Overview
- In mid‑October 2026 the Sprout studio published demos and a listing showing working prototypes that play files, connect to Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi, and run streaming proofs‑of‑concept.
- The boards replace the iPod logic board without soldering and keep the original case, screen and click wheel while adding USB‑C charging, digital audio out, a microSD slot and FLAC playback.
- Sprout comes in two variants: Pico, a lighter RP2350‑based board that supports monochrome 3rd‑ and 4th‑generation iPods plus the iPod mini, and Pi, which adds a Raspberry Pi Compute Module Zero and targets 3rd‑ and 4th‑generation models only.
- Streaming via Spotify, Apple Music and AirPlay is shown as proofs‑of‑concept while Google Cast remains under development, and the team warns that service APIs and DRM changes could alter what ships.
- The project plans a Crowd Supply crowdfunding campaign and vows to publish schematics, board layouts and firmware on GitHub before the campaign ends while prototype battery targets and final pricing remain unannounced.