New cheap portable player in the market

[pmp4]

No luck getting more information about 2.4 inch players from Azu Store.

I dont understand why some manufacturers and sellers are so dark and little transparent about the hardware they sell, they would sell a lot more publishing more information about their products, like Raspberry Pi does. They have nothing to win hiding information.

I ordered another player to "Outdoor Hobby Store" in Aliexpress, 1.77 inch 128x160, I think it's a YP3 player, but I dont know yet.

10.42 EUR in slow shipment, and so cheap as 8.7 EUR ordering 10 pieces.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005083316039.html

(it's button version, it's not touch).
It's similar to Spreadtrum players, but it has not FM radio.

[pmp4]

Some news, the YP3 player name in original chinese is 云p3

云 is a Chinese character that means "cloud".

https://www.shenjugroup.com/zh-CN/news/82.html

That seems to be the official web of the SoC manufacturer.

Google Translate from Chinese:

2022 29/03
Tuesday
Shenju Technology releases cloud P3 chip solution, helping traditional MP3 to enter a new stage
product description2036 views
       The cloud P3 chip officially launched by Shenju Technology at the end of 2021, as the world's first new dual-core AI chip that combines, transforms and upgrades cloud technology and traditional MP3 solutions, has successfully entered the mass production stage. Up to now, the batch shipment has exceeded one million pieces.

       Shenju Technology Cloud P3 chip integrates the main control and Bluetooth functions, is equipped with the latest real-time operating system, has excellent overall performance and low power consumption, and is a highly integrated IC. The cloud P3 chip solution adopts plug-in card storage, does not need Nand flash, does not lose programs, has excellent performance and lower cost.

       In terms of music, the Shenju Technology Cloud P3 chip solution not only supports full-format audio playback, but also supports lossless sound quality. The audio quality can reach up to 192khz/24bit, and you can enjoy CD sound quality through Bluetooth playback, which can bring users a high-quality HIFI experience. In addition, Shenju Technology will also realize the linkage between MP3 and mainstream music platforms through cloud technology, and music member users can simultaneously enjoy the music privileges of mobile APP and better sound sources on MP3.

       In terms of recording, the Senju Technology Cloud P3 chip solution has an excellent ENC noise reduction algorithm, which perfectly realizes the VAD vocal detection and recording function, and can provide the same high-quality recording as a recording pen.

       The P3 chip solution of Shenju Technology Cloud also has some practical small function updates, such as: customizing the name of the song favorite list, multiple mode version upgrades, one-second power on and off, etc., to provide users with a better experience. There will be more functional updates in the future, so stay tuned.

       By providing the whole industry chain service starting from the chip, Genu Technology helps traditional MP3 manufacturers to create more competitive cloud P3 products and move towards a new stage of intelligent mainstream. At present, this chip has entered the stage of stable mass production, and related terminal products will be launched in succession this year.

云 pronunciation is "Yún", so Y seems to come from there. YP3 instead MP3, and Y meaning Cloud chinese character that first letter in pinyin is "Y".
"YangYang" seems to be the software developer of the Video Converter for Shenju (the SoC manufacturer), video converter "PwConverter" is based in FFmpeg software.

[saucell]

Some news, the YP3 player name in original chinese is 云p3

云 is a Chinese character that means "cloud".

https://www.shenjugroup.com/zh-CN/news/82.html

That seems to be the official web of the SoC manufacturer.

Google Translate from Chinese:

2022 29/03
Tuesday
Shenju Technology releases cloud P3 chip solution, helping traditional MP3 to enter a new stage
product description2036 views
       The cloud P3 chip officially launched by Shenju Technology at the end of 2021, as the world's first new dual-core AI chip that combines, transforms and upgrades cloud technology and traditional MP3 solutions, has successfully entered the mass production stage. Up to now, the batch shipment has exceeded one million pieces.

       Shenju Technology Cloud P3 chip integrates the main control and Bluetooth functions, is equipped with the latest real-time operating system, has excellent overall performance and low power consumption, and is a highly integrated IC. The cloud P3 chip solution adopts plug-in card storage, does not need Nand flash, does not lose programs, has excellent performance and lower cost.

       In terms of music, the Shenju Technology Cloud P3 chip solution not only supports full-format audio playback, but also supports lossless sound quality. The audio quality can reach up to 192khz/24bit, and you can enjoy CD sound quality through Bluetooth playback, which can bring users a high-quality HIFI experience. In addition, Shenju Technology will also realize the linkage between MP3 and mainstream music platforms through cloud technology, and music member users can simultaneously enjoy the music privileges of mobile APP and better sound sources on MP3.

       In terms of recording, the Senju Technology Cloud P3 chip solution has an excellent ENC noise reduction algorithm, which perfectly realizes the VAD vocal detection and recording function, and can provide the same high-quality recording as a recording pen.

