Thursday, January 14, 2010

rockbox

rockbox is free / open source firmware for mp3 players. Probably most common on iPods and Sansa players, but it runs on many platforms and adds features like video playback, game emulation, small apps, and massive amounts of customizability. See what yours would do.

I've been intending to snag a used mp3 player that is amenable to rockboxing, but hadn't done it until recently. I traded a handful of serviceable (but not rockboxable) units to get a Sansa e240r e260 and a beat up 2G iPod Mini. I'll install the firmware on them and will report back when I do so. Until then I've got a Sansa c240 that is officially not supported (classified as "unusable" with rockbox) but I've got it loaded up and am listening to mp3 and FM Radio on it now. The "unusable" rockbox is already better than the firmware that came with the unit.

3 comments:

  1. I have heard others rave over rockbox but have never fully understood what it does over the software that came with my Sansa. I use my player to listen to podcasts and audio books. Is it of any use to me, or is it more for those organizing a music library? Thanks, Rosie

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  2. For audiobooks and podcasting, the main benefits would be:

    * better bookmarking, including multiple bookmarks in multiple files (customizable):
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/ykap94h

    * ability to play more file formats:
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/ygbcj7k

    * ability to use cards bigger than 2GB reliably in the player; I think rockbox supports either 8GB or 16GB at the moment.

    That's what I can think of off the top of my head.

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  3. Thanks. Guess I will have to check it out more closely and see if it is something a non-techy can tackle.

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