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Apple iPod 25th anniversary

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2026-10-24 19:38 UTC → 2026-10-26 02:54 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Apple is marking the 25th anniversary of the iPod, the device launched by Steve Jobs in October 2001. The original model, priced at $399, was initially compatible only with Mac computers and featured a 5 GB hard drive marketed as ‘1,000 songs in your pocket’. The device addressed the usability and storage limitations of contemporary MP3 players through its scroll wheel interface and iTunes software integration. Key developer Tony Faddell noted that the iPod’s success laid the essential groundwork for the iPhone and the modern iteration of Apple. Reflecting on ~~the~~ this milestone, the device is recognized for revolutionizing digital music consumption and helping to revitalize a music industry struggling with online piracy. Despite the economic uncertainty following the September 11 attacks, the iPod established Apple as a major player in consumer electronics by providing an intuitive solution for managing large MP3 collections. To commemorate this anniversary, Apple has introduced a hidden, interactive virtual iPod Classic on an Apple Music error page. This digital recreation allows users to navigate menus using a functional click wheel and play a retro version of the game Breakout. The tribute includes 90-second song previews from artists popular during the early 2000s. Users can unlock the digital version of Breakout by holding the center button in the ‘About’ section of the virtual interface. Recent details clarify that this ‘easter egg’ is accessible via web browsers through non-existent pages on the Apple Music website, though it is not available within the Apple Music application itself. The curated selection for the tribute includes 90-second clips from 1,029 songs intended to reflect the era of the iPod’s peak popularity. The virtual device features an iconic monochrome screen and allows navigation via mouse or keyboard, offering previews from nostalgic artists such as Coldplay, Daft Punk, Eminem, and Britney Spears.

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