work on best low cost mp3 player for rockbox

[bvrulez]

Hello, I bought a AGPTEK device (A02) and then found out about Rockbox and read this interesting thread from the start.

If the developer hunterleo is still around I want to suggest something. The SHUFFLE from apple (2012) is a really awesome device because it reduces complexity. I like having a hardware device for each purpose. The SHUFFLE's purpose is to shuffle and nothing else (it actually also has a physical switch to play in order, which is nice.).

Here is a link to the 2012 model, to which I refer because of it's size and solid clip: https://www.amazon.de/Apple-iPod-Shuffle-Modell-2012-blau/dp/B009A6BTSC

Most importantly, it does not have a display, which is GOOD for battery life!

It would be really awesome to have an upgraded version of the apple SHUFFLE. This would need to be included:

- No internal storage memory
- SD card slot (this is the most important part since the original SHUFFLE supports just 2GB)
- Large battery (playtime 100h+)
- Strong clip for putting it on clothes
- On/Off hardware switch like the Apple Shuffle
- Volume buttons
- Back/Forth button
- maybe PAUSE button

Nothing else. No display.

This device should by default RESUME to play from the track/time it was playing at when it was shut down by the physical OFF switch.

If all songs on the device have been played once by shuffling, then the shuffling should start again from 0 but with a different shuffling order, of course.

I would pay 30 euros for such a device, even more, if it would support really large SD cards later on.

Thanks a lot for keeping MP3-players alive! There are a lot of good old things out there (e.g. Logitech Squeezebox), I like having around for much longer, even if everyone wants a "touchscreen". Touchscreens make life complex and non-haptic. Let's go back to actual pressing a button, and having one button for each purpose!

Cheers from Germany to Brooklyn, or wherever you are!
Ben

[hunterleo]

Hi Ben,

We have a similar product as AGPTEK G02. And we have AGPTEK R2 which has card slot. Please check it out. And let me know what you think of them.

https://www.amazon.de/AGPTek-G02-Player-Unabhängige-Tragbare/dp/B016ZZFWOC

https://www.amazon.de/Player-Tragbare-AGPtek-R2-Schwarz/dp/B01M8KRR3U/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1490239586&sr=8-20&keywords=mp3+player

Thank you,

Leo

[bvrulez]

Hi Leo,

thanks for the fast reply! It is strange that I did not find these two over Amazon. They never came up while I was browsing all the other players that were recommended. I would have checked them since they are AGPTek. Below are my thoughts.

G02:

- It is just 8GB. My collection is 90GB. I would have to sort out a lot, which is a lot of work. I could imagine having a shuffle with just electronica and one for, say, Rap. But even then I would have to leave out things. This is a no go. I want all my stuff on it and shuffle through it through the years.
- No data on battery time. People on Amazon say it's less than 2 hours.
- Shuffle algorithm does not work properly, according to a lot of reviews. I can relate to that problem. Some devices just don't have a real shuffle algorithm, meaning tracks get repeated a lot, some tracks don't get played at all and the overall track order seems to be kind of "similar" every time, even if it is not actually the same. So I can imagine this is the case here, also. That's why I said the suffling must make sure to play each song once and then start (in different order) from scratch.
- Looks like there are two buttons, but none of them for on/off. One review on Amazon says that the device switches on accidentally in the pocket if not used. Since there is no physical button I can imagine this is the case.
- I don't like the blue colour.

R2:

- 20h battery time. This is better, but it could and should be way more.
- I did not find anything in the reviews on shuffle function.
- Even if there is a shuffle function it probably would not work as I would wish it to. Shuffle should be standard on power on and shuffle status should be saved on power off without having to press a certain menu option. It should work with one button.

As a summary, I would not buy the G02 because it has too many flaws.

I also would not buy the R2, because it is not a dedicated shuffle player. Even if it might have a shuffle function it brings no advantage over the A02 I already own, besides the clip.

The main advantage of a dedicated shuffle player over the G02 should be:

- Awesome battery life. Make it 30gramms, like the A01 but without display. Put as much akku in as possible. People will love it to not be forced to charge it. They just cannot imagine it beeing like this now that's why they don't articulate the need for it, I guess.
- Is the radio really necessary? You need an extra button for this - which would be better off as a on/off-button.
- Working shuffle algorithm.
- I understand that the SD card slot makes a sports device vulnerable to liquids. Maybe there could be a 32GB internal storage, or even an 64GB version.
- Does Apple have a patent on the charging over 3,5 jack? Because that's an awesome thing - it reduces the size.


I would buy a high class shuffle player at a high price! People buy this 2GB Apple Shuffle for 60 Euros. I bet you could make a similar one, from aluminium, with 32GB memory, sell it for 50 bucks and make a profit.

Cheers,
Ben

[hunterleo]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for your amazing comments.

G02's battery life is about 8-10 hours. G02 has a 16GB version which has a better battery life of 20 hours. However, it seems not very popular for it costs 5 euros more. I guess it is hard to manage large quantities of files if it doesn't have a screen. 8GB is good enough for most of people.

We will run some tests for the shuffle algorithm.

We also work on a new version of G02 which has card slot with a cover on it and on/off switch and lock feature.

Thank you,

Leo

[bvrulez]

Hi Leo,

this player also never comes up if I search for mp3 players on amazon. I like the black color!

https://www.amazon.de/AGPTek-Player-Austauschmodell-Tragbare-Schwarz/dp/B01DLV8I80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490481818&sr=8-1&keywords=g02+16gb

People claim it crashes a lot and customer support was bad. I don't think it's a matter of price. This player is just unstable, it seems.

