time. Also I did the syncing using the tree only, not the action window like I usually do.

Ok, now for the next test, will newly sync'd songs have cover art on the device?

1) Docked the nano.
2) Started MC.
3) Removed a couple of albums and added a couple of albums to the playlist.
4) Rightclicked nano in the tree and selected Synchronize.
5) Noted that the artworkdb and the 2 ithmb files on the nano's timestamps have been updated to just now.
6) Closed MC and ejected the nano.
7) Played songs from the newly added albums and verified that artwork is there!!!

Ok. One more test. What if I use the action window this time?

1) Docked nano.
2) Started MC.
3) Removed the 2 new albums and put the other 2 back in the playlist.
4) Clicked on handheld unit in the action window.
5) Clicked Sync button.
6) timestamp on ithmb files and artworkdb were updated to just now.
7) Closed MC and undocked nano.

Verified that the artwork is on the nano!!!!

Conclusion. Well, I'm still on 11.1.83.
The only explanation for why I couldn't get any artwork at all this weekend, even after intializing twice, and why I can today with no problem, is that I removed the device and let MC refind it. Had to be some setting that was corrupt (registry maybe?).

Close this case (the nano)for now, I'll keep an eye on it for a while.
Now I'll go test on the ipod.

zxsix · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2005, 06:54:35 pm »

1) Deleted contents of the Artwork folder on the ipod.
2) Started MC.
3) Rightclicked the ipod in the tree under drives & devices and selected Initialize.
4) Noted that no files were created under the artwork folder like they were on the nano. ?
4) Changed sync playlist option to a much smaller playlist for this test.
5) Rightclicked ipod in the tree under drives & devices and selected Sychronize.
6) Exited MC.
7) Noted that the artwork folder on the ipod is still completely empty and there is no artwork showing up on the device

This is exactly the opposite of the symptoms I had this weekend.
Now I have art on the nano, and no art on the ipod photo.
I think the issue lies in having two ipod devices connected to the same computer.
The ipod is seen by windows as the I: drive.
The nano is seen by windows as the M: drive.
I renamed them in the tree in MC to be called "ipod" and "nano" respectively.

Here's the log file http://www.glockster.net/mc/ipodnoartlog.txt.

zxsix · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2005, 07:15:47 pm »

Next attempt:

1) Used the ipod updater software to reset the ipod photo.
2) Upgraded MC to 11.1.84.
3) Rightclicked ipod in the tree and selected initialize.
4) Noted at this point, no artwork folder exists at all on the ipod.
5) Rightclicked ipod in the tree and selected sychronize.
6) Noted that there is still no artwork folder or artworkdb anywhere on the device.
7) ejected the ipod and verified that there's no artwork on it.

I'm convinced at this point it's some conflict with having 2 ipods, though different models, in the same copy of MC.

Here's the logfile from this attempt:
http://www.glockster.net/mc/ipodnoart11-1-84-log.txt

ForsakenArdor · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2005, 05:25:43 am »

I'm not terribly sure it's a multiple iPod issue. I've only been using the one 4g iPod and I haven't been getting cover art uploaded since maybe 11.1.073 or so. I had every song with cover art, and around the mid to late 70s builds, I uploaded some fresh new files (adding to what was already on the iPod) and none of them had cover art but all the old files still did, plus I set the new volume adjustment thingy and the new files were way louder. I initialized the following night after downloading a new build and uploaded everything again to get replay gain working again and to see if the cover art issue was just a glitch or a bug specific to the older build. This time, none of my files had cover art. Right now, I'm slowly replacing my songs album by album with VBR LAME mp3s and I test by looking to see if the new songs have cover art or not. I haven't had time initialize and reupload everything again, but I don't think it would fix anything, would it? I'll wait until more progress is made on this before I do.

zxsix · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2005, 08:48:31 am »

Next test....

I uninstalled MC leaving the checkbox checked to delete registry settings.
Only had ipod docked at this point, and no nano.
Reinstalled MC.
Let it find the ipod and add it as a device.
Went through the options and set everything back the way I usually have it.
At this point, it has no idea that I own a nano.
Sync'd the ipod.
albumartdb and the ithmb files were created correctly.
~5000 songs transferred to ipod.
Exit MC and undock ipod.
All are showing cover art correctly on the device.
Good so far.

