ipod mini version upgrade, scan/play speed, pause @ headphone remov'l

[vargob]

i'm running CVS-060824 and have been for several months.  i hate the itunes PC interface and like being able to drop podcasts/audio books directly into the ipod.  i am assuming that there is a newer version:
1) is there?
2) what is the easiest way to install said newer version?
3) is there a feature or add-on where i can increase/decrease the replay speed?  the inane radio show i podcast (http://www.kiddshow.com) can be understood intelligently at 1.3-1.4x speed to compress it into smaller chunks.
4) i liked how the playback would stop when the headphones were removed.  is that an option in rockbox?
5) does anyone have any experience with the griffin itrip and setting up the stations?  can this be done from rockbox or only from the apple os?  i tried it out of rockbox, but it didn't seem to work.

[Llorean]

Please read the POSTING IN THIS FORUM posts before posting. This forum is heavily moderated, and all the rules are enforced to the best of our ability.

1) Yes, new versions are made several times a day.
2) Extract the .zip onto the player overwriting the files already there.
3) Yes, see the manual.
4) Yes, see the manual.
5) Rockbox doesn't work with many ipod-specific accessories, this may be one of them.

[vargob]

Please read the POSTING IN THIS FORUM posts before posting. This forum is heavily moderated, and all the rules are enforced to the best of our ability.

1) Yes, new versions are made several times a day.
2) Extract the .zip onto the player overwriting the files already there.
3) Yes, see the manual.
4) Yes, see the manual.
5) Rockbox doesn't work with many ipod-specific accessories, this may be one of them.

Which directory in particular should I choose or just extract it onto the root?

I have tried to read the manual.  It is not written in a very intuitive way.  I don't mean any disrespect, but I honestly don't have the time to read an entire manual or every single FAQ.  Are their any links to where these answers might be?  Sadly, I just turned 30 and I'm watching technology slowly pass me by.  

[Llorean]

The manual has an index, and can be searched. Did you search for perhaps 'speed' in the manual?

Could you offer some actual constructive suggestions as to how the manual could be made more usable? The manual contains all the answers, and it can be searched. I'm not exactly sure what more you want from a FAQ which you'd also have to read through.

As for where to extract, don't you remember where you extracted it to when you installed? Yes, it extracts to the root.

[vargob]

I just searched for "speed" and I got pitch and then something about an oscilloscope plug in.  Is that the only way to increase the speed?
 

[Llorean]

Increasing playback speed by definition increases pitch. You'd have to then perform a further transformation on the audio to reduce the pitch back to the original.

That latter transformation is not available in Rockbox at this time, no.

[Febs]

Which directory in particular should I choose or just extract it onto the root?

I have tried to read the manual.  It is not written in a very intuitive way.  I don't mean any disrespect, but I honestly don't have the time to read an entire manual or every single FAQ.

If that's your attitude, honestly, you should not expect much help here.