u/Kreiks

I saw an iPod Touch 4G 64GB for a good price and decided to buy it to keep my iPod Video company. It's in like-new condition; it is a refurbished Chinese version with a fake package that simulates the original. So far, everything works fine, but I need to test it more thoroughly to do a proper review.

Here I am, absolutely delighted with CachyOS. After years of using Ubuntu, I think I’ll be sticking with this one for a long time. So far, it has adapted quite well to my workflow, and being Arch-based ensures I get constant updates. I chose KDE as my environment to match my Steam Deck.

After over two months of using my iPod as my primary device for music, I’ve come to realize that many features I thought were exclusive to streaming platforms have actually existed all along.

Context: Since 2015, I’ve been a consistent user of services like Spotify and Apple Music. What appealed to me most was how well the algorithms adapted to my tastes the more I listened.

However, after getting my first "proper" iPod (I only had a Shuffle before and just loaded it with random tracks), I’ve realized that streaming algorithms are basically just glorified Smart Playlists. I’ve been able to perfectly replicate mixes like Heavy Rotation, Favorites, and Daily Mixes using smart rules. As for discovery, by scrobbling my music to Last.fm, I get great recommendations, and I still find plenty of new tracks through social media like Instagram.

I just wanted to share my experience. The only thing I truly "miss" is a seamless podcasting experience; while I can sync them to my iPod Video, the ratings and play counts don't sync back to the Apple Music app. Because of that, I’ve decided to keep the iPod strictly for music.

Edit: My playlist rules

1. On Repeat
   • Rule 1: Last Played — is in the last — 2 — weeks
   • Rule 2: Play Count — is greater than — 10
   • Limit to: 25 — items — selected by most often played
   • Checkbox: Live updating (Always checked)

2. Your Time Capsule
   • Rule 1: Play Count — is greater than — 20
   • Rule 2: Last Played — is not in the last — 6 — months
   • Limit to: 50 — items — selected by random

3. Daily Mix
   •"Match any of the following rules"
   • Rule 1: Rating — is — 5 stars
   • Rule 2: Date Added — is in the last — 1 — months
   • Limit to: 30 — items — selected by most often played

4. The Ones That Got Away
   • Rule 1: Play Count — is less than — 3
   • Rule 2: Date Added — is not in the last — 2 — months
   • Limit to: 25 — items — selected by random

5. Heavy Rotation
   • Rule 1: Last Played — is in the last — 7 — days
   • Rule 2: Play Count — is greater than — 15
   • Limit to: 20 — items — selected by most often played

6. Favorites
   • Rule 1: Rating — is — 5 stars