Category: Collectible

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iPod postcard set (green, yellow, pink, purple, 2003)

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)
  • Mary J. Blige, “Work That”
  • Coldplay, “Viva La Vida”
  • The Ting Tings, “Shut Up and Let Me Go”

Source: Wikipedia (iPod), way310 Every Apple iPod Ad ever, 2001-2012

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The Mac Manual: The Step-by-step Guide to Upgrading, Maintaining and Repairing a Mac (by Keith Martin, 2003)

This is a rare Mac Collection blog entry for a non-Apple product, but I consider its crossover appeal to warrant its own post. Many thanks to Tom for this gift that was purchased at the Haynes Motor Museum in Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset, England.

For automobile enthusiasts worldwide, Haynes is instantly recognizable as “the worldwide leader in automotive and powersports equipment repair, maintenance and customization manuals, with over 150 million sold to date globally.” The publisher is based in the United Kingdom, and they note on their website:

“Haynes Publishing was founded in 1960. The main office is located in Somerset, England. The Haynes Manuals team is headquartered in Newbury Park, CA [USA] and is part of Haynes North America, Inc., which also publishes Chilton Repair Manuals in print and Clymer Repair Manuals in both print and online editions.”

Haynes Manuals are written by expert technicians and based upon tear-downs of each vehicle that they describe as a “step-by-step procedure for dismantling a vehicle or piece of equipment part-by-part. This is followed by the detailed rebuilding of the vehicle.” Hundreds of photos and videos accompany the tear-down process that are used in creating the manuals. They tout their manuals as “the ultimate DIY guide books for used, collector, and newer model vehicles and powersports equipment.”

In addition to automotive manuals, Haynes has offered manuals in their signature style in a variety of “lifestyle” categories. As of 2024 their website lists the following lifestyle options: Aviation; Maritime; Military; Motorcycling; Motorsport; Music; Rail; Space; Caravanning & Camping; Cooking, Food + Drink; Computing; Fitness, Sport + Wellbeing; Hobbies + Leisure Activities; Home, DIY + Garden; History + People; Pet & Animal Care; and Sci-Fi.

This Haynes tome is from 2003 and is titled The Mac Manual: The Step-by-step Guide to Upgrading, Maintaining and Repairing a Mac by Keith Martin (2023).

The back of the book provides the following description:

“This full-colour manual shows how easy it is to upgrade, maintain and repair a Mac – from a beige G3 to a flat-screen iMac. From adding more memory or upgrading the processor to installing a new DVD drive, it takes the reader through each stage using plain English and clear step-by-step photographs. Along with information on software and peripherals, this manual will save you time and money, giving a basic understanding of all areas of Mac hardware and installation – without blinding you with science.”

The author, Keith Martin, at the time of its publication was considered “an acknowledged Mac expert with a talent for debunking jargon and explaining how things work in plain English, is the full-time Technical Editor of MacUser, the UK’s most authoritative and best-selling Mac magazine. He lives in south-west London.” As of 2024, he describes himself as a “consultant, practitioner and lecturer in print and digital publishing, design, tech, and 360 virtual reality imaging.”

Sources: Haynes Motor Museum, Haynes (What We Do, About), Amazon, Keith Martin

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Think different Denim Jacket (black, XXL, c. 1998)

“Think different” was the slogan used by Apple in advertising 1997–2002, and is still used in some circumstances as of 2024. 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.

The Think different concept started with a “manifesto” that began famously with “Here’s to the crazy ones.”

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.

Apple’s print and digital “Think different” ads did not feature Apple devices, just the Apple logo and the words “Think different.” One of the creative team who worked on the campaign described the print concept: “The rainbow-colored logo served as stark contrast to the black and white photography, and, to me, it seemed to make the ‘Think different’ statement all the more bold.”

This black denim jacket was made by Canadian manufacturer International Denim. The style has been described in other sources as a “varsity” style jacket. Its main body is made from high-quality black denim, with the cuffs and bottom band made from black rib knit elastic fabric.

Overall, the jacket is in excellent condition. The back of the jacket is embroidered in white with the words “Think different.” in Apple’s Garamond logotype that was used in the Think Different ad campaign. Apple’s classic six-color logo is embroidered and centered above the logotype.

The tag on the inside of the jacket includes the following information:

ID Sport by International Denim
100% Cotton
Made in Canada
CA05976 RN42206

Sources: Wikipedia, Forbes

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Apple Teacher multicolor gradient sticker (2024)

This Apple Teacher sticker features the Apple Teacher logotype (in a Medium weight of Apple’s San Francisco corporate font) printed on a multicolor gradient background. The colors in the gradient range from blur, violet, red, orange, yellow, green, to teal. The text is white and a white QR code is included. The center of the QR code displays a gold outline star icon on a white circle. The star icon is the “badge” earned by educators for each category of the Apple Teacher program they complete successfully. The QR code leads to https://education.apple.com.

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.”

The sticker measures 4 inches wide, 1 5/8 inches tall, and features rounded corners. The peel-off back paper is white.

Source: Apple Education

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2024 Lapel Pin (chrome/orange, Apple Distinguished School, 2024)

Apple describes the Distinguished Schools program:

“Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of leadership and educational excellence ​that demonstrate Apple’s vision for learning with technology — and we believe they are some of the most innovative schools in the world.”

As of November 2024, Apple reported that there were 889 Apple Distinguished Schools in 37 countries. The district where I serve as an educational technology leader is proud to have three Apple Distinguished Schools.

This “2024” lapel pin is polished chrome with a bright orange border. The shade of orange matches one of the stripes on Apple’s classic six-color logo. The font used for the pin is San Francisco, Apple’s corporate font since about 2015. The pin package is wrapped in clear plastic and attached to a 3 x 3-inch black cardboard backing that is printed in white with the words [Apple logo] Distinguished School.

The pin is meant to commemorate new Apple Distinguished Schools added to the program in 2024. The pin is made from metal with a polished chrome finish. It is approximately 2 mm thick, 1 1/4-inches across, and 7/8-inch tall. The pin is held in place from the back by a silver butterfly clutch.

Source: Apple, Wikipedia (clutch, Apple typography)

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Apple Distinguished Educators card (2020)

According to Apple:

“In 1995, Apple created the Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE) program to recognize K–12 and higher-education pioneers who are using Apple technology to transform teaching and learning. These are the educators who are looking to change the world. They are active leaders from around the world helping other educators rethink what’s possible with iPad and Mac to make learning deeply personal for every student.”

This card measured 7 x 7 inches and was printed on heavy, textured paper in Apple’s San Francisco corporate font.

This card was printed with the following statement:

The Apple Distinguished Educators program was created to recognize education pioneers using Apple technology to transform teaching and learning. It has become a global community that continues to rethink what’s possible to make learning deeply personal for every student.

As we reflect on the past 25 years, and look forward to the next, we acknowledge the significant contributions you’ve made. The challenges and opportunities for education have never been more important than they are today and we celebrate your passion, innovation, and leadership.

I have been a member of the ADE program since 2007.

Source: Apple