Optimum set up for ipod

[Cian]

Hey,
Hope this falls under the 'installation' bracket. I have just put Rockbox on my ipod 80gb video. I've never had an ipod before and thus have never had to use itunes. I was wondering what the best way to set up my ipod is. Should I put all my music through itunes then on to the player? Or should I just stick with my own file trees via Rockbox? (but this means that I cant access my songs when using the original firmware - which means I have to put up with crappy battery life).

So, what do you recommend for optimum set up after installation?

Thanks for your help.

[GodEater]

"Optimum" means different things to different people.

I *personally* removed all the iTunes loaded music, and copied my library back on there in a nicely laid out file tree. Battery life is NOT an issue for me as my bus ride to work is less than 20 minutes, and I've got about 16 USB ports to choose from at work to keep my iPod fully charged.

However, if you're a lumberjack, and away from anything resembling a USB port for more than 10 hours a day and want your music with you - then perhaps that *isn't* the optimum set up for you, and you'll want to be able to use the OF too.

It's not *really* a question anyone here can help you with. Try it different ways - see what suits you. Nothing is final after all

[Cian]

tvm for the reply...I get what your saying...and I see why Rockbox can be way way better than OF for most ppl. But I guess what I'm really wondering, is whether I should set up my ipod in such a way to take advantage of both options. imo, THE only disadvantage of rockbox is the compromised battery life. But I want to be able to have extended battery life when i need it. Does this mean I need to use itunes, and have every song duplicated on my player? I do have 80gb's to play with so it's not THAT bad if this is the case

[ryran]

Does this mean I need to use itunes, and have every song duplicated on my player?

Yes it does mean you'll need to use iTunes.. but you don't need to duplicate all the songs. You can just use iTunes to transfer your music (which will put it into random folders of random file names in the control folder) and then use Rockbox's database feature to search for all of the files on your iPod and display them via tags [just like the Apple firmware].

[betamaxman]

"Optimum" means different things to different people.

I *personally* removed all the iTunes loaded music, and copied my library back on there in a nicely laid out file tree. Battery life is NOT an issue for me as my bus ride to work is less than 20 minutes, and I've got about 16 USB ports to choose from at work to keep my iPod fully charged.

However, if you're a lumberjack, and away from anything resembling a USB port for more than 10 hours a day and want your music with you - then perhaps that *isn't* the optimum set up for you, and you'll want to be able to use the OF too.

It's not *really* a question anyone here can help you with. Try it different ways - see what suits you. Nothing is final after all

Actually battery life should be an issue no matter how short you listen to your ipod. The ipod uses lithium ion batteries. I beleive the max number of dead to full charges is any where from 500 to 1000 times depending on who you read. That equates to 1000 to 2000 half charges and 2000 to 4000 quater charges and so on. So the more you drain the battery and charge it the shorter will the life span of your ipod's battery be. It also shows it is better to keep your ipod in a charging cradle when not in use.  8-)

[Llorean]

Actually, lithium-ion batteries are best stored at partial charge in a cool or cold environment. Keeping them at full charge is not the ideal situation.

[betamaxman]

I am not talking about what's best for storing it in a time capsule, but everyday use, where it will get partially discharged from time to time.
Ideal or not, point is it is far better than fully discharging and recharging.
Listen to Steve Gibson's ipod battery advice, watch the video. 8-)
http://www.labwithleo.com/shownotes/episode10/notes

[ryran]

Wow. I didn't know that; I read at some point that it was best to store Li-ion at full capacitiy.. Paul does it again.

In reference to Rockbox on targets with Li-ion batteries, something else from wikipedia entry caught my attention:

A stand-alone Li-ion cell must never be discharged below a certain voltage to avoid irreversible damage. Therefore all Li-ion battery systems are equipped with a circuit that shuts down the system when the battery is discharged below the predefined threshold.[8] It should thus be impossible to "deep discharge" the battery in a properly designed system during normal use. This is also one of the reasons Li-ion cells are rarely sold as such to consumers, but only as finished batteries designed to fit a particular system.

When the voltage monitoring circuit is built inside the battery (a so-called "smart" battery) rather than the equipment, it continuously draws a small current from the battery even when the battery is not in use; furthermore, the battery must not be stored fully discharged for prolonged periods of time, to avoid damage due to deep discharge.

This makes me very curious about, e.g. the iPod. I wonder if it has a smart battery, if the hardware takes care of shutting it down before it reaches that critical point, or if the firmware plays a role ... more to the point: if it's easily possible to damage a Li-ion battery by using Rockbox.

Meh. I suppose we'd know if it was. Hmm.
Interesting stuff.

[Llorean]

As far as we know, all Rockbox targets with Lithium batteries have their own control circuitry keeping them from deep discharging, and overcharging.

[Cian]

Does this mean I need to use itunes, and have every song duplicated on my player?

Yes it does mean you'll need to use iTunes.. but you don't need to duplicate all the songs. You can just use iTunes to transfer your music (which will put it into random folders of random file names in the control folder) and then use Rockbox's database feature to search for all of the files on your iPod and display them via tags [just like the Apple firmware].

So I really should be transferring ALL my songs via itunes...rather than any file tree set up I may have? And then rockbox will recognise the tags in the same way the original firmware does? At the moment I actually have my collection (around 30gb's at the moment, need to pay my brother a visit ), on the player using my old file tree set up that I used with my iriver H340. Looks like I'll have to transfer everything back to the computer so? And back on to the player through itunes.

[ryran]

Looks like I'll have to transfer everything back to the computer so? And back on to the player through itunes.

If you want to use both.. yeah.