Apple marks 25 years of the iPod with an interactive virtual replica on broken web pages

Apple is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original iPod's unveiling with an interactive Easter egg hidden on its Apple Music website. Navigating to an invalid or broken music.apple.com address reveals a working virtual recreation of the 2001 music player alongside the message "give this a spin instead." The digital player includes a library of early-2000s tracks, matching the era when Steve Jobs first revealed the hardware on October 23, 2001. [2][3][4][5]

The web tool recreates the original monochrome display and interface, allowing visitors to navigate Playlists, Artists, Songs, and Settings menus using the on-screen scroll wheel or desktop arrow keys. Holding the center button on the About screen for five seconds even unlocks a playable version of the classic Brick game. Visitors do not need a paid subscription to use it, though playback is limited to previews—up to 90 seconds for longer songs and 30 seconds for tracks under two and a half minutes. [2][3][5]

The original iPod debuted with a 5 GB hard drive for $399 before the product line was officially discontinued in May 2022. While largely designed as a fun tribute for fans, the web player highlights how the landmark device helped reshape digital music and established the foundation for modern Apple hardware. [2][3][5][6]