Rockbox Xduoo X3

[drock041]

Correct - from a side view, the stock X3 is like a sandwich:

screen protector film -> smoked/tinted screen cover -> OLED digital screen​

With the clear screen cover mod, it becomes like this sandwich:

clear Nintendo screen cover -> OLED digital screen​

No screen protector is necessary, as the clear cover used IS scratch resistant - it's the clear screen used on a Nintendo DS. If you know anything about the DS, it comes with a little plastic pen that you draw and move across the screen to play games (some games you go berzerk on the screen with the pen, going back and forth quickly to fight a boss or do some other action in a game). So the plastic Nintendo used is polycarbonate (the same thing used in racing car windshields and eyeglasses due to it's strength and scratch resistance).

Note I said scratch resistance, not scratch proof - it's not like it's gorilla glass or anything. If you rub it on pavement or sandpaper or with car keys, it would scratch the clear Nintendo plastic cover. But polycarbonate is a far cry from the super soft plastic xduoo used on the stock smoked/tinted screen cover (which is why they pre-applied a screen protector LOL).

Also, be aware that you can polish ANY plastic, including the stock smoked/tinted cover or the clear Nintendo cover. All you need is a bottle of plastic polish and a soft cloth or old tshirt. You can get plastic polish liquid at any auto parts store or order it on Amazon etc for a few dollars. It's made for polishing plastic such as headlight lenses and plastic watch crystals and whatnot. You only need a single drop to polish the X3 screen (the least amount possible).

Now, that's not to say that you couldn't ALSO use a screen protector on top of my clear screen mod. You can certainly do that. If you go to any dollar store (or ebay, etc) you can buy sheets of peel and stick screen protection film for cell phones and tablets. You would just cut it to fit and apply it on top of the clear screen mod. If you choose to do that, you end up with this sandwich from a side view:

screen protector film -> clear Nintendo screen cover -> OLED digital screen​

Make sense?

As far as how effective it is, yes you can easily see the screen in direct sunlight with the clear Nintendo screen cover. You can't see it at all with the stock smoked/tinted screen cover.

Here's a photo showing the difference (stock smoked/tinted cover is on the left, clear cover is on the right at the same brightness level):



It's hard to tell from the "full brightness" photo of the clear cover (ie bottom left photo), but it's ridiculously bright. So bright that the camera does some magic so it doesn't blow out the photo. It's so bright that I don't even keep the brightness on full. I keep it about 75% of the max, and I can still see it outside just fine (indoors I can turn it down to 10% brightness with the clear screen cover and see it perfectly fine). With the stock smoked/tinted cover, I couldn't see it outside even on 100% full brightness! So it's a huge difference.

Whoa! That was a really detailed response. You're awesome! Wow...that is a significant difference..whoa...What a great idea. You've definitely sold me on it...So you do or do not use an additional screen protector? Or do you just go with the Nintendo cover alone. Hey thanks again for getting back to me, people here have been really so helpful and quick to respond. Thanks much. Andrew

 

[Slater]

Whoa! That was a really detailed response. You're awesome! Wow...that is a significant difference..whoa...What a great idea. You've definitely sold me on it...So you do or do not use an additional screen protector? Or do you just go with the Nintendo cover alone. Hey thanks again for getting back to me, people here have been really so helpful and quick to respond. Thanks much. Andrew

I do not use any screen protector film. Just removed the stock smoked/tinted cover and replaced with the clear Nintendo cover. It's a very easy mod.

The other nice thing about the Nintendo screen cover mod is that the Nintendo screen cover is large enough to make TWO xduoo X3 screen cover replacements. So if you do the mod, and in 2 years the clear screen cover is all scratched up (and you don't feel like polishing it with the plastic polishing compound), you can dig out the other half of the Nintendo screen cover and you'll have enough to do the mod all over again. Make sense?

But again, there's nothing wrong with adding a screen protector film (from a cell phone/tablet) as an additional layer of protection. I don't run one, but I don't beat my X3 to hell either (I'm very careful with my gear). If I tossed it around without care, carried it in my pocket with coins and car keys, and stuff like that, it would be way more beat up. My clear cover is still in excellent shape (like A- condition), and I use my X3 every day. If I wanted it to look brand new again (ie A+ condition), I'd just polish it up with a drop of plastic polish. But it looks fine to me.

