Apple has marked 25 years since the unveiling of the original iPod with a hidden surprise on its Apple Music website. Anyone who lands on a broken page there is now offered a working virtual copy of the classic device.
The original iPod is widely regarded as one of the most significant products in Apple's history, and in consumer technology more broadly. The MP3 player was famously pitched as putting 1,000 songs in your pocket, and the new Easter egg is a reminder of how notable that claim once was.
Below the usual "page not found" message on an Apple Music error page, a line reads "give this a spin instead." Users who follow the prompt find a fully interactive iPod and can browse a library of 1,029 playable songs.
The click wheel and other controls respond to input, though the experience is somewhat buggy, according to Engadget's account. The outlet recommends trying it on a phone or tablet, where the touch screen makes it feel more like the real thing. Its writer also had trouble getting it to work at all on a desktop computer.
The interface follows the familiar layout, with sections for Playlists, Artists, Songs and Settings. Much of the music has a distinctly early-2000s flavor, with artists such as Baha Men, blink-182 and Eminem. Engadget's writer, who is based in the UK, also saw acts including Daniel Bedingfield, The Fratellis and Klaxons, and said they were unsure whether the same names appear for users in the US. Playback is limited to 90 seconds of any track.
Notebook Check spotted another feature: the Breakout-style game Brick, which was a genuine hidden extra on the first iPod, can also be played. It is reached the same way as on the original, by holding the center button on the About screen for a few seconds.
The virtual iPod does not appear to require an active Apple Music account. Engadget said it had no idea why Apple put so much effort into something most people will never see, but was glad the company had.
