Clip or Clip+

[Patrick]

Hi,
The website indicates the Sansa Clip+ is a "second choice", but
doesn't say why. Can anyone elaborate on why the Sansa Clip+ is
preferred over the Sansa Clip?

Thanks,
Patrick

[Patrick White]

Sorry, that last sentence should have been:

"Can anyone elaborate on why the Sansa Clip is preferred over the Sansa Clip+?"

[Ryan Ramage]

Hi Patrick,

We use a customized version of Rockbox to load onto the clip and the clip plus. Unfortunately, Rockbox has a small issue with the clip plus. In order to plug it into the USB and have the computer recognize it, it needs to be rebooted into the original firmware. All a person has to do is turn off the clip plus from the recording screen. And then plug it into the usb, and it will boot into the original sansa firmware. When complete, the unit will need to be turned off, disconnected, and restarted (and then will run the liferecorder). 

While nothing more than an inconvenience, it is a bit of a usability problem for end users. But if you are custom loading the firmware yourself, it probably wont be that much of an issue.

Let me know if that helps you understand.

Ryan

--
Twitter: @eckoit
http://eckoit.com - Keep what you hear.
http://opendoorstories.com  - Create Experiences

[rsquared256]

See link here:
http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/SansaAMS#AMSv2_issues_40Fuzev2_44_Clipv2_44_Clip_43_41:

USB support:

Clip+/Clipv2/Fuzev2: USB support is currently disabled because it
fails randomly with current svn code. A patch has been made to correct
this problem, but although it seems to work fine with the Linux, it
can only connect in USB 1.1 mode when Windows is the host. Until its
ready, use the OF's USB by booting the OF before connecting the USB
cable.

[Ryan Ramage]

I am reply to the group to try and keep answers in one spot.

> Yes, I got Ecko-It going on my Clip+, and it's working quite well!
> I ran into the USB issue you mentioned, but that was easy enough to work
> around. I have a couple of other questions, though:
> Is it possible to reinstall Ecko-it to a new location without losing the
> audio I've already imported? I installed it to my boot drive, not thinking
> about all the audio files I'd be adding to it, and would like to move it my
> storage drive.

Yes, you can reinstall. Please do the following.
(These instructions are for the released Ecko-It on the the main
website.) We are going to be releasing a new version with a new
installer shortly.

1. Backup the main database file. Find the file in these spots:
C:\Program Files\eckoit\lib\couchdb\var\lib\couchdb\life.couch (on windows)
/Application/eckoit/lib/CouchDBX-R13B04-trunk_1029136.app/Contents/Resources/couchdbx-core/var/lib/couchdb/life.couch
(on mac)

2. Install Ecko-It to the new location. Find the database file
(life.couch) on the new install, and replace it with the backup from
#1.

Since Ecko-It runs on top of couchdb, there are many other ways to
'replicate' your data, (see
http://wiki.apache.org/couchdb/Replication) but the above method is
the easiest. All your data is in that life.couch file. You can do
backups on it as well.

A side note. A directory gets created called .eckoit in your home
directory. There is a folder in there called recordings/in_progress
This directory is used as a temp directory when audio is copied off
the clip. Currently this audio is not deleted during the import. This
is the raw audio recorded from the clip. You can back it up, and or
delete the data in this directory. It is redundant, as all data gets
into the life.couch file, but maybe more accessible to you. This
folder is hard coded at the moment, so if it is on your boot drive,
you may have to keep a watch on the space consumed there.

> What sort of magnet-based clip to you add to the Sansas?

We have been trying various modifications of the clips to make better
suited for liferecording. One option is to remove the plastic clip and
attach thin rare earth magnets to the back. The clip can then be
placed under fabric (shirts, collars, sleaves) and a metal bar be
placed overtop. It holds much better than the plastic clip, and it's
not as noticeable. On the downside it is more a set and forget option.
So if you want to take it off and on through the day, the plastic clip
might be better.

> What sort of battery life are you and others getting from the Sansa Clip?

I have a clip I have had for a year, gets about 4-5 hrs. I have gone
now to using 2 clips through the day. I have a brand new one and I get
almost 7 hrs. I use a two clip system to prevent a dead battery. Also
if I am at a desk, I will use a small wall-usb charger to have it
ready for when I leave for home.

> Feel free to post this to the mailing list, if you want to make your answers
> public. And you're welcome to refer me to other documentation (past mailing
> list conversations, or otherwise), if you're already answered these
> questions elsewhere.
> Thanks again. I think Ecko-It is a great idea, and re-purposing commodity
> mp3 players to do it is genius!
> Patrick

Hope this helps!
Ryan