Supported iPods
We only call something tested on hardware when it has really run on that model. Everything else is labelled honestly:
- Tested on hardware: it has run on a real iPod of that model.
- Emulator only: it runs in our iPod emulator but hasn’t run on a real one yet.
- Untested: the code exists, but nobody has run it on that model yet.
- No: not available for that model (yet).
At a glance
Section titled “At a glance”| Model | The app (music, restore) | Scrollwheel OS | Our bootloader | Rockbox from the app |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPod mini 1st gen | Tested on hardware | Tested on hardware | Tested on hardware | Tested on hardware |
| iPod mini 2nd gen | Partly: Rockbox, video and erase tested on hardware; music sync and restore untested | Emulator only | Emulator only | Tested on hardware |
| iPod nano 1st gen | Tested on hardware | Tested on hardware | Partly: starting Scrollwheel OS, and Rockbox with Play held, tested on hardware; the other start keys untested | Tested on hardware |
| iPod nano 2nd gen | Recognised on hardware; music sync untested | In development | No (uses Rockbox’s own) | In development: first try was safely refused |
| iPod nano 3rd gen | Library read-only; adding music is Experimental and untested | No (planned) | No | No (planned) |
| iPod nano 4th gen | Library read-only; adding music is Experimental and untested | No | No | No |
| iPod 3rd and 4th gen (grey) | Untested | No | No | Untested (4th gen) |
| iPod photo / colour | Untested | Emulator only | Emulator only | Untested |
| iPod video (5th gen) | Untested | No | No | Untested |
| iPod classic | Library read-only; adding music is Experimental and untested | Emulator only (in development) | No | Rockbox’s files only, untested; the bootloader still needs a computer for now |
What the columns mean
Section titled “What the columns mean”- The app: adding and removing music, playlists, play counts, cover art, copying songs back to the phone, and restoring the iPod from Apple’s own firmware file. See First connection.
- Scrollwheel OS: our own firmware, which runs alongside Apple’s. See Installing Scrollwheel OS.
- Our bootloader: an optional extra, offered under Experimental, that starts Scrollwheel OS by default without needing Rockbox. See The bootloader and start keys.
- Rockbox from the app: putting Rockbox’s own bootloader on the iPod and downloading Rockbox from rockbox.org. See Rockbox through the app.
Model by model
Section titled “Model by model”iPod mini (1st generation)
Section titled “iPod mini (1st generation)”Our best-tested model. Our test unit, a blue mini, runs Scrollwheel OS every day. A stock mini with its original Microdrive draws a lot of power when the drive spins up, more than some phones supply, so you may need a powered USB hub. Minis converted to CF or SD cards draw far less. There are two hardware revisions, and they need different Apple firmware files for a restore. The app asks which one you have and refuses the wrong file.
iPod mini (2nd generation)
Section titled “iPod mini (2nd generation)”Rockbox install, video and erase have run on a real 2nd generation mini. Music sync and restore are written but haven’t been reported on this model yet. Scrollwheel OS and our bootloader run in the emulator.
iPod nano (1st generation)
Section titled “iPod nano (1st generation)”The app, Scrollwheel OS and the Rockbox route all work on our 2 GB nano. The 1 GB and 4 GB models haven’t been tried. Our bootloader starts Scrollwheel OS on a real nano, and holding Play starts Rockbox. The other start keys haven’t been confirmed on hardware yet (see the bootloader guide).
iPod nano (2nd generation)
Section titled “iPod nano (2nd generation)”The app recognises it. Its music database works like the 1st generation’s, so syncing should work, but nobody has tested it yet. Scrollwheel OS for this nano is being written now. It will start from Rockbox’s own, unmodified bootloader. We will never write the nano’s boot flash.
iPod nano (3rd generation)
Section titled “iPod nano (3rd generation)”The app reads the music library. Adding music is under Experimental, untested, and it only runs when the library’s signature checks out. Rockbox and Scrollwheel OS for this model are planned.
iPod (3rd and 4th generation), iPod photo and iPod video
Section titled “iPod (3rd and 4th generation), iPod photo and iPod video”The app has the code for these models, but nobody has run it on one yet. Scrollwheel OS runs on the iPod photo in the emulator, using its full colour screen. The 5.5th generation iPod video can’t be restored by the app when its disk uses 2048-byte sectors.
iPod classic
Section titled “iPod classic”Today the app shows the library read-only. Adding music is under Experimental and untested. Rockbox’s bootloader on the Classic still has to be put on from a computer with Rockbox Utility. After that, the app can install and update Rockbox’s files. Installing that bootloader straight from the phone is a high priority (see the roadmap). Scrollwheel OS for the Classic runs in our emulator, with its screens, storage and sound, and it’s still in development.
Other models
Section titled “Other models”- iPod nano 4th generation: like the 3rd, the library is read-only, and adding music is under Experimental and untested.
- iPod nano 5th to 7th generation: recognised, and the library is read-only. You can browse it, play songs and copy them off.
- iPod shuffle: you can browse and copy files. Scrollwheel doesn’t write a shuffle’s song list yet.
- iPod touch has no disk mode, so the app can’t manage it.