On September 9, 2024, Apple announced they updated the Apple Watch Ultra 2 line by adding a black titanium version. At the same time, a new set of Titanium Milanese Loop bands were introduced. According to Apple’s press release:
“The new Titanium Milanese Loop is the first metal band for Apple Watch Ultra, inspired by mesh historically used by divers and stylish enough for any occasion. Woven from the same aerospace-grade titanium as the case, the band is lightweight and corrosion-resistant. A custom process of weaving, flattening, laser-welding, grinding, and finely polishing the titanium wire results in precise, interlinking lozenge shapes that provide a luxurious drape, complete with a dual-button, parachute-style buckle secure enough for all water sports. The Titanium Milanese Loop will be available in both natural and black titanium.”
The original Milanese Loop was described by Apple as “a flexible magnetic stainless steel mesh” and was introduced as one of the original Apple Watch band styles in 2018 when the original Apple Watch was unveiled. The original Milanese Loop, offered only in a (silver) stainless steel color, has a considerably finer mesh than this Titanium version. Further, the Titanium version costs US$199, while the original Milanese Loop is US$99.
The Titanium Milanese Loop is offered in three sizes: Small (130–160 mm), Medium (155–185 mm), and Large (180–210 mm); while the original Milanese Loop (46 mm) is available in just 2 sizes: S/M (130–180 mm) and M/L (150–200 mm).
This t-shirt is black and features the Apple Distinguished Educator logotype in the top-right front of the shirt. The words are printed in white in the San Francisco font, Apple’s official corporate font since 2017.
The shirt was made by BELLA+CANVAS, a “premium basics” apparel company based in Los Angeles.
Several Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) wore these shirts when presenting at the IDEAcon (Illinois Digital Educators Alliance) education conference in Schaumburg, IL, in February 2025. We presented several sessions regarding Apple’s many Accessibility features used in schools.
Beats by Dr. Dre (“Beats”) was founded in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy lovine. Beats makes a collection of headphones, earphones, and speakers, and aims to “bring the energy, emotion and excitement of playback in the recording studio back to the listening experience for music lovers worldwide.” Beats was acquired by Apple in July 2014.
As a company owned by Apple, Beats have many of the same features found in Apple-branded audio products, but Beats seems to more prominently feature Android compatibility in product specifications (compared to Apple’s AirPods products). The Beats product overview notes:
“The Beats Studio Pro custom acoustic platform delivers an immersive listening experience. Each custom 40mm driver has been engineered for optimal clarity, with near-zero distortion even at high volume – an improvement of up to 80% compared to Beats Studio3, providing increased audio fidelity. An integrated digital processor optimizes the final frequency response for a powerful, yet balanced sound profile crafted to bring out the subtle details of whatever you’re listening to.”
The product packaging touts the following features:
Sound that surrounds you with Personalized Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking
Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) for immersive listening
Transparency mode blends your listening experience with the world around you
Two additional EQ-optimized sound profiles while using USB-C audio
Voice targeting mics for clear call performance
UltraPlush engineered leather cushions for extended comfort and durability
The “Enhanced Apple Compatibility” features of Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones include one-touch pairing with every device in your iCloud account, “Hey Siri” compatibility, Find My suport, and Over-the-air updates.
“Enhanced Android Compatibility” features include Google Fast Pair to all Android or Chrome devices registered to a Gmail account, Audio Switch between Android and Chromebook devices, Google Find My Device support, and a Beats app for Android to “unlock access to product customization, software updates, and new features to get the most out of your headphones.”
The headphones measure 7.125 inches high, by 7 inches long, by 3.1 inches wide, and weigh 9.17 ounces. They include a custom-fitted carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable (charging and audio), and a 3.5 mm analog audio cable. Bluetooth (version 5.3) delivers up to 40 hours of listening time and offers a “Fast Fuel” charge that delivers up to 4 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge.
