Elia Ayoub (he/him)

I downloaded old iTunes. I'm struck by how much more customizable it is than Apple Music and the rest of it.

My iPod is also 17-year-old. 120GB. Works perfectly. Even got a Bluetooth adapter. No ads, no subscriptions, no tracking. Just a durable, functional device. Enshittification is real.

Jan 22, 2025 at 12:22pmWeb
Show threadElia Ayoub (he/him)Jan 22, 2025
I just recently decided I will make the existing tech I have work for me even if it means spending hours going through forums to figure out how to get older sh*t that worked way better than newer sh*t. It's incredible how much control over our own purchased products we have lost in 10-15 years.
Show threadElia Ayoub (he/him)Jan 22, 2025
It annoys me so much I can only sound like I'm exaggerating when I talk about it. I find it f-ed up
Show threadElia Ayoub (he/him)Jan 22, 2025
Also, yes I know it would probably be better for me to know how to use Linux, but I am actually dogshit at that stuff. Not saying it's a never for me. I just haven't found a way to make it work for me (I'm not as tech-savy as I might seem to some)
Show threadOblomovJan 22, 2025
@ayoub my recommendation for when/if you want to give it another go, especially if you have an older machine that you can “sacrifice” for your experiments, would be to try Debian with KDE/X11. IME the supposedly more user-friendly distributions and desktop environments have jumped the shark and are actually harder to use now than the above mentioned setup. If all the software you currently use is also available for Linux, it'll make the migration smoother.
Show threadcuan_knaggsJan 22, 2025
@ayoub using tech you have seems to be an act of rebellion at this point. and have you considered a different music library player like https://www.strawberrymusicplayer.org
Strawberry Music Player

Strawberry is a music player and music collection organizer for Linux, macOS and Windows. It is aimed at music collectors and audiophiles. With Strawberry you can play and manage your digital music collection, or stream your favorite radios.

Show threadkatzenberger 🇺🇦Jan 22, 2025

@ayoub

If you have an old (well, not "ancient"), unused notebook, you might try to install #Linux #Mint and start from there. It's a learning journey, but there's not much to lose if you consider it an experiment, at first.

Assuming that you have enough time for experiments, which none of us actually has, unfortunately.

Try the Cinnamon edition first, and if your playing around with it shows it is excruciatingly slow on the old machine, try the MATE edition.

Don't go down the rat hole of investigation the myriads of available Linux distros ("flavors") first, that's utterly unnecessary for a sneak peek.

If Linux catches on with you, you'll probably develop an appetite for test-driving various other distros, and that's fine.

https://www.linuxmint.com

Home - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.

Show thread🐈‍⬛David SommersethJan 22, 2025

@katzenberger @ayoub

I very recently had a look at the installation instructions for Linux Mint. That was actually depressing.

You need to be fairly well acquainted with tech terminology to fully grasp the steps. But if you are, then those instructions will most likely not be read - as you most likely already know the drill.

Compare that with getting the @fedora Workstation installation running ...

  • Download the Media Writer (available for Windows, macOS and Linux) ... https://fedoraproject.org/workstation/download
  • Run the binary, select the Fedora version you want
  • Insert a USB storage, click next and the USB storage is prepared for you.
  • Reboot using the USB storage (this can be a hurdle, but that's more a hardware issue than a Linux issue)

Compare those steps to this: https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

Linux Mint might be great once you get it installed. But getting it installed is not for the non-tech users.

And I honestly don't grasp why the first details several places on getting Linux Mint installed is from a Linux Mint environment.

All details seems correct though. But you need to understand the technical jargons.

Fedora Workstation

We're so glad you've decided to give Fedora Workstation a try. We know you'll love it.

Show threadAskASwissJan 23, 2025
@dazo exactly my issue with it! @katzenberger @ayoub @fedora
Show threadRenéJan 22, 2025
@ayoub use #zorin os based on Linux. Everybody can install it. Free and paid version (with Lots of free software) https://zorin.com/os/download/
Download - Zorin OS

Download the alternative to Windows and macOS designed to make your computer faster, more powerful, secure, and privacy-respecting.

Zorin
Show threadLurgue FtanhJan 22, 2025

@ayoub

definitely hear you about being nervous to try it. the first time i tried linux i accidentally formatted everything i cared about on my pc because i was 19 & dumb.
now, 17 years on, i still barely understand what commands i'm cut-and-pasting from google, but i always back everything up to an external hard drive.

(tldr: if you copy everything before fucking around, it wont end in tears)

Show threadpangaearocksJan 22, 2025
@ayoub linux is easier than Windows tbh, especially these days. I have used Linux Mint for many, many years, and it's great. And I'm close to useless with command line stuff. No fuss, just works. #linux
Show threadAzraphJan 23, 2025

@ayoub My 17yr old son did that research lately and it was actually a straight forward process to create a bootable USB that lets you run (and install) Ubuntu on almost any machine. He revived an old 2010 Macbook and a 2008 MacMini that were collecting dust.

