How one can use an outdated iPod in 2024

Apple might not at all times be the primary to deliver a product to market, however once they develop their very own model, recognition often follows — and shortly. The first iPhone was the product that basically impressed folks to make the transition to smartphones, and look the place it is introduced the world now. However earlier than smartphones, the iPod was the product that led to the increase in MP3 players within the early 2000s.

The primary iPod hit the cabinets means again in 2001, and the machine went via a number of iterations, together with the iPod shuffle, the iPod nano, and the iPod contact — the oddly capitalized model names inflicting English academics in all places to tear out their hair.

When the iPhone arrived, it signaled the demise of the iPod. Why purchase a devoted MP3 participant while you already had one constructed into your cellphone? The iPod hung round for some time, however after altering the world, the final iPod was discontinued, and most of our outdated MP3 gamers bought thrown away or consigned to the again of a drawer.

After I dug up my outdated iPod nano, I used to be curious to know what music was on it. Making an attempt to get it going once more was a little bit of a problem, however with a little bit of analysis, I discovered that it was easy sufficient to do, particularly utilizing Home windows, oddly sufficient. I used to be in a position so as to add new (legally obtained, clearly) music and even export outdated stuff that was nonetheless on there. Here is how I bought my outdated iPod again up and operating and why perhaps you need to, too.

Associated

8 reasons why you should listen to CDs over vinyl

Vinyl data are an aesthetic everybody’s been chasing currently, however they don’t seem to be the one fashionable “retro tech” for vibe-y listening.

What you may want to make use of your outdated iPod in 2024

The place did you place that iPod charger?

There are some things you may want so as to have the ability to get your outdated iPod up and operating once more. You will want an iPod that is in working situation. You will additionally want the related charging cable on your iPod. If you happen to’ve misplaced yours, Amazon or eBay ought to have what you want.

You will additionally want a pc with a USB-A port (as a result of USB-C wasn’t a factor in 2001) so you may join your iPod to your pc utilizing the charging cable. The ultimate factor took me the longest to search out; you may want some wired headphones. Bluetooth headphones weren’t a factor in 2001 both, apparently.

Associated

These are 5 reasons why you should use a Sony Walkman in 2024

Retro tech is in, and I am pleased to step away from my smartphone to embrace the simplicity of an MP3 participant.

Set up an outdated model of iTunes

Use Home windows for a better journey

The issue with utilizing an outdated iPod is that it will not work with fashionable apps. iTunes was at all times the app you wanted to get music on and off your iPod, however the app no longer exists in its own right. The Music app does not appear to play properly with many older iPods. One of the best plan is to put in an outdated model of iTunes, particularly iTunes 12.6.5.3. This appears to be the candy spot for supporting a variety of outdated iPod fashions. If it does not work, you may attempt an older or new model of iTunes as a substitute to see when you’ve got extra success.

How one can set up iTunes on Home windows

Bizarrely, contemplating that iPods are Apple merchandise, it’s miles simpler to put in an older model of iTunes on Home windows than on Mac. All it’s worthwhile to do is obtain and run the related installer, and iTunes can be put in in your PC.

1. Obtain the related model of the iTunes 12.6.5.3 installer, relying in your {hardware}.
2. Run the downloaded installer.
3. As soon as accomplished, you need to be capable to launch the iTunes app.

How one can set up iTunes on Mac

Apple

If you happen to’re on a Mac, attempting to put in an older model of iTunes will deliver up an error message stating that the software program just isn’t supported in your system. Nevertheless, it is potential to idiot macOS into considering that the app is a more moderen model than it truly is. This includes operating an AppleScript, nevertheless it’s not as onerous because it sounds.

1. Obtain the iTunes 12.6.5.3 installer for Mac.
2. Open the Script Editor app in your Mac.
3. Click on New Doc.
4. Copy and paste the next script into the highest pane of the Script Editor:

   set theDMG to decide on file with immediate "Please choose iTunes dmg file:" of sort {"dmg"}do shell script "hdiutil mount " & quoted type of POSIX path of theDMGdo shell script "pkgutil --expand /Volumes/iTunes/Set up iTunes.pkg ~/tmp"do shell script "hdiutil unmount /Volumes/iTunes/"do shell script "cd ~/tmp/iTunesX.pkg; cat Payload | gunzip -dc |cpio -i; ditto ~/tmp/iTunesX.pkg/Functions/iTunes.app ~/tmp/iTunes.app;"do shell script "plutil -replace CFBundleGetInfoString -string 'iTunes 13.9.9' ~/tmp/iTunes.app/Contents/Information.plist"do shell script "plutil -replace CFBundleShortVersionString -string 13.9.9 ~/tmp/iTunes.app/Contents/Information.plist"do shell script "plutil -replace CFBundleVersion -string 13.9.9 ~/tmp/iTunes.app/Contents/Information.plist"do shell script "contact ~/tmp/iTunes.app"do shell script "ditto ~/tmp/iTunes.app /Functions/iTunes.app"do shell script "rm -r ~/tmp"

5. Click on the Run icon to run the script.
6. When prompted, navigate to the situation of the installer you downloaded in step 1.
7. As soon as the script has completed operating, you need to discover the iTunes app in your Functions folder.
8. Run the iTunes app.

Associated

How I discover and transfer music for my Walkman in 2024

Discover and obtain music with out the assistance of algorithms.

How one can add music to an outdated iPod in iTunes

Get your new tunes onto your outdated iPod

After you have the iTunes app up and operating, it is time to join your iPod. You possibly can then begin including music, creating playlists, and extra.

