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

Table of Contents
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
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:
Today's best deals
- Intel Core Ultra 245K - 15% OFF NOW!
- ASUS ROG Swift PG32UQXR - $200 OFF NOW!
- Yeyian Yumi RTX 4060 Gaming PC - $500 OFF NOW!
- SAMSUNG 990 PRO 4TB SSD - 35% OFF NOW!
- Sony X77L 4K Smart TV - 16% OFF NOW!
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ - 29% OFF NOW!
- WD_BLACK 8TB SN850X SSD - 32% OFF NOW!
*Stock availability and pricing subject to change depending on retailer or outlet.
- 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.