Sony Walkman series are essentially iPods that can also carry Android apps so you can install something like PocketCasts on them directly and download/stream podcasts without even connecting to computer.
Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
21–30 of 154 posts
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#22Look at FiiO, they have dedicated hardware. Back then they produced headphone amplifiers for iPods, after those got canned, they start to produce their own iPod replacements.
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#23If grabbing the mp3s is fine any mp3 player will do, right?
I used to have cowon mp3 players for their good sound. This one is one of the cheaper ones, 15h runtime.: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/U7-16G-Black-Cowon-U7/dp/B07HY8L1...
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#24MY recommendation would be a modified iPod 5th or 7th gen Classic if you don't mind the larger size. These iPods can be upgraded with larger batteries and flash storage instead of a hard drive making them long lasting and robust. You can do the modification yourself on iPod with a broken hard drive or buy one on eBay already modified. (Tip: The 5th gens are easier to modify than the 7th gens since they come apart a l…
How do you copy podcasts and such to these old iPods? iTunes is being deprecated right?
Foobar2000 with an iPod add-on[1] and a podcast add-on[2]. You don't need iTunes directly, but probably an older version of iTunes in the background for compatibility when syncing. Oldapps.com has you sorted for that.
I personally use a modded 5.5 gen for daily listening, it's vastly superior to using a smartphone. It has a huge memory and unbeatable battery life. With cheap replaceable batteries and SD card boards, it should essentially last for years/decades. The firmware is much simpler than iOS, so it doesn't matter that it's not maintained, it simply works.
EDIT: OP is using a Mac, so I'm not sure if this is feasible. It does work well on Windows though.
[1] https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_dop
[2] https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_podcatcher
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#25Sony Walkman series are essentially iPods that can also carry Android apps so you can install something like PocketCasts on them directly and download/stream podcasts without even connecting to computer.
Or the fiio devices
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#26Try the Fiio M5, or just about any player by Fiio. Its audiophile grade so you are also going to get great audio.
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#27I'd go with any device that Rockbox ( https://www.rockbox.org/ ) has a stable port for. I've been using a SanDisk Sansa Clip+ for 10 years and am still very happy with it.
Yeah, I was really sad when my Clip Zip recently didn't come on (screen is totally glitched out), and I'm currently looking for a replacement for that, too.
I've got this xDuoo X3 (bought it ages ago), which apparently has a pretty good DAC and is able to load from two SDCards, and has a third-party Rockbox implementation.
There's a new version ot (X3 II), which has a much larger display.
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#28I 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.
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#29Back in the pre-smartphone days I used to swear by Cowon devices. They're still around.
This might suit your needs: http://m.cowonglobal.com/product/iAUDIOE3/
Nowadays I listen to audio books, podcasts, music, read ebooks etc all on the phone...
Re: Ask HN: What can replace my iPod for podcast listening?
#30Sansa Clip with Rockbox firmware[1]. [1] https://www.rockbox.org/
I thought the last Clip that supported Rockbox went out of production a few years ago? I also have a very fuzzy recollection that the batteries weren't especially replaceable, meaning we've got a finite time before they're all bricks...
I'm still using the original Clip I got back in 2008. It's not supported by Rockbox, but I'm perfectly happy with the last official firmware. The OLED has deteriorated, but it's still fine indoors (it was almost impossible to read outdoors from the get-go).
The battery lasted around 14 hours when it was new, now I'm getting roughly half of that. I seem to remember someone on the now defunct anythingbutipod.com replacing the battery, although they had to break the player apart to get inside.
Even the damn plastic clip on the back still works!