Redock ipod.
Restart MC.
Imported 2 new albums and added them to the smartlist.
Resync ipod.
The new files transfer.
No change it timestamp on the albumartdb or ithmb files.
Close MC and undock ipod.
All original albums show art on the ipod but the two newly sync'd albums do not.
Now we're back to the original issue.
I duped it immediately with a fresh MC install and a freshly initialized ipod.

I'll leave the nano out of the picture for a bit if you think that'll help.

Matt · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2005, 06:16:31 pm »

When you have a chance, please try with build 86.

We replicated (and fixed) a similar issue where new cover art could fail to upload to the iPod.

butlertl · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2005, 07:02:38 pm »

I have the latest build and when I sync all of the album art comes up as unsupported file types. Not being a long time user of MC I may not have everything set up as required.

zxsix · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2005, 09:04:58 pm »

Ok, bad news still....
Installed MC 11.1.86 update.
Used ipod updater to restore ipod.
Started MC and and redetected devices. It found the ipod.
Made sure the checkbox is checked to enable album artwork.
initialized ipod.
sync'd ipod with a small smartlist. here's the log of that. http://www.glockster.net/mc/synclog.txt
At this point, an artworkdb file and ithmb files were created and timestamped 7:51pm.
Ejected ipod.
Verified that artwork is showing for all songs on the ipod.

Docked ipod and started MC again.
Added 3 more albums to the smartlist.
sync'd ipod again. here's the log of the 2nd sync. http://www.glockster.net/mc/synclog2.txt
At this point, the artworkdb and ithmb files still have the old 7:51 timestamp.
Ejected ipod.
Verified that artwork is showing for all the original songs, but no art is displaying for the 3 newly sync'd albums

SteveG · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:03:15 am »

Quote

Added 3 more albums to the smartlist.

Were these newly imported into MC or were they already in MC?

What OS are you running?

Do you have iTunes installed and is it autodetecting the iPod?

What happens if you try adding the new files and sync after a period of 5 minutes after the reconnect?

(I am wondering if something is prempting the ability for MC to write to the ArtworkDB file upon the reconnect)

Matt · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:13:59 am »

I'm wondering if something isn't locking the files on your iPod. (like iTunes, etc.)

It would explain why a reinitialized didn't erase the artwork, and also why we couldn't add more.

zxsix · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:15:27 am »

Quote from: SteveG on December 21, 2005, 10:03:15 am

Were these newly imported into MC or were they already in MC?

The albums were already in the MC library with albumart in folder.jpg files.
I just modified the smartlist to include the new ones and sync'd again.

SteveG · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:22:40 am »

What OS are you running? (if XP, Home or Pro)

Do you have iTunes installed and is it autodetecting the iPod?

What happens if you try adding the new files and sync after a period of 5 minutes after the reconnect?

(I am wondering if something is prempting the ability for MC to write to the ArtworkDB file upon the reconnect)

zxsix · « **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:27:34 am »

Quote from: Matt on December 21, 2005, 10:13:59 am

I'm wondering if something isn't locking the files on your iPod. (like iTunes, etc.)

It would explain why a reinitialized didn't erase the artwork, and also why we couldn't add more.

Itunes is installed, but I haven't used it for months. I had used it once to put some photos on the ipod but haven't since. I have the options to start itunes when docked and all of that disabled in itunes.
I'd uninstall itunes completely if you want, but was keeping that around until you guys transfer photos. Sometimes I copy a handful of images over to show off at work. Few and far between though.

How about running services?
These are on my machine:
IpodService is set to manual and is not started.
Portable Media Serial Number Service is set to manual and is not started.
Removable Storage is set to automatic and is started.

Would any of these be starting themselves when I dock the ipod and causing issues?
Should I disable any of them?

zxsix · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:33:56 am »

Quote from: SteveG on December 21, 2005, 10:03:15 am

What OS are you running?

Windows 2003 server

Quote

Do you have iTunes installed and is it autodetecting the iPod?

It is installed, but I don't run it. I do have it set to not detect the ipod and not startup when ipod is docked.

Quote

What happens if you try adding the new files and sync after a period of 5 minutes after the reconnect?

Will retry tonight.

Quote

(I am wondering if something is prempting the ability for MC to write to the ArtworkDB file upon the reconnect)

I'll uninstall itunes and reboot tonight.

