Olympus m:robe MR-500i firmware cracked

If you're an owner of the late, ill-fated Olympus m:robe 500i, we're pleased to inform you that one rather obsessed fan known only as mrobe.fan has successfully cracked the firmware of your dear late device, so as to, um, re-skin the player. Yeah, that's it. Anyone wanting to add codec support, turn this thing into a portable video player, or basically do something -- anything-- to make into something useful (no offense intended to the four who were really into "remixing" photos and music) will have to continue their silent vigil over the device as the hackers continue to have their way with it. Perhaps some day soon the m:robe will actually live up to its potential, though we're sorry we can't report that being today.

[Via m.robe.org, thanks Daniel]

[OyoyoY123 @ Apr 30th 2006 9:54PM]

huh? Waddaya mean?

[Chris @ Apr 30th 2006 10:00PM]

Ahh.. someone get video playing on this so i can finally start using it again..
last time i check'd there were tons of refurbished m:robes off ebay for around $100.. 20 gig.

[flamer's grill @ May 1st 2006 12:01AM]

I purchased the smaller of the two m:robe models about six months ago. Used it for a few months, but ultimately went with something else. Why? Lack of support. Was an attractive player that sounded great and had an intuitive interface, but did not support any sort of DRM, be it iTunes or Playsforsure. It's a shame, really; playsforsure support would have made it a great competitor to the iPod mini and even the nano.

[Dave @ May 1st 2006 4:51AM]

So...strip the DRM! Granted, the M:robe was never vastly popular. But its touch screen and integration of a camera/mp3 player is perfect. I love the thing...

[narco @ May 1st 2006 5:59AM]

I agree -- the m:robe was totally awesome! I've been a strict iPod user since 2002, but when I saw the m:robe I wanted to buy one. Of course, it didn't support iTunes so I really couldn't buy one anyway. Wish they would update it, I'm sure a lot of people would still buy it.

Fishes,
narco.

[TZK @ May 1st 2006 6:10AM]

Why cant you buy one? Because it dosnt support music that only plays on an iPod? Steel the music like everyone else. Friggin morals.

[Jamie @ May 1st 2006 7:21AM]

"Why cant you buy one? Because it dosnt support music that only plays on an iPod? Steel the music like everyone else. Friggin morals.

Posted at 6:10AM on May 1st 2006 by TZK"

Friggin Moron. If you're gonna make statements like that, at least spell check them first, to give them some credibility. Metallic music sure does sound fun.

[Cliff @ May 1st 2006 8:41AM]

Metallic music LOL... Makes me think of Caribbean-type music.

[Howie @ May 1st 2006 8:44AM]

Hi engadget... Howie from mrobe.org here. Thanks for the front page linkage! Just like to say, you should check out the number of alternative software and other firmware hacks that's on the site.

[Lee @ May 1st 2006 9:01AM]

Metallic music?

~sighs at Jamie~...

[pinpalchris @ May 1st 2006 1:29PM]

Well, thw m:robe is still the best designed player out there. And mine works just fine (even though I bought it refurbished). Never had any problems with DRM. Funny also that apparently the next iPod video is supposed to have a touch screen, just a "few" years after the m:robe 500. Admittedly, product and proper service have to go together. Too bad that Olympus doesn't provide the latter. However, don't understand all those who complain about the m:robes basic funtions, which are already much more userfriendly than say an iPod.

[kaisen @ May 1st 2006 8:16PM]

can someone tell me how to put video on the M:Robe 500i.

[J @ May 14th 2006 2:42AM]

yeh how do u put video on the M:robe 500i

[mike @ Jun 21st 2006 4:40PM]

http://www.mrobe.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1451&start=0

Run and Compile C code on your mrobe