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Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?

• square_usual 6y ago
  Have you tried looking for another iPod nano on ebay? Considering you seem fine with your current setup, you can keep it going for as long as you want.
  • dalke 6y ago
    Oops, I didn't explain that part. One of the joys of the iPod was that I didn't really have to worry about charging it on a regular schedule. It would hold its charge for a long time. Eg, I took it bike camping and listened to Hardcore History's multi-part episode on Genghis Khan over a couple of days, with no need to charge up. That's no longer the case. The battery life has gotten worse over the last couple of years, likely from age. It now doesn't hold a charge for more than a couple of days. I suspect that if I buy another old iPod then its battery will also be 10 years old and not in good shape. If I don't find a good option for new hardware, then used is definitely a backup alternative!
    • haspoken 6y ago
      Apple does show they will do battery service on a 5g nano for $59, so it might be worth checking. Ifixit has a detailed guide, you might find a third party iphone repair shop willing to do the work. https://support.apple.com/ipod/repair/service/pricing https://support.apple.com/ipod/repair/service/pricing
      • dalke 6y ago
        Nicely spotted (re: Apple battery service)! I saw the iFixit rating of "very difficult" and its need for specialized tools I don't have (at https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod+Nano+5th+Generation+Battery+Replacement/3131 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod+Nano+5th+Generation+Batter... ) and say "nope!"
        • jleahy 6y ago
          There's nothing specialist there, you can get a small kit for a few dollars that has a set of small screwdriver heads and a spludger. That's all you need. Give it a go, what's the worst that can happen (ok the worst is that you puncture the battery, don't do that).
          • Symbiote 6y ago
            That process requires softening adhesive with a heat gun, de-soldering and re-soldering the battery connections, and many very delicate steps. If that's not a specialist battery replacement, I don't know what is. It looks like it deserves the "very difficult" rating.
          • crispyambulance 6y ago
            It's totally worthwhile to attempt your own repairs on stuff like this, but not everyone is motivated enough to do it. More importantly, it really does takes practice. If you're not familiar with spudgers, loosening adhesive with heat, tiny parts/tools, the risk of failure and frustration are very high for a "one-off" project.
        • Symbiote 6y ago
          The small places that repair phones and laptop computers should have those tools, plus someone who knows how to use them, and should be able to replace the battery on an iPod. I've used one to have the battery on an Android phone replaced.
          • mobilio 6y ago
• synack 6y ago
  I'd go with any device that Rockbox (https://www.rockbox.org/ https://www.rockbox.org/) has a stable port for. I've been using a SanDisk Sansa Clip+ for 10 years and am still very happy with it.
  • dalke 6y ago
    It looks like most of those are old hardware. So far only see xDuoo as a new one. What do you use for podcast management?
    • dalke 6y ago
      Little did I realize that SanDisk Clips are still being made ... and in-stock locally. So I'll try this option.
      • bondarchuk 6y ago
        Don't get the Clip Sport if you want rockbox
        • lukaa 6y ago
          Info for SanDisk Sansa models: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SanDisk_Sansa https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SanDisk_Sansa
  • mhd 6y ago
    Yeah, I was really sad when my Clip Zip recently didn't come on (screen is totally glitched out), and I'm currently looking for a replacement for that, too. I've got this xDuoo X3 (bought it ages ago), which apparently has a pretty good DAC and is able to load from two SDCards, and has a third-party Rockbox implementation. There's a new version ot (X3 II), which has a much larger display.
• fiftyacorn 6y ago
  I thought they were easy to replace batteries and storage? I found my old iPod at the weekend and love feeling that I'm not being monitored
  • dalke 6y ago
    https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iPod_Nano https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iPod_Nano says they are all difficult to fix, and they don't have batteries to sell.
• tyingq 6y ago
  I can't vouch for them since I've never tried them, but Cowon appears to still be in business: https://www.ebay.com/b/Cowon-MP3-Players/73839/bn_1644344 https://www.ebay.com/b/Cowon-MP3-Players/73839/bn_1644344
• izacus 6y ago
  Sony Walkman series are essentially iPods that can also carry Android apps so you can install something like PocketCasts on them directly and download/stream podcasts without even connecting to computer.
  • gbraad 6y ago
    Or the fiio devices
• Closi 6y ago
  Sony has some wireless headphones that contain an MP3 player, but if you want to keep your existing headphones or have a screen that probably isn’t a good solution!
