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Billie Eilish Limited Edition Gift Card (2021)

On February 26, 2021, Apple TV+ released the documentary “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry.” According to Apple’s press release:

“‘Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry’ tells the true coming-of-age story of the singer-songwriter and her rise to global superstardom. From award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler, the documentary offers a deeply intimate look at this extraordinary teenager’s journey, at just 17 years old, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family, while writing, recording and releasing her debut album ‘WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?’”

Along with this documentary, Apple released a limited edition gift card design in a color scheme matching Billie Eilish’s branding.

“Celebrate the launch of the new film Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry with the limited-edition gift card — perfect for buying anything at Apple.”

This gift card follows Apple’s “Everything Apple” gift card merge that occurred in Summer 2020. As reported by MacRumors: “Previously, there were two separate Apple gift cards available: iTunes cards, which can be used for App Store, iTunes Store, and iCloud storage purchases; and Apple Store gift cards, used for buying goods at Apple’s online and brick-and-mortar retail stores.”

Source: Apple (Gift Cards, Press Release), MacRumors

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#AppleTeacher vinyl stickers (2020)

Beginning in 2017, Apple Education created a program for teachers to learn Mac, iPad, and Apple apps in the context of classroom lessons and activities. Coding uses for the classroom were added later. The Apple Teacher program uses a series of “Everyone Can Create” and “Everyone Can Code” books (free downloads from Apple’s Book Store).

Teachers may take short online quizzes to earn badges in categories including: iPad, Pages for iPad, Keynote for iPad, Numbers for iPad, iMovie for iPad, GarageBand for iPad, Productivity with iPad, Creativity with iPad, Mac, Pages for Mac, Keynote for Mac, Numbers for Ma, iMovie for Mac, GarageBand for Mac, Productivity with Mac, Creativity with Mac, Coding Concepts, Swift Playgrounds App, Swift Code, and Coding in the Classroom.

According to Apple’s website:

“Apple Teacher is a free professional learning program designed to support and celebrate educators using Apple products for teaching and learning. As an educator you can build skills on iPad and Mac that directly apply to activities with your students, earn recognition for the new things you learn, and be rewarded for the great work you do every day.”

These vinyl stickers are printed with the hashtag #AppleTeacher (in Apple’s San Francisco font) in a variety of colors. These were available at technology conferences for attendees who visited the Apple “Playground” to learn about the Everyone Can Create and Everyone Can Code programs for schools. Each sticker sheet measures 1.125 x 5 inches. Removed from the backing they measure approximately 0.625 x 4.625 inches.

I earned the Mac and iPad Apple Teacher badges the first week the program launched.

Sources: Apple, Apple Teacher

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Apple Education badge holder (2015)

This black Apple Education badge holder design was used approximately between 2005–2015 at events and workshops hosted by Apple and at conferences where Apple was presenting.

The badge holder was highly functional as it included an adjustable lanyard, a see-through pouch for a name badge, a Velcro enclosure with an inside zippered pocket, and openings on the back for additional items and pens.

This badge holder is one of many I have used over the years from Apple events. The badge measures 6.625 x 5 inches.

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FileMaker spiral notebook (2000)

FileMaker has been owned by Apple since the late 1980s, first as a product in Apple’s “wholly owned subsidiary” Claris, then as a separate company called “FileMaker, Inc.,” and (coming full-circle) in 2019 FileMaker International Inc. changed its name back to Claris International Inc. As of 2021, the Claris website reads, “Claris International Inc. is a subsidiary of Apple Inc.”

This FileMaker spiral notebook has black cardboard front and back covers. The front cover includes the FileMaker logo in metallic silver. The first page of the notebook includes FileMaker Licensing Programs information.

The notebook measures 5.75 x 7.125 inches and is 0.625 inches thick.

Sources: Wikipedia, Claris (blog, about)

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Think different. magazine ads directors collection (2000)

“Think different” was the slogan used by Apple in advertising 1997–2002, and is still used in some circumstances as of 2021. The “Think different” concept was created by advertising agency TBWA\Chiat\Day while working with Apple and Steve Jobs. “Think different” was used in its original concept in a TV commercial and in print/digital advertisements, and the “Think different” slogan was used as part of many TV commercials, print/digital ads, and on product packaging. This advertising campaign was notable in that its original concept did not feature Apple products, just iconic cultural figures that Apple selected to represent their ideals.

