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This DIY ‘ePiPod’ music player is perfect for customizing, but it may not be for everyday listeners

Your next Raspberry Pi project could be this music player
Last Updated on June 26, 2024
DIY ePiPod music player front
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The ePiPod is a DIY project for a portable music player built with a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. It boasts a custom board, E-Ink display, and five hours of playback on a single charge. This project highlights the versatility of Raspberry Pi for hobbyists. The ePiPod offers a fun and educational build for those who enjoy working with electronics. While it won’t compete with high-end music players or even modern smartphones in terms of features or battery life, the ePiPod serves a different purpose.

The ePiPod – Image Source: Hackaday

The ePiPod

Created by Del Hatch, who shared the project on Hackaday, the ePiPod is a DIY music player for hobbyists. Here’s what makes the ePiPod interesting:

  • Customization: Unlike commercial music players, the ePiPod lets you choose the components and software, making it a truly personalized device.
  • Learning experience: Building the ePiPod involves soldering and software configuration, offering valuable practical skills for electronics enthusiasts.
  • E-Ink display: This display provides a low-power, easy-to-read interface, perfect for navigating music and saving battery life.

However, there are also some limitations to consider:

  • Complexity: Building the ePiPod requires technical knowledge and soldering skills.
  • Battery life: Five hours is less than most modern music players.
  • Functionality: Compared to feature-rich music players, the ePiPod might seem basic.

Difficulties to consider

Unlike commercial music players, the ePiPod lets you choose the components and software, making it a truly personalized device. Building the ePiPod involves soldering and software configuration, offering valuable practical skills for electronics enthusiasts. The E-Ink display provides a low-power, easy-to-read interface, perfect for navigating music and saving battery life. However, there are also some limitations to consider. Building the ePiPod requires technical knowledge and soldering skills. Five hours of battery life is less than most modern music players offer. Compared to feature-rich music players, the ePiPod might seem basic.

Overall, the ePiPod is a great project for those who enjoy tinkering with electronics and want a unique music player experience. It’s a fantastic way to learn new skills and create a personalized device, though it may not be the most practical music player for everyday use.

Tom is a tech writer with a detailed view on ensuring the best buying advice, most useful information, and latest news makes its way into PCWer's articles.