To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original iPod, Apple decided to have a little fun. The company hid a fully functional, first-generation iPod deep inside its web version of Apple Music. If you find the right page on your computer or phone, you can actually interact with the vintage music player, use its iconic click wheel, and even play a classic game right on the screen.
Navigating to an empty page unlocks the secret player
To find this surprise, you need to visit a web address that does not exist on the music platform, like music.apple.com/MacObserver.com. Instead of a normal error screen, you will see a message that says “Page Not Found,” followed by “Give this a spin instead.” Below the text, a virtual first-generation iPod appears.
You can actually use the click wheel to scroll through the menus. It lets you listen to 90-second audio previews from popular artists like Daft Punk, Beyonce, U2, Eminem, and Michael Jackson. Because this trick only works in a web browser, mobile users need to tap and hold the link to open it in Safari or Chrome, rather than letting the phone automatically jump to the native application.
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Holding down the center button launches a classic arcade game
The developers added an extra layer of fun for people who love retro games. If you use the click wheel to go to Settings, then select About, and finally click and hold the center button, the screen will switch over to the game Breakout.
This specific arcade title holds a special place in the history of the company. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak actually helped create Breakout back in the 1970s when they both worked for Atari. It is a thoughtful nod to the brand’s early days and a perfect way to waste a few minutes while listening to your favorite song previews.
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