The Sprout Pi Mainboard, an RP2350‑powered replacement PCB for the iPod 3rd‑generation, 4th‑generation and iPod mini, is now open for pre‑order on CrowdSupply. It drops into the original case and adds Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, a hi‑fi DAC, USB‑C charging, and a microSD slot that can hold up to 2 TB of music.
What the board replaces
Sprout swaps the original logic board entirely while keeping the screen, click wheel and ribbon cables. The iPod retains its classic feel but gains modern connectivity: you can pair AirPods, stream over Wi‑Fi, and charge via USB‑C. Audio passes through a Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC and the existing 3.5 mm jack, supporting MP3, AAC, ALAC, FLAC and Opus.
Pico vs. Pi configurations
Two variants ship: - Sprout Pico runs on a Raspberry Pi RP2350, boots instantly and plays a local library dragged onto the device via USB‑C. - Sprout Pi adds a Raspberry Pi Compute Module Zero, enabling Spotify, Apple Music, AirPlay and custom apps. Both versions keep the familiar click‑wheel UI, including Cover Flow and podcast browsing.
Open‑source hardware and software
All schematics, board layouts and the bill of materials are released under CERN‑OHL‑S v2, while firmware is MPL‑2.0 and documentation CC BY 4.0. The team promises to publish the files on GitHub before the campaign ends, allowing contributors to file issues or submit pull requests.
Caveats to consider
The announcement does not list a price or production timeline, so budgeting is uncertain. Streaming support relies on third‑party APIs that change often; the page notes that “availability at launch may differ.”
When to try it – If your startup values rapid prototyping with familiar iPod ergonomics and you need a portable, Bluetooth‑enabled audio node, monitor the campaign for pricing and order once the target price aligns with your hardware budget.
