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This is how Microsoft is combining Windows and Xbox for handheld PCs

This is how Microsoft is combining Windows and Xbox for handheld PCs

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Microsoft and Asus have just announced two ROG Xbox Ally devices that include a new full-screen Xbox experience for handhelds. After promising to combine “the best of Xbox and Windows together” for handhelds earlier this year, Microsoft is now revealing exactly how it is overhauling the Xbox app, Game Bar, and Windows itself to better compete with SteamOS.

Microsoft has needed to respond to SteamOS ever since the Steam Deck launched three years ago, and it has steadily been tweaking its Xbox app and the Xbox Game Bar on Windows to make both more handheld-friendly. But there was always a bigger overhaul of Windows required, and we’re starting to see parts of that today.

“The reality is that we’ve made tremendous progress on this over the last couple of years, and this is really the device that galvanized those teams and got everybody marching and working towards a moment that we’re just really excited to put into the hands of players,” says Roanne Sones, corporate vice president of gaming Devices and ecosystem at Xbox, in a briefing with The Verge.

The Xbox Ally X has its own Xbox custom boot screen that takes you straight into the Xbox app on Windows.
Image: Microsoft

Microsoft demonstrated this handheld-friendly combination of Windows and Xbox to The Verge in a briefing earlier this week, but it was a virtual demo so we haven’t been able to try it fully yet. It all starts by booting directly into a new Xbox full-screen experience on these ROG Xbox Ally devices that focuses on the Xbox app and Game Bar, alongside being a launcher for all your PC games — yes even Steam ones.

“We were able to take people who have been working on the Xbox OS for 20 years or more and have them work directly on the Windows codebase and start reimagining what that operating system looks like for this form factor,” explains Jason Beaumont, vice president of experiences at Xbox. “These two things combined led us to build a bunch of features.”

The Xbox full-screen experience is very much the compact mode of the Xbox app taking full control of the ROG Xbox Ally devices, instead of the familiar Windows desktop and taskbar. “When the player boots into the full-screen experience there is a whole bunch of Windows stuff that doesn’t get loaded,” says Beaumont. “We’re not loading the desktop wallpaper, the taskbar, or a bunch of processes that are really designed around productivity scenarios for Windows.”

The full-screen Xbox experience on the Xbox Ally X.

The full-screen Xbox experience on the Xbox Ally X.
Image: Microsoft

You can still exit this full-screen mode and launch the full version of the Windows desktop, but by default it will by hidden away. “We’ve reduced many notifications and pop-ups, and we will continue to listen to feedback from players to make continued improvements,” says Sones.

The Xbox app itself in full-screen mode looks very similar to what exists on Windows right now, except the library is now full of all of your PC games from Steam and other stores, alongside ones from Xbox Play Anywhere and Game Pass. Where it really gets interesting is the Game Bar.

“We’ve made a lot of improvements to Game Bar over the last year, and really it was driving towards this device,” says Brianna Potvin, principal software engineering lead at Xbox. A short press on the Xbox button on the Xbox Ally devices brings up the Game Bar interface, and you can use this to access device settings like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, Asus’ Command Center interface, and even Microsoft’s new Gaming Copilot. If you long press on the Xbox button then you’ll even get a more handheld-friendly task switcher, which lets you alt+tab between apps and games using the controller.

The new library includes access to PC games from Steam and others.
Image: Microsoft

The Game Bar lets you access device settings and quickly navigate around.
Image: Microsoft

I’ll need to try this new interface fully to really get a feel for the Windows changes here, but Microsoft is promising that this isn’t just lipstick on top of Windows. “This isn’t surface-level changes, we’ve made significant improvements,” says Potvin. “Some of our early testing with the components we’ve turned off in Windows, we get about 2GB of memory going back to the games while running in the full-screen experience.”

That’s a good step to improve the performance of Windows on handhelds, but one of the big pieces of feedback around the handheld experience is the sleep situation where Windows-powered devices often draw far too much battery life when they’re idle.

