The "BluePod Mini" — A Black & White iPod With Bluetooth, 256 GB, & More!
© Brady Snyder
A few weeks I introduced you all to the world of iPods and MP3 players. There are real, logical reasons to use an iPod over a streaming service—even beyond the minimalism and nostalgia. One key reason is storage. Music files are getting larger and larger, and people that plan to keep all of their music on their cell phone may struggle to find space.
I recently switched to the base model iPhone SE with only 64 gigabytes of storage. For comparison, I came from a 256-gigabyte iPhone XS Max with about 150 gigabytes of storage used. In order to make this switch work, I had to find other ways to store files and media, preferably without having to pay Apple for additional cloud storage.
That’s where the iPod Mini comes into the picture. As shown in the title picture, the iPod Mini is a sleek media player (by 2005’s standards) that is fully capable with syncing to modern Macs. With a FireWire-capable Mac, the charge and sync capabilities are downright impressive, even by 2021’s standards.
© Brady Snyder
Apple designed the iPod Mini to be easy to repair, and that is what makes this setup possible. The iPod Mini uses a Seagate MicroDrive, which is an ultra-thin hard drive that is small and compact enough to fit into the tiny chassis of the Mini. As such, the hard drive and its respective ribbon cable uses the Compact Flash standard, meaning we can upgrade the Mini with ultra-fast and modern flash storage.
With the Compact Flash adapter installed, the iPod Mini can run a 256-gigabyte MicroSD card with stability. That’s right—my 2005 iPod Mini has the same amount of storage as the base-model 2020 MacBook Air. With a 256-gigabyte iPod, you can store roughly 15,000 Compact Disc (CD)-quality songs without wasting a single byte of your smartphone’s storage.
© Brady Snyder
As it stands right now, the iPod Mini is a high-volume music player. With a few more upgrades, it can be so much more functional. I chose to add Bluetooth via the AirFly, which I reviewed two weeks ago. The iPod Mini comes with a clip that allows you to slide the iPod right onto your clothing. With a single Command strip, I was able to attach the AirFly to the iPod Mini’s clip, making for a removable and portable Bluetooth modification. With the AirFly attached, I’m able to use the iPod Mini with PowerBeats Pro, AirPods Pro, and any Bluetooth device.
© Brady Snyder
The iPod Mini was the device that paved the way for the microelectronics necessary for modern portable electronics. Now with a few simple modifications, the Mini now supports 15,000 songs, Bluetooth, and out-of-sight control with the clickwheel. Give it a try and see how a “mini” music player feels with numerous advantages over a traditional smartphone. Remember, smartphones are capable of doing lots of tasks, but they aren’t perfect at doing any one task. Sometimes, a lot of devices that specialize at one task is a more enjoyable experience than a “jack of all trades, master of none” smartphone.