14 DAY TRIAL // Inspired by a fan who asked him to test out old hardware against new software, Matthew Pearce has created an all-new channel for his YouTube audience and used an original iPod with the latest iTunes as the subject of his first video in the new series.
We won’t bother you with a history of the iPod and its pesky FireWire connector, or the evolution of iTunes. As the headline itself reveals, the test proved successful. Matthew was able to get iTunes 12 to recognize the ancient player, much to our surprise.
The software even pops up the appropriate icon / artwork, proving that all the code strings required to make the connection are still intact, including those fetching graphics from the resources directory.
The finding is a bit startling, considering how quick Apple is to render old technology obsolete. However, there’s no reason to believe the company actually made an effort to maintain compatibility between the first-gen iPod and the last-gen iTunes. In all fairness, compatibility with the old player escaped unharmed likely because at some low level the code has remained the same throughout the years.
For those of you looking to replicate the test at home, you’ll need a Firewire 400 to 800 adapter. On newer Macs, you’ll also need a Firewire 800 to Thunderbolt adapter.
