Rockbox could rock the Zune open source-style

Filed under: Audio, OS Updates, Open Source

Rockbox could rock the Zune open source-style

by Brad Linder Nov 30th 2006

What's the first thing you want to know whenever a new device comes out? Whether you can play Doom on it, of course.

Okay, but the next question is usually whether you can install Linux.

Well, you can't really do either with the Microsoft Zune yet, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to upgrade (or downgrade) it by replacing the preinstalled software with some open-source firmware.

Rockbox is an open-source firmware replacement for MP3 players. Currently there are ports for a number of iRiver, Archos, and Apple iPod models. Work is underway to port Rockbox to the Toshiba Gigabeat F and X series. Microsoft's Zune is manufactured by Toshiba and has more in common with the Gigabeat S than the F or X series, but one of the main developers behind Rockbox says a Zune Port could be on the way. One of the main roadblocks would be the security features built into the Zune because of it's Wi-Fi capabilities.

Of course, installing Rockbox on a Zune would probably mean you couldn't play music purchased from the Zune Marketplace, and would definitely mean voiding your warranty. And odds are you wouldn't be able to share files with other Zune users via Wi-Fi (but who really does that anyway). On the other hand, this could be the first step towards using the Wi-Fi for something useful, like web browsing.

I wouldn't expect to see any major developments for a couple of months at least. The Toshiba porting is still underway, and as far as I can tell nobody's actively working on a Zune port just yet.

Tags: gigabeat, rockbox, toshiba, zune

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Rob said 5:07PM on 11-30-2006

This is not news this is speculation....Why is this here? all it says is that some one may want to at some point port this over...

whatevs said 9:45PM on 11-30-2006

huh, the zune might end up producing the perfect storm for awesomely cheap portable devices:

1. Zune fails because it is a piece of shit, goes on sale for next to nothing.
2. New firmware gets put out for zune, enables all sorts of cool features revolving around the wifi.
3. ????
4. PROPHET

Eleventeen said 11:05AM on 12-01-2006

Hey, they are listening to Hybrid. About time they got some attention.

Sanjay Goel said 9:54AM on 12-02-2006

Don't know about Zune, but I would like to try it on my iPod mini.

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