“If you’re booting your device into the full-screen experience and you’re putting it down and it’s going to sleep, it draws one third of the idle power draw than if it was booting the same device into the [Windows] desktop experience,” claims Potvin. Microsoft is still focused on battery life and power efficiency for this full-screen mode, so we might even see further improvements before devices ship later this year. Microsoft has also made improvements to the Windows lockscreen, so you can now use a controller to log in using a PIN code, or navigate around in this part of Windows.

This handheld-friendly task switcher lets you jump between apps and games.

This handheld-friendly task switcher lets you jump between apps and games.
Image: Microsoft

This updated Xbox app will now work as a launcher for all your PC games, but you’ll still be able to interact with Windows apps and those other launchers freely in this full-screen handheld experience. Sones says Microsoft is “working closely with leading storefronts to have them optimize their full screen experience,” to make it easy for everyone to play a full library of PC games from Steam, Epic Games Store, and elsewhere.

“The aggregated gaming library within Xbox on PC will be available for all Windows 11 devices,” says Sones, so you’ll soon be able to see all of your Steam games within the Xbox app on any PC.

Microsoft is also creating its own version of Valve’s Steam Deck verified program, allowing you to see what games are optimized for handhelds like the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. You’ll also be able to access your full Xbox console library on handhelds thanks to either Xbox Cloud Gaming or Remote Play from an Xbox console, but most console games won’t play natively unless there’s a PC version or they’re part of Xbox Play Anywhere.

The best part of all these Windows changes is that you won’t necessarily need a new device to benefit from them. “The Xbox full-screen experience will first come to the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X, and our next focus will be updating the in-market ROG Ally and the ROG Ally X,” says Sones. “Similar full-screen Xbox experiences will be rolling out to other Windows handhelds, starting next year.”

Valve is also supporting SteamOS on the ROG Ally, so we should be able to compare Valve and Microsoft’s handheld operating systems on the same hardware soon. We don’t yet know if Microsoft has done enough to stop other PC makers from being tempted over to SteamOS like Lenovo has, but Microsoft’s efforts are really setting up a battle between Windows and Linux for the future of handheld gaming PCs.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell summoned bank executives for a meeting this week where they encouraged the executives to use Anthropic’s new Mythos model to detect vulnerabilities, according to Bloomberg. 

Indeed, while JPMorgan Chase was the only bank listed as one of the initial partner organizations with access to the model, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley are reportedly testing Mythos as well.

Anthropic announced the model this week but said it would be limiting access for now, in part because Mythos — despite not being trained specifically for cybersecurity — is too good at finding security vulnerabilities. (Others suggested this was hype or simply a smart enterprise sales strategy.)

The report is particularly surprising since Anthropic is currently battling the Trump administration in court over the Department of Defense’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk; that designation came after negotiations fell apart over the company’s efforts to limit how its AI models can be used by the government.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that U.K. financial regulators are also discussing the risk posed by Mythos.

#Trump #officials #encouraging #banks #test #Anthropics #Mythos #model #TechCrunchAnthropic,jerome powell,Scott Bessent">Trump officials may be encouraging banks to test Anthropic’s Mythos model | TechCrunch Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell summoned bank executives for a meeting this week where they encouraged the executives to use Anthropic’s new Mythos model to detect vulnerabilities, according to Bloomberg.  Indeed, while JPMorgan Chase was the only bank listed as one of the initial partner organizations with access to the model, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley are reportedly testing Mythos as well. Anthropic announced the model this week but said it would be limiting access for now, in part because Mythos — despite not being trained specifically for cybersecurity — is too good at finding security vulnerabilities. (Others suggested this was hype or simply a smart enterprise sales strategy.) The report is particularly surprising since Anthropic is currently battling the Trump administration in court over the Department of Defense’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk; that designation came after negotiations fell apart over the company’s efforts to limit how its AI models can be used by the government. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that U.K. financial regulators are also discussing the risk posed by Mythos. #Trump #officials #encouraging #banks #test #Anthropics #Mythos #model #TechCrunchAnthropic,jerome powell,Scott Bessent

according to Bloomberg. 

Indeed, while JPMorgan Chase was the only bank listed as one of the initial partner organizations with access to the model, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley are reportedly testing Mythos as well.

