Rockbox Development > New Ports
Rockbox Player - Project to design and build a Free/Open hardware audio player
casainho:
--- Quote from: dkamin on March 05, 2009, 10:11:12 AM ---In looking back at my original post, I see that I did not use much detail, as I assumed the basic design features were set: MCU, memory, display, codec, etc. I am doing nothing fancy at this point. At this time, the design is the same hardware you are working with today on the Olimex(Atmel eval kit) board with the addition of your expansion board and LED display. I am simply repackaging it for a handheld player.
--- End quote ---
I think you should talk with us at our discussion group, all other developers are there:
http://groups.google.com/group/rockboxplayer
--- Quote from: dkamin on March 05, 2009, 10:11:12 AM ---I question the need for the DATAFLASH. It seems you can use the 4K of internal ROM on the AT91 for the bootloader rather than external ROM. I will look further into this. I am not designing for any nandflash unless someone sees a need.
--- End quote ---
On ROM there is a bootloader from Atmel, which can boots from Nand, DataFlash, USB, etc. We can NOT change that code.
For boot memories we just have 2 options, or DataFlash or Nand Flash. I prefer DataFlash, since I tested the code with it, so, there is working code for DataFlash.
--- Quote from: dkamin on March 05, 2009, 10:11:12 AM ---There will be no ethernet port or serial ports. One mini USB port and micro-SD are in in the current design.
--- End quote ---
Yes, it's ok. But don't forget JTAG port!!! Please, no micro-SD, just normal SD Card!! We have question to discuss here -- micro-SD don't have SPI bus, just SD Bus which mean we will need to pay royalties to use it :-( -- actual code is working for SD Card using SPI bus.
--- Quote from: dkamin on March 05, 2009, 10:11:12 AM ---The current design has a wheel like the sansa e200. What are your thoughts on that? I am not sure at this point.
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I don't have opinion about this. I have a Sansa E200 and I like the wheel. Let's wait for the opinions of other developers.
--- Quote from: dkamin on March 05, 2009, 10:11:12 AM ---I am looking at adding either the Si4720 or Si4721 for FM support both receive and transmit. Thoughts?
https://www.silabs.com/products/audiovideo/fmtransceivers/Pages/default.aspx
--- End quote ---
I will not use it, at least for this very first version, for keep it simple. I would prefer to put our energies on a better display, for example.
--- Quote from: dkamin on March 05, 2009, 10:11:12 AM ---The one question remaining from earlier is related to user interface. What are the switches purpose on your expansion board? Up/Down, Play/Stop? Their placement depends on their purpose.
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#define BUTTON_SELECT 0x00000001
#define BUTTON_MENU 0x00000002
#define BUTTON_PLAY 0x00000004
#define BUTTON_STOP 0x00000008
#define BUTTON_LEFT 0x00000010
#define BUTTON_RIGHT 0x00000020
#define BUTTON_UP 0x00000040
#define BUTTON_DOWN 0x00000080
That buttons, with directionals being as a cross. NOTE: that text it's a copy-paste of "button-target.h" Rockbox Player Little actual button drivers.
--- Quote from: dkamin on March 05, 2009, 10:11:12 AM ---Future additions I am thinking about are GPS, Bluetooth(A2DP) and a larger display.
--- End quote ---
I also have some ideas, like wireless or a few inputs for recording. But first we need to get a simple working hardware and get critical mass about it, then we can try implement all our ideas.
--- Quote from: dkamin on March 05, 2009, 10:11:12 AM ---If there is something you would like added, let me know.
--- End quote ---
Well, a better LCD ;-) Actual LCD is wired by SPI bus, I think we can change the LCD only if it's a SPI bus. This MCU have a peripheral for connect a TFT LCD, but I didn't have experience with it, so, maybe for a next version.
Anyway, I am happy with actual LCD. And let's remind that are developers which since begin spend money and time on this project and others none, or simple don't believe on it. The ones that bought the dev. board plus all others things have merit to choose even because are the ones that will want to buy this first version.
I want to ask some questions:
- what is your motivation?
- in what can you help on the project?
- what you do professionally? do you have some projects yours that we can see?
- will you share the schematic and board layout with a Open Source license?
And more, we are talking (in discussion group) in making the expansion board, so every developer can have it - now I am the only one with it, were drilled at my work but I can't drill any more.
Others may prefer to wait for your work (I would), and in that case, how we will assembly? do you have tools? - you told about selling it, do you want to do that? I really want that someone sell to me the hardware, because I can't produce it by myself.
And what about plastic case, do you have any idea?
I received today my video digital machine - I will record the actual working prototype and post here the link to the video ;-)
Llorean:
I'd just like to clarify that this project is really independent of Rockbox, and that any opinions in this post are those of the individuals posting. While he may think the screen is quite good, many of us developers on Rockbox disagree, and I personally am quite certain having such a small screen will limit severely who will be willing to buy such a player.
casainho:
--- Quote from: Llorean on March 05, 2009, 12:54:41 PM ---I'd just like to clarify that this project is really independent of Rockbox, and that any opinions in this post are those of the individuals posting. While he may think the screen is quite good, many of us developers on Rockbox disagree, and I personally am quite certain having such a small screen will limit severely who will be willing to buy such a player.
--- End quote ---
I agree with Llorean but the choice of this small screen LCD were because of this advantages on our initial situation:
* this LCD is used in many Open Source projects, we can get a lot of working example drivers, code and schematics;
* this LCD connects directly to the development board being used;
* this LCD is the cheapest colour LCD and is available in many online shops that ships to worldwide.
I must say that I did the drivers and I were alone doing it, this were the first time I worked with LCD. I took very few days to have it working, mainly thanks to quick wire to dev. board, + the tutorial from Mr. Lynch and the help of other Rockbox hackers I got on IRC ;-)
Domonoky:
about the buttons:
It maybe good to place the select button into the middle of the directional buttons in a future hardware version. Thats the common position on all players i know.
And also more buttons cant hurt, especially if you plan to include fm and recording. :-)
notlistening:
With any project ther are always those who disagree, want something different and i hear myself repeating what i have said before again and again. There are those that just complain and do nothing and those that get on with it. The most constructive comment came about the middle select button for the user interface. That has to be the best type of input as we are at the stage until we get to production where we can totally redesign this again and again so thanks for any constructive feedback. This version of the player is never going to fit in your pocket or even run off a battery. So anything you see now will not even resemble the next version etc etc.
The LCD is a sore point but the beauty of the project is that we don't like it we throw it away and bolt a new one on. But as with anything we have to learn some how and that LCD has made an almost impossible job for people who are some what novices (I speak for myself) able to get a base that they can then improve on. This is a development project and it is developing. There is a big thank you required to all those rockbox members that are helping this project along I am not going to name names you know who you are.
I want to ban any more grumbles about the LCD unless you have a suggested alternative for the next version and some feedback into the implementation of that hardware. Not just i don't like it and fold your arms.
Tom
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