  • dalke 6y ago
    Thanks! I do like scroll through my podcasts to select which to play next, so I don't think that will work.
  • hobby-coder-guy 6y ago
    There is a $4000 CAD walkman for sale...
• tomduncalf 6y ago
  Sansa Clip is okay if you don’t care about a big screen etc. Used to use one for running with and it was fine.
  • dalke 6y ago
    Thanks! It's available locally and I'll give it a go.
• wazoox 6y ago
  The Sandisk Sansa Clip Jam seems to be close enough, and cheap.
  • dalke 6y ago
    Thanks! Yes, it is cheap, and it looks like what I'm looking for.
• manomanowicz 6y ago
  MY recommendation would be a modified iPod 5th or 7th gen Classic if you don't mind the larger size. These iPods can be upgraded with larger batteries and flash storage instead of a hard drive making them long lasting and robust. You can do the modification yourself on iPod with a broken hard drive or buy one on eBay already modified. (Tip: The 5th gens are easier to modify than the 7th gens since they come apart a lot easier.) Personally, I use a 5th gen Classic with 32GB of flash and a new battery. I modified it myself with a compact flash card and a new battery. It's been in use for about 3 years and I've had no real issues.
  • jacobush 6y ago
    How do you copy podcasts and such to these old iPods? iTunes is being deprecated right?
    • spondyl 6y ago
      It's perhaps more like elements of it seemed to be integrated into Finder so it'll mount as a device and you'll see the familiar iTunes style sync UI
    • andyjohnson0 6y ago
      Replace the firmware with RockBox and it presents itself as a normal USB storage device. Just drag and drop the files.
    • patrickk 6y ago
      Foobar2000 with an iPod add-on[1] and a podcast add-on[2]. You don't need iTunes directly, but probably an older version of iTunes in the background for compatibility when syncing. Oldapps.com has you sorted for that. I personally use a modded 5.5 gen for daily listening, it's vastly superior to using a smartphone. It has a huge memory and unbeatable battery life. With cheap replaceable batteries and SD card boards, it should essentially last for years/decades. The firmware is much simpler than iOS, so it doesn't matter that it's not maintained, it simply works. EDIT: OP is using a Mac, so I'm not sure if this is feasible. It does work well on Windows though. [1] https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_dop https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_dop [2] https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_podcatcher https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_podcatcher
• serf 6y ago
  >I only need it for podcasts. I like dedicated hardware to reduce the temptation to connect to the world. the newer cell-phone-yet-unconnected Sony Walkmans are pretty neat, and they have some nice DAC features. The price is steep, but not Apple steep.
  • bipson 6y ago
    Hm, I don't know, the NW-E390 SERIES looks like it fulfills the requirements, if such a reduced functionality is acceptable to OP. Don't know what you could/should use on the software side though to manage the content... Life has changed a lot since I last used strictly offline devices, and not only for the better.
  • dalke 6y ago
    Thanks for the pointer! I was put off by the Walkman when I read at https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00104669 https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00104669 that "The preinstalled Music player on the Walkman® media player doesn't support podcasts. If you want to play podcasts, use the Media Go™ software to transfer the audio file, then install an application from the Google Play™ store on your device that supports podcasts." Which means then figuring out that process. And I couldn't find people describing how they used a Walkman for listening to podcasts.
    • izacus 6y ago
      I'm pretty sure you can just install Android podcasting app (any of them) and use them to download songs directly. At least on Android versions of the Walkmans.
      • dalke 6y ago
        "Which means then figuring out that process" means I have no experience with Android or the available apps. :S But it certainly is a nice looking device, and I like the homage to the tape cassette Walkman I had in the 1980s.
• unicornporn 6y ago
  Sansa Clip with Rockbox firmware[1]. [1] https://www.rockbox.org/ https://www.rockbox.org/
  • callahad 6y ago
    I thought the last Clip that supported Rockbox went out of production a few years ago? I also have a very fuzzy recollection that the batteries weren't especially replaceable, meaning we've got a finite time before they're all bricks...
    • netmare 6y ago
      I'm still using the original Clip I got back in 2008. It's not supported by Rockbox, but I'm perfectly happy with the last official firmware. The OLED has deteriorated, but it's still fine indoors (it was almost impossible to read outdoors from the get-go). The battery lasted around 14 hours when it was new, now I'm getting roughly half of that. I seem to remember someone on the now defunct anythingbutipod.com replacing the battery, although they had to break the player apart to get inside. Even the damn plastic clip on the back still works!
