Rockbox 3.0: turn your old iPod into new h4wtness with free/open software
There's a new version of Rockbox out -- this is the free/open firmware replacement for MP3 players like the iPod, Archos, Sansa and others. It has many awesome features, including playback for more audio formats, like Ogg and FLAC, as well as adding games like Doom to the player. A new spoken interface makes it easier to use if you're visually impaired, too. A great way to breathe new life into an old iPod or other player -- and a great alternative to chucking it out. Rockbox 3.0 Released. Quietly., What is Rockbox? Why should I use it? (via Engadget)
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I've been running Rockbox on my Sansa e280 for about a year now and it's features are far better than the Sandisk supplied software. Really.
Rockbox on older MP3 players is great, if only for the games.
Unfortunately, due to changes Apple made to the guts of their product, Rockbox's iPod support is limited: "not the Shuffle, 2nd/3rd gen Nano, Classic or Touch".
Woot sells the v1 Sansa e200 refurbs all the time (as recently as yesterday, in fact), and with Rockbox, you have a pretty amazing player, with a microSD slot, for about $35-$50.
I'm sorry, but it really bugs me when my 2 year old iPod is considered "old". It's the one characteristic of gadgetry that irks me--it's never ending requirement to be less than 6 months old. "Revitalize that sagging piece of shit you bought eons ago--back when it was cool to say 'MOAR' and 'TEH AWESOME'".
I've always wondered how you'd play Doom with just a clickwheel....
or, if you don't feel like installing Rockbox, you can simply give me your old ipod. it would be my first, and i'd love it the same way you did when you first got it. wouldn't it feel great to share that feeling with someone else?
but fur rulz, Rockbox looks pretty cool, my friend uses it. it's pretty awesome.
Rockbox on the iPod Video is the best portable player I have ever had. Its features are simply amazing. Why can't the official iPod software make on-the-fly playlist creation so simple?
By all accounts: Rockbox + iPod = non-sucking iPod.
OK, installed on my Sansa e240. Be sure to install a decent "theme" from the "Extras" page; the default one looks like ass.
It appears they have not yet fixed the bug that made it crash if you push the
... not yet fixed the bug that makes it crash if you push the
[Great, you can't enter the less-than character even with HMTL escapes. Humbug.]
... not yet fixed the buf that makes it crash if you push the "rewind" button, if "keyclick" is turned on. So, better turn off keyclick: nSettings/General Settings/System/Keyclick/Keyclick/off.
That interface makes my eyes bleed.
Matt: you can make it look any which way.
Still waiting for the iPod Classic competitor. A >=160 Gb pmp that's specifically designed to run Rockbox. Sadly, Microsoft, Samsung, Creative, Sony et al couldn't bring themselves to do this. So how about Asus?
Yeah, I want a replacement for my 20gb Creative - getting a bit full - and the only decent size mp3 players are Apple (at least in Australia). I don't really want to install Itunes on my PC & I heard there were quite a few problems with their 180gb models...it's a shame Iriver & Creative have ceded the large capacity player market to Apple (and I suppose they're not in huge demand, judging by the huge amount of 1-4gb players you can pick up)
Will Rockbox play iTunes music?
Niet for my 2nd gen Nano :(
@NathanRudy: ah, that's why I never installed it! I remembered that I was going to, couldn't remember why I didn't.
No, it doesn't play iTunes music.
@NathanRudy: it doesn't work with a lot of accessories either (like chargers, or remotes)
Will Rockbox play AAC files (i.e. un-DRM'ed iTunes music)?
Nachos #4: I'm sorry, but it really bugs me when my 2 year old iPod is considered "old".
I think a 2-year-old iPod is considered exceptionally old because a whole lot of iPods don't last 2 years, i.e. people buy new ones not because they want to be cool or have a fancy new gadget but because they want to replace a defunct one. (As for me, when my iPod died after 2 years, I just got a big MicroSD card for my phone, and luckily my phone does play AACs so I continue to buy music on iTunes).
Support for alternative formats? Cool. Replacing the iPod's simple and easy-to-use UI with one that's a lot more cluttered, for the sake of a little eye candy? Not so much. Of course, that could just be my grumpy-old-man need for bifocals talking.
Airshowfan: Almost everybody I know has an iPod that's more than 2 years old. That's ridiculous to say they generally don't last more than 2 years... They last just fine. Even the REALLY old ones, with the battery issues, if you replace the battery they still work fine. My wife just replaced her 2g iPod with an iPod classic, but gifted the 2g to her sister because it's still working fine. She only replaced it because she wanted more storage space, and video.
I tried Rockbox on my 5.5g iPod when it first became available... I dunno, I just didn't like it all that much. Maybe it's just that the available themes looked so crappy, or maybe I should've just RTFM, but the interface wasn't all that intuitive to me, and I found it fairly annoying to use (moreso than the ipod interface, which I dislike as well... If they can make a skin that mimics the Rio Karma's interface, I would switch back in a second!
#21: Halloween Jack: The interface is almost completely customizable. For instance I have my RB iPod set so it has HUGE type on a black background for maximum visibility while driving.
There's also two features that are the cornerstones of why Rockbox is so much better than the iPod firmware.
And of course there's the themes, games, voice recording and other goodies. But those two are the big ones right there.
Rockbox is the best thing my I've ever done to my iPods.
Who says iPods don't last more than two years? I've got an iPod mini (the last version, the 6gb model) from 2005. Works like a champ, and still holds a ten hour charge on its original battery. It's got a few dings and scratches, but it plays beautifully.
As for Rockbox...it was always one of those things which seemed more interesting in theory than practise. It's nice to have the option if I ever need it.
I hafta chime in.
Refurb 4gb Sansa e200 series : $35
4 gb micro SD card : $20
Rockbox: Free
It's hands down the best mobile MP3 player software out there. And you can always make it boot the original OS if you want...
I love rockbox had it on my Sansa e260, it is great for audio books, it bookmarks your last session and it separately bookmarks your audio books from your music. My Sansa was stolen a month ago but a friend gave me a 4G 40gig ipod click wheel. I have to buy the charger and sync cable, just waiting for delivery. First thing ROCKBOXING IT BABY!!!
I prefer cruising around with this Rock Box:
http://tinyurl.com/3f8w5q
@NathanRudy CJ and Airshowfan :
Yes Rockbox will play iTunes music, provided it's in the non-DRM'd "iTunes Plus" format.
There is also a patch in development to allow Rockbox to work with accessories that use Apple's Ipod Accessory Protocol.