The iPod nano Generation 3 used a design unique to the iPod family with “squat” proportions in a thin case. It was available in 4 GB or 8 GB versions, with the 4 GB model offered only in silver, and the 8 GB models offered in silver, light blue, light green, black, and (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition. A pink option was added later. All models had a chrome stainless steel back.
Compared to the iPod nano Generation 2, the Generation 3 added a larger 2-inch (diagonal) color LCD display at 320×240 resolution, support for video on the internal display, and video-out via the dock.
In a press release, Apple noted:
“The new iPod nano features a larger two-inch display with 204 pixels per inch, which lets users watch their favorite movies, TV shows and music videos in the same resolution they currently enjoy on the video iPod… iPod nano delivers up to 24 hours of audio playback or five hours of video playback on a single charge, and is encased in a beautiful new all-metal design made with anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel…”
The iPod nano software was greatly improved from previous versions with enhancements including a Cover Flow option for selecting albums. Three games were pre-loaded: iQuiz, an entertainment trivia game; Vortex, a fast-paced 360 degree brick-bashing game; and Klondike, a popular solitaire card game.
The Apple Watch Trail Loop was released along with the Apple Watch Ultra on September 7, 2022. Apple reported that the Apple Watch Ultra “brings a new bold design and a wide range of features built for endurance, exploration, and adventure.”
In the original press release, Apple described the Trail Loop as one of its “New Bands Designed for the Great Outdoors.” Apple added:
“Designed specifically for endurance athletes and runners, the Trail Loop band is the thinnest Apple Watch band to date. The lightweight woven textile is both soft and flexible, allowing it to cinch to the optimal fit, and the convenient tab is designed for quick and easy adjustment.”
Apple’s product page described the Trail Loop:
“The thin, lightweight Trail Loop is made from a nylon weave creating a soft band with increased elasticity for a comfortable fit. The band is infinitely adjustable with a convenient pull tab for quick adjustments on the go.”
This Trail Loop is Blue. The band is primarily dark blue with a dark blue pull-tab. The inside of the band uses accent thread colors in dark blue, magenta, and dark green. With the announcement of the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 in September 2024, Apple began offering Alpine Loop bands with black titanium connector hardware to match the black titanium finish of the Black Titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2. A press release explained:
“To complement the new black finish, the popular Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band have all been updated to offer a black hardware option in addition to natural titanium. Both black and natural finishes of Apple Watch Ultra 2 are made from 95 percent recycled titanium, and are carbon neutral with any Titanium Milanese Loop, Trail Loop, or Alpine Loop.”
All Apple Watch Ultra models fit the single-size 49mm case. The Trail Loop is made primarily of nylon.
The Solo Loop Apple Watch band was released in 2020 along with the Apple Watch Series 6. The packaging describes this product as a “Silicone Fitted Band.” According to Apple’s website:
“Made from liquid silicone rubber, the Solo Loop features a unique, stretchable design with no clasps, buckles, or overlapping parts that’s ultracomfortable to wear and easy to slip on and off your wrist. Each band is specially treated with UV to give the band a silky, smooth finish. It’s also swim proof and sweat proof so it can go just about anywhere you want to wear it.”
The color of this band is Eucalyptus, a shade of dark green. It was available in 41 mm and 45 mm widths, and was sold in specific wrist sizes. The 41 mm Solo Loop was sold in wrist sizes 1–9, and the 45 mm Solo Loop was sold in wrist sizes 4–12.
According to Apple’s website, “This band comes in custom sizes because it’s designed for an ultracomfortable fit. An accurate measurement will help you get the size that’s right for you.” The website allowed buyers to download a PDF and cut out a “tool” that wrapped around the wrist to designate the band size needed.
This snug-fitting design allowed Apple Watch sensors to retain constant and consistent skin contact, allowing accurate measurements such as blood oxygen and heart rate to be maintained.