Several series of Think different ads were released. The final set of five film directors was never released to the public in poster format, but was run as magazine ads in 2000. This series featured John Huston, Orson Welles, Charlie Chaplin, Francis Ford Coppola, and Frank Capra.

I was able to collect four of five of these magazine ads (I do not have Frank Capra). Each of these ads has been laminated and measures approximately 8 x 10.5 inches.

Source: Wikipedia

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1998: The Year of Thinking Different. book (1998)

With a foreword by Steve Jobs, the book “1998: The Year of Thinking Different.” features the Think different manifesto and two-page layouts of many of the Apple Geniuses (cultural icons) featured in the Think different series.

The book begins with the Think different “manifesto:”

Here’s to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them,
glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They push the human race forward.
While some may see them as the crazy ones,
we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world, are the ones who do.
Think different.

The book includes the following Apple Geniuses:

Albert Einstein
Mahatma Gandhi
Pablo Picasso
Alfred Hitchcock
Rosa Parks
Bob Dylan
Buzz Aldrin
Muhammad Ali
Thomas Edison
Martha Graham
Jim Henson
Maria Callas
Dalai Lama
Amelia Earhart
Ansel Adams
Joan Baez
Paul Rand
Miles Davis
Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz
John Lennon & Yoko Ono

The final page of the book states, “This is a limited-edition publication to commemorate the first year of the ‘Think different’ series. It is not for sale or resale, and is only available to employees/affiliates of Apple Computer, Inc.”

The book is paperback, measures 11 x 14 inches, and is printed in black and white.

Source: Apple (this book)

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(Hint: It’s a computer.) magazine insert (2000)

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, part of Apple’s print advertising included magazine inserts. Some inserts were “mini-magazines” within magazines and others, like this example, was a fold-out poster. These inserts were glued with a pliable rubber cement that could be easily removed.

This example is an advertisement for the Power Mac G4 Cube. As the ad unfolds (literally), the cover shows a photo of the G4 Cube with the caption “(Hint: It’s a computer.).” The first unfold (2-up) reveals, “Actually, it’s a supercomputer” with five short paragraphs touting the Cube’s size and power. The second unfold (4-up) has the headline “So much technology. So little space.” and shows connections, features, and peripherals available for use with the Cube. Fully unfolded (8-up), a poster is revealed that declares, “Presenting the Power Mac G4 Cube. Actual size. Think different.” The back of the fully folded insert is another view of the G4 Cube with three available displays and the headline “A marvel of engineering. And economics.”

Folded, the size of the insert is 7.3125 x 10.125 inches. Fully unfolded (into 8 panels) the size is 29.25 x 20.25 inches.

I also have a poster version (rolled in a tube) of the fully unfolded image used in this ad (at 24 x 36 inches).

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The Apple Store Holiday 2004 catalog (2004)

I remember picking up this catalog at an Apple Store in 2004. It is large for a catalog at 11 x 17 inches and is printed on heavy matte paper. Each spread features “lifestyle” photos of people using then-current Apple products in everyday settings. Each product is then described in detail including features, uses, and available peripherals. Full-page “case studies” from regular people using the products in real life are also included.

The first product featured is iPod. The 2004 models included iPod with scroll wheel (with a monochrome display), iPod Photo (color display), and iPod mini (monochrome display and available in four colors).

The next spread highlights the iMac G5. These were Apple’s second flat-panel iMac models that were available with 17 or 20-inch “widescreen flat panel” displays. The iLife apps are mentioned here in holiday contexts.

Apple “notebooks” are shown next, including the white 12 and 14-inch iBook models and the 12, 15, and 17-inch PowerBook G4 models. The AirPort Express is mentioned as a solution for streaming music and wireless printing in the home.

The last 2-page spread includes “A day in the life of a Genius,” and highlights in-store workshops and presentations.

The back page shows a map of the United States and the locations of all Apple Stores worldwide. Six happy Apple customers are also featured with their Apple Store purchases across the US.