Winamp's return is supposedly imminent, but all we've received from those of us who joined its beta was... a survey. While we keep waiting for news about the new version, why not do something interesting with the old one? I'm talking about the classic Winamp, transformed into an MP3 player with the help of Adafruit's PyPortal platform, Python code, and tools to convert and use skins available on the web.
An old saying goes, "if it isn't broken, don't fix it," and Winamp is a compelling example. I think I've tried every MP3 player for Windows available, and I always returned to the Nullsoft classic (which ended up disappearing in 2013), due to a mix of muscle memory and compatibility. Everything I need from an MP3 player is in Winamp, and there's no point in reinventing the wheel.
But what can we do with Winamp beyond listening to music or changing its appearance? One possibility is to transform it into a portable MP3 player. The folks at Adafruit make it possible with their PyPortal, an IoT device based on CircuitPython, a variant of MicroPython compatible with microcontrollers.
Winamp as a Portable MP3 Player
Logically, the conversion has some limitations. First, the buttons of the classic Winamp interface don't work (there's also no equalizer or fast forward), and the only available controls are Play/Pause, next and previous tracks. Loading songs and preparing playlists can seem a bit complicated at first, but the official tutorial has all the relevant details and several examples we can work on.
The good news is that this conversion supports alternative skins, and includes an official tool that automates the process (to some extent). Where do the skins come from? Obviously, from the Winamp Skin Museum, which shares over 65,000 skins online. First, you need to save the skin's preview as a PNG (you don't need the full zip), and then process that image with the script included in the project's official files.
This version of Winamp would be perfect if it included support for all its functions, but it's a good start, and by using open source code, it's only a matter of time before it reaches a higher level of development. The real difficulty these days is getting your hands on the PyPortal: the price of the compact version reaches $50, and deliveries are suffering delays due to high demand.
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