When Apple launched the Apple Watch Series 9, the company also discontinued their use of leather in all their products and introduced a new material they called FineWoven. In a press release, Apple announced:
“Apple is introducing FineWoven, a luxurious and durable microtwill made of 68 percent post-consumer recycled content that has significantly lower carbon emissions compared to leather. FineWoven has a suedelike feel, and is available with the Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle bands.”
The Magnetic Link design closely resembled the Leather Link design. Apple described the band:
“The Magnetic Link with FineWoven elegantly wraps around the wrist and magically attaches with molded magnets that gently flex to help maintain security and comfort throughout the day…”
The product specifications indicate that the Magnetic Link is made from “68% post-consumer recycled polyester” and “100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets.” The 41 mm Magnetic Link is offered in a S/M size (130–160 mm) and a M/L size (140–180 mm), while the 45 mm size is offered in S/M (140–180 mm) and M/L (165–205 mm) options.
This Magnetic Link is Evergreen, a shade of dark green, and fits 45 mm Apple Watch devices.
When Apple launched the Apple Watch Series 9, the company also discontinued their use of leather in all their products and introduced a new material they called FineWoven. In a press release, Apple announced:
“Apple is introducing FineWoven, a luxurious and durable microtwill made of 68 percent post-consumer recycled content that has significantly lower carbon emissions compared to leather. FineWoven has a suedelike feel, and is available with the Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle bands.”
The Magnetic Link design closely resembled the Leather Link design. Apple described the band:
“The Magnetic Link with FineWoven elegantly wraps around the wrist and magically attaches with molded magnets that gently flex to help maintain security and comfort throughout the day…”
The product specifications indicate that the Magnetic Link is made from “68% post-consumer recycled polyester” and “100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets.” The 41 mm Magnetic Link is offered in a S/M size (130–160 mm) and a M/L size (140–180 mm), while the 45 mm size is offered in S/M (140–180 mm) and M/L (165–205 mm) options.
This Magnetic Link is Taupe, a shade of medium brown, and fits 45 mm Apple Watch devices.
This set of postcards was available in 2003 at the time of the release of the iPod Generation 3 with an all-touch interface and dock connector. This was the first iPod redesign following the original iPod design (with FireWire port and a mechanical scroll wheel in Generation 1, followed by a touch-sensitive wheel in Generation 2). The postcard set featured a black silhouette dancer on a bright single-color background with the dancer holding a white iPod and wearing the iPod’s white earbuds connected with its white wire.
The visually striking silhouette concept began as print ads and posters, but in 2004 expanded to TV commercials featuring dancers and then-popular songs available on the iTunes Store. Among the many iPod silhouette commercials produced between 2004–2008, the two I remember best were Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” and U2’s “Vertigo.”
The postcards measure 6 x 4 inches. The back of each postcard is printed with the same text:
iPod and iTunes. Mac and Windows. Rock and Roll. Together, they changed the way we listen to music. And now everyone can enjoy the most acclaimed digital music player and music software ever created. Because now iPod and iTunes work together on a Windows PC the same way they always have on a Mac. Walk, ride, run, drive, and go anywhere with up to 10,000 songs in your pocket. Easy to load, easy to love. The ultraportable iPod comes in 10GB, 20GB, and 40GB models and holds up to 10,000 songs. And iTunes makes it a cinch to organize, arrange, and sync all your music from your Mac or Windows PC to your iPod. Shop the record store of the 21st century. In the iTunes Music Store, you can download most any song for just 99¢, then load it on your iPod. You can also preview any song for free and create an account to let your kids shop for music. www.apple.com/itunes
In researching this post, I found an impressive compilation video titled “Every Apple iPod Ad ever. 2001-2012” by YouTube user way310. Using Apple’s Shazam app, I made a list of every silhouette-style video shown. I identified 21 different songs that either use the original silhouette style or a style closely inspired by the concept as it evolved over the years [notes included in brackets]:
N.E.R.D, “Rock Star” (Jason Nevins Remix Edit)
Jet, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”
Black Eyed Peas, “Hey Mama (Mixed)”
Feature Cast, “Channel Hopping”
Steriogram, “Walkie Talkie Man”
U2, “Vertigo”
The Vines, “Ride” [live-action commercial, silhouette posters come to life]
Daft Punk, “Technologic”
Gorillaz, “Feel Good Inc”
Ozomatli, “Saturday Night”
Eminem, “Lose Yourself” (From 8 Mile) [background uses multiple colors and patterns, artist rendered in more detail]
Caesars, “Jerk It Out” [green background with animated iPod shuffle arrows]
Bob Dylan, “Someday Baby” (Alternate Version, “Modern Times”) [white background, artists rendered in muted tones]
Wynton Marsalis, “Sparks”
The Fratellis, “Flathead” [stylized, multicolor design for backgrounds and silhouette figures]
Paul McCartney, “Dance Tonight”
Wolfmother, “Love Train”
Quantic & Nickodemus, “Mi Swing Es Tropical” (feat. Tempo & The Candela Allstars)
Susan Kare (born 1954) was the designer who created the icons, graphics, and fonts for the original Macintosh. Kare graduated from New York University with a Ph.D. in fine arts in 1978. After graduating she moved to California and worked at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Her high school friend and member of the original Macintosh development team, Andy Hertzfeld, called her in 1982 and asked her to draw icons and text elements for the Macintosh project.
Kare’s original drawings for Apple were created in 32×32-pixel grids. AIGA documented her original work for Apple and acknowledged that Kare “created some of the most recognizable icons, typefaces, and graphic elements in personal computing: the command symbol (⌘), the system-failure bomb, the paintbrush, and, of course, ‘Clarus the Dogcow.’” Her work was characterized as “a canvas of approachable visual metaphors that are instantly recognizable decades later.”
Some of Kare’s work can be found in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. According to Kare’s website:
“Kare believes that good icons should be more like traffic signs than illustrations; easily comprehensible and not laden with extraneous detail. She has observed that just because millions of colors are available, maximizing their use in an icon does not necessarily improve it. When symbols (icons or logos) are meaningful and well-crafted, they need not be frequently redesigned.”
This print, “Hello on Blue,” is a limited edition, numbered 27/200, and signed and dated by Susan Kare. It is a giclée fine art print that is 25 inches wide x 17 inches tall. The work is printed using archival ink on acid-free Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper. Although this is not an “official” Apple product, I am proud to feature Kare’s work among my Apple collection.
This iconic “hello” cursive script image that was originally designed by Kare has been used by Apple numerous times over the years, beginning with the introduction of the original Macintosh on January 24, 1984 during Apple’s Annual Shareholders Meeting. After Steve Jobs showed the Macintosh live on stage, he played a TV commercial that shows a carrying case being unzipped, the Macintosh lifted onto a table, and the black-and-white screen displayed the “hello” cursive design. A few other uses of the “hello” design include:
May 6, 1998: Steve Jobs introduced the original translucent Bondi blue iMac with the screen displaying “hello (again)”—with “hello” in the original cursive script and “(again)” in Apple Garamond.
December 2022: During my own visit to Apple Park in Cupertino, visitors to the Apple Briefing Center were greeted with a sculpture approximately 4 feet wide of “hello” that is airbrushed in the colors of Apple’s original multicolor logo.
2023: Apple Developer provided “Hello Developer” online, described as “A monthly guide to the latest developer activities, stories, and news” that features the original “hello” image in different formats in different editions from October 2023–June 2024.
October 28, 2024: Apple releases an iMac Announcement video that begins with the cursive script “hello” and then expands to “hellllllo” with each “l” in a different color of the original Apple logo; in the presentation the iMac is updated to the M4 chip and is available in “new vibrant colors.”
October 29, 2024: The Mac mini is updated in a video announcement using the “hello” image stylized with the Apple Intelligence logo, emoji, the Jolly Roger flag (a nod to the original Macintosh team), and a 3D wire frame.
