iPod Build... Any use

[munkifisht]

I am on the look out for a new player, and was thinking of the iAudio x5, but because it's discontinued the prices on the remaining units has shot up, And looking at what’s around and for what price, it looks as though the iPod is such good value for money that I am going to have to bite the bullet and jump on that band wagon, although it is not something I really want to do. So here is my questions,
•   I would like to know how far along the iPod build is, is it anywhere near the iriver h1x0 or h3x0 builds, or does it maybe surpass them.
•   What new features are there in the build. I have read that recording is available, and I was reading a hack to do with a recording feature on 2nd gen iPods, I was wondering if this is the same method, this guy was recording via the audio out slot.
•   Does RB work with the iPod database structure?
•   How is navigation. Does RB on the iPod allow you to add music on the fly, with out iTunes software.
•   Is there any way to reset the iPod easily, if problems do occour.
•   If music is added on the fly and sue the iPod as an external hard disc, will the iPod’s standard database recognise it. Is the install process simple.
•   Is it still possible to boot to iPod’s standard firmware.
•   Is RB able to handle video yet.
•   How buggy/stable is the RB build?

I think that’s it, I know, loads of Qs’ any help would be great.

[Monkeytamer]

•   I would like to know how far along the iPod build is, is it anywhere near the iriver h1x0 or h3x0 builds, or does it maybe surpass them.

There are still bugs that need to be worked out with power management, as there is a significant difference in battery life while using Rockbox in comparison to the original firmware; the issues with the processor and freezing have as of recently been alleviated (for earlier generations), although the video chip in the iPod Video has no documentation and is not used at all, thus limiting its video capabilities.

•   Does RB work with the iPod database structure?

Yes

•   How is navigation. Does RB on the iPod allow you to add music on the fly, with out iTunes software.

Yes, it acts much like an external drive, with drag and drop capabilities.

•   Is there any way to reset the iPod easily, if problems do occour.

Yes, simply holding menu and the select button simultaneously for about 5-10 seconds will reset the device.

•   If music is added on the fly and sue the iPod as an external hard disc, will the iPod’s standard database recognise it. Is the install process simple.

No, the standard database will not recognize music that is simply dragged and dropped. The install process is rather painless, although it be stressed to read the manual carefully nonetheless.

•   Is it still possible to boot to iPod’s standard firmware.

Yes, dual booting is possible.

•   Is RB able to handle video yet.

Yes, although it is not ideal due to the limitations of the hardware, and as stated before the iPod Video does not make use of its video chip.

•   How buggy/stable is the RB build?

That would be in the eyes of the beholder. I have not used Rockbox on an iPod in a while, but it should be fairly stable. I'm sure others will be able to offer better anecdotal experience.

[gnu]

 

•   What new features are there in the build. I have read that recording is available, and I was reading a hack to do with a recording feature on 2nd gen iPods, I was wondering if this is the same method, this guy was recording via the audio out slot.

If you care about recording, get the X5. I have one myself, and I'm fully content with it. I had an iPod nano before, and rockbox was the only reason why I kept it so long

[Yotto]

I have used Rockbox on an iPod for over a year now, and love it.  I've done experimental builds, daily builds, hourly builds... And I don't think I've ever had any problems that were because I was using an iPod.  And I've never had a problem that I would consider serious (i.e., a reboot fixed it)

My friend, however, has installed it twice and uninstalled it less than 24 hours later both times, swearing (both times) to never install it again.

So, I suppose, your mileage may vary.

[soap]

•   I would like to know how far along the iPod build is, is it anywhere near the iriver h1x0 or h3x0 builds, or does it maybe surpass them.

iPod interface is slower than the H100/H300.
Battery life is ~half.  http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodRuntime
No working remote.  Many commercial iPod accessories don't fully work.  http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodAccessories
Recording is buggy.  (You record through the line-in pins on the dock connector.  5/5.5th generation iPods do not have a mic-level input through the headphone jack.)
Winners, by far, are the iRiver H100/H300s.

•   Does RB work with the iPod database structure?

Yes

Rockbox can not read the iTunes database, BUT Rockbox can create its own database structure by reading the metadata off of the funky-named tracks iTunes places on the iPod.

•   Is there any way to reset the iPod easily, if problems do occour.

Yes, simply holding menu and the select button simultaneously for about 5-10 seconds will reset the device.

This is a Hardware reset and will always work if done correctly.

•   Is RB able to handle video yet.

Yes, although it is not ideal due to the limitations of the hardware, and as stated before the iPod Video does not make use of its video chip.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/PluginMpegplayer

[munkifisht]

Superb, I think that that has settled most of my Fears. I would love to get an iAudio, but they have just become so rare now (there is only one supplier that offers the 60Gb and will deliver to me that I can find, and it will cost around €100 more then the 80Gb iPod video). I think that if rockbox does work and deul booting is available, then there is no reason not to get it. Many thanks guys for the info.

[munkifisht]

in fact, I have one more question that came to me just now. Say I upload music with iTunes, is there anyway to get that music off the player with rockbox. Just so I'm making it clear, I upload Lovley Song by blur in iTunes, but come 2 months later I have lost my origional on the PC. Can I connect the iPod and take that Song off the player with drag and drop?

Also, would it be fair to say  that due to the iPods popularity, progress is accelerating much faster then previous builds?

[stripwax]

1.  You can certainly drag the file off the ipod and drop it onto your pc.  But iTunes stores files on your ipod disk in arbitrary named files.  It won't be easy to find the right file!  (You could always drag-n-drop them all and play them until you find Lovley Song..).  Also if it's DRM it may not work  (I don't know, sorry)

2.  No.  Because the iPod has no developer documentation  (there is no publicly available information describing how to develop software applications for the iPod hardware)  so a lot of guessing and hard work has meant this port is progressing slower than other ports.

[soap]

If I were you I'd buy a used Gigabeat F or X series.  Used it is much cheaper (50%) than a new iPod, and it works better with Rockbox.  I own both, and while I love the scrollwheel on my iPod, the Gigabeat is more refined.  (No Recording, though.)

The Gigabeat port started way after the iPod port, and is much further along.  (Just reinforcing stripwax's point #2)

On question #1, you don't need Rockbox to move songs off your iPod.  They are all in iPod_Control (a hidden folder) for the taking.  Their names have been changed during transfer, but all metadata is intact.  Mounting the iPod as a UMS device will allow you to extract them, and any decent tagger will rename them for you.  Or you can use a product such as Sharepod to do it all for you in one step.  This is drifting off-topic, so I'll stop.

[Mad Cow]

If I were you I'd buy a used Gigabeat F or X series.  Used it is much cheaper (50%) than a new iPod, and it works better with Rockbox.  I own both, and while I love the scrollwheel on my iPod, the Gigabeat is more refined.  (No Recording, though.)

Agreed, I bought a brand new F40 for $200 on ebay, and it's incredibly with rockbox. If you need more space there are F and X60's, but those are much harder to find. And rockbox is constantly getting updates for them because of all the available information.