And you're welcome with the help too - 99% of the people on HF are super friendly and awesome! Feel free to ask anything, as people are always glad to help each other out (especially new members).

 

[bsoplinger]

@Slater question about your screen mod… When I look at the pictures showing the steps I see what looks like a narrow black border around the original screen which I'm assuming is a mask to hide the case bits in the opening. But later when you show the black vinyl mask you make for the replacement screen it seems much, much larger than the narrow border of the original. Why the change in size? Or am I looking at things incorrectly?

 

[drock041]

I do not use any screen protector film. Just removed the stock smoked/tinted cover and replaced with the clear Nintendo cover. It's a very easy mod.

The other nice thing about the Nintendo screen cover mod is that the Nintendo screen cover is large enough to make TWO xduoo X3 screen cover replacements. So if you do the mod, and in 2 years the clear screen cover is all scratched up (and you don't feel like polishing it with the plastic polishing compound), you can dig out the other half of the Nintendo screen cover and you'll have enough to do the mod all over again. Make sense?

But again, there's nothing wrong with adding a screen protector film (from a cell phone/tablet) as an additional layer of protection. I don't run one, but I don't beat my X3 to hell either (I'm very careful with my gear). If I tossed it around without care, carried it in my pocket with coins and car keys, and stuff like that, it would be way more beat up. My clear cover is still in excellent shape (like A- condition), and I use my X3 every day. If I wanted it to look brand new again (ie A+ condition), I'd just polish it up with a drop of plastic polish. But it looks fine to me.

And you're welcome with the help too - 99% of the people on HF are super friendly and awesome! Feel free to ask anything, as people are always glad to help each other out (especially new members).

Once again really good advice...so you have enough left over for another go? Very cool. How long have you had your X3? Sounds like you know a lot about it also..Do you use anything in particular to 'sync' up any new music to it? That's what I've been looking into..I'm wondering if Media Monkey works for it? Yeah, you're totally right on people being so helpful..who knew? Thanks again. Andrew

 

[Slater]

Once again really good advice...so you have enough left over for another go? Very cool. How long have you had your X3? Sounds like you know a lot about it also..Do you use anything in particular to 'sync' up any new music to it? That's what I've been looking into..I'm wondering if Media Monkey works for it? Yeah, you're totally right on people being so helpful..who knew? Thanks again. Andrew

Yes, the Nintendo screen cover is a little bit over twice the size of the X3 screen cover. There's not enough material to make (3) X3 covers out of the Nintendo cover, but there's more than enough material to make (2) X3 covers (with scraps left over).

I've had my X3 since it first came out. I have one of the original 1500mAh battery version (later updated to a slightly larger battery at 2000mAh). Everything else is the same though.

As far as I just take the cards out and use a microsd card reader with my computer. Drag and drop everything onto the card.

As far as playing music on the X3 itself, I use the folder/file view method of browsing and playing all of my music. I also make playlists on the X3. It's easy with Rockbox once you get the hang of it.

 

[Slater]

@Slater question about your screen mod… When I look at the pictures showing the steps I see what looks like a narrow black border around the original screen which I'm assuming is a mask to hide the case bits in the opening. But later when you show the black vinyl mask you make for the replacement screen it seems much, much larger than the narrow border of the original. Why the change in size? Or am I looking at things incorrectly?

I made the vinyl piece based on the exact size of the actual OLED screen. In other words, the opening in the center of the border of the stock tinted cover is actually larger than the OLED screen. You just can't tell because the stock screen is tinted very dark. If the stock cover was clear, you'd be able to see circuit board all around the edges of the OLED screen. I'm not sure why xduoo didn't just make the border the same size as mine, but it didn't really matter in the end I guess, because the tint is so dark it hides everything.

Does that make sense? It can sometimes sound confusing when trying to describe some of these concepts in writing. A picture would explain it better, which is why in all of my mods I try to use lots of photos, labels, arrows, diagrams, etc.

 

[bsoplinger]

… Does that make sense? It can sometimes sound confusing when trying to describe some of these concepts in writing. A picture would explain it better, which is why in all of my mods I try to use lots of photos, labels, arrows, diagrams, etc.

