**Notice: This is a positive post!
Paul,
I recently listened to your interview on the FLOSS podcast and was motivated to download and try the RockBox software again. I say again because I was one of the people who installed RockBox on my first mp3 player, the Archos 5000. Now having an iPod 30G video, I decided to give it a whirl.
I won't give you an in depth review, I'm sure you get those enough on here. Needless to say, I didn't know my iPod could do this much!
RockBox is selling themselves short! I see so much possiblilty with the great work you and your team has done and will do. Have you guys thought bigger? I know you talked with Leo Laporte about a possible cross-platform software application, but why stop there?
What about partnering with a company with the backbone to make your own playing device??? Amazon.com recently released their own eBook reader called the Kindle, which is the first case I know of where an online retailer created their own device. I purchased one and like many of it's features.
So here's what I see as a possibility with you guys with RockBox. Partnering with someone like Amazon who has the backbone and means of working with RockBox to create a media player of it's own. This would give RockBox the freedom to have full design potential. Your only limitations right now are those of the hardware you are working with. Imagine an architecture where you have complete control over how the player itself works and doesn't limit what you can do!
The reason I mention Amazon is this; they recently started selling DRM free mp3's via their online store. Not only did they open this market up to Windows and Mac customers, but included Linux users as well. The download software has much to be desired, but overall, it is a great move on their part. My thinking is if they took the initiative to design their own eBook reader, why not a media device of their own? The possibilities are endless and with RockBox being the platform it's would be using, I'd be the first in line to buy.
Anyway. Just a thought. You guys (and ladies) working on RockBox do an amazing job. Thank you for all the hard work and many hours you put into all your projects. I look forward to seeing the great new ideas you come out with in the future.
Mike