What DAC/amplification circuitry does it use? Does it support bit perfect playback the same way my iPod/sansa clip/computer do? Or is everything crushed to 48khz like a smartphone?
Why does it appear to be riveted together? Wouldn't Phillips screws or a snap together design (guitar pick to open) be more practical?
Is "Sudo OS" a euphemism for "Android but extra locked down", the same way Rabbit R1 was?
Asking the important questions. At its core it's a DAP. If it offers nothing better than a smartphone, I don't see why I need another piece of glued together junk that could go unsupported anytime just for whatever sentimental value iPod has. Not to mention 64 GB is nothing if you're listening to lossless.
+1 for Tangara. It's kind of underpowered and crashes sometimes when doing too much at once, and I wish the scroll wheel felt a bit better, but hey it's all open source and I made some mods (printed a case, added some resistors to lower the noise floor).
What does this offer over, say, an Innioasis https://www.innioasis.com/products/y2? What Bluetooth codecs does it support; will I be able to use LDAC/LDHC/AAC/AptX HD/etc.? Is "Sudo OS" something I can hack and play with?
You can also just buy an iPod in 2026, they are still well supported on Mac and PC. You can get them with new batteries quite cheaply. You can even get 30-pin Bluetooth adapters for them.
It is actually still supported directly Finder on macOS. Or, even better, just putting Rockbox on them and copying files over directly, and that’s well supported in Linux.
Pricing on the used market is maybe a bit high compared to some of the other options out there but the hardware still feels great and there’s massive aftermarket support so there are still benefits to an iPod.
you can still sync music to iPods using the music app/the finder on mac [0]. there’s a similar thing for windows as well [1]. on linux, i know the clementine music player supports iPod sync [2]. all these options let you use the original firmware!
Because before I click the "Reserve" button I would like to know if this company has any hope in hell to actually ship a device before they are sued into oblivion. I don't like wasting money.
At first, I read “Suno” and thought it was a music player that lets you listen to music generated just for you. “Play me some music about a breakup between two sailors,” and there you go — the perfect album for the occasion.
Maybe it’s me being old but I don’t understand why I’d want this device for 249$.
I know some younger gens are looking for phoneless experiences, but for that price you can find old devices and simply recycle their usage. There are enough roms aimed and making a “dumb” mp3 player and include 3.5” and decent audio.
So I wonder if I miss something. The fomo here is messing with me.
Even more, chinese sites are chuck full of such players for a fraction of the price in all dimensions, on/offline, tactile or touch, with quality DACs.
I still have an iPod in my car and I still have a big collection of music but I've stopped collecting music. I haven't bought/downloaded anything in years because there is so much good streaming out there. I mostly switch between nts.live 1 and 2, dublab, and dublab Germany. When there's something annoying on one channel there is almost always something good on another.
I though $50 seems like a fair price for what you'd get. And then I saw it was only a deposit. A retail price of $250 seems way over the mark for what it is.
Who would be the market for this product?
Its expensive so its up market, but all of those buyers would already have phones and would be unlikely to bring another device just to have music that their phone is already exceptionally good at providing.
it's unlikely to be runners or bikers or other endurance athletes as they'll already have their phone or if they use a watch have music on their watch so they don't have to bring a phone.
Phones already do a great job of offline with downloaded music and movies so that doesn't seem like the right crowd.
Most kids get a hand me down phone with no cellular to start with from their parents so that doesn't seem like a good fit.
now i feel like I'm writing the hacker news dropbox review where i say its use case is already easy to do and the product will go nowhere;)
Nostalgia? Maybe not even, as you could buy a second hand iPod off eBay. Maybe for people that only use dumbphones and want still the possibility of listening to music?
Curious to see how much they sell, I suspect not much
>A retail price of $250 seems way over the mark for what it is.
There are, in 2026, dozens of models of mp3 players selling from around $120 to even up to $400 or so, from brands from Chinese OEMs to Sony, including a few that mimic the iPod interface. From iPod style to expensive DAC ones with impendance tailored to high end headphones.
>But seriously, who would be the target here?
People interested in mp3 players.
People who want to focus on music listening, and not have a constant distraction device at hand when doing it.
>Phones already do a great job of offline with downloaded music and movies so that doesn't seem like the right crowd.
Seems like you've missed the whole "back to focused use device" trend going on for the last few years and that general niche.
Hi. I am the target for this kind of device. I like to have a dedicated music player, and I like the shape of the iPod classic. I don’t want to use a smartphone.
This device has Bluetooth which the old iPod did not have, which is an enhancement. The old iPod also forces you to sync the music using the iTunes library.
Shipping Q4 2027? Let me know then. Even if it ships on time, that's like a year ahead, and who knows what else will be available by the time (it's not like there's not a thriving niche mp3 player market).
While you're saving that $250 over the next year, feel free to indulge on any of the dozens of equivalent products already on the market at the $35 price point.
Looks like a scam. You have to pay 50$ to reserve and ships in Q4 2027.