Yup, understand completely. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[peterpans01]

How i uninstall Rockbox?
I want to reinstall it on my 64 GB SD Card instead of 32 GB SD card which i'm using? When i inserted my 64 GB SD Card to second slot, my xduoo X3 didn't read it!

 

[bsoplinger]

How i uninstall Rockbox?
I want to reinstall it on my 64 GB SD Card instead of 32 GB SD card which i'm using? When i inserted my 64 GB SD Card to second slot, my xduoo X3 didn't read it!

You don't need to reinstall, just copy the rockbox folder from the one card to the other. By copying vs starting with fresh files you'll keep any settings you've changed from the default values. I don't have my X3 SD card in front of me right now so I'm not sure of the correct folder name, it might be .rockbox. Just look through the thread, how to 'upgrade' SD cards is description more fully.

 

[peterpans01]

You don't need to reinstall, just copy the rockbox folder from the one card to the other. By copying vs starting with fresh files you'll keep any settings you've changed from the default values. I don't have my X3 SD card in front of me right now so I'm not sure of the correct folder name, it might be .rockbox. Just look through the thread, how to 'upgrade' SD cards is description more fully.

But my rockboxed xduoo x3 didn't read my patriot 64 gb sd card on slot 1 and slot 2.
I tried copying .rockbox folder from original sd card to patriot sd card but it didn't work.
I have formatted that card from exFat to FAT32 by using minitool partition wizard!

 

[bsoplinger]

But my rockboxed xduoo x3 didn't read my patriot 64 gb sd card on slot 1 and slot 2.
I tried copying .rockbox folder from original sd card to patriot sd card but it didn't work.
I have formatted that card from exFat to FAT32 by using minitool partition wizard!

Ah, sorry I didn't read your initial post correctly. You aren't moving from the 32 Gb card to the 64 Gb one. You're having problems with your player not seeing it at all.

So here's my suggestion for a sequence of actions to try getting everything working.

• With just the 32 Gb card alone and still with the rockbox files turn the player on with the lock engaged to boot into the Xduoo firmware
• Insert the 64 Gb card into the 2nd slot
• Format it with the Xduoo firmware from the settings / system menu (don't have my X3 in front of me and hardly ever use the Xduoo firmware)

Anytime I have a device, be it digital camera, phone, etc and I had problems with a card my first solution was to use the device to format the card. If I get a cannot format error or the like I just assume the card is bad.

I know that isn't a terrific solution but its my offering.

Of course if the formatting works then it makes sense to copy the rockbox folder to the 2nd card even if it won't be used just in case at some future time you want it as the 1st card. Just a suggestion.

 

[peterpans01]

How i format it with xduoo x3? i don't see format choice from settings/ system menu!
I have two 32 SD card and it works fine without any problem? I don't need to format them either.
Now i want to use my Patriot 64 GB card on slot 2 but my xduoo x3 doesn't recognize it.

 

[EmPathWalker]

How i format it with xduoo x3? i don't see format choice from settings/ system menu!
I have two 32 SD card and it works fine without any problem? I don't need to format them either.
Now i want to use my Patriot 64 GB card on slot 2 but my xduoo x3 doesn't recognize it.

Cards larger than 32 gig come new with the EXFAT partition format. Rockbox can't see or read EXFAT. You need to reformat it to FAT32. If the device can't do that, you'll have to do it with your computer, first. The bad news is that your computer will format it as EXFAT too. So, you ned to search for a free app that will format it as FAT32. The one I use is Ridgecrop Fat 32 formatter http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?fat32format.htm

 

[peterpans01]

Cards larger than 32 gig come new with the EXFAT partition format. Rockbox can't see or read EXFAT. You need to reformat it to FAT32. If the device can't do that, you'll have to do it with your computer, first. The bad news is that your computer will format it as EXFAT too. So, you ned to search for a free app that will format it as FAT32. The one I use is Ridgecrop Fat 32 formatter http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?fat32format.htm

I have formatted it to FAT32 by using minitool partition wizard but my xduoo x3 didn't recognize it!

 

[EmPathWalker]

I have formatted it to FAT32 by using minitool partition wizard but my xduoo x3 didn't recognize it!

Are you putting it in the second slot while rockbox is working ok from the folder on the card in slot 1 ?