Apple Music Hides A Virtual Ipod On Its 404 Page
Apple Music’s page-not-found screen now features an interactive original iPod, complete with a click wheel, playable song previews and a hidden game.
Apple Music has added a virtual version of the original iPod to its website’s “page not found” screen, 25 years after Apple unveiled the device. Visitors who open a nonexistent Apple Music page can use the on-screen click wheel to browse music and play tracks. The Verge says users spotted the hidden feature on October 23, the anniversary of the iPod’s announcement.
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How to find and use it
The virtual iPod appears beneath Apple Music’s usual error message, alongside an invitation to “give this a spin instead,” according to Engadget. The Verge says adding random letters after the main Apple Music address is one way to reach a nonexistent page and bring it up.
Its click wheel and other controls are interactive, with familiar menus for playlists, artists, songs and settings. Engadget counted 1,029 playable songs in its library, although it said playback of each track stops after 90 seconds. The outlet also reported that the feature did not appear to require an active Apple Music account.
The experience may vary by device. Engadget’s reviewer found the controls somewhat buggy and had trouble getting the virtual iPod to work on a desktop computer. The reviewer recommended trying a phone or tablet, where the touchscreen makes the wheel easier to use.
Music and a hidden game
Both outlets found music associated with the 2000s in the virtual library. Engadget cited tracks by Baha Men, blink-182 and Eminem, while The Verge pointed to Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” and Gorillaz’s “Feel Good Inc.” Engadget’s reviewer was browsing from the UK and said it was unclear whether every artist shown there would also appear to visitors in the US.
The virtual device has a less obvious extra: Brick, a Breakout-style game that was also hidden on the first iPod. According to Engadget, visitors can open it by holding the center button for a few seconds while viewing the About screen.
Why the timing matters
Apple announced the original iPod on October 23, 2001, with a $399 price, according to The Verge. Engadget recalls its promise of putting 1,000 songs in a pocket—a striking contrast with the virtual version’s library of 1,029 tracks, even if those tracks play only briefly.
Neither report cites an announcement from Apple explaining the feature. Engadget describes it as an anniversary Easter egg, while The Verge says the anniversary is its likely purpose. For visitors who encounter a broken Apple Music page, the error screen has become a playable nod to one of Apple’s earlier music devices.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.