Anthropic announced the model this week but said it would be limiting access for now, in part because Mythos — despite not being trained specifically for cybersecurity — is too good at finding security vulnerabilities. (Others suggested this was hype or simply a smart enterprise sales strategy.)

The report is particularly surprising since Anthropic is currently battling the Trump administration in court over the Department of Defense’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk; that designation came after negotiations fell apart over the company’s efforts to limit how its AI models can be used by the government.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that U.K. financial regulators are also discussing the risk posed by Mythos.

#Trump #officials #encouraging #banks #test #Anthropics #Mythos #model #TechCrunchAnthropic,jerome powell,Scott Bessent">Trump officials may be encouraging banks to test Anthropic’s Mythos model | TechCrunch

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell summoned bank executives for a meeting this week where they encouraged the executives to use Anthropic’s new Mythos model to detect vulnerabilities, according to Bloomberg. 

Indeed, while JPMorgan Chase was the only bank listed as one of the initial partner organizations with access to the model, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley are reportedly testing Mythos as well.

Anthropic announced the model this week but said it would be limiting access for now, in part because Mythos — despite not being trained specifically for cybersecurity — is too good at finding security vulnerabilities. (Others suggested this was hype or simply a smart enterprise sales strategy.)

The report is particularly surprising since Anthropic is currently battling the Trump administration in court over the Department of Defense’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk; that designation came after negotiations fell apart over the company’s efforts to limit how its AI models can be used by the government.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that U.K. financial regulators are also discussing the risk posed by Mythos.

#Trump #officials #encouraging #banks #test #Anthropics #Mythos #model #TechCrunchAnthropic,jerome powell,Scott Bessent
gaming mouse world has pretty much been the same for the last few years, with the only real improvement being weight savings. Now, Logitech has just introduced a new high-end gaming mouse in India, the Pro X2 Superstrike, and it’s bringing something genuinely new to the table. With it, the company is trying to rethink how mouse clicks work entirely, replacing traditional mechanical switches with a new system designed for faster response and better control. Here’s what you need to know about it.

A New Way to Click

The biggest highlight of the PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE is its Haptic Inductive Trigger System (HITS), which ditches conventional microswitches in favor of inductive analog sensing paired with real-time haptic feedback.

In simpler terms, clicks aren’t just registered—they’re felt instantly. The system allows players to adjust the sensitivity of each click, with multiple actuation levels and reset points to suit their playstyle. Whether you prefer quick taps in FPS games or more deliberate clicks in strategy titles, the mouse can be tuned accordingly. Logitech claims this setup can reduce click latency by up to 30 milliseconds, and if this is true, it’ll reshape the landscape altogether. We have the Pro X2 for testing purposes, so keep an eye out for the full review dropping soon.

Beyond the click tech, the PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE packs serious hardware. It features Logitech’s HERO 2 sensor with up to 44K DPI and supports an 8K polling rate, meaning it sends data to your PC every 0.125 milliseconds. The mouse is also capable of tracking extremely fast movements, with support for high acceleration and precise tracking even during rapid flicks. Despite all that, Logitech has kept the weight down to around 65 grams, making it suitable for long gaming sessions without fatigue. It also includes PTFE feet for smoother gliding and a battery life of up to 90 hours, which should easily last through extended sessions.

The Logitech G PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE will be available in India in a Lunar Eclipse color option, priced at ₹23,995.

