V1.3.1

V1.3.1 Updates:

• Classic Sleep Timer wake — fixed a hang where Sleep Timer left the 6G/7G frozen after “wake” (needed a force restart)
• Track / disc numbers in titles — stripped from library lists, folder names, and Now Playing (e.g. 01. Song → Song)
• Battery curve tweaks to closer match stock gauge

V1.3 Updates:

• Library vs Folder home
  • Library — classic iPod-style browsing with indexing and metadata (Artists, Albums, Songs, Playlists, Up Next)
  • Folder — Home lists the media folders on your disk (Music, Audiobooks, Videos, Podcasts, and anything else you put at the top level). System junk is hidden. Playlists, Games, Settings, and Now Playing stay on Home.
• Playlists in Folder mode — same create / edit / rename / delete hub as Library mode
• Remember last folder — after playing something, Menu brings you back to the folder you were in
• Battery gauge — more stable full charge behavior (no more jumping from 100% down to the mid-80s after sitting idle)
• Hold / idle power — less background work while locked and dark so overnight drain is reduced

Downloads

Choose the version for your iPod:

iPod Video 5G / 5.5G: Minimal-OS-v1.2-iPod-Video-5th-5.5th-Gen.zip
iPod Classic 6G / 7G: Minimal-OS-v1.2-iPod-Classic-6th-7th-Gen.zip
Install only the version intended for your iPod model.

The source and license files are provided for developers, redistribution, and licensing compliance. You do not need them to install Minimal OS.

IMPORTANT

This is beta software. Back up your existing Rockbox installation before installing. This OS removes much of Rockbox's stock functionality. Access to other installed themes will no longer be available.

Installation instructions are included inside each download.

Minimal OS is built on Rockbox and would not exist without the work of the Rockbox project and its contributors.

Development note: Minimal OS was developed with the assistance of AI coding tools, reviewed and refined before release.

V1.3

V1.3 Updates:

• Library vs Folder home
  • Library — classic iPod-style browsing with indexing and metadata (Artists, Albums, Songs, Playlists, Up Next)
  • Folder — Home lists the media folders on your disk (Music, Audiobooks, Videos, Podcasts, and anything else you put at the top level). System junk is hidden. Playlists, Games, Settings, and Now Playing stay on Home.
• Playlists in Folder mode — same create / edit / rename / delete hub as Library mode
• Remember last folder — after playing something, Menu brings you back to the folder you were in
• Battery gauge — more stable full charge behavior (no more jumping from 100% down to the mid-80s after sitting idle)
• Hold / idle power — less background work while locked and dark so overnight drain is reduced

Downloads

Choose the version for your iPod:

iPod Video 5G / 5.5G: Minimal-OS-v1.2-iPod-Video-5th-5.5th-Gen.zip
iPod Classic 6G / 7G: Minimal-OS-v1.2-iPod-Classic-6th-7th-Gen.zip
Install only the version intended for your iPod model.

The source and license files are provided for developers, redistribution, and licensing compliance. You do not need them to install Minimal OS.

IMPORTANT

This is beta software. Back up your existing Rockbox installation before installing. This OS removes much of Rockbox's stock functionality. Access to other installed themes will no longer be available.

Installation instructions are included inside each download.

Minimal OS is built on Rockbox and would not exist without the work of the Rockbox project and its contributors.

Development note: Minimal OS was developed with the assistance of AI coding tools, reviewed and refined before release.

V1.2

Everything from V1.1, plus some improvements and bug fixes:

• Equalizer back in Settings (simple Minimal OS UI)
• Library mode: Library (tag database) or Folder (/Music)
• Videos open /Videos directly, with a progress / volume overlay during playback
• Playlist song numbers off; no title banner above the playlist song list
• macOS AppleDouble ._* files no longer show as duplicate playlists
• Battery status stability

Downloads

Choose the version for your iPod:

• iPod Video 5G / 5.5G: Minimal-OS-v1.2-iPod-Video-5th-5.5th-Gen.zip
• iPod Classic 6G / 7G: Minimal-OS-v1.2-iPod-Classic-6th-7th-Gen.zip

Install only the version intended for your iPod model.

The source and license files are provided for developers, redistribution, and licensing compliance. You do not need them to install Minimal OS.

IMPORTANT

This is beta software. Back up your existing Rockbox installation before installing. This OS removes much of Rockbox's stock functionality. Access to other installed themes will no longer be available.

Installation instructions are included inside each download.

Minimal OS is built on Rockbox and would not exist without the work of the Rockbox project and its contributors.

Development note: Minimal OS was developed with the assistance of AI coding tools, reviewed and refined before release.

V1.1 - Beta

After much testing and numerous rounds of debugging, I feel like Minimal OS is stable enough to put out in the wild as a public beta.

That does not mean it's without bugs, so install with that in mind. If you find something that isn't working as expected, feel free to open an issue or reach out.

Minimal OS is a pared-down, music-focused Rockbox experience for iPod. It removes much of the complexity of stock Rockbox in favor of a simpler interface focused primarily on browsing and listening to music.

V1.1

• Simplified main menu and music library
• Artists, Albums, Songs, Playlists, and Up Next
• Multiple Now Playing views
• Album artwork support
• Black and white themes
• Simplified settings
• Library indexing controls
• Custom text input
• Rockbox audio format support

Downloads

Choose the version for your iPod:

• iPod Video 5G / 5.5G: Minimal-OS-v1.1-iPod-Video-5th-5.5th-Gen.zip
• iPod Classic 6G / 7G: Minimal-OS-v1.1-iPod-Classic-6th-7th-Gen.zip

Install only the version intended for your iPod model.

The source and license files are provided for developers, redistribution, and licensing compliance. You do not need them to install Minimal OS.

IMPORTANT

This is beta software. Back up your existing Rockbox installation before installing. This OS removes much of Rockbox's stock functionality. Access to other installed themes will no longer be available.

Installation instructions are included inside each download.

Minimal OS is built on Rockbox and would not exist without the work of the Rockbox project and its contributors.

Development note: Minimal OS was developed with the assistance of AI coding tools, reviewed and refined before release.