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Question about the ipod key config

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DancemasterGlenn:
So, I've been thinking about this for a while, and I'm sure there's a reason for it, but I figured I'd ask (sorry if someone has asked this before, I searched the forum but couldn't find anything like this): what's the reason that the ipod rockbox firmware uses such different key configuration than the original firmware? It's been easy enough to get used to, so it's never really been an issue, but I do kinda miss the menu button being used as a back key (I find I don't use it to go to the main menu very much at all, preferring to hit select to go back into the database where I left off, and then using the back button to navigate elsewhere. Which is essentially what I would just do with the menu button if it just was used as a back button. I'm assuming it has something to do with the button saying MENU, not back, but yeah...

I'm sure this key config has been used for a really really really long time, and my post isn't going to change anything, so this is more of a question for information rather than a silly (unnecessary) request for a change. Anyone want to fill me in on this one?

bluebrother:

--- Quote from: DancemasterGlenn on February 24, 2008, 01:21:26 AM ---what's the reason that the ipod rockbox firmware uses such different key configuration than the original firmware?
--- End quote ---
There are several reasons:

* Rockbox is not AppleOS
* Rockbox does not try to imitate the OF but follows its own philosophy
* The way the OF uses the buttons is weird and confusing (unless you got used to it -- a button labelled "Menu" should invoke the menu, not put me back one level in folder navigation)

Febs:

--- Quote from: DancemasterGlenn on February 24, 2008, 01:21:26 AM ---but I do kinda miss the menu button being used as a back key
--- End quote ---

Putting aside what the Apple firmware does, why would it make any sense to have the Menu button go back and some other button go to the menu, when (1) there is already a back button and (2) the Menu button says, "Menu"?

In my opinion, from the perspective of someone who came to the iPod from other Rockbox platforms and who never used the Apple firmware, the Rockbox button assignments are much more intuitive than the Apple button assignments.  They also give more consistency across different Rockbox-supported platforms.

DancemasterGlenn:
Haha, I knew those posts were coming, hence what I actually wrote in my post about menu definitely not saying "back" on it. Sorry for the stupid question, and thank you for the clarification. Someone can delete this if they want.

EDIT: for what it's worth, there was never any point in them labeling that button "menu" in the first place... it really should say back, since that's what it does in the OF. And once again, I really like rockbox, and am totally used to the key config anyway. Thanks for the hard work.

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