Apple serial number decoder

This page takes an Apple serial number and dumps what it knows about it.

Here's sample output from my iPod serial:

Serial number: [redacted]
Name: iPod Mini (Second generation)
Model: Mxxxx iPod Mini 4GB Silver
Group1: iPod
Group2: Mini
Generation:
ModelCode: ipod_mini_2g
Screen size: 1.6 inch
Screen resolution: 138x110 pixels
Colour: Silver
Capacity: 4GB
Factory: JQ (China)
External link: Technical specifications by apple-history.com
Model introduced: 2005
Production year: 2005
Production week: 15 (April)
Production number: 34353 (within this week)

rockbox report: iPod mini 2g 4GB

Second traded mp3 player came in the mail. This one is a silver iPod mini 2nd gen, 4GB player.

The clickwheel functionality and build of the Mini is superior to the sansa, but it weighs more and has no place to attach a lanyard that I can see. The screen is larger but is monochrome and has much slower refresh. There is a bit of lag in the iPod UI. That's odd, as both units use dual 80mHz ARM chips that appear to be very similar (pp5022 v. pp5024 PortalPlayer stuff). Maybe it's just a slow screen refresh making the UI look slow.


Rockbox slipped right on painlessly. Rockbox for iPod mini 2G (manual in .pdf) will let you dual boot; rockbox for when you want to control your destiny and Apple firmware for when you want your iPod's electromechanical soul to get savaged by whatever hellspawn invented iTunes.

Hey, have I mentioned how much I hate iTunes? I do. It's an abomination, an informational lobotomy, a power of attorney granted to an elderly uncle who wasn't that stable before senility hit him full force. It's the signing away of your birthright for a pot of soup. It's no way to live. Say no to iTunes. Say yes to something else, anything else.

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.