Apple Collection

Posted on

HomePod (white, 2017)

Apple described the HomePod a “breakthrough wireless speaker for the home that delivers amazing audio quality.” HomePod can be controlled using Siri, “with an array of six microphones…users can interact with it from across the room, even while loud music is playing.”

HomePod’s features include an upward-facing woofer, a custom A8 chip, seven beam-forming tweeters (each with an independent amplifier), automatic room-sensing technology to optimize sound, and a six-microphone array with advanced echo cancellation. When Siri is in use, a multicolor waveform appears on the top of the HomePod using a round 272×340 display. In addition, touch controls are also available on the top of the HomePod.

The HomePod was available in white and space gray. Inside, the HomePod was powered by a 1.4 GHz Apple A8 processor and used 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.

The device runs an operating system that Apple refers to as audioOS (based upon iOS). The audioOS is specifically designed for the HomePod to play audio, run Siri, and control the custom round screen.

When the HomePod was announced in February 2018, multi-speaker support was demonstrated, but the feature was not released until September 2018 along with AirPlay 2. The September 2018 update also added support for multiple timers, Find my Phone, Siri short-cuts, phone calls (while in proximity to iPhone), and music search by lyrics.

I am a fan of the HomePod. I use two in my living room as my primary way of accessing Apple Music and controlling smart home devices. I also added a single HomePod to my bedroom.

Sources: EveryMac.com, Apple.com, Wikipedia.com

Posted on

iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 2015) with Smart Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2015) and Apple Pencil (original, 2015)

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro was powered by an Apple A9X processor and had 4 GB of RAM; 32, 128, or 256 GB of storage; a rear-mounted 8 megapixel iSight camera (1080p); a front-mounted 1.2 megapixel FaceTime HD camera (720p); 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.2; dual microphones; two sets of stereo speakers; and a Lightning port. The screen was a 12.9-inch TFT touch-sensitive Retina display with 5.6 million pixels (2732×2048 at 264 ppi) and included an antireflective coating. A cellular-equipped model was also available.

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro was available in silver with a white front, gold with a white front, and space gray with a black front. This model is space gray.

This iPad Pro included a new Smart Connector that provided connectivity and power for the Apple Smart Keyboard.

The Apple Pencil was announced with this first-generation iPad Pro on September 9, 2015. The Pencil could be used with the first and second generation iPad Pro models. It connected wirelessly using Bluetooth and had a removable cap that concealed a Lightning connector for charging. It used pressure sensitivity and angle detection and had very low latency, making it function like a real pencil with no delay.

Sources: EveryMac.com, Wikipedia.com

Posted on

iMac Core 2 Duo 20-inch (2007)

iMac Core 2 Duo 20-Inch featured a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (two processors on a single chip), 1 GB of RAM, a 320 GB Serial ATA hard drive, a slot-loading DVD+R DL SuperDrive, a built-in iSight video camera, and built-in stereo speakers. The screen was a 20-inch glossy TFT Active Matrix LCD at 1680×1050. Ports included three USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire 400 port, a Firewire 800 port, Gigabit Ethernet, and mini-DVI. It also included built-in AirPort Extreme.

The exterior aluminum case had a black plastic back. The iMac Core 2 Duo also shipped with a matching aluminum Apple Keyboard with a design similar to the keyboard on the MacBook at the time.

Source: EveryMac.com

Posted on

Power Mac G4 Cube (450 MHz, 2000)

The Power Mac G4 Cube featured a 450 MHz G4 processor, 64 MB of RAM, a 20 GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, a slot-loading 5X DVD-ROM drive, and supported an AirPort 802.11b wireless card. Two other configurations were available, but this is an original model. 

The G4 Cube is known for its size and design. The computer is 7.7-by-7.7-by-7.7 inches, but sits inside a clear acrylic base that overall is 9.8 inches tall. The Cube is the only Mac to ship without an internal speaker. Instead, it shipped with USB-powered spherical speakers designed by Harman Kardon. The USB audio amplifier had a standard mini-plug headphone jack, but no audio input.

Built-in ports included two FireWire 400 ports and two USB 1.1 ports. The Cube used a silent, fanless, convection-based cooling system similar to the cooling system used in iMac computers at the time. 

The New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) holds a G4 Cube in their collection, listing Jonathan Ive and the Apple Industrial Design Group as the artists/designers of the work.

I used the first G4 Cube I acquired as my home iTunes server. Since it had no audio-out port, I used a USB dongle to add a 3.5mm headphone jack which I split to left/right RCA plugs to connect to my analog stereo amplifier. I used a connected 15-inch Apple Studio Display to control the Cube. The Mac mini replaced the Cube a few years later as my home media computer.

Source: EveryMac.com, Wikipedia.com, MoMA.com

Posted on

Studio Display (original, 1998)

The original Apple Studio Display (LCD), was introduced along with the Power Macintosh G3/300 DT and MT, two powerful (at the time) beige G3 towers. Uncharacteristically, the original Studio Display did not match the beige towers, but the design was quite futuristic at the time with translucent dark blue plastics. The Studio Display was released just months before the original iMac which would also use translucent plastics. 

There are three versions of this display in three different colors. The original was dark blue. The next version was blueberry and white, and the final version was graphite and white.

The original Studio Display requires System 7.5 or later. It has a 15.1-inch active-matrix LCD display on an adjustable stand with ADB and S-Video in ports. This display was Apple’s first to begin the transition between CRT and flat-panel screens. It supported 1024×768 resolution and weighed 12.1 pounds.

