I used an original iPod in 2024, and it was pretty fun

corbin@infosec.pub to Technology@lemmy.world – 164 points –
I used an original iPod in 2024, and it was pretty fun
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Why did I just read an article about using an iPod that was clearly written by someone born in the early-mid 2000s? I know the original ipod was fun. I was there, gandalf

Yeah, there's an interest in Y2K era tech amongst some gen-Z people. I think it's cool, idk why you're hating.

I've never understood it, but there's a lot of gatekeeping when it comes to older products. Some people think they have more rights to enjoy a product they knew existed for longer and it's really strange behaviour.

I see a lot of younger people wondering why so many people my age liked this or that and it helps to have it in context. Like "what's so great about half life? Every shooter ever is like that!" Ah, but you see, my young friend, that's now. Everything is like Half Life because Half Life changed the landscape. Not really gatekeeping, but you do lose a lot of what made a thing special if you're only looking at it without the historical context.

Basically, the "Seinfeld is not funny" trope (insert TVTropes link and disclaimer)

It's not gatekeeping, but a frustration about a new generation coming to an obvious conclusion, that they already had.

Why do people get frustrated about that? Someone is experiencing something for the first time, it's the circle of life.

I'm in my mid 30s and my wife bought a record player during the revival of records last decade. Do you think older generations than me found that frustrating? Personally I think it's fascinating to watch technology go full circle generation by generation

Interesting discussion to have witnessed as an outsider.

Is an article written for a a writers expression or a readers enjoyment. (Both?)

I dont think they where frustrated with the writers enjoyment but rather disappointed that the article was a first discovery opinion rather then a veterans rediscovery from a modern point of view which would have been more useful to reflect their own opinion and thus be more personally entertaining. The negativity goed inwards perceiving it as a waste of their time.

Great analysis, you're got it spot on there. It's frustration from learning nothing new from something they thought would be interesting. That probably all boils down to bad the title of the article not being descriptive enough.

I don't think it's hating. More just questioning their own decision to read the article.

Nintendo DS sales are crazy popular right now too. They like our tech like we liked our parents' Ataris.

Parents?? That was my first console. How young is everyone here?

Intellivision was where it was at though, right?

Only the rich kids had that. The baseball was awesome though.

My first console was an Atari 2600 clone in 1994!

Eastern block vibes

To be fair, the 2600 is 47 years old, you'd have to be 52 at a minimum to remember it launching and 42 to remember the NES. I just remember loving my Atari 2600 all the way in the 90s.

I'm 42. I always got systems later than other kids. The Atari was in the house ever since I could form memories, and I finally got an NES in 1990, when the SNES and Genesis/Mega drive were on the horizon.

Theres a reason retro consoles are a huge hit right now. Even emulation consoles like the Miyoo Mini Plus.

Naw, no hate. iPods are fuckin rad. Younger generations should definitely get to enjoy older tech. But the author’s observations weren’t really anything I needed to invest my time in reading. I know old iTunes had a visualizer. I don’t know why I read the whole thing anyways

So we can laugh at the fact that they can't find a simple 1394 to USB cable and instead rely on daisy chaining a hundred dollars worth of apple products to make it work...

Holy shit.

a hundred dollars worth of apple products

What's that, like, one cable?

Hahaha - no, that’s just the little clippy bit at the end of the cable. The cable’s extra.

I didn't buy those adapters, I just used a computer that had a FireWire 400 port. I haven't found any evidence of those direct USB cables working with old iPods.

I'd love to get my hands on even a decent condition 1st gen iPod, but people want insane amounts for them now. Even my 5.5 gen was more than i wanted to pay but nearly mint.

Playstation portable was one the best mp3 player to be made

I really want an mp3 player right now - my last one broke and I don't want to carry a phone instead. But it seems like they're either ultra-cheap, overpriced or don't have features I need (like Bluetooth). It is so sad that the midrange audio players pretty much disappeared now. So instead looking as DIY projects, cannot believe.

The original ipod looks very cool btw, even if I would never use one myself - way too large.

I am using a Hifi Walker H2. It is a reasonable price, has bluetooth and no capacitive touch inputs. The UI is not great but the device is physically solid and works for me.

I pre-ordered a Tangara on their crowd funding. I am hopeful about the opensource hardware and software. Only reservation is capacitive touch scroll wheel.

Get a cheap used phone with a headphone port and sd card slot?

Why necessarily "used"? Also I have this exact thing already. I just wanted a device that has no cell connectivity option and thus no tracking, and also (maybe even more importantly) - is smaller and lighter. Going for sports with a phone is inconvenient af.

They don’t call them β€œmp3 players” anymore - that may be why you can’t find what you need. Look for a β€œDAP” instead - digital audio player - and you’ll probably have more luck.

For example, the Fiio M7 is $200 and is pretty full-featured. I have the M6 and I think I paid around $100, but I don’t think it’s being sold anymore.

What I looked for were product categories. Ye, seen these models. $200 is very, very expensive for me, it would be weird to spend on a player more than you would on a phone.

I still use my iPod Classic. I can plug it into my car for when I'm out of FM range, and I have a Bluetooth adapter for it that plugs into the headphone socket & lets me listen via my hearing aids. It's better than a phone for me, because the mobile signal is weak where I live, and most of my garden is out of WiFi range. It fits all my music and still has room for podcasts.

iTunes sucks though, ugh.

Check out Rockbox

You don't need the Rockbox OS on your iPod to use their sync tool, if I remember right. But it's a better experience in my opinion.

Also, you can uograde your iPod with more storage, more battery, and Bluetooth.