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retroPod: tech lovers are obsessing over an app that transforms their phone into an iPod

Aussies go wild for ‘secret’ app that transforms your phone into an old school iPod Classic with the famous scroll wheel: ‘I need this in my life’

  • Tech lovers have figured out a hack to make their phone look like a retro iPod
  • People can bring back a touch of nostalgia by using a free app or website
  • Apple music users can use the app but Spotify users must log into an online site

Music lovers are obsessed with a little-known app that transforms your phone into an iPod Classic – and it’s free.

Australian tech blogger, Elly Bailey, shared the secret with her followers after accusing other tech fans of ‘gatekeeping’ it for themselves.

The app, retroPod works with Apple music but it doesn’t yet connect to Spotify.

Elly, who is known as Elly Awesome online, discovered a website Spotify users can log on to for the same purpose.

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An Australian tech blogger, who is known as Elly Awesome, shared a little-known app that transforms your phone into an iPod classic - and it's completely free

An Australian tech blogger, who is known as Elly Awesome, shared a little-known app that transforms your phone into an iPod classic – and it’s completely free

Apple music users can use the app, which is called retroPod (pictured), but it doesn't connect to Spotify

Fortunately, Elly discovered a website Spotify users can log on to for the same purpose (pictured)

Apple music users can use the app, which is called retroPod (left), but it doesn’t connect to Spotify. Fortunately, Elly discovered a website Spotify users can log on to for the same purpose (right)

Elly said she loves the 'nostalgia' of the app and the website, but warned that the website has issues with glitching

Elly said she loves the ‘nostalgia’ of the app and the website, but warned that the website has issues with glitching

‘Sweet nostalgia! The iPod is back,’ Elly said when she uploaded a TikTok to her one million followers explaining how to use the app.

She can’t get enough of it as it imitates the iPod classic perfectly and features a scroll wheel which sounds and feels the same as the original gadget.

‘A couple of people are gatekeeping this but not me,’ Elly said.

‘It’s totally free, it’s quick and easy to install.’

The only catch is that it doesn’t work with Spotify. I’m sorry to burst your bubble.’

How to turn your phone into an iPod classic:

* If you use Apple music, download the retroPod app from the app store and connect it with your Apple music account

* If you use Spotify or Apple music, search iPod.js on your web browser and connect it to your preferred account

Elly said a good alternative to the app for Spotify users is a free browser version of the iPod.

Music lovers can search iPod.js online, and then connect either their Apple music or Spotify account and listen online.

It’s not quite the same. I will say it’s a little glitchy,’ the tech expert admitted.

The site lets you listen to music or play games, but Elly said the app offers a more realistic experience as the site doesn’t sound or feel the same, and it has a tendency to glitch.

‘Excellent. This brings back so many memories from the other iPod I had,’ one man said.

This is the best music player on the play store! Everything works perfectly and the music sounds amazing and it takes very little effort to put a song on it,’ another commented.

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