Want to port Cowon iAudio 9, have found some PCB pictures, what to do NEXT?

[cysin]

I am new and I want to port Cowon iAudio 9, and I've read the beginner's page :http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/NewPort .
But it seems I have problems to edit the wiki. So I post the information here:

http://www.imp3.net/1/show.php?itemid=26380&page=1

The page above shows the pictures of the PCB, is that clear enough? (The page is using Chinese and I can do the translation if it is needed)

According to that post, it is said iAudio 9 has similar chips with iAudio S9 (telechip)

iAudio 9 is capcable of upgrading firmware, just copy the new firmware files to the root directory and it will do the upgrading automatically. And it has some rescue/recover methods from an upgrading failure according to official documentation.

And the latest firmware can be downloaded here:

http://www.cowonglobal.com/download/Firmware/iaudio9/iAUDIO9_1.11.zip

That's all the information I got so far. Is that enough to start a new port? (Sorry I am new to this and I only knew some high-level programming such as C/C++)

And one thing: if I just want to modify current official firmware, such as add/modify some features, what are the steps to do? (or th e requirements?)

[GodEater]

That's all the information I got so far. Is that enough to start a new port? (Sorry I am new to this and I only knew some high-level programming such as C/C++)

I don't think you've understood the NewPort page's main point, which is that new ports are done by people who start them. You're asking an audience of people who already use Rockbox, ergo they already have devices that run Rockbox, and are unlikely to want to start a port to another device that they don't own. Unless you can find other people with the same device as you who are interested in doing a Rockbox port, you're going to get nowhere unless you do ALL the work on your own.

And one thing: if I just want to modify current official firmware, such as add/modify some features, what are the steps to do? (or th e requirements?)

That's entirely offtopic for the Rockbox forums. We don't do firmware modifications, we do firmware replacements.

[AlexP]

You need to sign up for the wiki, then ask for write permission in IRC (as it says on the sign up page).  Check for a thread on the iaudio 9 in the New Ports forum.  If there isn't one, you can start one with any info there is, but please keep it to development only, and also take into account what GodEater said above.

[shotofadds]

From the firmware download, it looks like a Telechips TCC79x-based player, which means a port is feasible if someone wants to put the (massive amount of) work in.

However, even if you find someone with the technical skills necessary to do the port, it seems to have one of the same NAND chips as the D2, so you will be restricted to read-only access to the filesystem. And that doesn't make for a satisying experience (especially with no SD card as an alternative). I would be apprehensive of starting a port, simply for that reason.

[cysin]

Thank you. I am about to start the porting but I am really new to this, only have some knowledge about high-level programming (C/C++) and have no previous experiences.

Are you sure about the chips model? I am still gathering the datasheets of the hardware, seems hard to know the SOC type.

Could you explain more specifically about the "read-only access to the filesystem" thing? You mean I cant get a full access to the filesystem unless there is an alternative D2 for development?

Excuse me I am really new. Thank you very much and any help is appreciated.

From the firmware download, it looks like a Telechips TCC79x-based player, which means a port is feasible if someone wants to put the (massive amount of) work in.

However, even if you find someone with the technical skills necessary to do the port, it seems to have one of the same NAND chips as the D2, so you will be restricted to read-only access to the filesystem. And that doesn't make for a satisying experience (especially with no SD card as an alternative). I would be apprehensive of starting a port, simply for that reason.

[saratoga]

Could you explain more specifically about the "read-only access to the filesystem" thing? You mean I cant get a full access to the filesystem unless there is an alternative D2 for development?

He means we don't have a flash translation layer written for that line of SOC that can do writes, which means you'll either have to write your own or live with read only.  Of course, no sense worrying about that now since you have a lot to do first.

[cysin]

@saratoga, thanks for the reply. It seems hard for me to do the porting but I will try my best, and any help is appreciated

By the way, I've just got that iAudio 9 is using telechip 7901 .