It is possible that your iPod is using a newer firmware than supported by ubuntu 10.10 out of the box.
The packages which are needed for using iPod, iPhone etc. are libimobiledevice1 libplist1 libgpod4 libusbmuxd1 usbmuxd gvfs and gvfs-backends. With the ppa ppa:pmcenery/ppa you are maybe able to solve this problem.
First of all: You have be clear about the fakt, that a ppa (personal package archive) is neither part of ubuntu nor a save repository. (It's like downloading a pice of software for windows from any website)
To install these packages from this ppa you should act like the following:
- Open the software-center.
- Go to "Software Sources…" under "Edit".
- type in your user password.
- Go to the Tab "Other Software" and "add" a new repository.
- there you have to add "ppa:pmcenery/ppa"
- update your System.
If after that your iPod still not works try the following command in a terminal:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libimobiledevice1 libplist1 libgpod4 libusbmuxd1 usbmuxd gvfs gvfs-backends
good luck
dmesg|grep -i ipod
?