The installer was really a breeze, it detected the hardware and installed the right drivers and everything just worked.

Using Ubuntu was no different than Windows nor MacOS.

If you're visiting Lebanon anytime soon we'd be happy to assist.

Show threadAnneHJan 22, 2025
@ayoub Just had similar experience with MS legacy media player. It seems the new(er) one doesn't let you rip CDs. Gave up Tidal & gone back to physical media.
Show threadAischa 🏳️‍🌈🏴‍☠️Jan 22, 2025
@ayoub Seriously! Good on you, man. I’m sort of freaked about my partner’s extensive kindle book collection being held hostage, especially with what’s going on politically. Going to look into that. Also recharge and explore my iPad 1 and see if it can be just an e-reader.
I do miss mp3 players, and before that…. Mix tapes, and hard copy music be it a cd or record.
Show threadCeceliaJan 22, 2025
@ayoub ❤️ I miss old iTunes. Could even manage my iOS apps from there. I appreciate having a music library that I curated. Keyboard commands just worked. I dread mandatory software updates that might remove features or settings. I’ll cut this short before it becomes another long rant.
Show threadAethelstanJan 22, 2025
@ayoub yeah. I’m still using old iTunes on my desktop. Which is fine, but how do I get new music now? (Other than bandcamp and the like.)
Show threadJames MacNaughtonJan 22, 2025
@ayoub Yeah. I installed WinAmp on my laptop. Just music. My music. It will be there, I paid for it.
Show threadno typeJan 22, 2025
@ayoub wait, where did you download old itunes?
Show threadirelephantJan 22, 2025
@ayoub I bought a random €10 mp3 player off aliexpress, it is far better than spotify/apple music can ever be.
Show threadLazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈Jan 22, 2025
@ayoub I miss those old media players. I like having my music with me, on my own storage, not in a cloud waiting to be yanked away on a whim.
Show threadMolly BJan 22, 2025
@ayoub I have this strange device that stores & plays mp3s *and* has a pedometer built in. I got it on clearance at Target a few months after the iPhone launched (bc who needed a music-playing step-counter anymore?). I love that thing. It’s tiny & rechargeable, and I can control it by touch bc it has physical buttons.
Show threadloosingtimeJan 22, 2025
@ayoub That's actually good new in a way. It means creating such technology independently is actually not that hard if thos companys had it so many years ago when there were not as many open source projects to pick from.
Show threadBuckJan 22, 2025
@ayoub Yup -- I use, to this day, several iPod Shuffles and an iPod Nano (last one with BT built in) for my gym workouts and runs.
Show threadTanquistJan 22, 2025
@ayoub
I still have 8 GB and 16 GB ipod touches crammed full of awesome music. The batteries are shit, but I found a couple of ipod boomboxes at Goodwill so I have tunes in the kitchen and the basement!
Show threadKim Possible Jan 22, 2025
@ayoub yep. My old-school non-smart TVs are more reliable than my mom's smart TV.
Show threadAischa 🏳️‍🌈🏴‍☠️Jan 22, 2025
@ayoub sorry forgot there’s a word limit here. … I think of my dad’s music collection, all records, and the value it had to us growing up having access to that, as well as inheriting my cousin’s record collection (he was a DJ), and think about the social loss of not really owned playlists that are… private by way of being non physical, non shareable. Sad.
Show threadMark StosbergJan 22, 2025

@ayoub The Motorola Defy phone was released 15 years ago. It was waterproof, rugged, yet included as microSD card slot, headphone jack AND a removable, replaceable battery. Oh, and relatively affordable.

https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_defy-review-546.php

Motorola DEFY review: Drag and drop

This is no protocol droid, no phone made for walks in the park. It’s the Motorola DEFY and it isn’t afraid of what comes next. Good. Coming up is one of...

GSMArena.com
Show threadthe toadJan 22, 2025
@ayoub I just set up a Navidrome server on my local network that streams music to my desktop and phone. Works amazingly well. I highly recommend everyone looks into self-hosting if they are even a little interested.
Show threadelgatotontoJan 22, 2025

@ayoub Yup, ipods are still great as dedicated media boxes

I have a Gen 4 touch that still works great, plays gorillaz and gym class heroes perfectly well :)) Never had a need for spotify because of this

Show threadMarie et JulienJan 22, 2025
@ayoub and to be fair this is iTunes, a shitty software from start.
Show threadb_bk_b_kJan 22, 2025
@ayoub yep, I’m on the same space ship since the last summer with a mini iPod, my next step is to find a solution for playing y digital music on my hifi system but with a good quality and as much as less interaction with a “smart device”.