1. Plug the charging cable on your iPod into your pc.
2. Plug the opposite finish into your iPod.
3. If issues go nicely, your iPod ought to join and seem in iTunes.
4. If they do not, you may even see a message that it’s worthwhile to restore your iPod with the intention to use it. Click on OK after which click on the Restore iPod button to return your iPod to manufacturing unit settings. This may delete any music already on the machine.
5. As soon as your iPod seems within the left-hand menu in iTunes, click on it to see what’s inside.
6. Relying on the kind of iPod you might have, you would possibly see folders for Music, Movies, TV Reveals, Motion pictures, Audiobooks, and extra, in addition to any playlists you created again within the day.
7. Any music you need to maintain you may go away in place. To take away music, right-click a track and choose Delete from Library. You can too export music out of your iPod as defined within the subsequent part.
8. If you’re prepared so as to add new music, click on File > Add File to Library so as to add particular person songs or File > Add Folder to Library so as to add complete folders of music.
9. Proceed including as a lot music as you want, or till your iPod is full.
10. If you’re prepared to begin listening, hover over the title of your iPod within the left-hand menu and click on the Eject button.
11. Now you can take away your iPod from the cable and begin listening.

Associated

Should you pay for lossless audio?

Regardless of what some audiophiles might say, switching streaming platforms for lossless audio may not be the most effective — or your solely — selection.

How one can get music off an outdated iPod

Use disk mode to show your iPod into a tough drive

In case your outdated iPod has songs on it that you do not have copies of any longer, then you may extract music out of your iPod by placing it in disk mode. This lets you learn the onerous drive in your iPod like several removable disk, permitting you to repeat your music out of your iPod.

How one can put an iPod with a click on wheel into disk mode

In case your iPod has the traditional click on wheel, wherein the controls are on the scroll wheel itself, you should use the next steps to place your iPod into disk mode.

1. Toggle the Maintain change on and off.
2. Press and maintain the Menu button and the Heart button.
3. When the Apple emblem seems in your iPod display, press and maintain the Play/Pause button and the Heart button.
4. The display ought to present that it’s in disk mode.
5. If it does not, repeat the steps once more.

Associated

Wired headphones are making a comeback, so what is lossless audio?

Wired earbuds are in once more, ushering in lossless audio — which is bringing CD-like high quality to the streaming period.

How one can put an iPod nano (sixth or seventh gen) into disk mode

Apple / Pocket-lint

The later fashions of iPod nano did not embrace the long-lasting scroll wheel. When you have considered one of these fashions, you may use the next technique to place your iPod into disk mode.

1. For the sixth gen iPod nano, press and maintain the Sleep/Wake button and the Quantity Down button.
2. For the seventh gen iPod nano, press and maintain the Sleep/Wake button and the Residence button.
3. When the Apple emblem seems, press and maintain the Quantity Up button and the Quantity Down button.
4. Your iPod ought to enter disk mode.
5. If it does not, repeat the steps once more.

0:32

Associated

I swapped streaming for a Sony Walkman E394, and it took me back to simpler times

Today, most units do the whole lot. However the Walkman E394 I simply tried is devoted to just one factor: simplicity.

How one can put an iPod with a contact or scroll wheel into disk mode

Apple / Pocket-lint

If you happen to’re actually old-fashioned, you are rocking an iPod with a scroll wheel that has separate buttons both round it or above it. On this case, you may want to make use of the next steps to place your iPod into disk mode.

1. Toggle the Maintain change on and off.
2. Press and maintain the Menu button and Play/Pause button.
3. If you see the Apple emblem, press and maintain the Earlier button and the Subsequent button.
4. Your iPod ought to enter disk mode.

Associated

These are the 3 reasons why I exclusively use bone conduction headphones for running

As a runner, I solely use bone conduction headphones. Here is why.

As soon as your iPod is in disk mode, you may copy information instantly out of your iPod’s onerous drive. This can be seen in File Explorer or Finder in your pc, though you might have to make hidden information seen with the intention to see your music.

1. Open File Explorer on Home windows or Finder on Mac.
2. Choose your iPod from the detachable units within the left-hand pane.
3. Open the folder referred to as iPod_Control.
4. If you cannot see this folder on Home windows, click on View > Present > Hidden Gadgets.
5. If you cannot see this folder on Mac, press Cmd+Shift+Interval to make hidden information and folders seen.
6. Contained in the iPod_Control folder, choose Music.
7. You will see an inventory of folders.
8. Now you can copy these folders to any location in your pc you would like.
9. Alternatively, open the folders to see the person information. You possibly can copy whichever information you want to export.

The draw back to this technique is that these information are given bizarre four-character names and are not at all times saved in an apparent method, so it could take some time to determine which information are which. There are third-party apps that may extract songs out of your iPod, so that you would possibly need to attempt considered one of these when you’ve got a variety of music you need to get off your iPod.

Associated

Do CDs sound better than vinyl? It’s complicated

The quick reply: It is sophisticated.

Escape distractions together with your outdated iPod

No interruptions, simply you and the music

When you have a cellphone and an app comparable to Spotify or Apple Music, you have already got entry to tens of millions of songs, so why would you hassle utilizing your outdated iPod? Properly, there’s one thing very calming about with the ability to hearken to music with out worrying about notifications popping up in your cellphone or getting the urge to shortly scroll via Reddit.

Associated

If you’re new to turntables, here are 4 essentials to any beginner’s setup

As a vinyl fanatic, these are the 4 equipment you’ll need in your newbie vinyl set-up base on my ears.

An old-school MP3 player allows you to focus purely on the music for a short time, and it is also an effective way to cease your self from attempting to hearken to all of the music that exists. You might have a restricted variety of songs to select from, so that you would possibly get to know a few of your favourite songs or albums so much higher, or give your self an opportunity to lastly perceive why the remainder of the world appears so obsessive about Taylor Swift’s discography. Why not crack out your outdated iPod and provides it a attempt?