      • JansjoFromIkea 6y ago
        They must've made the headphone jacks sturdier on the original model. Both the Zip and Plus had the same loose jack issue for me after a while. On my third one now which is beginning to show the same issues but the prices have gone up to the point I'll try and repair the jack on an old one instead of buy a new one. Doesn't look too hard beyond the prising open part, which from what I gather is a bit tricky given the size and how well bound it is Battery has basically never died on me, the amount of charge it gets whenever I remember to connect it to add some new podcasts seems to just make it last forever.
      • kop316 6y ago
        > Even the damn plastic clip on the back still works! How did you accomplish that? Sadly, mine break after a few years of abuse
• villgax 6y ago
  A cheap phone without a sim would be way more capable alternative though
  • dalke 6y ago
    Except likely larger and with less durability and battery life, yes?
    • comprev 6y ago
      Depends on how long the mobile can last on with just bluetooth being toggled. Disable mobile and wifi, and use USB to transfer the audio?
    • 0-_-0 6y ago
      A phone with all antennas turned off can last for a week in my experience. Some ROMs allow you to underclock the CPU too which can give another huge boost.
    • villgax 6y ago
      You can get second hand smaller 4" android phones, which would also have swappable batteries. Battery life is never an issue with airplane mode anyway so I don't think OP would mind that, plus he can always charge up anywhere.
      • villgax 6y ago
        This app makes the click wheel UI as well https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/21010953/apple-iphone-ipod-app-rewound-app-store-features-music-player-apple-music https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/21010953/apple-iphone-ip...
  • jesperlang 6y ago
    I did this but be vary of poor head phone connectors. My Nokia 130 started panning the sound randomly after a year or so and ultimately gave up altogether after two. Usually these oldschool phones do play music and you can manage songs quite ok with files/folders on a micro sd card. What can be annoying though is a terrible UI for playing your music, don't expect things browsing tracks by artist for example...
• bebna 6y ago
  Look at FiiO, they have dedicated hardware. Back then they produced headphone amplifiers for iPods, after those got canned, they start to produce their own iPod replacements.
• anotheryou 6y ago
  If grabbing the mp3s is fine any mp3 player will do, right? I used to have cowon mp3 players for their good sound. This one is one of the cheaper ones, 15h runtime.: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/U7-16G-Black-Cowon-U7/dp/B07HY8L1R6/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=cowon%2Bmp3%2Bplayer&qid=1604655749&sr=8-4&tag=duckduckgo-20&th=1 https://www.amazon.de/-/en/U7-16G-Black-Cowon-U7/dp/B07HY8L1...
  • dalke 6y ago
    Potentially. In practice, what I see is people complaining that they can't switch back to a podcast and continue playback from where they left off. I can understand the problem. With something like a 3 hour "Hardcore History" podcast, I'll take a break, listen to something else, then come back.
    • anotheryou 6y ago
      the old cowon firmwares had resume functions, no Idea how it's nowadays.
• me551ah 6y ago
  Try the Fiio M5, or just about any player by Fiio. Its audiophile grade so you are also going to get great audio.
• atoav 6y ago
  I use pocketcast which allows me to switch between listening on my phone and my laptop quickly and without having to search for the position I stopped at. If I am sitting on my machine I use the computer, if I shop for groceries or commute I use my phone.
  • arnvidr 6y ago
    Seconding this. After moving to PocketCasts, keeping up with the podcasts I'm interested in became easier than ever.
• adimitrov 6y ago
  Back in the pre-smartphone days I used to swear by Cowon devices. They're still around. This might suit your needs: http://m.cowonglobal.com/product/iAUDIOE3/ http://m.cowonglobal.com/product/iAUDIOE3/ Nowadays I listen to audio books, podcasts, music, read ebooks etc all on the phone...
• acalzycalzy 6y ago
  Just use your phone. If the temptations of checking your phone are that high that it’s affecting your life than I’m willing to wager their are other issues, too
  • dalke 6y ago
    To be quite honest, I have a feature phone, in part because I think smart phones affect most people's lives, but I'm willing to accept that as my personal issue. Setting that aside, I also don't like the large size of smart phones, the relatively short battery life, and the poor durability.
    • Tepix 6y ago
      Most feature phones these days can play MP3s so could be used as a podcast playing device.