It doesn't seem like a file locking issue to me, since I've manually deleted the artworkdb and the 2 ithmb files without error.

Can you have MC explicitly write to the handheld log file when it creates the artworkdb file?

SteveG · « **Reply #20 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:35:13 am »

Could you try the following.

Rerun your test. Start with a clean iPod. Sync a playlist with album art. Disconnect iPod. Reconnect iPod and immediately from explorer try to open your artwork ithmb file(s) with notepad and see if you can open them.

Thanks.

Steve

SteveG · « **Reply #21 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:35:59 am »

Quote

Can you have MC explicitly write to the handheld log file when it creates the artworkdb file?

Yes

zxsix · « **Reply #22 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:41:51 am »

What about the ipodservice?
What's MC's take on that? Required or not?

SteveG · « **Reply #23 on:** December 21, 2005, 10:44:31 am »

Quote

What about the ipodservice?

Should not be required.

Tonight the logging will tell us more. Check entries for 'SaveArtworkDB

prod · « **Reply #24 on:** December 21, 2005, 03:10:56 pm »

using ipod updater 2005-11-17 and an ipod 60gb photo (ipod type: 9586) , no album art gets transferred at all

1) restored ipod
2) initialised ipod in MC (11.1.86)
2) syncd a playlist with album art (folder.jpg, 10 songs)
3) disconnected ipod (no artwork shown on playback)
4) reconnected ipod
5) no artwork folder or artwork ithmb files exist on device

(enable album artwork on ipod is of course on)

log: http://www.shirlainephotos.co.uk/Log.txt

Matt · « **Reply #25 on:** December 21, 2005, 07:51:02 pm »

We'll add a bunch of logging to the next build that will hopefully give us a play-by-play of what the iPod plugin is doing. Could you run the same test then?

Thanks for all the help.

zxsix · « **Reply #26 on:** December 21, 2005, 09:07:34 pm »

Here's tonight's test.....

1) Installed MC 11.1.87 update.
Verified that Media Center.exe and hh_portable.dll are showing 12/21 for modified date.
2) Uninstalled itunes and rebooted computer.
3) Docked ipod.
4) As soon as the auto-run opened the ipod in explorer view, immediately tried opening the 2 ithmb files with notepad and was successful (displayed garbage of course).
5) Restored ipod using ipod updater dated 9/23/05.
6) At this point, there is no artwork folder at all on the ipod.
7) Started MC.

Doublechecked that every song in the playlist has folder.jpg displayed in the image file field.
9) Righclicked ipod in tree and initialized.
Here's the logfile http://www.glockster.net/mc/initlog.txt
10) At this point, there is still no artwork folder at all on the ipod.
11) Rightclicked ipod in tree and synchronized the playlists.
Here's the logfile http://www.glockster.net/mc/synclog3.txt
The term 'saveartworkdb' isn't anywhere in the log.
12) At this point, there is still no artwork folder at all on the ipod.

I'm home all day tomorrow. Call or email me if you want to do some step-by-step testing with me.

zxsix · « **Reply #27 on:** December 21, 2005, 09:43:45 pm »

Another test. To make sure the art storage in MC isn't the cause....
Went into File Location options. Location rule still says Next to file (folder.jpg).
I checked the box to store images in tags also.
Rightclicked all the albums in the playlist. Removed cover art. Quickfind in file/ cover art folder.
Every song now shows 'inside file' for the image file field.

Initialized ipod.
Synchronized ipod.
NOW I HAVE AN ARTWORK FOLDER!!!
Here's the logfile, it now contains the logfile entry 'saveartworkdb'!!!
http://www.glockster.net/mc/itworked.txt

Ejected ipod.
Shuffled and played songs. All songs have art correctly displayed now, even the ones from the first sync.

Redocked ipod.
Started MC.
Added a couple more albums to the playlist.
Double checked that every song shows 'inside file' in the image file field.
Sync'd again.
Still flaky.
The artworkdb and ithmb files still have the old timestamp and were not touched.
The newly sync'd albums do not show any art.

