Is there any way in which I could optimize covert art for the ipod without using the original size to have the ipod scale back? (Script?) It slows the Ipod with the current artwork and I have search everywhere for a solution and this seems the only logical one.  I can't stand how slow the Ipod becomes (almost unusable) with art, for now I have removed art and works flawlessly. Any Suggestions are welcome.

Amarok 1.4.4 compiled from source
libgpod 0.40 compiled from source
gtkpod .99.8 compiled from source

I think this is not due to artwork scaling (which is done already before transferring the artwork to your ipod), but due to a very large ArtworkDB file. iTunes splits this in several smaller ones, but libgpod does not yet do that. Look in the gtkpod-devel mailing list archives for more information.