  • idolaspecus 6y ago
    I don't have specific references on hand, but I'm pretty sure that your wager would be ill-begotten. Studies have shown that simply abstaining from distraction takes mental energy (for lack of a better term) and reduces performance in a number of ways. This suggest that designing your environment ahead of time (what OP is trying to do) is more efficient/productive than resolving to maintain disciple in the moment. Again, I don't have specific references on hand, but I know that this phenomenon is discussed in both Thinking Fast and Slow[1] and the Craving Mind[2]. [1]https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-a... [2]https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32714199-the-craving-mind https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32714199-the-craving-min...
• mensetmanusman 6y ago
  I don’t have an Apple Watch, but I would hope that could be used, seems like an obvious form factor. Has Apple figured this out yet? (anyone who owns one...)
  • dwighttk 6y ago
    Would work but battery life is really just 1 day at a time.
• earthboundkid 6y ago
  https://shop.westerndigital.com/products/mp3-players/sandisk-clip-jam https://shop.westerndigital.com/products/mp3-players/sandisk... Seems to still be for sale. I’m thinking of getting for my toddler for Christmas. I want her to have music but not a whole internet connected communicator.
  • dalke 6y ago
    Yes, several have recommended that - I'll give it a go. Thanks!
  • doe88 6y ago
    Are you sure the Jam is supported? It seems to me the Sansa Clip Jam != Sansa Clip and the former is not supported at least according to [1]: Sansa Clip Sport / Clip Jam / Clip Sport Go / Clip Sport Plus These are based on an Actions Semiconductor ATJ2127 chips, with under 100KB of available memory and all audio decoding happening inside dedicated hardware. A rockbox port to these (and other ATJ2127) targets will not happen, as it would require an immence undertaking and due to resource limitations, the end result would lack most of the features that rockbox users have come to expect. [1] https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/TargetStatus#New_Platforms_Currently_Under_Development https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/TargetStatus#New_Platforms_Curr...
    • earthboundkid 6y ago
      Who said anything about Rockbox?
• john4532452 6y ago
  Very good podcast app AntennaPod https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.danoeh.antennapod/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.danoeh.antennapod/
• Buttons840 6y ago
  I think the most expensive Garmin smartwatches can hold and play music (wirelessly) without actually being connected to a phone or other device. Probably not a great UI experience for podcasts though.
• mavhc 6y ago
  https://medium.com/@tbarrasso/podcasts-for-the-next-billion-1474778454e1 https://medium.com/@tbarrasso/podcasts-for-the-next-billion-...
  • dalke 6y ago
    "It’s also worth mentioning that most KaiOS devices have either 256MB or 512MB of RAM, which is often the most limiting resource." From experience, I have about 8GB of podcasts, and would rather not change my habits that much.
    • kevinmchugh 6y ago
      You should be looking at how much storage the device has, not RAM.
      • dalke 6y ago
        Derp! Okay, the Nokia 8110 mentioned has 4GB of storage, with MicroSD up to 32 GB.
• Tepix 6y ago
  I'm also looking for a low cost dedicated MP3 player. But I'd like it to support bluetooth. Is there anything decent?
  • BeniBoy 6y ago
    I love my Walkman NW-A55. Good DAC, solid bluetooth and long battery life. Two things that sucks: * The proprietary cable. Seriously, in 2020.. * It does not support album cover in JPEG 2000. Seems like a detail, but if you like your library well organised, it can be a time sink !
    • Tepix 6y ago
      Not really low cost.
  • billfruit 6y ago
    The HIDIZS AP80 seems a device with a decent configuration.
• cvburgess 6y ago
  Have you tried Mighty? It supports anything on Spotify. I use it for podcasts daily and I sync playlists of music to it as well for offline listening. It’s been great for my 11 year old mentee as I can update his Mighty with new music every week when we meet and not worry about giving him a screen that can get him in trouble at school or with his mom. https://bemighty.com/ https://bemighty.com/
  • izacus 6y ago
    Does it support podcasts? Because most of those 3rd party integrators don't support podcasts on Spotify (e.g. this includes my Galaxy Watch or even older Spotify Connect speakers).
    • virtual_void 6y ago
      Yup. I often use it to take podcasts on my run. There can be some that won’t sync even though you can play them on spotify. This is apparently due to some licensing restrictions. The bbc is the main offender which i find enraging.
  • mywacaday 6y ago
    How does the menu work with no screen?
