libimobiledevice is a software library that talks the protocols to support iPhone®, iPod Touch®, iPad® and Apple TV® devices.
Unlike other projects, it does not depend on using any existing proprietary libraries and does not require jailbreaking.
It allows other software to easily access the device's filesystem, retrieve information about the device and it's internals, backup/restore the device, manage SpringBoard® icons, manage installed applications, retrieve addressbook/calendars/notes and bookmarks and (using libgpod) synchronize music and video to the device.