#Logitech #PRO #SUPERSTRIKE #Mouse #Debuts #Haptic #Click #System #44K #DPIlogitech,logitech g">Logitech PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE Mouse Debuts With Haptic Click System, 44K DPI The gaming mouse world has pretty much been the same for the last few years, with the only real improvement being weight savings. Now, Logitech has just introduced a new high-end gaming mouse in India, the Pro X2 Superstrike, and it’s bringing something genuinely new to the table. With it, the company is trying to rethink how mouse clicks work entirely, replacing traditional mechanical switches with a new system designed for faster response and better control. Here’s what you need to know about it. A New Way to Click The biggest highlight of the PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE is its Haptic Inductive Trigger System (HITS), which ditches conventional microswitches in favor of inductive analog sensing paired with real-time haptic feedback. In simpler terms, clicks aren’t just registered—they’re felt instantly. The system allows players to adjust the sensitivity of each click, with multiple actuation levels and reset points to suit their playstyle. Whether you prefer quick taps in FPS games or more deliberate clicks in strategy titles, the mouse can be tuned accordingly. Logitech claims this setup can reduce click latency by up to 30 milliseconds, and if this is true, it’ll reshape the landscape altogether. We have the Pro X2 for testing purposes, so keep an eye out for the full review dropping soon. Beyond the click tech, the PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE packs serious hardware. It features Logitech’s HERO 2 sensor with up to 44K DPI and supports an 8K polling rate, meaning it sends data to your PC every 0.125 milliseconds. The mouse is also capable of tracking extremely fast movements, with support for high acceleration and precise tracking even during rapid flicks. Despite all that, Logitech has kept the weight down to around 65 grams, making it suitable for long gaming sessions without fatigue. It also includes PTFE feet for smoother gliding and a battery life of up to 90 hours, which should easily last through extended sessions. The Logitech G PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE will be available in India in a Lunar Eclipse color option, priced at ₹23,995. #Logitech #PRO #SUPERSTRIKE #Mouse #Debuts #Haptic #Click #System #44K #DPIlogitech,logitech g

world has pretty much been the same for the last few years, with the only real improvement being weight savings. Now, Logitech has just introduced a new high-end gaming mouse in India, the Pro X2 Superstrike, and it’s bringing something genuinely new to the table. With it, the company is trying to rethink how mouse clicks work entirely, replacing traditional mechanical switches with a new system designed for faster response and better control. Here’s what you need to know about it.

A New Way to Click

The biggest highlight of the PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE is its Haptic Inductive Trigger System (HITS), which ditches conventional microswitches in favor of inductive analog sensing paired with real-time haptic feedback.

In simpler terms, clicks aren’t just registered—they’re felt instantly. The system allows players to adjust the sensitivity of each click, with multiple actuation levels and reset points to suit their playstyle. Whether you prefer quick taps in FPS games or more deliberate clicks in strategy titles, the mouse can be tuned accordingly. Logitech claims this setup can reduce click latency by up to 30 milliseconds, and if this is true, it’ll reshape the landscape altogether. We have the Pro X2 for testing purposes, so keep an eye out for the full review dropping soon.

Beyond the click tech, the PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE packs serious hardware. It features Logitech’s HERO 2 sensor with up to 44K DPI and supports an 8K polling rate, meaning it sends data to your PC every 0.125 milliseconds. The mouse is also capable of tracking extremely fast movements, with support for high acceleration and precise tracking even during rapid flicks. Despite all that, Logitech has kept the weight down to around 65 grams, making it suitable for long gaming sessions without fatigue. It also includes PTFE feet for smoother gliding and a battery life of up to 90 hours, which should easily last through extended sessions.

The Logitech G PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE will be available in India in a Lunar Eclipse color option, priced at ₹23,995.

#Logitech #PRO #SUPERSTRIKE #Mouse #Debuts #Haptic #Click #System #44K #DPIlogitech,logitech g">Logitech PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE Mouse Debuts With Haptic Click System, 44K DPI

The gaming mouse world has pretty much been the same for the last few years, with the only real improvement being weight savings. Now, Logitech has just introduced a new high-end gaming mouse in India, the Pro X2 Superstrike, and it’s bringing something genuinely new to the table. With it, the company is trying to rethink how mouse clicks work entirely, replacing traditional mechanical switches with a new system designed for faster response and better control. Here’s what you need to know about it.

A New Way to Click

The biggest highlight of the PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE is its Haptic Inductive Trigger System (HITS), which ditches conventional microswitches in favor of inductive analog sensing paired with real-time haptic feedback.