    • virtual_void 6y ago
      If you’re referring to the hamburger-looking button then that is the playlist button. Hitting it cycles through the playlists and speaks the name of each one.
  • atestu 6y ago
    On their site it says the battery life is only 5 hours…
• chimen 6y ago
  Get an M9, M11 or M11PRO depending on budget (https://fiio.com/m9 https://fiio.com/m9). These are also high fidelity players so you get a lot of value for the buck. Fiio is killing it in this field. I own an M11Pro and does everything.
  • citrusui 6y ago
    Looks really interesting. Unable to find a "Buy" button though, which is weird.
    • robotnixon 6y ago
      I'm seeing a "Buy Now" button in the upper right but it just leads to this screen: https://www.fiio.com/wheretobuy https://www.fiio.com/wheretobuy Amazon has them too: https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-M9-Resolution-Lossless-Bluetooth/dp/B07HMJYVHY https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-M9-Resolution-Lossless-Bluetooth...
• stuaxo 6y ago
  Another 5th gen and upgrade the storage to 500gb ?
• AndrewLiptak 6y ago
  It might be worth scouring eBay for a replacement! I lost my iPod Nano years ago and ended up finding a newish one there to replace it. (Which reminds me... I need to find a new one.)
• exabrial 6y ago
  Garmin Venu watch + MPow Earbuds off Amazon. The Venu will sync automatically on WiFi when charging can be paired with your vehicle, the earbuds I suggested, among many other things.
• mister_hn 6y ago
  A Motorola G9 Power? It can last for sure more than 3 days with 6000 mAh
  • dalke 6y ago
    Thanks for the pointer! I'm looking for something to replace a 5th gen nano, which I could slip into any pocket and not worry about. (My 7th-gen touch screen broke in my trouser pocket after a month or two by rolling on the floor playing with my preschoolers.) That G9 Power doesn't svelte or durable enough.
• AdmiralAsshat 6y ago
  I really regret ditching my Sansa Fuze+ after I got my first smartphone. That thing had excellent battery life, an SD card slot, and supported rockbox. I paid maybe $30 for it at the time, I sold it to a friend for like ten bucks. Now I try to find one online, and it's $80+ on eBay. Argh!
• elagost 6y ago
  I use newsboat (cli program) to manage and download podcasts, which I sync to a Fiio M3k. it's solid, beautiful, and sturdy. Not using a smartphone for podcasts has been incredible for me, personally.
  • ed25519FUUU 6y ago
    What’s the benefit of not using a smartphone exactly? Mine syncs all of my podcasts automatically.
    • elagost 6y ago
      I'm aware that smartphones can do the all-in-one sync/download/play dance for podcasts. However, smartphones are basically tracking devices riddled with spyware, and I don't want one around me when I'm not on call. Plus they're far too bulky, features change constantly, they throw ads at you when you're just trying to play music, and they don't have headphone jacks. They suck at audio playback. I have a few <$100 MP3 players that sound better than any smartphone ever, have a bunch of physical buttons, can connect to any pair of headphones I've had for the past 15 years, are extensible with a microSD card, can charge on a standardized connector, won't interrupt me with dings or calls while I'm listening, etc. The benefits go on and on. It forces me to be deliberate about my actions - when I decide "I'm going to listen to stuff now", that's all it can do, and I won't get sucked into the multitude of features a smartphone offers. I get to make decisions about what I'm doing, not the designers of the smartphone. I get that they're interesting, neat devices. But they're overall the wrong choice for most things - you wouldn't replace your whole tool shed with a Leatherman.
• anotheryou 6y ago
  BTW: Have you tried smartphone + battery pack + battery saver enabled + airplane mode? Should last you a long time.
• TgXYTFZd9Nrx 6y ago
  Raspberry Pi
• lostgame 6y ago
  How, specifically, is the hardware dying? iPods are extremely easy these days to mod, fix, and even upgrade storage space on - /r/iPods is often full of these fantastic projects. There is also /r/iPodhacks. It's fairly easy to take them apart and can be fun. You can extremely easily and cheaply get parts like battery replacements (sometimes even w/ extra capacity), screen replacements, and sometimes even storage upgrades. (Although I honestly think the 5G nano might be out of that last category. Moreso talking about Minis, full-size iPods, and, IIRC, 1st/2nd gen nanos.) Of course, it's not for everybody; and, definitely, it might be useful to get another device suggested by someone else here as a backup or something. But this is HN, so I figure it's an adequately geeky suggestion. :) I am also into the environmental impact of fixing things vs. buying new things. EDIT: Here's a reliable resource for parts I have used in the past - (please note I am not affiliated with the site, just saying it has worked for me): https://www.idemigods.com/Apple_iPod_Parts_s/77.htm https://www.idemigods.com/Apple_iPod_Parts_s/77.htm
• ikeboy 6y ago
  What about an Apple watch or another smartwatch?