       The P3 chip solution of Shenju Technology Cloud also has some practical small function updates, such as: customizing the name of the song favorite list, multiple mode version upgrades, one-second power on and off, etc., to provide users with a better experience. There will be more functional updates in the future, so stay tuned.

       By providing the whole industry chain service starting from the chip, Genu Technology helps traditional MP3 manufacturers to create more competitive cloud P3 products and move towards a new stage of intelligent mainstream. At present, this chip has entered the stage of stable mass production, and related terminal products will be launched in succession this year.

云 pronunciation is "Yún", so Y seems to come from there. YP3 instead MP3, and Y meaning Cloud chinese character that first letter in pinyin is "Y".
"YangYang" seems to be the software developer of the Video Converter for Shenju (the SoC manufacturer), video converter "PwConverter" is based in FFmpeg software.

this is good news?

[pmp4]

this is good news?

That means that we know the SoC (System On a Chip) manufacturer name, it's not useful for anything in itself, but it's the first needed step.

Feel free to ask Shenju more information about their products.

Some people in Aliexpress customers comments complain about the MP3 player is a scam because they can't play AVI videos as the instructions says.
The player allows play videos, I did it, but in a Shenju special format, they should be more transparent publishing information and tools in his web, and people wont believe that they products are scams.

[meyertime]

Hi, I tried to catch up on this thread.  I'm looking for a new device to use with Rockbox to record FM, and I explored a number of generic MP3 player devices from Amazon.  (I need to use a low FM band 72-76 MHz as well, so I'm looking for specific FM chips.)

One device is branded "MUSICROSS", and it appears to be identical to the device you first linked to in this thread, other than the "MUSICROSS" logo.  I took it apart, and it has an SoC branded "Jointbees MP3".  I couldn't find much info about this chip, but the "Jointbees" brand did link to the Shenju website.  So is this a "Spreadtrum" chip that might work with Rockbox, or would it be more of an Actions clone?  Here's the Amazon link, by the way:

https://www.amazon.com/MUSICROSS-Bluetooth-Portable-Walkman-Recorder/dp/B0B87ST5QR

The good news for me is this device has a chip marked "5807M", which appears to be an RDA5807M FM tuner, which can tune as low as 50 MHz, but the stock firmware doesn't give that option.  If I could port Rockbox to it, then I'd be in business.

Anyways, if this one won't work, I'd be willing to buy some other devices and help with the effort to port Rockbox.  It sounds like the Spreadtrum devices are the best bet so far?

[pmp4]

Hi, I tried to catch up on this thread.  I'm looking for a new device to use with Rockbox to record FM, and I explored a number of generic MP3 player devices from Amazon.  (I need to use a low FM band 72-76 MHz as well, so I'm looking for specific FM chips.)

One device is branded "MUSICROSS", and it appears to be identical to the device you first linked to in this thread, other than the "MUSICROSS" logo.  I took it apart, and it has an SoC branded "Jointbees MP3".  I couldn't find much info about this chip, but the "Jointbees" brand did link to the Shenju website.  So is this a "Spreadtrum" chip that might work with Rockbox, or would it be more of an Actions clone?  Here's the Amazon link, by the way:

https://www.amazon.com/MUSICROSS-Bluetooth-Portable-Walkman-Recorder/dp/B0B87ST5QR

The good news for me is this device has a chip marked "5807M", which appears to be an RDA5807M FM tuner, which can tune as low as 50 MHz, but the stock firmware doesn't give that option.  If I could port Rockbox to it, then I'd be in business.

Anyways, if this one won't work, I'd be willing to buy some other devices and help with the effort to port Rockbox.  It sounds like the Spreadtrum devices are the best bet so far?

I dont know 100% sure, but I think that "musicross" devices are not Spreadtrum, it's Shenju SoC (actions-like clone).

I can tell you that I have Spreadtrum players with FM and it has no separated FM chips, FM function is integrated in the SoC,

You can difference Spreadtrum from Shenju, because Spreadtrum play real MP4 h264 video, by the other side Shenju play a MJPEG AVI format with PCM audio, and actions SoC play AMV and/or MJPEG video with AdPCM audio.

I dont know what processor/ram has Shenju SoC, but I'd like to know it.

I wrote Shenju and they dont reply as usual. I encourage you to write them too.

I think they are damaging their own interests when they hide information to customers, but it's fine. They will know how to handle their company.

I think Shenju players have a great hardware with a crappy firmware, it's a shame. They woud sell a lot more, making 3 obvious changes to firmware (no possibility to seek a position of a song, video, no information in the firmware about video codec, when the most obvious is include a QR code with a link to the video converter and so on). They copy, they dont innovate, and they dont reply to customers, shameful!.

[meyertime]

Is there a way I can learn about it besides contacting Shenju? (I'll try contacting them too)

I guess I don't really care if it has a separate FM chip or not as long as it can go as low as 72 MHz. Do you know the FM capabilities of that SoC yet?

