Apple's latest releases, the AirPods Pro 3 and iPhone 17, are undeniably sleek, but what truly piqued my interest was a fresh take on a portable music player – and it wasn't an iPod.
In the past, the iPod Nano, specifically the 8GB and 7th generation models, were popular choices for music lovers on-the-go. The compact player, boasting flash memory, was a common sight in many places and received high ratings. Fast forward to today, and smartphones have dethroned portable players as the most common way people play music. Nevertheless, many, including this author, yearn for a portable player from Apple that is capable of hi-res music playback, such as an Apple Watch.
The author, a music enthusiast, values good sound quality. They appreciate music that sounds good with decent levels of detail, solid dynamics, and true to the artist's recording. Currently, Tidal is their preferred music streaming platform, especially for genres like jazz, classical, and post rock. The platform offers local playback and high-quality downloads at the High or Max tier.
However, the author faces a predicament. While they enjoy the convenience of streaming music, the need to be online and have their phone with them while listening to music is a downside. Moreover, the current-generation Apple Watches lack hi-res support. This is a significant drawback, as the author prefers a portable music player that works offline, offers hi-res music playback, and good quality file/codec support.
If the Apple Watch had hi-res support, it would meet the author's criteria for a portable music player. The author's ideal Apple Watch would also allow offline use without requiring a phone connection. This would eliminate the need for constant connectivity and provide a more seamless music listening experience.
The author invites readers to agree with the idea of an Apple Watch with hi-res playback. Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media channels. In the past, the big fight for music fans' attention was between Apple iPod and Zune. Zune was the first to have color screens, offer higher storage capacities, and the ability to wirelessly share music between devices. If Apple were to introduce an Apple Watch with hi-res playback, it could rekindle the excitement that once surrounded the release of new iPod models.
For now, the author continues to use their Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as their daily drivers for wireless cans. But the dream of a portable Apple device that delivers high-resolution music playback remains. Could this be the future of portable music for Apple fans? Only time will tell.
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