• greenyouse 6y ago
  You could bump up to an iPod mini v2 and optionally swap out the internals for some extra storage space. The stock battery with the latest apple firmware lasts about 18 hours with 450mAh. There are better 1300mAh+ batteries that offer a lot longer time though. Like others have mentioned Rockbox firmware is also available and will increase the battery life too. The iFixit site has nice repair articles for how to change the internals. An upgraded SDXC memory card with 128GB of space runs about $30. You could also buy a modded mini with this kind of storage off ebay for around $125 but it probably won't have the nicer battery life. If you really like the nano you could also swap out the nano battery to bring it back to life. It doesn't look like the storage is replaceable though.
  • nemosaltat 6y ago
    I have done this for a handful of friends and in one case I also soldered in a Bluetooth transmitter. With a little ffmpeg magic + rockbox you can even play black and white videos.
• washadjeffmad 6y ago
  Not to derail, but does anyone have a suggestion for the same, but for audiobooks? My SO's Honda doesn't support playlists or bookmarks, and most of the apps we've tried either don't scale well for large libraries or are built for podcasts, so something simple and standalone with those features would make her happy.
  • NortySpock 6y ago
    Not a full solution, but once upon a time I had a Sandisk Sansa e280 that I jailbroke with Rockbox, and it appears to have manual bookmarking https://download.rockbox.org/daily/manual/rockbox-sansae200v2/rockbox-buildch5.html#x7-830005.3 https://download.rockbox.org/daily/manual/rockbox-sansae200v... "Note: Bookmarking only works when tracks are launched from the file browser, and does not currently work for tracks launched via the database. In addition, they do not currently work with dynamic playlists." https://www.rockbox.org/ https://www.rockbox.org/ https://www.ebay.com/itm/SanDisk-Sansa-e280-8-GB-Black-MP3-Digital-Media-Player-Working/324362830048?epid=82738875&hash=item4b858800e0:g:348AAOSwloxfouCR https://www.ebay.com/itm/SanDisk-Sansa-e280-8-GB-Black-MP3-D... As I recall I could also add a SD card to this model, but I don't know what its max size is.
  • snthd 6y ago
    Did you try voice (app)? https://github.com/PaulWoitaschek/Voice https://github.com/PaulWoitaschek/Voice
    • washadjeffmad 6y ago
      Just did, and it looks perfect. Thanks for the recommendation!
• amha 6y ago
  Thank you for posting this! I also have a 2009-era iPod nano that I've been using for the last decade, and am still using a flipphone, so can't listen to podcasts on that. My iPod still holds a few hours of charge, so it's still usable, but I've definitely been having the same succession planning thoughts as you!
• mjgs 6y ago
  I feel like there should be a specialist sturdy podcast listening device, small form factor, with super long battery life, WiFi, web interface, phono jack, maybe also ethernet port. It would have a pod catcher running in it, and a basic screen to select show to listen to. I guess it would be useful to be able to read show notes. With all the interest in podcasting lately I would have though it was a good startup opportunity.
  • vagrantJin 6y ago
    Thats a shitty version of a pre2010 Nokia or Sony Erricson model.
    • mjgs 6y ago
      Haha yeah perhaps it is. I like the idea of having something that is super robust, when you’re listening to podcasts it’s all audio anyway, as long as there is a way to select what your listening to, it doesn’t matter that much. Back in the early 90s I was perfectly happy with the walkmans and mini disk players I had, I hardly even took the devices out of my pocket because you could change the track using the remote on the headphone cable. One of them even had a small lcd on the remote so you could read the album and track name. Those were the days.
• justhw 6y ago
  Haven't seen anyone yet suggesting a watch perhaps. I have a Garmin smart watch which comes with offline syncing for spotify and amazon or even direct mp3 upload. Works flawlessly out in nature and lasts days.
