It is 2025, and I nonetheless take heed to music the iPod method

In 2025, music streaming apps are nicely and actually ubiquitous. The sheer comfort that comes with having instantaneous and on-demand entry to tens of millions of songs is like nothing we have ever seen earlier than. Providers like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal are wonderful instruments for locating new songs and artists, creating tailored playlists, and sharing tunes with family and friends.

I’ve personally been subscribed to Spotify for the higher a part of a decade, and, apart from unfortunate price hikes, I do not remorse my choice. That being stated, I do not completely depend on Spotify — quite, I complement my music streaming habits with a hearty dose of excellent old school native playback. I am conscious that that is an oddity in immediately’s streaming-first world, however, so far as I am involved, there is a technique to my insanity.

Music streaming is nice, however I want dwelling the iPod life

I worth possession of digital recordsdata, no web necessities, and higher sound high quality

iPod nano (fifth technology)

Apple launched the fifth technology iPod nano in 2009, and it constructed upon its predecessor by together with an even bigger show, a built-in camcorder, and a brand new set of colorways.

For all of the deserves that include music streaming, and for as a lot as I get pleasure from listening to tunes by way of my Spotify app, I’ve opted to not solely transition my music-listening habits over to streaming. Somewhat, I keep a set of native music recordsdata on my solid state drive (SDD), of which I load many onto my Google Pixel 9 Pro. I’ve elected to do that for a number of causes: to be able to guarantee possession of my music assortment, to at all times have offline entry to my tracks, and to profit from the most effective audio high quality doable.

I worth possession of media, and this extends to my music assortment. In alternate for comfort, Spotify and different streamers require the surrendering of possession in favor of fee-based rental entry to tracks. For songs and albums that I notably love (usually ones that I uncover by way of Spotify), I am going forward and obtain them as native music recordsdata for my very own peace of thoughts.

Most music streaming providers make it simple sufficient to quickly obtain music for offline entry, however this does not fulfill my need for true possession, nor does it guarantee entry to the very best quality audio recordsdata. Certain, Apple Music now helps lossless audio playback, however I have already got a set of FLAC recordsdata able to go on my SSD.

In a way, I’ve never fully let go of the iPod and MP3 participant period of the 2000s, and I am solely content material with my hybrid streaming-plus-local-music setup.

Associated

Old-school radio lives on with these 5 free apps

Bedside clock and pocketable transistor radios is likely to be a factor of the previous, however these apps hold the AM / FM wavelengths alive within the digital age.

The iPod is what (nostalgic) desires are product of

I miss the tried-and-true click on wheel interface

Pocket-lint / Apple

My Traditional

My Traditional appears like an app that emulates a Sport Boy, however when you enter a particular code, it transforms itself into an iPod Traditional.

Whereas I might love to make use of an precise iPod or devoted MP3 participant on a full-time foundation, I am hamstrung by a number of components. My very own iPod nano fifth technology suffers from battery bloat, rendering it unsafe to make use of. In the meantime, my iPod nano seventh technology nonetheless boots up, however it lacks the enduring click on wheel interface that I’ve a lot reverence for.

There’s nothing fairly like scrolling by way of a library of music by way of the press wheel — the tactility, the sound results, the straightforward and efficient design — it is the perfect setup for transportable music consumption. As an apart, there is a fantastic iPhone app known as My Traditional that emulates the traditional iPod experience, whereas tapping into Apple Music. I can solely think about how wonderful a modernized Apple-made click on wheel would theoretically end up, full with haptic suggestions and extra.

Associated

Ditch Spotify and relive your iPod glory days with offline Android music players

Uninterested in commercials, information prices, and recurring subscription charges? Search refuge with one in all these old-school offline music gamers for Android.

Gramophone is my present music app of alternative

There’s an countless choice of native music playback apps, notably in the case of Android

Gramophone

Gramophone is an offline music-playing app for Android that focuses on offering a clear and intuitive consumer interface, native music file group instruments, and dynamic Materials You theming.

I am primarily an Android user, and so My Traditional is not an app that I’ve entry to always. I’ve tested out a number of third-party music apps designed with native playback in thoughts, and my present favourite of the lot has bought to be Gramophone.

The Gramophone app has a stunning and minimalistic consumer interface, whereas tapping into Google’s dynamic Material You theming engine (take that, YouTube Music). The app is full-featured, with tons of sorting and organizational instruments to assist me hold observe of my native music recordsdata.

Different Android-based music gamers that I am notably fond of are:

I am unable to think about ever absolutely parting methods with my native music file assortment. I will proceed to make use of Spotify, definitely, however the period of music streaming hasn’t phased me one bit. The period of the iPod may be in the past, however in my thoughts, it lives on by way of native music playback apps, possession of my digital music recordsdata, and the occasional nostalgic boot up of my trusty outdated iPod nano.

Associated

Tired of Spotify? These 5 free music streaming apps will have you jamming for days

Simply because it is common, doesn’t suggest it is the most effective: these apps ship free music all day, day by day.