Rockbox General > Rockbox General Discussion

What's the future for rockbox ?

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steak:

--- Quote from: monoid on November 07, 2014, 04:51:19 AM ---Each porting to e new DAP needs a lot of work.

--- End quote ---
But when it's done on a "single task" (=music playing) DAP, it's for good. Then the DAP reaches stable status & gets release versions of RB.

--- Quote from: monoid on November 07, 2014, 04:51:19 AM ---I am not sure what you mean by RB as an application.

--- End quote ---
Android ports are multi tasks devices = they are not just DAP running a firmware, they are portable computers running an Operating System in which softwares or Applications are used not only to play music but also to make phone calls, take pictures, write & send emails, browse the web, etc, etc... On these ports RB does not replace the firmware, it's only one app among many others.

--- Quote from: monoid on November 07, 2014, 04:51:19 AM ---I am not sure about android port. One could consider it application. But to my understanding it is not official version (port) of RB. I tried once RB on tablet and there was something that did not work satisfactory. Probably the resolution was the issue, I do not remember.
But generally speaking if some SW works on certain OS it might work on several next versions of that OS. But it may happen that it will not work on next. One never knows.

--- End quote ---
I really don't know all reasons why RB cannot be official on Android ports. One aspect is definitely the fact that it's not always working but there may be others legal (would they have to be on the Play Store ?) etc, etc.. Anyway as a user if it works, then I don't mind wether it's official or not !

"Old" DAPs were good and are even better compared with current smartphones used as DAP... for some features and especially = size and battery life. Given the current trend, they should remain so for a while. Yet smartphones have two interesting features : screen size and processing power. While I'm not so much interested in processing power, I found that only smartphones allowed me to use the database features of RB (On Cowon D2 or Sansa Clips it was way too slow with a large collection >5000 tracks). The screen size is more useful to me as I like to have as much information available on what I'm playing and what comes next. There is no perfect player since depending on usage, I will rather get my tiny Clip, my punchy D2 or my big screen Android port but the latter certainly deserve to be used with RB and vice versa.

@monoid
You have made clear the commitment of devs. I have the feeling thanks are not enough though.  If the RB project is not kept running by new talents while at the same time there is nothing half, no, no, a tiny fraction as good as RB is in the DAP market of today, then I believe many would sadly think their work has been eventually wasted. Of course RB will be used for years on good old DAPs AND RB as an App is still potentially compatible with any Android port so... maybe I sound a bit dramatic here. Maybe I should also say I plan to get myself a turntable, dig up my old LP collection and play music in the house some day. That means I can live without RB but not without music. Cheers to music lovers and those who help us enjoying it !!

sargeborsch:
If you need some help from an Android guy, let me know.
(by the way, I know not just Java™)

steak:

--- Quote from: sargeborsch on November 17, 2014, 01:25:24 AM ---If you need some help from an Android guy, let me know.
(by the way, I know not just Java™)

--- End quote ---
So far so good... I have made my Motorola Defy v1 (MB525) + Android 2.2.2 my Android DAP (no SIM card, mainly used for music, occasionally for other Apps).

It is quite usable : black screen sometime when trying to do file management within RB (delete/create/move/rename file or directory). Judging by the symptoms (whole device slowing down, etc..) I am pretty sure it's due to <Hardware+Android version>.

I may consider upgrading to a custom ROM v2.3 (Motorola stopped at 2.2 and has ceased any support for this "old" device) but that involves learning how to root the phone, sth which might take me longer than I wish so later on & maybe only.

As an android guy would you advise me to upgrade higher ? I suspect upgrading too high will probably slow down the device. I've used 2.3, the improved interface is already good enough for such usage (Apps can be grouped in folders if I remember right, a few Apps not supported in 2.2 might be in 2.3, etc..)

My prior task would rather be to change the WPS. I can proceed by edit & tests on my Samsung Galaxy S2 (GT-I9100) + Android 4.1.2 first. Once again no rush : it took me a while to do it on my previous Galaxy S1 : I do not handle 100% of the WPS code. Unfortunately (and strangely : they share the same screen resolution) by the way my WPS backup files do not work on the S2. Considering the phoen vanished in a bar, these backup may actually not be the good ones... I cannot check but still, they contain the idea of what I achieved. When I will have something good enough, I'll transfer it to the Defy. For this I'll have to re-install <Motorola Phone Portal> on my Windows PC, there's no other way to access internal storage where the WPS should be. Strangely the <rockbox> folder seems to be split in 2 parts. One is stored on the microSD : there I get config.cfg, shortcuts.txt, an empty (?) rocks.data dir, etc.. I assume the second one with WPS folder & file, etc.. (as on my Galaxy) is stored on the internal drive.

Finally, I thank you for your help offer, I'll keep it in mind and may use it in a distant  future... or not. Most probably I'll PM you as my questions will be off subject and certainly unclear at the beginning. I/we will open a new topic if it seems useful for other users.

Are you actually developping RB as an app ? Or would be ? RB on "regular" DAPs and RB on Android target have a few differences. Being a user of both, I find a few differences might be worth cancelling. Maybe maybe not : it may be too much work for not enough benefit or not enough users or both. Anyway this is no priority again, I have to think it over and over through regular use first. If eventually I find it useful, I could ask for your comments/advice befor submitting it at the appropriate place.

I'll soon be working away for a month on a sailing ship so off internet most of the time. Then back home I'll have to get a new job... I'll probably have to cut my posts short.

Best regards to all Rockboxers : devs & users !!

steak:
Wel,l well, I think I should apologise for going way way off subject. Next time I will pm or open a new topic.

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