S1 MP3 player


S1 MP3 players are a type of digital audio players based on many different kinds of chipsets. The popular ones include Actions and ALi chipsets. They are sold under dozens of different other brand names and in a variety of case designs. The players were very widespread around 2005–2006 and have since been superseded by more advanced models.

Capabilities

There are also several models which carry no brand name or model number on the device or packaging, and a few sold under counterfeit trademarks such as Sony, Samsung, iPod, and others that use the same spelling in their brand name yet different brand styling, with inverse effect to established brands that offer similar or unrelated products.

Generic name

The following are brand names in alphabetical order that have related relevant articles in Wikipedia.
Available utilities for Microsoft Windows include an ACT to WAV file converter, a basic desktop editor to enter contact details for the device's phone book function and device drivers for Windows 98. An 8 cm CD-ROM containing some or all of these is included with some versions of the device.
There are also tools developed by individuals under the Open-Source license, such as s1res ans s1clone that allow the consumer to modify its device by changing bitmaps and text. By using decompilers, it is possible to add and replace features of the device, steps that were described on the wiki page.

Firmware update issues

The firmware used in various S1 MP3 players differs significantly, but this is not widely understood. Problems have arisen as consumers have attempted to upgrade their players using incompatible firmware with a higher version number. This can damage the players almost permanently. However, a 'dead' player can sometimes be recovered by opening it, shorting some pins and uploading a full firmware from the PC.
Guides on recovering the players were available on a unofficial website that is offline since 2019, but there is another website that has reuploaded the information, software and firmware for these devices.