In simpler terms, clicks aren’t just registered—they’re felt instantly. The system allows players to adjust the sensitivity of each click, with multiple actuation levels and reset points to suit their playstyle. Whether you prefer quick taps in FPS games or more deliberate clicks in strategy titles, the mouse can be tuned accordingly. Logitech claims this setup can reduce click latency by up to 30 milliseconds, and if this is true, it’ll reshape the landscape altogether. We have the Pro X2 for testing purposes, so keep an eye out for the full review dropping soon.

Beyond the click tech, the PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE packs serious hardware. It features Logitech’s HERO 2 sensor with up to 44K DPI and supports an 8K polling rate, meaning it sends data to your PC every 0.125 milliseconds. The mouse is also capable of tracking extremely fast movements, with support for high acceleration and precise tracking even during rapid flicks. Despite all that, Logitech has kept the weight down to around 65 grams, making it suitable for long gaming sessions without fatigue. It also includes PTFE feet for smoother gliding and a battery life of up to 90 hours, which should easily last through extended sessions.

The Logitech G PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE will be available in India in a Lunar Eclipse color option, priced at ₹23,995.

#Logitech #PRO #SUPERSTRIKE #Mouse #Debuts #Haptic #Click #System #44K #DPIlogitech,logitech g
wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod.

That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that.

Okay, but how “back” is it?

The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024.

Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more.

The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod. That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that. Okay, but how “back” is it? The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more. © Mario Tama / Getty Images On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails. None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it. There’s also the Spotify of it all. Remember owning stuff? There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod. According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange. Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that? It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from .99 to .99, and again in 2024 from .99 to .99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at per month. It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course. © Cate Gillon / Staff “I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music. Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.” As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto. “There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.” Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway. #World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod
© Mario Tama / Getty Images

On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails.

None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it.

There’s also the Spotify of it all.

Remember owning stuff?

There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod.

According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange.

Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that?

It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching $13 a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from $9.99 to $10.99, and again in 2024 from $10.99 to $11.99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at $11 per month.

It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course.

New Ipod Launch
© Cate Gillon / Staff

“I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music.

Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.”

As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto.

“There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.”

Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway.

#World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod">The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod. That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that. Okay, but how “back” is it? The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more. © Mario Tama / Getty Images On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails. None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it. There’s also the Spotify of it all. Remember owning stuff? There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod. According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange. Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that? It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from .99 to .99, and again in 2024 from .99 to .99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at per month. It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course. © Cate Gillon / Staff “I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music. Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.” As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto. “There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.” Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway. #World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod

enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod.

That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that.

Okay, but how “back” is it?

The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024.

Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more.

The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod. That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that. Okay, but how “back” is it? The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more. © Mario Tama / Getty Images On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails. None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it. There’s also the Spotify of it all. Remember owning stuff? There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod. According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange. Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that? It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from .99 to .99, and again in 2024 from .99 to .99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at per month. It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course. © Cate Gillon / Staff “I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music. Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.” As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto. “There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.” Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway. #World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod
© Mario Tama / Getty Images

On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails.

None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it.

There’s also the Spotify of it all.

Remember owning stuff?

There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod.

According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange.

Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that?

It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching $13 a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from $9.99 to $10.99, and again in 2024 from $10.99 to $11.99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at $11 per month.

It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course.

New Ipod Launch
© Cate Gillon / Staff

“I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music.

Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.”

As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto.

“There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.”

Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway.

#World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod">The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod

Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod.

That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that.

Okay, but how “back” is it?

The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024.

Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more.

The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod. That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that. Okay, but how “back” is it? The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more. © Mario Tama / Getty Images On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails. None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it. There’s also the Spotify of it all. Remember owning stuff? There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod. According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange. Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that? It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from .99 to .99, and again in 2024 from .99 to .99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at per month. It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course. © Cate Gillon / Staff “I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music. Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.” As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto. “There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.” Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway. #World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod
© Mario Tama / Getty Images

On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails.

None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it.

There’s also the Spotify of it all.

Remember owning stuff?

There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod.

According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange.

Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that?

It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching $13 a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from $9.99 to $10.99, and again in 2024 from $10.99 to $11.99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at $11 per month.

It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course.

New Ipod Launch
© Cate Gillon / Staff

“I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music.

Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.”

As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto.

“There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.”

Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway.

#World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod

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