Hundreds of unique Apple iPods that belonged to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld are being auctioned by Sotheby's (via MacStories).
Lagerfeld was a renowned German fashion designer who passed away in 2019. The auction features a range of custom iPods, including uniquely decorated models and rare first-generation devices. Each iPod is meticulously loaded with curated music.
According to graphic novelist Warren Ellis, "Lagerfeld famously had an 'iPod nanny' to digitize his collection for the iPods and to add new music to new devices. This is how he ended up with over 300 of them – he treated them like cassette tapes."
Lagerfeld's collection also included other Apple devices, such as iPads, which he reportedly used as digital sketchbooks and diaries. Despite owning several iPhones, Lagerfeld avoided using email and instead maintained a preference for handwritten correspondence.
The auction is part of a broader sale of Lagerfeld's estate featuring over 200 lots, providing a comprehensive look into his personal and professional life. It closes on January 31.
Monday January 27, 2025 11:17 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple regularly releases new firmware for the AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, but the company has historically provided limited information on how to initiate an update. That changed today, and Apple updated its AirPods firmware support page with more specific instructions.
Prior to today, here's what Apple said on the subject:
Firmware updates are delivered automatically while your...
Monday January 27, 2025 6:35 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Update: Apple has released iOS 18.3.
In its press release unveiling a new Black Unity Sport Loop for the Apple Watch today, Apple confirmed that iOS 18.3 is "upcoming." According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple Stores are being instructed to update the software on demo devices today, so iOS 18.3 should be released either today or within the next few days.
Below, we recap everything new...
Monday January 27, 2025 10:00 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today released tvOS 18.3, the newest version of the tvOS 18 operating system that came out in September. tvOS 18.3 comes more than a month after Apple released tvOS 18.2, and it is available for the Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV HD models.
tvOS 18.3 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the Apple TV. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software....
Friday January 24, 2025 8:16 am PST by Joe Rossignol
iOS 18.3 is expected to be widely released next week, and that means the first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner.
Apple has previously implied that iOS 18.4 will be released in April, as that is when it promised to make Apple Intelligence available in even more languages.
Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far.
Apple Intelligence for Siri
Siri ...
Friday January 24, 2025 1:55 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple is set to release iOS 18.3 next week, bringing further refinements to Apple Intelligence features, a couple of neat new capabilities to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 devices, and bug fixes.
While not quite as packed with new features as Apple's preceding iOS 18 point releases, iOS 18.3 still introduces capabilities that aim to make your iPhone smarter and more intuitive. Below, we've...
Monday January 27, 2025 10:04 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, the third major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 software that came out last year. iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 come six weeks after Apple released iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2.
The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.4 for...
Sunday January 26, 2025 7:52 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple continues to explore the idea of releasing camera-equipped AirPods in the future, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Gurman only briefly mentioned the possibility of AirPods gaining tiny cameras, as part of his Power On newsletter intro this week, focused on Apple's future wearables ambitions. He did not explain what the cameras would be used for.
The tiny cameras would not be...
I'd like to see an iPod Anniversary Edition release, ideally built from "off the shelf" m.2 where one can easily get 4TB of m.2 right now for < $200. So put classic Apple markup on it and a 4TB iPod "Special Edition" could sell for around the original- $449-$499.
And I'd be first in line to buy it... ideally with the original pure iPod type OS instead of iPod Touch... but I'd roll with the latter if that's how it had to be.
I suspect nostalgia alone could move a crowd to buy one too. Segments of people are buying modern repackaging of far more ancient tech such as game consoles from the 1970s-1990s.
Why make one of these? Why not just use virtual iPod on iPhone? iPod doesn't have the expensive "tail" of ongoing cell service. $499 is a LOT less than $799+. 4000GB is a LOT, LOT more storage than 128GB. Etc.
Just my opinion... but I'm still rocking a 5th GEN iPod Classic for a very useful/specific use. It seems doomed to conk sooner than later and I'd like a replacement that is NOT a phone or tablet.
I always thought it would be cool to make at least make one more generation of the iPod Classic with support for syncing Apple Music playlists and full switching AirPods support. Ultra thin like the nano, higher end DAC so it sounds good and a headphone jack.
The collection would be better suited for a museum so it could be viewed as a whole. Apple should purchase the entire collection.
Apple does not care about these iPods. And all I see is some rich person that used expensive devices as disposable items because he could. They are overpriced and I am guessing that most of them don't work.
I'd like to see an iPod Anniversary Edition release, ideally built from "off the shelf" m.2 where one can easily get 4TB of m.2 right now for < $200 (at retail, buying just a single unit). So put classic Apple markup on it and a 4TB iPod "Special Edition" could sell for around the original- $449-$499.
And I'd be first in line to buy it... ideally with the original pure iPod type OS instead of iPod Touch... but I'd roll with the latter if that's how it had to be.
I suspect nostalgia alone could move a crowd to buy one too. Segments of people are buying modern repackaging of far more ancient tech such as game consoles from the 1970s-1990s.
Why make one of these? Why not just use virtual iPod on iPhone? iPod doesn't have the expensive "tail" of ongoing cell service. $499 is a LOT less than $799+. 4000GB is a LOT, LOT more storage than 128GB. Etc.
Now if Apple jumped on the idea but decided to use it's "magical", proprietary storage where the 4TB upgrade is $1200 by itself, this iPod would be priced far too high and loses any appeal whatsoever to me. But use "off the shelf" storage as they did with actual iPods back in the day and they can get their fat margin while keeping the retail price accessible.
Just my opinion... but I'm still rocking a 5th GEN iPod Classic for a very useful/specific use. It seems doomed to conk sooner than later and I'd like a replacement that is NOT a phone or tablet.
I always thought it would be cool to make at least make one more generation of the iPod Classic with support for syncing Apple Music playlists and full switching AirPods support. Ultra thin like the nano, higher end DAC so it sounds good and a headphone jack.
I'd be completely there, beyond first in line (breaking into the store before it opens to get one and just leave the money on the counter). ;)