ForsakenArdor · « **Reply #28 on:** December 22, 2005, 03:16:30 am »

I see, that seems right. MC can create the art if it's a fresh blank iPod, but it either thinks that the current artworkdb is okay and already has the new art when you upload new files or is unable to modify it. I've been uploading a couple albums at a time every few days and then checking if the new files have art only with new builds. No luck so far. What was done to the iPod plugin since the change to reduce fragmenting? I had art working just before and after that change.

zxsix · « **Reply #29 on:** December 22, 2005, 09:48:30 am »

Just for kicks, I installed anapod explorer.
I used it's rebuild artwork database utility.
After I ran that, the artwork is displaying fine on the ipod for the songs that MC didn't create artwork for.

Exited anapod and restarted MC.
Added a couple more songs to the playlist in MC.
Resync'd. The songs transferred but have no art.

Matt · « **Reply #30 on:** December 22, 2005, 12:31:15 pm »

I think it's as simple as sometimes the plugin wasn't loading the "support art" setting properly.

I'm hoping everything will be back to normal next build, and thanks for all the help.

Matt · « **Reply #31 on:** December 22, 2005, 01:20:11 pm »

If you have a chance, could you try the new build?
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=30870.0

zxsix · « **Reply #32 on:** December 22, 2005, 02:12:54 pm »

Looking good so far with small batches.
I'll be reinitializing the ipod and the nano this afternoon and syncing the normal large playlists.
Will report back final findings tonight or tomorrow.

c1c9k72 · « **Reply #33 on:** December 23, 2005, 10:41:50 am »

I loaded 3,500 songs onto a 5g 60GB iPod this morning, using 11.1.88, and had no trouble with the Album art. Everything that was available transferred fine, and those that didn't have Album art now use the Media Center logo. It seems to be working well now. Thanks a lot.

zxsix · « **Reply #34 on:** December 23, 2005, 10:48:52 am »

The big test is to import a new album or add another album to your sync playlist. The initial sync would work for me usually, but then songs added during subsequent syncs had no art.
I'll have my testing finalized this afternoon. I have 4 new albums ready to import when I get home.
The small batch testing I did passed with flying colors, so I have no reason to think this won't either.

butlertl · « **Reply #35 on:** December 23, 2005, 06:57:10 pm »

Can I enable album artwork on an iod with MC or.....do I need itunes?

zxsix · « **Reply #36 on:** December 23, 2005, 07:55:00 pm »

No need for itunes.
If your ipod supports albumart, just initialize it and sync it using the latest build of MC 11.1

butlertl · « **Reply #37 on:** December 23, 2005, 07:56:30 pm »

Must be doing something wrong.....have tried several times to sync with album Art and....I get a message the file is not supported.

I have the new iPod.

zxsix · « **Reply #38 on:** December 23, 2005, 10:41:50 pm »

Working great now with my 60GB ipod photo and the nano.
Don't know if anyone else has tried it with the new video ipod yet.

Use the ipod updater software and restore your ipod.
Then start up MC and initialize the ipod.
Make sure the checkbox option is checked under handheld devices to use albumart.
Then sync the ipod.

If that doesn't work, you'll need to turn on handheld logging and get that to JRiver staff.

prod · « **Reply #39 on:** December 24, 2005, 03:48:26 am »

Quote from: zxsix on December 23, 2005, 10:41:50 pm

Working great now with my 60GB ipod photo and the nano.

same goes.

Quote from: butlertl on December 23, 2005, 07:56:30 pm

Must be doing something wrong.....have tried several times to sync with album Art and....I get a message the file is not supported.

i think you're talking about photo import rather than album art? MC doesn't yet support sending jpeg's across to the ipod, this thread is about attaching cover art to music files that support it (e.g. mp3's), so that when a song is playing it displays the cover art on screen.

butlertl · « **Reply #40 on:** December 24, 2005, 06:10:35 am »

Understand......thought I was following the process to include album art. I have deleted all .jpg files.....and will attem to use the King Sparta plug-in for album art. I've gone to options and set up 'File Locations'......anything else I should set up?

prod · « **Reply #41 on:** December 24, 2005, 07:08:57 am »

nope - once you've linked up images to your music files MC will automatically send across the art when you sync your ipod (so long as "Enable album artwork support if possible" is enabled in Tools/Options/Handheld)

butlertl · « **Reply #42 on:** December 24, 2005, 08:25:03 am »

Thanks..that worked.

prod · « **Reply #43 on:** December 24, 2005, 10:50:45 am »

no probs glad to help

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Author Topic: Repeatable albumart issue with ipod (Read 9310 times)