in praise of RockBox

noise · 04-07-2010, 06:10 AM

RockBox is custom firmware that runs on many portable music players, including (older) iPod, Archos, SanDisk, iriver, and quite a few others.

i installed it last night on my old fifth-gen iPod Video. installing it was just like installing a program. i plugged in my ipod, ran the app, and waited for it to finish. it let me choose a theme during the install - most are ugly, but i found one that appealed to me.

Rockbox Themes - rayboradio_OB Theme

booting into the new firmware reveals a completely unfamiliar interface. music is accessed either by browsing the filesystem, or by building a database from tags. no software is required to add music to the iPod with RockBox on it. just drag and drop wherever. i keep my music organized, so i don't bother with the database.

now here's the real treat - my ipod now plays flac, and it sounds absolutely phenomenal! RockBox gives me much greater EQ control. i can roll the bass all the way up without any distortion. it drives my headphones (mid-range Sennheiser earbuds) much better than the old iPod firmware. music is stronger, crisper, and more dimensional than ever before.

RockBox also allows for cross-fading, replay gain, and lots of other nice musical things.

it also comes packed with crap like apps and games - you can even play Doom on the thing - but i really don't care much about that sort of thing.

i've been upgrading my collection to flac, and RockBox is a lifesaver. no more converting/syncing with foobar to add/remove music. just plug it in, drag it over, and it's good to go.

oh yeah i almost forgot - it's 100% open source

check it out!
Rockbox - Open Source Jukebox Firmware

lucifer_sam · 04-07-2010, 06:15 AM

This sounds pretty cool, might be just the incentive I need to never get rid of my 5th-gen iPod. It's not like I've ever had any issues with it but damn, something like that would make it look awesome.

noise · 04-07-2010, 06:46 AM

also it's totally non-intrusive. official Apple firmware is still there and you can boot into it whenever you want. if you hate RockBox, just uninstall it

adidasss · 04-07-2010, 09:57 AM

Would it work on an iphone?

noise · 04-07-2010, 10:57 AM

no, it only works on older models unfortunately...

look here to see what it supports:

Current Rockbox Builds

abdullah424 · 04-07-2010, 10:59 AM

Rockbox is great firmware. Just remember to charge your ipod everyday because it drains the batteries quicker.

The ability to play any format more than makes up for that though. The custom themes are also fun to play around with.

noise · 04-07-2010, 11:03 AM

yeah i've definitely noticed a drop in the battery life. i attribute that to flac playback - more disc disc and less cache...

but yes, it's worth the cost! it's great not having to use software to send music. stupid apple itunes database ****e.

adidasss · 04-07-2010, 12:13 PM

Goddamn...

sidewinder · 04-07-2010, 01:15 PM

Hmm sounds cool, and works with my 2nd gen Nano.

Does it take a lot of space, though? Mine's almost always maxed out as it is, I'd hate to reduce my available space.

noise · 04-07-2010, 01:20 PM

not at all. you can do a minimal install - skip the games and extra fonts and all that crap - and it'll just be a few megs. you won't even notice it at all.

04-07-2010, 06:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	in praise of RockBox RockBox is custom firmware that runs on many portable music players, including (older) iPod, Archos, SanDisk, iriver, and quite a few others. i installed it last night on my old fifth-gen iPod Video. installing it was just like installing a program. i plugged in my ipod, ran the app, and waited for it to finish. it let me choose a theme during the install - most are ugly, but i found one that appealed to me. Rockbox Themes - rayboradio_OB Theme booting into the new firmware reveals a completely unfamiliar interface. music is accessed either by browsing the filesystem, or by building a database from tags. no software is required to add music to the iPod with RockBox on it. just drag and drop wherever. i keep my music organized, so i don't bother with the database. now here's the real treat - my ipod now plays flac, and it sounds absolutely phenomenal! RockBox gives me much greater EQ control. i can roll the bass all the way up without any distortion. it drives my headphones (mid-range Sennheiser earbuds) much better than the old iPod firmware. music is stronger, crisper, and more dimensional than ever before. RockBox also allows for cross-fading, replay gain, and lots of other nice musical things. it also comes packed with crap like apps and games - you can even play Doom on the thing - but i really don't care much about that sort of thing. i've been upgrading my collection to flac, and RockBox is a lifesaver. no more converting/syncing with foobar to add/remove music. just plug it in, drag it over, and it's good to go. oh yeah i almost forgot - it's 100% open source check it out! Rockbox - Open Source Jukebox Firmware __________________ my flac collection

04-07-2010, 06:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
lucifer_sam Unrepentant Ass-Mod Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,921	This sounds pretty cool, might be just the incentive I need to never get rid of my 5th-gen iPod. It's not like I've ever had any issues with it but damn, something like that would make it look awesome. __________________ first.am

04-07-2010, 06:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	also it's totally non-intrusive. official Apple firmware is still there and you can boot into it whenever you want. if you hate RockBox, just uninstall it __________________ my flac collection

04-07-2010, 09:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	Would it work on an iphone? __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

04-07-2010, 10:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	no, it only works on older models unfortunately... look here to see what it supports: Current Rockbox Builds __________________ my flac collection

04-07-2010, 10:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
abdullah424 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 351	Rockbox is great firmware. Just remember to charge your ipod everyday because it drains the batteries quicker. The ability to play any format more than makes up for that though. The custom themes are also fun to play around with.

04-07-2010, 11:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	yeah i've definitely noticed a drop in the battery life. i attribute that to flac playback - more disc disc and less cache... but yes, it's worth the cost! it's great not having to use software to send music. stupid apple itunes database ****e. __________________ my flac collection

04-07-2010, 12:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	Goddamn... __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

04-07-2010, 01:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
sidewinder Engorged Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,536	Hmm sounds cool, and works with my 2nd gen Nano. Does it take a lot of space, though? Mine's almost always maxed out as it is, I'd hate to reduce my available space. __________________ last.fm \| my collection on RYM \| vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

04-07-2010, 01:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	not at all. you can do a minimal install - skip the games and extra fonts and all that crap - and it'll just be a few megs. you won't even notice it at all. __________________ my flac collection