Apple's 25th anniversary iPod plays 90-second tracks on error pages

Apple has placed a working replica of its original iPod on the error pages of its music website. The feature marks the 25th anniversary of the device's launch on October 23, 2001. Visitors to music.apple.com can now interact with the digital player instead of seeing a standard missing content message.

The company introduced the physical music player 25 years ago today. The web version was recently identified by a user named Kian on X. The tribute appears when users access a non-existent path on the music.apple.com domain, such as music.apple.com/ipod.

The virtual device mimics the hardware controls of the 2001 model. Users can click the on-screen buttons to navigate through a pre-installed playlist. The scroll wheel is also functional, allowing visitors to click and drag the cursor to move through the track list.

The playlist consists of songs by artists who were popular during the product's launch window in 2001. Selecting a track plays a 90-second preview directly within the web interface. No additional software or app installation is required to listen to the audio.

Apple has not produced a dedicated hardware music player in several years. This web feature serves as a memorial for the discontinued product line. The company has not announced any new hardware plans related to this anniversary.

Apple Music remains available for subscription at $11.99 per month. The service is also part of the Apple One bundle. The error page tribute does not change the current pricing or availability of the streaming platform.