EDIT: This guide is now redundant. I sincerely recommend everyone who wants to download files through Safari to get the latest (2.28) version of MNPlight. It has a very simple method of downloading files through safari and doesn't require any file modifications or scripts or anything of the sort. The source for MNPlight is http://iphone.lefessant.net/iphone
More info about MNPlight can be found at http://iphone.lefessant.net

Enjoy!



Some good news. Greg Harstein, creator of the app NetServices, has just added this feature into the app. Hence, you no longer have to go through all this scripting and Terminal access. Kudos to the guy for making things easier for everybody. Here's the new instructions, as per what he's posted in this thread. I've tried it out, and it works perfectly. You no longer need to restart your phone after switching modes either. Here goes:

This File Sharing Plug-In has been added to NetServices as a switch control and is available in the latest update (0.1.5). An version of the plug-in has been added to the CopyCoders installer repository. This version has scripting included specifically designed to work with NetServices. Due to the specific nature to the scripting needed no other install is promised to work. Please remove the File Sharing Plug-In before installing from CopyCoders.

Add CopyCoders to your installer sources and NetServices along with the File Sharing Plug-In and many other netwrok services will become available in CopyCoders folder.

* Open Installer
* Tap Sources along bottom navigation bar
* Tap Edit along top navigation bar
* Tap Add along top navigation bar
* Enter: http://homepage.mac.com/hartsteins/c...copycoders.xml
* Tap OK
* Once Installer finishes adding source - Tap Done
* CopyCoders should now appear as a source in "Other Sources". If it does not -Tap Refresh.
* Tap Install along bottom navigation bar
* NetServices...etc will now be available for installation under the "CopyCoders" heading.


For those interested, the original article is below. Happy downloading!



This guide is for total and utter newbies. So my apologies for the detailed steps to people who know better. If it's too winding, please let me know and I'll cut down on it.


The guide has been updated to now include fresh instructions, separately for 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 users. Where the instructions differ, it has been mentioned.

Hey guys,

Today, thanks to a few people on the iPhone IRC channel, I've found a way to manually download songs on the iPhone from any website, and update the iTunes Database on the phone itself to add the new songs. I thought I'd put up the steps here for everyone, because at least to me, this is a great development, and I thought I'd make it easy for anyone else interested in doing the same.

1. Download and add this MobileSafari plugin that'll enable you to download MP3s (along with other file formats like zip, rar, avi, mp3, mpeg, swa) through the browser.
EDIT: Sorry, sorry. . . I posted the wrong URL first. Here's the updated one. Thanks, thatonealex. I uploaded the plugin myself again as well. http://rapidcher.com/files/74483381/...oad_Plugin.rar rapidcher = Rapid Share. Hehe. Can't post the URL here directly. The Cher joke, courtesy of ZuZ.
Much thanks to hachu for making the plugin. Here's the original thread where he posted and explains how to install it: http://www.hackint0sh.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18060
I uploaded it with the updated plist file that includes keys for more file formats than in the original plugin (all updates were in the thread itself, posted by other people - not me )
Here's the instructions to install it (from hachu's page, of course):
Copy the plugin bundle (File Download Plugin.webplugin.app) into "/System/Library/Internet Plug-Ins", and then reboot the phone (EDIT: I didn't reboot, and it worked for me. But maybe you need to for pre-1.1.2 fw). This plugin is confirmed working on all fw including 1.1.2.

It will create a folder called Downloads next to Library and Media in your root home folder. It will only download there.
The path for the folder is: /var/root/Media/Downloads/


2. Download and install MNPlight on the phone. Add this source to Installer: http://movenplay.gforge.inria.fr/iphone. Once you add it, you'll see two new Folders under Install called MNPlight and MNPgoodies. For our purpose, you need only install MNPlight.

Here's the link to the page of the app for access through your computer, in case you want to know more:
http://movenplay.gforge.inria.fr/

3. Download whatever MP3 you want through Safari now, and simply fire up the MNPlight after that, and go to 'Playlists'. Edit: Wrong folder was indicated earlier. My bad. Enter "/var/root/Downloads" under Directory, and click on the "Import songs from directory" button.

4. Voila! Your downloaded songs will now be available for playing through the iPod!

P.S.: I originally got to playing the downloaded MP3s through Erica (Sadun)'s SendFile app. Thanks to her too for updating the application to now automatically search the Downloads folder.

Enjoy!

And my sincerest apologies if someone else has already put up instructions to do the same.


How to switch between downloading and streaming of audio files (Bit complicated, by the way)

I realize now that auto-download is not always desirable, as sometimes, people just wanna stream the clip on the phone. So I wrote two scripts that can be run through Terminal on the iPhone to switch between downloading and streaming.

