Question: 1. What ubuntu applications provide support? (guides, how to's, status)
2. Also, specifically, details on support for syncing music to iPhone's and iPod's with the latest OS version:

	* Can you sync music to apple devices using >iOS4? (iPhone & iPod)
	* What applications allow you to do this and how? (guides, how to's, status)

### What has already been established is:

* Apple does not support Linux and has no plans to.
* [libimobiledevice](http://www.libimobiledevice.org) provides some support, however it currently **does not** support music/video synchronization with devices `>iOS4`. Go to [libimobiledevice](http://www.libimobiledevice.org) and scroll to the section titled "**[Status](http://www.libimobiledevice.org/#status)**" to see if your device version is supported.

Answer: 
This a constantly moving target. If you find a tool that works, Apple breaks it in a 'security update' (they sometimes use the term subjectively). For some iPods, try replacing the firmware with [Rockbox](http://www.rockbox.org/). For iPhones stick with Windows or a Mac, or try setting up a Windows guest OS with [VirtualBox](https://www.virtualbox.org/) in Ubuntu. 

Apple will never allow this kind of interoperability to happen, long-term. You are going to have to accept their rules for their devices, or find a device that you can root and load with alternate firmware.
I have connected my iPod shuffle and recognized it as an iPod and I know that you can sync it with Rythmbox. Just make sure the Portable Players plug-ins are enabled via 

```
Tools > Plugins

```