I will wait for the updated version. Would be awesome if it would be made from alumium, since the clip from plastic does not feel very safe.

If you need any form of support in Germany write me a personal note.

Have a nice weekend!

Cheers,
Ben

[hunterleo]

Hi Ben,

PM me your email address. I'd like to send some products for you to get some opinion.

Thank you,

Leo

[progmars]

Thank you, AGPTek, hunterleo and all the Rockbox team for reviving affordable MP3 players.

For me personally, an alternative to Sansa Clip+ and with full Rockbox support would be awesome. I don't need "audiophile" features but FM radio and voice recording are really useful for me because when I take long walks after working day, I like to listen to some local radio shows, and sometimes an interesting idea or a problem solution comes to my mind and I want to record it. Most people could do that with their smartphones but I don't take my bulky and somewhat expensive phone with me when I'm walking because, well, it's evening and I might get robbed, especially if someone notices me fiddling with a smartphone on a lonely street.

I really enjoy Rockbox ability to be controlled without using a screen after applying TTS engine texts, and now it talks to me without taking it out of my pocket, which is awesome. I'm not sure how would I achieve the same thing on my smartphone or any other DAP without Rockbox.

Screen quality is not important at all, but general build quality is - it has to survive for at least some years.

So, in summary, I hope AGPTek one day will launch a fully Rockbox compatible all-in-one budget DAP with FM radio and voice recorder - essentially, a clone of Clip+ functionality for similar price.

[alcaier]

There seems to development tools available for ingenic x1000 at www.ingenic.com/en/?product/id/9/lm/4.html . I am not familiar with rockbox in any way but to me it would seem like easier job just to keep the kernel and have a stab at the user land programs. Are there folks familiar with the project interested in this device?

[Astrogoth]

It is not about the price. Don't hide behind that.



People are paying up to $150 for a used Clip Zip on eBay. It was selling for $20 there recently. It's not about price. Buy a Zip. Study it. Make a player like it but a little better. It will sell!

 

[MiB]

Thank you, AGPTek, hunterleo and all the Rockbox team for reviving affordable MP3 players.

For me personally, an alternative to Sansa Clip+ and with full Rockbox support would be awesome. I don't need "audiophile" features but FM radio and voice recording are really useful for me because when I take long walks after working day, I like to listen to some local radio shows, and sometimes an interesting idea or a problem solution comes to my mind and I want to record it. Most people could do that with their smartphones but I don't take my bulky and somewhat expensive phone with me when I'm walking because, well, it's evening and I might get robbed, especially if someone notices me fiddling with a smartphone on a lonely street.

I really enjoy Rockbox ability to be controlled without using a screen after applying TTS engine texts, and now it talks to me without taking it out of my pocket, which is awesome. I'm not sure how would I achieve the same thing on my smartphone or any other DAP without Rockbox.

Screen quality is not important at all, but general build quality is - it has to survive for at least some years.

So, in summary, I hope AGPTek one day will launch a fully Rockbox compatible all-in-one budget DAP with FM radio and voice recorder - essentially, a clone of Clip+ functionality for similar price.

I think there is one from AGPTEK: G6 but this device is not rockboxed yet...

[Bilgus]

I think there is one from AGPTEK: G6 but this device is not rockboxed yet...

Re: AGPTEK G6 - look like a sansa clip+ with BT and a better display

That SOC is the same as the Clip Sport and cannot run rockbox.

[tekron]

Hunter

Are you working on a Rocker V3? If so, can I volunteer to test future products? I have a 256 micro SD I'd like to test with the product as well. Do you plan on supporting up to 400 GB Micro SD? Are you working on adding FM Radio capability? Thanks. I hope eventually I can replace my Zip Clip with a Rocker V3.

@Hunterleo -- my email is tekron@live.com  if you need to email me. I am located in the United States. My music library is approximately 200GB

[asti]

Best thing for me in Rockbox is the automated sleepmode: I use to listen to audiobooks before I fall asleep. But because of trouble with the kids in the night I wake up quiet often and start to listen again. It is very comfortable to set sleep time once for 20 minutes and everytime I switch on the player again it starts with the last position in the audiobook and switches off again automatically after this 20 minutes. Without clicking through menus. It "remembers" position/mode (sometimes I listen radio)  and sleep mode settings. That's cool!
Would that be also a suggestion for "normal" firmware @hunterleo? It is only two point more in the menus: Remember sleeptime and remember play mode yes/no. 

[nonob]

Hi,

I'm searching a successor to my Sansa Clip+ rockboxed (it power on but i have no sound, only a "plop" per second).
I wanted buy the "Clip Sport" but it is not compatible Rockbox and seems to have limitations (2000 tracks max ?!).

So i searched again and found this "new" brand "Agptek". I'm a little lost with all the models found on Amazon.

The "Rocker" seems to be the only one with a rockbox port (unstable ?). Can you confirm ?

Is there others low price mp3 players i should consider ?

Where can i buy this "Rocker" compatible with Rockbox ? Are MC15 and MC15 "2nd" (v2) ok ?

A lot of questions

Thanks

[Milardo]

Hi,

  For now, agptek has one model that is rockbox compatible. That is the Agptek Rocker. Rockbox works pretty well on the agptek rocker except the bluetooth functionality hasn't yet been implemented.

For a lower price you can get the benjie t6, which is essentially the same as the agptek rocker, but I have read about certain compatibility problems,but not sure.

You can buy it on amazon, not sure about other places though, depends where you live.

https://www.amazon.com/AGPTEK-Bluetooth-Upgraded-Resolution-Audiophile/dp/B07F6YM7TQ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1545589050&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=agptek+rocker&psc=1

If you have more questions please reply hope the above helps.