Though only Apple's iTunes is supposed to manage an iPod's playlists and music, some users wanted a different jukebox option.

A Winamp plug-in called ml_iPod just released a new version Monday; the plug-in allows users to manage their iPod with the Winamp music player and media manager instead of iTunes.

The plug-in offers features like creating smart playlists, where songs playback according to a user's previously selected preferences. But the feature that is sure to get some attention at Apple HQ if it hasn't already is the ability to copy a song from an iPod to a hard drive.

As the plug-in allows for multiple iPod syncing according to Wired Magazine, that could mean potentially unlawful file-sharing. And Apple's DRM, called FairPlay, can apparently be circumvented with a decrypter provided by the Hymn project, with no loss in sound quality.

ml_iPod's author, a UK computer science student named Will Fisher, believes users should be able to manage music they own as they see fit, and trusts users not to use the software irresponsibly.