I also have 2 more very similar devices that I'll take apart too.

[meyertime]

Oh, I'll try a MP4 h264 file on each of them too.

[meyertime]

Funny how different the internals are for players that look identical on the outside!  One thing that was consistent is that they all have the same FM chip.  That would be good news for me, but they also all apparently have a low-power decoder SoC that is Actions or similar, with not enough RAM.  None of them would play an MP4 file.

So finding a Spreadtrum device and helping you port Rockbox to it might be my best bet?

Here are the details of the devices I looked at, with all the identifiably-marked chips:

MUSICROSS
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B87ST5QR
SoC: Jointbees MP3 152FA1BHA0 (Shenju)
FM: 5807M JD969 (RDA5807M)
Amp: NS4150B 2250D
Firmware: yp3_2.0.43
MicroUSB, no power switch

arungo
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VRYK6L4
SoC: Rockchip RKNANOC-L SDADU8054 2223
FM: 5807M TL567 (RDA5807M
Flash: P25D32H 1H53H (32Mb)
Firmware: 2020/05/01 1.1.00 AS211D_V1000
MicroUSB, physical power switch

RUIZU
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073R7ZHVC
SoC: ATJ2157 FP50AMQ 35K ID (Actions)
FM: 5807M TL569 (RDA5807M)
Flash: 2236 I-2 29F64G08CBABA WP B BYTW (64Gb, Micron)
Bluetooth: ATS2851 ZP41HMPG 35K (Actions)
Firmware: V3_I 2022-06-23
USB-C, physical power switch

[speachy]

SoC: Rockchip RKNANOC-L SDADU8054 2223
SoC: ATJ2157 FP50AMQ 35K ID (Actions)

Both of these have a total of 224KB of RAM.  So Rockbox isn't ever going to happen on these.

The RKNANO-C is also a bit underpowered, with only a Cortex-M3 @100MHz.  The ATJ2157 has a CM4F @288MHz, a lot better, but without RAM it's pointless.

[saratoga]

The M3 has a fast multiplier, so for audio it'd probably be a lot faster than the old armv4 devices, but it might be a lot of work to get all the old armv4 assembly working on thumb2.

[meyertime]

Yeah, I don't think any of those devices will work for Rockbox.  The remaining unknown is the Shenju Jointbees chip, but I'm pretty sure it's an Actions clone.  It has the same form factor, and their site does list a similar chip with only 216 Kb RAM: https://www.shenjugroup.com/en-US/products/Hi10-6.html  So we can keep reaching out to Shenju, but I don't have high hopes.

Is it worth getting a Spreadtrum device and going that route?

I'm also open to other suggestions.  Looks like there's a few higher-end devices that Rockbox ports are being actively-developed for, but as far as I can tell, none of them have FM...  Recording 72-76 MHz to a lossless format is really my only requirement.

[Milardo]

Yeah, I don't think any of those devices will work for Rockbox.  The remaining unknown is the Shenju Jointbees chip, but I'm pretty sure it's an Actions clone.  It has the same form factor, and their site does list a similar chip with only 216 Kb RAM: https://www.shenjugroup.com/en-US/products/Hi10-6.html  So we can keep reaching out to Shenju, but I don't have high hopes.

Is it worth getting a Spreadtrum device and going that route?

I'm also open to other suggestions.  Looks like there's a few higher-end devices that Rockbox ports are being actively-developed for, but as far as I can tell, none of them have FM...  Recording 72-76 MHz to a lossless format is really my only requirement.

I have a ruizu X02, it has fm radio and is still being sold I think. It would be great for rockbox like a lite version, even if it doesn't have any plugins, games, etc. I think the most important feature to include in a rockbox lite version would be all the audio processing features

[speachy]

I have a ruizu X02, it has fm radio and is still being sold I think. It would be great for rockbox like a lite version, even if it doesn't have any plugins, games, etc. I think the most important feature to include in a rockbox lite version would be all the audio processing features

The Ruizu X02 is built on a RKNANO-B SoC, which has way, way, way too little RAM (128+96KB) for anything remotely recognizable as "rockbox" to be ported to it.  No themes, very limited WPS, no plugins, no database, most codecs gone (IOW only what the hardware has decoders for, and that assumes we have docs on how to actually _use_ those engines), no DSP engine (as that requires manipulating the raw/decoded audio data) and a near-complete rewrite of the codebase as we'd have to directly stream all data directly from the SD card into the HW codec.

It will actually be _less_ work to write a new player codebase from scratch that's tailored to the RKNANO's features/limitations, and the result will be something pretty similar the original X02 firmware, because the hardware simply isn't capable of much more.

[saucell]

reading your guy's posts now it seems like a miracle that the one mp3 player in the beginning of this thread had 4mb of ram!