A London studio wants to put Spotify in old iPods
Sprout, a crowdfunded project from a London studio, plans a new logic board that adds Bluetooth, USB-C and streaming to some older iPods.
The facts
- According to Engadget, the Sprout Pi Mainboard is a replacement logic board for older iPods. You keep the original screen and click wheel.
- The board promises Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a hi-fi DAC, USB-C charging and a microSD slot for up to 2TB of music. It also promises Apple Music and Spotify streaming.
- It fits only specific models: the 1st and 2nd-generation iPod mini and the 3rd and 4th-generation iPods. The iPod classic, nano and colour-screen originals are not supported.
- The creators say the features are still under development. The Crowd Supply campaign hasn't launched, and there is no price or release date yet.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
The iPod has been discontinued for years, yet a launch video for a mod has passed 1 million views on YouTube. That tells you nostalgia is a market, and big companies often leave it unserved. It also shows what owners want: the old design with modern rails underneath. The catch is that this is a promise, not a product.
For builders
Nostalgia hardware plus modern connectivity has an audience, and crowdfunding is how you test it before building stock. But Sprout shows the risk too: the streaming features are still in development, and buyers have to supply their own iPod. Ship what works first, and say clearly what is still a promise.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from Engadget's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.