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Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?

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Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?

#32
post #7
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple does show they will do battery service on a 5g nano for $59, so it might be worth checking. Ifixit has a detailed guide, you might find a third party iphone repair shop willing to do the work. https://support.apple.com/ipod/repair/service/pricing

Nicely spotted (re: Apple battery service)! I saw the iFixit rating of "very difficult" and its need for specialized tools I don't have (at https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod+Nano+5th+Generation+Batter... ) and say "nope!"

There's nothing specialist there, you can get a small kit for a few dollars that has a set of small screwdriver heads and a spludger. That's all you need.

Give it a go, what's the worst that can happen (ok the worst is that you puncture the battery, don't do that).

Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?

#33
post #28

I use pocketcast which allows me to switch between listening on my phone and my laptop quickly and without having to search for the position I stopped at. If I am sitting on my machine I use the computer, if I shop for groceries or commute I use my phone.

Seconding this. After moving to PocketCasts, keeping up with the podcasts I'm interested in became easier than ever.

Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?

#34
post #7
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple does show they will do battery service on a 5g nano for $59, so it might be worth checking. Ifixit has a detailed guide, you might find a third party iphone repair shop willing to do the work. https://support.apple.com/ipod/repair/service/pricing

Nicely spotted (re: Apple battery service)! I saw the iFixit rating of "very difficult" and its need for specialized tools I don't have (at https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod+Nano+5th+Generation+Batter... ) and say "nope!"

The small places that repair phones and laptop computers should have those tools, plus someone who knows how to use them, and should be able to replace the battery on an iPod.

I've used one to have the battery on an Android phone replaced.

Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?

#36
post #14

>I only need it for podcasts. I like dedicated hardware to reduce the temptation to connect to the world. the newer cell-phone-yet-unconnected Sony Walkmans are pretty neat, and they have some nice DAC features. The price is steep, but not Apple steep.

Hm, I don't know, the NW-E390 SERIES looks like it fulfills the requirements, if such a reduced functionality is acceptable to OP.

Don't know what you could/should use on the software side though to manage the content... Life has changed a lot since I last used strictly offline devices, and not only for the better.

Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?

#37
post #32
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nicely spotted (re: Apple battery service)! I saw the iFixit rating of "very difficult" and its need for specialized tools I don't have (at https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod+Nano+5th+Generation+Batter... ) and say "nope!"

There's nothing specialist there, you can get a small kit for a few dollars that has a set of small screwdriver heads and a spludger. That's all you need. Give it a go, what's the worst that can happen (ok the worst is that you puncture the battery, don't do that).

That process requires softening adhesive with a heat gun, de-soldering and re-soldering the battery connections, and many very delicate steps.

If that's not a specialist battery replacement, I don't know what is.

It looks like it deserves the "very difficult" rating.

Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?

#39
post #14

>I only need it for podcasts. I like dedicated hardware to reduce the temptation to connect to the world. the newer cell-phone-yet-unconnected Sony Walkmans are pretty neat, and they have some nice DAC features. The price is steep, but not Apple steep.

Thanks for the pointer! I was put off by the Walkman when I read at https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00104669 that "The preinstalled Music player on the Walkman® media player doesn't support podcasts. If you want to play podcasts, use the Media Go™ software to transfer the audio file, then install an application from the Google Play™ store on your device that supports podcasts."

Which means then figuring out that process. And I couldn't find people describing how they used a Walkman for listening to podcasts.

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