CompactFlash based iPod mini

[Thingfisher]

Thanks heinimuecki and bascule for the inputs.  Using Notepad++, I changed the ata.c file so that the line   #ifndef IPOD_NANO      was changed to       #ifdef IPOD_MINI

I didn't make any other changes to this file because after looking at the link http://forums.rockbox.org...ic=9354.msg72211#msg72211 everything else appeared to be identical.

 However, when I tried to compile it, I got these errors:  

Header parsed
make[1]: arm-elf-gcc Command not found
make[1]: *** [home/TSS/rockbox/build/firmware/sysfont.o] Error 127
make *** [build] Error 2

I reinstalled arm-elf-gcc and tried it again.  I still got the error messages.

[bluebrother]

so that the line   #ifndef IPOD_NANO      was changed to       #ifdef IPOD_MINI

You replaced "ifndef" by "ifdef" -- what that intentional? You need to only replace the IPOD_NANO string, not the "ifndef" part.

make[1]: arm-elf-gcc Command not found

Well, is the compiler in your PATH?

[theli]

i wonder.. are there any possibility to detect whether mini has CF instead of microdrive?
so that sleep call be disabled for CF in builds...

[scharkalvin]

i wonder.. are there any possibility to detect whether mini has CF instead of microdrive?
so that sleep call be disabled for CF in builds...

Just make it a user config option from a menu perhaps.
Though if set wrong things might freeze up?

[scharkalvin]

Forgot to mention.
I just ordered a 16GB flash card from NewEgg today.
They have an A-Data brand 16gb compact flash card for $127.79,
Shipping is UPS 3 day for $4.99 and there is a $20 mail in rebate till
the end of the month.  User feedback on the site from 5 people state
this card works in ipod mini's.  Can't beat that deal with a stick!

[SpaceFuzz]

OK.  Here's the link to the "Unsupported Builds" forum for my successful and stable build (using 9/23/2007 source) for the iPod Mini 1st Gen using a Kingston Ultimate 133x 8GB (CF/8GB-U) compact flash card ($115 - $50 rebate = $65 through Adorama.com):

http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=12938.0

Should be listed as "iPod Mini 1G: Spacefuzz CompactFlash Build."  This will be available for 30 days before being removed, unless I get motivated in that time and rebuild and repost.  Don't expect it.

@theli:  I was wondering the same thing.  It would be nice to query the device to get a hardware type and automatically set or disable the sleep function appropriately.

[scharkalvin]

Here's the link to the "Unsupported Builds" forum for my successful and stable build (using 9/23/2007 source) for the iPod Mini 1st Gen using a Kingston Ultimate 133x 8GB (CF/8GB-U) compact flash card ($115 - $50 rebate = $65 through Adorama.com):

could you also do a version for the 2g ipod mini?
thanks!

[SpaceFuzz]

Here's the same build for the iPod Mini 2G.   ATA sleep and Freq Scaling are disabled (causes hangs and crashes on mini--at least my 1G).

http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=12962.0

Note:  I couldn't test this build (I have no 2nd Gen), so if you have problems, describe them, and I'll look into it.

[bluebrother]

ATA sleep and Freq Scaling are disabled (causes hangs and crashes on mini--at least my 1G).

the frequency scaling issues were resolved quite a while ago -- are you really sure you're still having those issues with the current builds?

[heinimuecki]

the frequency scaling issues were resolved quite a while ago -- are you really sure you're still having those issues with the current builds?

that's right. i have a 2nd gen mini too with a 8gb cf card in
and it runs without errors (i use it in my car with an itrip transmitter).

so you don't have to turn that off for the 2nd gen.

[bluebrother]

that's right. i have a 2nd gen mini too with a 8gb cf card in and it runs without errors (i use it in my car with an itrip transmitter).

If I remember correctly the frequency scaling issue never affected the Mini 2G -- that uses the PP5022 in contrast to the PP5020 in the Mini 1G (and the Ipod 4G, which was also affected by this issue).

[SpaceFuzz]

Thanks for the info about Freq Scaling.  I wasn't aware it was fixed.  I'll undisable it.  

[scharkalvin]

Well I've tried this flash card in a 1g mini and it works (with ipod OF)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211170

I gave this iPod to my wife, I order another CF card to put in my 2g mini.  That one will get rockboxed, but I'll have to build the firmware with the patch.  Would it be possible to modify the configure script to create two new targets, ipod flash 1g mini and ipod flash 2g mini?  If so, maybe that could make it into SVN someday.  I'll try this myself, but I'm not sure sure where to start hacking autoconfigure scripts.  (make I know).

[AlexP]

Would it be possible to modify the configure script to create two new targets, ipod flash 1g mini and ipod flash 2g mini?  If so, maybe that could make it into SVN someday.

Yes it is possible to do, but I think it is highly unlikely that it will ever get anywhere near SVN.  It is an incredible small target audience, and we didn't do this for e.g. the RTC modded H1x0 players.

Ayway, we do you need to?  If you are already building your own builds, just make the change once and forget about it.  When you SVN up (unless the file changes hugely), it will automatically merge the changes.

[linuxstb]

Yes it is possible to do, but I think it is highly unlikely that it will ever get anywhere near SVN.  It is an incredible small target audience, and we didn't do this for e.g. the RTC modded H1x0 players.

The RTC mod for the h120 is in SVN - it's an extra option in the configure script.

Personally, I would have no objections to a similar patch for CompactFlash support for the ipod mini being committed, or even going one step further and using run-time detection to see if the ipod has a CompactFlash card or not, and react appropriately.