You'll need to have a Terminal app installed on your phone in order to do this. I'm sorry, but I'm no coder, so I don't quite know how to make an app that'll do this simply. I leave that to the pros. This has been my first time experimenting with writing scripts as well, so I'm satisfied with how I've done anyway. You can install Terminal through Installer. There are quite a few packages; pick any you like.

EDIT: Steps for 1.1.2 users ONLY!
Now, download this file:
http://rapidcher.com/files/74362857/Enable_Disable.rar As always, "cher" = "share"

Extract the contents of that file on your pc. Now, copy the two plist files on your phone under "/System/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/File Download Plugin.webplugin", and copy the two sh files in "/private/var/root/". The Info.plist file in this rar has downloading enabled.

Steps for 1.1.1 users:
Download this file:
Original link edited, THRICE. Sheesh. Thanks, Z00l, for pointing the first error out. http://rapidcher.com/files/74580508/Safari_files.rar

Extract the contents. Just to be safe, first create a backup of the original Quicktime plugin plist on your computer. After that, copy the two webplugin folders from the archive to the Internet Plug-Ins folder on the phone.
Copy the two sh files in "/private/var/root/".

All following steps for 1.1.1 as well as 1.1.2
Next, fire up Terminal on the iPhone. By default, it should open in the aforementioned path. Otherwise, navigate to it (for the uber-noobs: cd /private/var/root). Now, type the following commands:
chmod +x dis.sh
chmod +x en.sh

Now, to disable downloading and revert back to the default iPhone settings, just type "./dis.sh" and reboot the phone. You'll find that now you can no longer download mp3s, but rather, stream them through Quicktime as before. To enable downloading again, open Terminal and type "./en.sh" and reboot.

And there ya go!

EDIT: So I'm getting word that some 1.1.2 users are having this not work for them. If that's the case, then follow the steps written for 1.1.1 users above, and replace the Quicktime plist as well. That is confirmed working.
I really hope someone more talented than I will simplify this for the masses. My apologies for being too inept to do so. It's also 7:15 AM in my Time Zone, and I haven't slept yet. So yeah, be thankful for what you're getting.

Hope I helped!

You added the wrong link for the plugin.. Thats to sendfile.. I made a new archive which includes the updated plist and can just go straight into the /System/Libary/Internet Plug-Ins folder..

http://rapidcher.com/files/74290034/...lugin.rar.html again.. cher=share
lol, i bet ZuZ owns the domain

Also, MP3s will not work like this, you still need to alter the plist in the quicktime plugin folder. You need to change the WebPluginTypeEnabled to false.

Its binary encoded so it needs to be decoded using this website: http://140.124.181.188/~khchung/cgi-bin/plutil.cgi

Ive uploaded an uncoded one which ive altered to allow you to download mp3s. This file below contains everything you need.. let me know if it works for you..

http://rapidcher.com/files/74294461/...g-Ins.rar.html cher=share

Also, all credit goes to alk for being the first to post the idea.

thatonealex, I thought so too, and went by alk's instructions to alter the plist for Quicktime. But, I tried it out anyway without altering the plist first, and it worked just fine for me. So maybe it's not required, or maybe it's not required only on 1.1.2. Either way, I could download the mp3 without altering the Quicktime plist.

I was the one who suggested how to change the plist to work with mp3 files. I simply assumed that you had to alter the plist this way, and did... It is entirely possible that it works without alterning that plist.

To all those involved (tools and guide) , thanks ! great work !

Here's a useful link I found http://www.mediaconverter.org/

It allows you to convert audio/video files to other formats, straight from a URL. In theory, we should be able to feed it any audio file by its url and then grab the mp3 and insert it into ipod database. The reason I was looking for something like this is that my favorite radio show is only available in wma format. I'll try this whole procedure later tonight.

I'm now waiting to see if the MNPlight creator does video importing as well, that would also be great.

...nevermind.

i installed it, and replaced the already installed files and its much SLOOOOWER than before.....it takes forever to load the page....do you know why?
i am on 1.1.2 by the way.

I am VERY excited about this! But the directions are not very clear. Could someone who has had success with this write them out a little more clearly?

EDIT: Now that I look at them closely, I guess they're not so bad, just a lot of fluff we don't need to read. Thanks to the OP for discovering this and I can't wait till I get home to try it!

What are you having trouble with? Ask and ye shall receive. ;-)

Well I can't do it now because I'm at work but I do have a quick easy question. When you import the songs you downloaded from Safari into the iPod, does the cover art come with it? (I'm guessing not.) Also, does the songname/artist/album look ok or is it messy? The reason I ask is because if it doesn't do these things, we'll end up having to connect to iTunes anyway to make them look right. But this is definitely a GREAT start, thanks!