Hands on: Rockbox your iPod

Rockbox installation

After plugging in the iPod, run the ‘dmesg’ command to check which device it is using. In most cases it will be /dev/sda or /dev/sdb. Now extract the first partition to the hard drive:

$ dd if=/dev/sda1of=bootpart.bin

Next extract Apple’s firmware from this image with ipod_fw:

$ ./ipod_fw -o apple_os.bin-e 0 bootpart.bin

Some newer models, including video iPods, require an extra step here. Refer to the Windows installation instructions on the website for details.

Now combine the Rockbox bootloader with the Apple firmware:

$ ./ipod_fw -g 4g -orockboot.bin -i apple_os.binbootloader-4g.bin

The combination command here will vary depending on the iPod model; each command is listed under the Windows instructions on the website. The new boot image will be called rockboot.bin and will provide a dual-boot setup for the iPod. Write this back to the boot partition:

$ dd if=rockboot.binof=/dev/sda1

Finishing up
With the Rockbox bootloader installed, all that remains is to copy over the latest version of the system. Head back to the website, click on ‘daily builds’ and download the build for your model.

This sits on the data partition of the iPod, which in most cases should be mounted automatically when you insert the player. Run the ‘mount’ command to confirm where the iPod is mounted; in this example the device is /dev/sda2 and the directory /media/ipod:

$ cd /media/ipod

$ unzip ~/rockbox.zip

$ cd

If you want the absolute ‘bleeding-edge’ version, click on ‘CVS builds’ instead to download the version with the most recent changes.

Finally, eject the iPod by running ‘eject /dev/sda2’ (or the equivalent device), or by right-clicking on its Desktop icon, and then unplug it. It will automatically reboot and go straight into Rockbox if all is well.

To restart the iPod, press and hold the menu and select keys. To force the original firmware to load, hold down the menu key during start-up.

Rockbox players use a straightforward disk approach. Simply copy your music across to the mounted player as you would any USB disk and Rockbox will let you play any of the files.

When playing a music file from a directory it automatically creates a dynamic playlist of all files in that directory. A ‘tagcache’ system is in development, which provides a tag-based display for your music. See the website for further instructions on setting this up.

Removing Rockbox is simple. Delete the files from the mounted disk, and restore the backed-up boot partition made during installation:

$ dd if=bootpart.binof=/dev/sda1

$ cd /media/ipod

$ rm -r .rockbox

$ rm rockbox.ipod

Eject the iPod and unplug it from the computer, and it will be restored to its former condition.

The website has detailed documentation for every supported digital player, together with screenshots of some of the games and utilities provided. Rockbox is updated daily so check the site for the latest information.