Opensource Jukebox Firmware for your iPod

Ever wonder of changing the firmware of your iPod? changing its theme, even trying to play a video on iPod Nano (older iPod), which it can only play audio before. As i play around with my iPod Nano I stumble to this website RockBox.org.

Rockbox is an open source firmware for mp3 players, written from scratch. It runs on a wide range of players.

Here’s a list of the players supported by rockbox:

• Apple: 1st through 5.5th generation iPod, iPod Mini and 1st generation iPod Nano
  (not the Shuffle, 2nd/3rd/4th gen Nano, Classic or Touch)
• Archos: Jukebox 5000, 6000, Studio, Recorder, FM Recorder, Recorder V2 and Ondio
• Cowon: iAudio X5, X5V, X5L, M5, M5L, M3 and M3L
• iriver: iHP100 series, H100 series, H300 series and H10 series
• Olympus: M:Robe 100
• SanDisk: Sansa c200 series, e200 series and e200R series (not the AMS models)
• Toshiba: Gigabeat X and F series (not the S series)

Screencaps of rockbox running on iPod.

Btw I’ve read this to its FAQ:

Does it void my warranty if I use Rockbox?

Yes.

However, most large companies tend to be lenient with warranty claims. So even if using Rockbox will technically void your warranty, quite probably the aftersale service won’t cause any trouble. Of course, they can, but it is not really in their “commercial interest” to do so, and there is plenty of testimony from users who got their device replaced even if the issue was caused by misuse (example: hard drive dead due to a fall, or even LCD screen broken).

Iriver now have the following statement in their online warranty terms, specifically naming Rockbox as voiding the warranty: “This warranty is void if [...] the player is opened, repaired, modified or altered by third parties e.g. Rockbox, unless such repair, modification or alteration is expressly authorized in writing by iriver”. Archos has also been known to refuse warranty repairs for people that have returned their units with Rockbox flashed.

Note: So be careful don’t play around with your new music players it can void the warranty.