Rockbox finally released version 3.0 for all targets today, September 23, 2008.

Here is the mailing list post:
http://www.rockbox.org/mail/archive/rockbo...8-09/0083.shtml

Sweet. It's slashdotted and all over the web today.

Anybody try it yet?

Love the concept.

Problem is that most all of the players rockbox runs in, are no longer manufactured, and few are sold, if any.

Yep, I've waited for Rockbox to support my 2nd gen iPod Nano for something like two years now. Let's just say that I'm not holding my breath.

At least with Apple's non-supported products, isn't the main issue one of encrypted firmware?

Yes, it is a firmware encryption issue.

Blame Apple and the other manufacturers for that. eBay still has TONS of them. There is no shortage.

I hate to ask this (as the software is still new) but does anyone know what kind of performance Rockbox 3.0 gets in terms of battery life? I have a 5G 60GB iPod that I would love to install Rockbox on. My only issue is that last time I looked at running Rockbox, the average user was getting about 12 hours of use out of a 20 hour rated player. I continually get about 22 hours of use out of my 5G 60GB iPod. I would hate to take such a drastic hit when it comes to battery performance.

I looked on Rockbox's page but could not find this information.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodRuntime
There have been numerous major improvements since you could only get 12 hours on a 5th gen 60GB model: (Just 11 months ago)
HDD is now powered off, not just spun down, when not being used. (+~2.25 hours on said player)

Various esoteric parts of the PortaPlayer SoC are now powered off which were once powered on. (+ another ~2.25 hours on said player)

The output of DC power to the dock connector can now be turned off. (+ an unknown amount (.5 hours?))

MP3 decoding has now been split to use both cores (+ 10% battery life (~1.5h) when decoding MP3).
(That being said, the MP3 dual-core work is not in 3.0, it is in current SVN (Daily Builds) but not the release.)

Take a look here

I can blame the manufacturers for adding encryption.

But i won't be getting no used player from eBay. Besides, not the whole world is USA, you know.

There is a shortage, and if RB is not able to be transfer to a under manufacturing player, it would be done.

I wouldn't buy a used player either only to be able to run Rockbox 3.0...

about 2 (3?) years ago i bought an almost new iriver h320 to rockbox (for $100) and it was a GREAT purchase.

my favorite function is recording (my amp to line-in to wavpack. try to do that on an ipod!)


later

RB 3 working well here, recording direct to wavpack is indeed an immense feature.

I'm running it on an iriver h140 for years, and rockbox just absolutely blows away the original firmware.

My iPod Video and Nano both record via line-in.

If more manufacturers released datasheets for theire hardware Rockbox
would come sooner to Target X and Y. Fight for open hardware!
Like it is now the developes must spend ages with backwards engineering
and such for models that BTW the manufacturers phase out after just a
few months in sale. Not so strange no current model are RB target....

Yes. Apple has decided that there will not be rockbox on their hardware anymore, so if you want to use 3rd party or open source software, I recommend buying something else.

Like what? As kwanbis said, Rockbox doesn't run on any of the players currently on sale.

I just bought a Gigabeat. I recommend it if you want a hard disk player. I'll probably pickup a Sansa or an iAudio 7 when those ports are ready too.

I just ordered a refurb Sansa e200 (factory warranty) for rockbox, and I think some places have them new.

and records to wavpack format?

Every software codec player (which can record) which rockbox supports has the same codec list.

Lots of refurb sansa e200 series out there. Nice player and it can use micro sd cards and the battery is easy to replace. I've gottern a couple and they are brand new in every respect. Not bad at all for around 30-40 bucks. Just make sure it's the 1.xxx firmware and not the 2.xx or the rhapsody version.

The Rhapsody version works just fine.

Just found that out today. sorry about that. I just put it on a c250 I have and it worked great. Good sound quality. Upgraded my E260 to 3.1 and worked flawless. Some nice new features.