I've written a little program that reads and converts my local playlists from the iTunes xml (some more background on my blog: Reading the Playlists from the iTunes Library XML).
Now I want to do something similar with the playlists that are stored on my iPod (in my case, a 2nd generation nano; please no iPhone anwers - I'm already envious ;-)). Any legal way to do this?
OS 3.0 lets you get at the playlist.
Checkout MediaPlayer.h.
Ah, wait. Nano? No, I don't think so. I assumed you meant ipod touch.
It's been a long time since I've dealt with that particular brand of iPods, but if memory serves; if you enable disk mode (if possible), all the info on the iPod will be accessible through a hidden folder on the Volume that shows up in Finder.
Where on that volume the information is I couldn't tell you, but it's probably in there somewhere; most likely in the binary property list format; so the data might take some massaging, but a simple trip through an appropriately factored command line tool should yield the info, or the info in it's XML incarnation.
If, however, the Nano doesn't allow use as a hard disk, I'm afraid there's not likely to be a whole lot to be done for it.
The only way that seems to work is to access the iPod through iTunes. iTunes offers an "older type" COM-based interface (?) called iTunesLib. You can register with Apple to get some documentation, but there is a decent description in Dan Crevier's Blog on MSDN.
There must be some other ways though, as there are some alternatives to iTunes that also allow to transfer music to iPods etc. Ideas, anyone? ;-)