In a move that evokes nostalgia for the beginnings of Apple's digital era, the company has revealed a technical "Easter egg" hidden within the Apple Music website. This innovation consists of a full interactive simulation of the first-generation iPod, which appears to users when accessing non-existent pages (404 error) on the music.apple.com domain.
An interactive experience that mimics the past
This simulation allows users to interact with the classic device interface using the virtual Click Wheel. The experience is not limited to just the appearance; users can listen to 90-second previews of a selection of songs by prominent artists such as Beyoncé, Drake, Lady Gaga, U2, and others.
To access this feature, users can head to a link such as music.apple.com/ipod via a web browser. It is important to note that this feature is only available via browsers; to avoid automatic redirection to the Apple Music app on Mac or iOS devices, users must hold down the Command key (on Mac) or long-press the link and select "Open" (on iOS).
An additional surprise: Breakout game
The simulation includes another technical surprise; if the user navigates within the device menu to Settings → About and performs a long press on the center button of the Click Wheel, they will be able to play the classic Breakout game. This game is part of Apple's history, as founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak contributed to its development while working at Atari in the 1970s.
Why does this news matter?
This announcement comes in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the announcement of the original iPod, which represents a gesture of appreciation from Apple for its history in consumer devices, especially after the company discontinued the iPod touch in 2022, which officially put an end to the iPod era. This initiative reflects Apple's interest in preserving its technical legacy and connecting it to its current services, providing an entertaining experience for users interested in the brand's history.