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Rockbox Developers Talk Open Source Firmware

Posted by timothy on from the be-thankful-for-their-hobby dept.

angry tapir writes "I recently caught up with some of the key developers of Rockbox: An open source firmware replacement for the stock firmware shipped on MP3 players. The project, which has been active for over a decade, currently supports products from more than half a dozen manufacturers, including Apple, Arhcos, iRiver and Toshiba. It involves extensive reverse engineering to figure out how the devices' stock firmwares operate, as well as the challenge of developing for greatly varied targets. You can read the interview here (or the full Q&As with the project's founder and some of the developers involved in it)."

2 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Re:More than half a dozen? by jginspace · · Score: 5, Informative

    ... or go the full hog, list the half dozen ...

    Replying to myself. The list is: Apple Archos iriver Toshiba

    Plus: Olympus Packard Bell Cowon SanDisk

    Plus unstable port for models from these manufacturers: MPIO, Philips, Samsung

  2. Rockbox Rules by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm an AC -- always have been, always will be -- so no one will see the comment, but I have to post anyway, just to give a big thanks to the Rockbox team.

    I have an old-ish Sansa (e200), and despite the fact that it's now "ancient technology," with Rockbox, a good sized microSD card (which, BTW, wouldn't be recognized on the original firmware), and replacing the battery once, it still shines. IMO it's as good as any new shiny bling, and I'll probably have it until I do something silly like dropping it into a toilet.

    Seriously, Rockbox is a great application. With the stock firmware I would have gotten rid of it several years ago, but with Rockbox there is no need.

    I don't want -- nor need -- a smartphone. What I need is a good MP3 player, and I use it every day.

    Thanks Rockbox!