This simple tutorial shows you how to install Rockbox Utility on Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, 12.04 Precise, 12.10 Quantal, 10.04 Lucid.

What is Rockbox:

As you may know, Rockbox is a free and open source replacement for the standard firmware in various forms of digital audio players (DAPs). It offers an alternative to the player’s operating system, in many cases without removing the original firmware, which provides a plug-in architecture for adding various enhancements and functions. Enhancements include personal digital assistant (PDA) functions, applications, utilities, and games. Rockbox can also retrofit video playback functions on players first released in mid-2000. Rockbox includes a voice-driven user-interface suitable for operation by visually impaired users.

What is Rockbox Utility

Rockbox Utility is a free computer application that is used to install and manage Rockbox on DAPs. It provides automatic installation of Rockbox, as well as themes and voice files, directly onto a DAP with minimal user interaction.

Rockbox Utility is updated frequently as support for new devices is added. Currently supported devices include iPod, iPod Mini, iPod Nano, Archos Jukebox series, Cowon X5, M5, M3, iRiver H10/H100/H300, Mpio HD200, Packard Bell Vibe 500, Philips GoGear, Samsung YH, SanDisk, Toshiba, Olympus. Read more

Features:

• Base
  • Bootloader installation
  • Rockbox installation
• Extras
  • Fontpack installation
  • Theme installation
  • Game files installation (i.e. freedoom)
• Accessibility
  • Install voice file (from the webpage)
  • Create voicefile
  • Create .talk clips
• Uninstallation
  • Uninstall bootloader
  • Uninstall Rockbox (partial, or full)
• Manual
  • Access to the Manual of your device
• Info
  • Shows all installed parts of Rockbox

Install Rockbox Utility:

The official website only provides source code for Ubuntu users. GetDeb repository has added Rockbox Utility packages for Ubuntu 12.04 and higher (exclude Ubuntu 11.04, 10.10).

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open a terminal window. When it opens, run below commands to add getdeb repository:

wget http://archive.getdeb.net/install_deb/getdeb-repository_0.1-1~getdeb1_all.deb

sudo dpkg -i getdeb-repository_0.1-1~getdeb1_all.deb

After that, install it from Synaptic package manager. Or run below commands instead:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install rbutil

Once Rockbox Utility is installed, open it from Unity Dash.