Rockbox through the app
Rockbox is a mature, open-source firmware for the iPod, made by the Rockbox community. Scrollwheel can install it from your phone, downloading Rockbox from rockbox.org when you ask. We never host Rockbox builds ourselves.
Install
Section titled “Install”- Connect the iPod. Open Firmware › Rockbox › Install or update Rockbox.
- The page has two parts: 1 Bootloader and 2 Rockbox build. Tap Download Both to fetch them from rockbox.org, choosing Release or Daily build. You can also use Choose File… for files you’ve downloaded yourself. The app already carries Rockbox’s unmodified bootloader for the models it supports.
- Tap Install Rockbox. Type ROCKBOX to confirm.
The app backs up the iPod’s firmware area to your phone first. Apple’s firmware itself isn’t changed: Rockbox’s bootloader is added in front of it.
Restart the iPod. It should show the Rockbox logo, then Rockbox’s menu. To start Apple’s firmware instead, slide Hold on while it starts.
Themes, fonts and games
Section titled “Themes, fonts and games”On Firmware › Rockbox, you can add:
- themes from themes.rockbox.org, and Scrollwheel’s own themes (Install All)
- a font pack
- games: those included with Rockbox, game data from rockbox.org, and Scrollwheel’s own games for Rockbox (in Rockbox under Applications › Games)
- anything else packed as a
.zip(Add from a .zip File…)
Update
Section titled “Update”Come back to the same page and tap Reinstall Rockbox with newer files.
Remove
Section titled “Remove”Tap Uninstall and type ERASE. The app removes Rockbox’s bootloader and the /.rockbox
folder. Apple’s firmware was never changed, so the iPod starts it as before. Your music stays.
If the iPod says “Can’t load rockbox.ipod”
Section titled “If the iPod says “Can’t load rockbox.ipod””The bootloader is there but Rockbox’s files are missing. Connect the iPod and install the Rockbox build again (step 2 above), or uninstall Rockbox.