This model is made with translucent white and graphite plastics. This version and the and blueberry/white model matched the G3 and G4 towers available at the time.

Source: EveryMac.com

Posted on

Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (1997)

The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, sometimes referred to as the “TAM,” is a truly unique Macintosh.

It featured a 250 MHz PowerPC 603e processor, 32 MB of RAM, a 2.0 GB hard drive, a vertical 4X CD-ROM drive, S-video input, TV/FM Radio capability, a floppy Superdrive, and a custom Bose-designed speaker system. The TAM uses a unique ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) keyboard with an integrated trackpad and Italian leather palm rest. It did not ship with a mouse. The TAM includes a base unit that houses a subwoofer and the computer’s power supply, connected by a thick cable.

When powered on, the TAM plays a startup chime unique to this computer.

Apple manufactured 12,000 Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh computers and released 11,601 of them. When first offered, the price was $7,499. Halfway through its product cycle, Apple dropped the price to $3,500. When the product was discontinued in March 1998, the price dropped to $1,995.

When released, the Apple website devoted six full web pages to the TAM. One page boasted “Concierge Service” for TAM owners that described a “Three-Year Limited Hardware Warranty,” “Three-Year Call Telephone Support,” and a setup service:

“On-Site Setup. Apple will arrange to have your TAM delivered to your doorstep. A trained field technician will set up the hardware and basic software, make sure the system is operational, and answer questions you may have about the system.”

Another webpage highlighted the use of the TAM in the 1997 movie Batman and Robin (that also featured the eMate 300).

The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh was created to celebrate April 1, 1996, the twentieth anniversary of the day that Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne formed Apple Computer. The TAM was announced on March 20, 1997.

The TAM was among the first design projects involving Jonathan Ive, Apple’s long-time CDO (Chief Design Officer).

The release of the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh marked the appearance of Apple’s first all-in-one desktop computer to use a flat panel display. Another all-in-one flat panel Apple desktop would not be released until 2002 when the first flat panel iMac was released.

Sources: EveryMac.com, Wikipedia.com, Apple at web.archive.com

Posted on

Studio Display (15-inch, LCD/ADC, 2000)

The Apple 15-inch Studio Display (LCD/ADC) featured an active-matrix LCD display and integrated two-port USB hub. It used a clear-plastic housing similar to the Apple Cinema Display. Its optimum resolution was 1024×768 and also supported 640×480 and 800×600.

This model used an Apple Display Connector (ADC). The design matched the aesthetic of the Power Mac G4 Cube models and the Mac towers of the time. A year after release, a larger 17-inch model became available using the same case design.

Source: EveryMac.com

Posted on

Studio Display (17-inch, LCD/ADC, 2001)

The Apple 17-inch Studio Display (LCD/ADC) featured an active-matrix LCD display and integrated two-port USB hub. It used a clear-plastic housing similar to the Apple Cinema Display. Its optimum resolution was 1280×1024 and also supported 640×480, 800×600, and 1024×768.

This model used an Apple Display Connector (ADC). The design matched the aesthetic of the Power Mac G4 Cube models and the Mac towers of the time. A similar 15-inch model was also available at the time

Source: EveryMac.com

Posted on

QuickTake 150 (1995)

The QuickTake 150 was Apple’s second consumer digital camera, replacing the QuickTake 100. The camera was built by Kodak and had a resolution of 640×480 pixels at maximum resolution (0.3 Megapixels). 

Compared to the QuickTake 100 before it, the QuickTake 150 could store 16 full-resolution images (instead of 8) and could connect to a Windows computer. Further, the QuickTake 150 included a clip-on close-up lens.

In my experience as a school Technology Director, we used QuickTake 100, 150, and 200 digital cameras extensively for class projects. They were relatively easy to use and connected to a Mac serial port for quick transfer to the Mac. Although the QuickTake line was not the first digital camera, it was among the first successful consumer cameras available.

This QuickTake 150 camera is shown both with and without its protective black leather case. The case was very comfortable and made the camera difficult to drop with its Velcro strap.

Several other accessories were also available for the QuickTake 150. These included a black leather case with an embossed Apple logo, a shoulder strap for the leather case, a neck strap for the QuickTake 150, and a wide-angle lens for the QuickTake 150 in its original protective wrap inside its vinyl case.

Source: Wikipedia.com

Posted on

iPod Socks (2004)

iPod Socks were arguably among the most unusual accessories created and sold by Apple. While visually interesting, their functionality and user interface are questionable because they provide limited protection and allow no access to iPod controls. 

When Steve Jobs introduced iPod Socks in 2004, even he seemed unconvinced, saying tongue-in-cheek that Apple was introducing “a revolutionary new product for your iPod.” Among other descriptions, Jobs noted that iPod Socks “keep your iPod warm on cold days,” all while the audience laughed along with his description of the product. 

Six Socks were released in November 2004 (in time for the holidays) in six colors: gray, pink, blue, green, purple, and orange. They retailed for $29.

The Socks were knit from cotton and each had a two-sided logo tag with an Apple icon on one side and an iPod logo on the other. When they were released, the box specified that they were compatible with all iPods. At the time, that included iPod Generation 1–4, iPod mini, iPod photo, and iPod shuffle.

These were so unusual that I wanted an example for my collection. Unfortunately, my iPod socks shipped incomplete from an Amazon third party, missing the gray sock.

Source: iLounge.com