They’re pretty much a collector’s item, but if you have an iPad Classic and want to give it a new, more up-to-date life, then you could copy Guy Dupont’s idea. This YouTuber has managed to turn fourth generation iPod Classic into a WiFi player compatible with Spotify and much more.
The iPod Classic with WiFi connection that never existed
IPods were Apple‘s lifeline at a time when the company was going through a delicate situation. During those years the iPhone did not exist and Mac sales were not nearly what they are now. However, Apple saw very well the need to carry music in your pocket and created a device capable of storing thousands of songs. That and the success of iTunes bringing in the catalog of numerous record labels did the rest.
Today iPods and in particular the Classic model are devices in high demand by all those who want to get one, even more so if they continue to work. Because one of the problems they suffered was the deterioration of their storage unit, a small mechanical hard drive.
However, if you have one or you get one and it doesn’t work, don’t worry. There are those who have managed to turn one of these iPod Classic into a renewed multimedia player capable of connecting to WiFi networks, accessing the catalog of applications such as Spotify and ultimately being the player that today would be an iPod from 2021. Or well, the iPhone already It’s the iPod of 2021, right?
To achieve such a product Guy Dupont only had to get hold of a 4th generation iPod Classic to be more precise and a series of electronic components worth about 80 euros . And yes, as you may already be imagining the iPod case and a Raspberry Pi Zero are the two pillars on which this maker project is based.
With all these elements, patience and some knowledge, the result is what you can see in the following video. A multimedia player with an iPod Classic appearance and where the highlight, beyond being able to connect to services such as Spotify or send the audio signal to Bluetooth speakers , is that the interface is identical to that of the iPod Classic and is controlled through the famous and iconic click wheel.
In the video you can see not only how the player works , but also the handling and that particular sound that iPods made when you moved through its interface with the wheel, when you pressed its central button, etc. Without a doubt, a project that will delight the most romantic in general and for any fan of Apple and the iPod in particular.
How to make your own iPod Classic with a Raspberry Pi
As with many other projects based on Raspberry Pi, the users who carry them out usually share all the components they use, the software and even make a guide so that others can replicate them if they feel capable and the idea attracts.
This time you will also be able to carry it out if you feel like it. In hackaday.io are all the details , you have the different components that you would need (leading the list is the popular and versatile Raspberry Pi Zero) as well as the necessary software for the configuration of these. Because one of the challenges was to adapt the click wheel to be able to continue being used in this player project.
So now you know, if you have an iPod at home that you want to give a second life to , this may be your great opportunity. And if not, you could still make your own music player compatible with Spotify. That in the end is what it will allow you, and thus be able to listen to music from the service whenever you want. Although you have to build the case yourself and it is not as aesthetic as Apple’s design.
Of course you can also make a mini portable console and take advantage of the options available to connect a Bluetooth controller to the Raspberry Pi Zero. For options we already warn you that it will not be, this board gives a lot of play and the only thing you need is to be patient and want to get tangled.