Rockbox as mobile phone soft?

[torne]

The Gigabeat S checks for a signature, but the code that implements it is braindamaged and lets you turn the signature check off by adding a couple of bytes to the end of your image. The later ipods have encrypted firmware, and we can only encrypt Rockbox to match using a tool that runs on the ipod, i.e. we have to already have a way to run code on it (this was done with a security hole in the Notes feature).

Most phones don't have such easy ways of bypassing their security (though some do). Generally the people that know how to do such things don't tell anyone the details because they make a lot of money charging for the service (see phone unlocking, etc. Many of the "companies" that originate these things are tied to organised crime and obtain their information via corporate espionage, not reverse engineering. No, really.)

[RavMahov]

I know this, but first step is to get a hold of the firmware and see if we can decrypt it. Other devices rockbox will run on also checked for signed binaries. If I do remember correctly, the Gigabeat and iPod do check.

But they haven't phone antenna inside, security should be doubled

[Shiftlock]

This thread made me think about how neat it would be if there was a Rockbox-like open source firmware replacement for cell phones.  Not for smart phones with complex operating systems, but just simple cell phones with basic functions like dial, contacts, SMS, etc.  Then again, an open-source OS for smartphones (Linux-based?) would also be interesting.

Sorry for straying off topic...

[Llorean]

You mean... like... Android?

[torne]

This thread made me think about how neat it would be if there was a Rockbox-like open source firmware replacement for cell phones.  Not for smart phones with complex operating systems, but just simple cell phones with basic functions like dial, contacts, SMS, etc.

Simple phones are difficult, because you have to be a GSM/UMTS/etc stack as well as an OS. This means your entire OS has to run under hard-realtime restrictions, as well; the radio protocols require very low latency and precise timing. Depending where you live, also, you may find this idea makes regulatory bodies vey unhappy

[RavMahov]

This thread made me think about how neat it would be if there was a Rockbox-like open source firmware replacement for cell phones.  Not for smart phones with complex operating systems, but just simple cell phones with basic functions like dial, contacts, SMS, etc.  Then again, an open-source OS for smartphones (Linux-based?) would also be interesting.

Sorry for straying off topic...

Why off topic? My first post was just start for idea. It's thread for discussion about Rockbox mobile firmware replacement