By then most of people would forget they even paid for this and also you won’t be able to dispute the 50$ with your payment provider because the dispute window has passed.
functionmouse | 3 hours ago
Why does it appear to be riveted together? Wouldn't Phillips screws or a snap together design (guitar pick to open) be more practical?
Is "Sudo OS" a euphemism for "Android but extra locked down", the same way Rabbit R1 was?
7bbfea | an hour ago
DaveSchmindel | an hour ago
1. head to eBay and search for used iPod Classics
2. give Rockbox some love
gbalint | an hour ago
llm_nerd | an hour ago
As to the being "crushed" to 48Khz, there is zero chance you can tell the difference.
https://xiph.org/video/vid2.shtml
nticompass | 2 hours ago
My friend got a Tangara from their "Kickstarter" and I think it's pretty cool. Plus it's open source and you can just make your own.
bpye | an hour ago
summermusic | an hour ago
frio | 59 minutes ago
jerrygenser | an hour ago
rsync | an hour ago
It stays in airplane mode. It has a real headphone jack.
frio | an hour ago
9999gold | an hour ago
pwthornton | an hour ago
fg137 | an hour ago
nxc18 | an hour ago
emigre | an hour ago
absolute8606 | an hour ago
Pricing on the used market is maybe a bit high compared to some of the other options out there but the hardware still feels great and there’s massive aftermarket support so there are still benefits to an iPod.
bookstore-romeo | an hour ago
0: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlde9a31f1/...
1: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/devices-windows/mchlbf...
2: https://github.com/clementine-player/Clementine/wiki/Portabl...
reaperducer | 42 minutes ago
Absolutely false. Why would you even post that?
iPods are 100% supported on macOS, and its Music program.
I have five Shuffles, and an iPod Video, and I use at least one of them almost every day, and sync them with my Macs monthly.
chinathrow | an hour ago
saulpw | an hour ago
petcat | an hour ago
sandcat_ | an hour ago
mschuster91 | 55 minutes ago
uyui | an hour ago
robin_reala | an hour ago
IndySun | 48 minutes ago
uyui | an hour ago
meerita | an hour ago
zokier | an hour ago
madaxe_again | an hour ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_PMP300
MarvinYork | an hour ago
rock_artist | an hour ago
I know some younger gens are looking for phoneless experiences, but for that price you can find old devices and simply recycle their usage. There are enough roms aimed and making a “dumb” mp3 player and include 3.5” and decent audio.
So I wonder if I miss something. The fomo here is messing with me.
xandrius | an hour ago
moralestapia | an hour ago
I'm happy about this product, I was just looking for something like this not long ago.
There'a market for everything. Accept that and move on, particularly when you have no horse on the race.
poisonborz | an hour ago
comrade1234 | an hour ago
mococa | an hour ago
chollida1 | an hour ago
Who would be the market for this product?
Its expensive so its up market, but all of those buyers would already have phones and would be unlikely to bring another device just to have music that their phone is already exceptionally good at providing.
it's unlikely to be runners or bikers or other endurance athletes as they'll already have their phone or if they use a watch have music on their watch so they don't have to bring a phone.
Phones already do a great job of offline with downloaded music and movies so that doesn't seem like the right crowd.
Most kids get a hand me down phone with no cellular to start with from their parents so that doesn't seem like a good fit.
now i feel like I'm writing the hacker news dropbox review where i say its use case is already easy to do and the product will go nowhere;)
But seriously, who would be the target here?
cesarsk | an hour ago
Curious to see how much they sell, I suspect not much
coldtea | an hour ago
There are, in 2026, dozens of models of mp3 players selling from around $120 to even up to $400 or so, from brands from Chinese OEMs to Sony, including a few that mimic the iPod interface. From iPod style to expensive DAC ones with impendance tailored to high end headphones.
>But seriously, who would be the target here?
People interested in mp3 players.
People who want to focus on music listening, and not have a constant distraction device at hand when doing it.
>Phones already do a great job of offline with downloaded music and movies so that doesn't seem like the right crowd.
Seems like you've missed the whole "back to focused use device" trend going on for the last few years and that general niche.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00lLrwHQPns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaTRhWazMPs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFVo1bmUXzw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viU9JhIsbl4
https://www.audiophileon.com/news/hd-music-player-top-10
https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/portable/best-portable-mu...
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-mp3-players-techradars-g...
emigre | an hour ago
This device has Bluetooth which the old iPod did not have, which is an enhancement. The old iPod also forces you to sync the music using the iTunes library.
coldtea | an hour ago
sippingabonedry | an hour ago
thejazzman | an hour ago
sippingabonedry | an hour ago
New battery, too. It does feel weird without the weight of the HDD.
They are a bitch to open though.
shosko | an hour ago
Aboutplants | an hour ago
wpearse | an hour ago
sajithdilshan | an hour ago
By then most of people would forget they even paid for this and also you won’t be able to dispute the 50$ with your payment provider because the dispute window has passed.
shosko | an hour ago
zylent | an hour ago
maxglute | 34 minutes ago