  • Godel_unicode 6y ago
    This was my first thought as well, my vivoactive 3 music supports Spotify which has decent podcast support and has really good battery life. The only potential downside is the high jaccard similarity between people who want a dedicated music player and people who want a headphone jack, which the watches lack.
• dangus 6y ago
  > Since Apple decided to split up iTunes into different apps (I haven't upgraded my Mac yet, to keep iTunes), I'm also fine with switching to a new app to manage podcasts. Just an FYI, you don’t have to hold out on updating your Mac to sync your podcasts. Apple Podcasts still syncs with classic iPods. There’s really very little difference between iTunes and Apple Music and Apple Podcasts, it’s just split out. Audiobooks are also moved to the Books app but otherwise the functionality is really similar to iTunes. Whether you like the new podcasts UI is another matter entirely.
• mplewis 6y ago
  I love my iPod Nano Gen 2 running Rockbox.
• damontal 6y ago
  put in a new battery? https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod+Nano+5th+Generation+Battery+Replacement/3131 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod+Nano+5th+Generation+Batter...
  • dalke 6y ago
    Beyond my skill and interest - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24978977 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24978977 .
    • SllX 6y ago
      eBay, but it depends on your budget. You can find regular iPods and modded iPods for more than MSRP. I haven’t yet found anything I like more than an iPod though.
  • slezyr 6y ago
    Holy... No. Seriously. Nope.
• vagrantJin 6y ago
  Buy an older simple android with swappable battery and use it in airplane mode and the battery will last for days. Most can and will take 32 or 16 gig micoSD.
• reaperducer 6y ago
  I still have several iPod Shuffles that I use, so I understand your desire for utility and durability over feature bloat and chrome. Try Goodwill's online auctions. There are always a number of iPods there. Sometimes they're in very good condition. You won't get like-new battery life out of them, but for podcasts, they should last you a couple of years at least.
• nt2h9uh238h 6y ago
  An iPhone, about 15 years ago already.
• tfolbrecht 6y ago
  I use a Sony Walkman mp3 player. I'm a big linux geek so I built a wallwart dock from a small arm computer, Linux, udev rules, fstab config making it networkable. This is the calmest[1] solution I could find. I think it's a concept you'd be greatly interested in if you're having trouble managing your digital life. 1. https://calmtech.com/ https://calmtech.com/
• pembrook 6y ago
  Buy an unlocked iPhone 12 mini with no phone plan, problem solved. Or, simply leave airplane mode on at all times and hide all your other non-podcast apps in a folder on the home screen. Or, use a VPN app to kill internet access to every app except for your podcast player. If you haven't tried Castro (podcast app) on iOS yet, you'll never go back after using that app. I assure you, the delightful user experience will far outweigh the nostalgic fuzzies of podcast listening with an old school MP3 player.
• ahstilde 6y ago
  I'd be any old android device without a sim and load up pocketcasts on it. You can connect to wifi to download everything and disconnect otherwise. I've used the OUKITEL WP5 as a device when going on multi day hikes. 8k battery + water resistance. https://www.pocketcasts.com/ https://www.pocketcasts.com/
• idolaspecus 6y ago
  Related: I'm looking for essentially the same product as OP but with the additional requirement that it's hackable. I'm trying to build a device that can play and record audio with a single hardware button that toggles between modes. For example, I'd like to be able to be listening to a podcast, push a single button once, record a memo to myself, push the same button again once, and be back to listening to the podcast.
  • Shared404 6y ago
    Based on what you're describing, I'd think you'd have to build it yourself.
• mehrdada 6y ago
  Apple Watch sans cellular
• pwg 6y ago
  Your "connect to the world" limitation rules out just using your phone (which is really the most straightforward answer). But is there some reason you can't just pickup a second-hand unlocked Android phone, no-sim, preferably with a user-replaceable battery, and then load it with a pod-cast listening app. such as: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.ph1b.audiobook/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.ph1b.audiobook/ If you turn off all the radios (airplane mode) and don't run the screen that often, you might also come close to your day-or-two without recharge requirement as well.
  • AlchemistCamp 6y ago
    Phones are too bulky to be convenient when exercising. I've inadvertently destroyed more than one by going out for a run on a hot day with it in my pocket and sweating too much. In contrast, the 6th gen iPod Nano weighed less than an ounce! They were a fantastic product. Ditto for the iPod Shuffle.
    • markandrewj 6y ago
      I found the Nano's size convenient for this reason also. However, I find wireless earbuds,and wireless syncing, to be something I like even more.