Rockbox to Itunes.. Itunes to Rockbox

[killer]

  as i understand the manual, i can change firnware, from rockbox to itunes (original firmware), itunes (original firmware) to rockbox?, by simply pressing "select" button and "menu" button (rebooting)?  

[lights0ut]

The rockbox bootloader loads rockbox by default, so if you do a hard-reboot by holding menu/centre you will get rockbox again. To load the apple OS you need to turn on the hold switch when you turn on your iPod (when you first see the apple before rockbox loads). You can also hold menu when you turn on your iPod to go into the apple OS. To get back into rockbox you will need to hard-reboot by holding menu/centre.

hope that helps

[killer]

thanks for the quick reply ...so it means i can change from rockbox to itunes and from itunes to rockbox?!, just following that simple nstruction?,  the only reason why i want to change back to itune is because i wanted to watch video using ipod's, as i understand the manual, video playing (mpeg1 and mpeg2) is not yet perfected (no fast forward/reverse).

[soap]

Hey killer,
I don't mean to be a jerk, but I do mean to be pedantic in a nice way.  
I just want to stress the importance of correct and common terminology on these technical forums.
iTunes is Apple's software for managing your music and syncing it to your iPod.  The Apple firmware (that is, the software on your iPod) doesn't seem to have an official name, but it isn't "iTunes".
I make this point because iTunes and Rockbox can both be used at the same time, infact you can continue to use iTunes to manage your iPod (if you so desire) and Rockbox to play your music.

[killer]

this is cool!, two firmware on one ipod unit, and you have an option to choose which one you want to use!... ei thanks soap  , i just find it easier to say "itunes" rather than saying "the original Apple's firmware!.. yeah am sorry  i know this could mislead somebody reading this thread.

[killer]

okey, now if i were to change from apple's firmware to rockbox.. to rockbox and back to apple's firmware (on my ipod video 5G 30Gb), will i loose all my mp3/video itune coverted files and rockbox's mp3 file database as well?

thanks!

[lights0ut]

So, let me try to understand, you're asking if you can dual boot you iPod and be able to use the same set of mp3's in each firmware? Well, the only way to do it so that the apple OS can see all the music is by transferring the music with the itunes software (or winamp etc.). That way all your music will be in the itunes Database so the apple OS will see it. Rockbox will see your music anywhere on the iPod.

[Flid]

Just to clarify a bit further (with a minor extra point)...
You won't actually "lose" anything when switching between the two operating systems. The only negative is that the Apple firmware does not store its "Now Playing" information / playlists when you do a hard-reboot. The songs / videos will still be there. Rockbox however will remember what you were listening to last time you were in Rockbox mode, and will resume (assuming you have this feature enabled).

[killer]

Just to clarify a bit further (with a minor extra point)...
You won't actually "lose" anything when switching between the two operating systems. The only negative is that the Apple firmware does not store its "Now Playing" information / playlists when you do a hard-reboot. The songs / videos will still be there. Rockbox however will remember what you were listening to last time you were in Rockbox mode, and will resume (assuming you have this feature enabled).

So, let me try to understand, you're asking if you can dual boot you iPod and be able to use the same set of mp3's in each firmware? Well, the only way to do it so that the apple OS can see all the music is by transferring the music with the itunes software (or winamp etc.). That way all your music will be in the itunes Database so the apple OS will see it. Rockbox will see your music anywhere on the iPod.

guys thanks for all the reply.. here's what i really have in mind why i wanted to run two firmware (ipod's original firmeware and rockbox on one ipod unit).. i wanted to use rockbox's firmware to play all my music files so i am not stuck on the original boring white and blue ipod's screen set-up, because with rockbox's, i have a choice of changing the fonts or how i wish it to look like when or if i play my music, plus it has different choices of games too!.. i will only use the original ipod's firmware (on the same ipod unit) mainly to play all of my video files, since rockbox have not yet perfected it as of now.. is this possible?

again.. thanks guys!

-killer

[lights0ut]

So, you want rockbox for audio and apple os for just video?
Well, you will have to transfer your videos with itunes, but you can just drag 'n drop your music files onto your iPod.

[killer]

So, you want rockbox for audio and apple os for just video?
Well, you will have to transfer your videos with itunes, but you can just drag 'n drop your music files onto your iPod.

yes sir!.. i plan to use apple os for video viewing only (i don't mind using itunes for this)..  and use rockbox to play all my music files... so it means it's possible to use two firmware on one ipod unit without loosing all my files?

[lights0ut]

correct

[gnu]

You can even use 3 firmwares if you install Ipodlinux! But it's not worth it...

[ryran]

and you can even try out other non-iTunes programs to transfer videos for the Apple fw....