On the first day of this diary, we spent a very good portion of time merely setting the iPod Basic up. The conclusion? Utilizing the machine isn’t fairly as seamless in 2023 because it was within the 2010s. Know-how, it seems, retains evolving.
Fortunately, the worst of that’s all behind us. Which means at the moment’s diary can focus predominantly on the expertise of utilizing an iPod Basic as the principle driver for all my audio units. Let’s dive proper in.
Saturday, 08:32am: Working
I like to start out my weekend off proper: by torturing myself. Sure, it’s time to run. My ordinary setup consists of a pair of AirPods Professional that I connect with my Apple Watch, which shops a collection of music, podcasts, and audiobooks to maintain me entertained all through the method.
Instantly, I encountered a street bump: there was no straightforward solution to join my wi-fi earbuds to the iPod. Technically, a Bluetooth adaptor would work, however I didn’t have one at hand. This meant I wanted to dig out a pair of in-ear headphones for my jog.
I want I might inform you this was a enjoyable expertise — however that’d be a bald-faced lie. The cable for the wired headphones was too brief to slot in my pocket, so I needed to grasp the iPod in my more and more sweaty arms. Regardless of this, I used to be grateful for the lock button on the MP3 participant, as that stopped the machine going haywire whereas it was getting drenched and salty.
The entire expertise felt deeply inelegant. I’m now so used to exercising with wi-fi gear that switching again to cables was deeply jarring. I’ll ask one query, although, was the iPod Basic ever a correct operating machine? Absolutely that was one thing the Nano or Shuffle had been much more geared in the direction of?
Regardless of the reply, I can unequivocally say that the iPod Basic is now not match for health.
Saturday, 10:07 am: Bathe. Sure, bathe
I really like moveable Bluetooth audio system — particularly the sturdy fashions. One among life’s nice pleasures is taking a protracted bathe with some glorious music, and that is one thing the UE BOOM 3 excels at.
However, but once more, we stumble upon one other drawback. Whereas the earlier model of the speaker had an aux wire, the BOOM 3 doesn’t. That meant no music within the bathe. Life with an outdated iPod is popping right into a trial.
Saturday, 11:15am: Hanging out at dwelling
Saturday morning is a good time to tick off some duties; so it’s time to tidy the home.
Usually, I play music from my iPhone or MacBook, utilizing AirPlay to ship the tunes straight to the Bluesound Node, a wi-fi streamer hooked as much as my amplifier. Joyously, this {hardware} does have a 3.5mm enter, that means the iPod Basic can slot into my system completely.
Right here, I had the chance to rediscover the MP3 participant’s unbelievable On-The-Go playlist function. Successfully, for those who maintain down the middle button within the clickwheel, a menu pops up. This features a vary of options — like beginning Genius or looking an album — however my favourite was all the time On-The-Go, which allowed you so as to add tracks to a generic playlist.
That is an satisfying solution to queue up songs as I’m getting the home into order. Though, I’ll say one factor: having to stroll over on to the iPod or carrying the stereo distant to vary quantity is a little bit of a problem. It’s way more handy to do that along with your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Saturday, 17:45pm: Heading out
After a day enjoyable at dwelling, it’s time to exit and meet some buddies on the pub. Going for a night stroll with a pair of headphones and the iPod is the place the machine actually comes into its personal.
Regardless of all its downsides, there’s nonetheless one thing magical about it. Possibly it’s nostalgia, perhaps it’s familiarity, however scrolling by means of an inventory of artists with none distractions stays an exquisite feeling. Sure, it’s a bit slower than an iPhone, doesn’t have a very good search choice, and the display is dated, however, I’ll be damned, it’s nonetheless a terrific little bit of equipment.
I’ll additionally say this: folks adore it while you take an outdated iPod out with you.
Saturday, 21:15pm: Dwelling time
As good because the iPod as soon as was, it’s actually displaying its age in 2023. The final time I picked up the machine was about 4 years in the past and, even from that time, the patron tech trade has accelerated ahead.
Screens are higher, nearly all of units use solid-state reminiscence (SSD), and headphone jacks are getting scarcer and scarcer. On prime of that, as iTunes has disappeared and macOS evolves, it seems that dependable assist for the iPod has fled.
Saying all that, it’s nonetheless a lovely machine with an iconic design, and generally is a enjoyment of the fitting circumstances — it’s simply that these cases are getting fewer. These days, iPhones are so versatile, straightforward to make use of, and highly effective that they make the iPod seem like one thing from a unique century.
However you recognize what? I nonetheless adore it — and this experiment has satisfied me I must improve and modify my iPod to see if that makes it extra appropriate for 2023. Nostalgia is one hell of a drug.
