iPod nano (Generation 4, 8GB, purple, 2008)

Replacing the “squat” design of the Generation 3, the iPod nano Generation 4 (model A1285) returned to a “skinny” design similar to its predecessors. The new wraparound curved aluminum and glass case was offered in an unprecedented nine colors: silver, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, and (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition. The display was a wide-format 2-inch (diagonal) color LCD display at 320×240.

The iPod nano Generation 4 used Click Wheel navigation and had either 8 GB or 16 GB of flash memory, capable of storing 2000 or 4000 songs, 7000 or 14,000 photos, and 8 hours or 16 hours of video.

Apple indicated that “You can distinguish the iPod nano (4th generation) from previous iPod nano models by:”

  • Its taller screen
  • Its curved surface
  • Its oval shape when seen from the top or bottom
  • The inclusion of an accelerometer that is used by the Shake feature.”

The iPod nano Generation 4 included an accelerometer (automatically switched to “Cover Flow” navigation in landscape orientation), games and videos only played in landscape, a new Genius feature to dynamically create playlists, and shake-to-shuffle for songs. Accessibility options were added including larger text and spoken menu items. It also included Nike+iPod support, FM radio tagging (using the Apple Radio Remote), support for audio crossfade, and games including Maze, Klondike, and Vortex.

Source: Apple (Identify Your iPod), EveryMac

iPod nano (Generation 4, 8GB, (PRODUCT)RED, 2008)

Replacing the “squat” design of the Generation 3, the iPod nano Generation 4 (model A1285) returned to a “skinny” design similar to its predecessors. The new wraparound curved aluminum and glass case was offered in an unprecedented nine colors: silver, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, and (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition. The display was a wide-format 2-inch (diagonal) color LCD display at 320×240.

The iPod nano Generation 4 used Click Wheel navigation and had either 8 GB or 16 GB of flash memory, capable of storing 2000 or 4000 songs, 7000 or 14,000 photos, and 8 hours or 16 hours of video.

Apple indicated that “You can distinguish the iPod nano (4th generation) from previous iPod nano models by:”

  • Its taller screen
  • Its curved surface
  • Its oval shape when seen from the top or bottom
  • The inclusion of an accelerometer that is used by the Shake feature

The iPod nano Generation 4 included an accelerometer (automatically switched to “Cover Flow” navigation in landscape orientation), games and videos only played in landscape, a new Genius feature to dynamically create playlists, and shake-to-shuffle for songs. Accessibility options were added including larger text and spoken menu items. It also included Nike+iPod support, FM radio tagging (using the Apple Radio Remote), support for audio crossfade, and games including Maze, Klondike, and Vortex.

Source: Apple (Identify Your iPod), EveryMac

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic (Generation 2, 2008)

Apple introduced their In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic in September 2008 as a follow-up to their original In-Ear Headphones. This Generation 2 model included an on-wire remote control and microphone. According to 9to5Mac, these earphones “featured more impressive sound isolation and were designed with the iPhone in mind.”

These were a follow-up to the original “premium” iPod In-Ear Headphones from January 2004.

The Generation 2 Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic are described in a review from CNET:

“Out of the box, the Apple In-Ear headphones include a plastic carrying case with a cable wrap, three pairs of silicone ear tips (small, medium, and large) and a set of replacement mesh caps…The earpieces are very light, comfortable, and stylish, and the cable runs around 3.5 feet long.”

CNET corroborates the iPhone features:

“An in-line clicker remote and microphone are included on these headphones, located on the cable about 4 inches down from the right earpiece. The remote includes plus and minus buttons for volume control and a central button for playing, pausing, and skipping songs. If you’re using the In-Ear headphones with a first- or second-generation iPhone, the center button also works for answering or ending incoming calls; however, the volume control buttons will only work with the iPhone 3GS.”

The retail packaging of this product was described by Rene Ritchie in an iMore review:

“In the box are two plastic capsules. The first is a rounded triangle that contains the ear pieces in the center and the cord wrapped around the edge… The second capsule contains smaller and larger silicone ear tips in case the default ones don’t fit you properly.”

The example in my collection includes only the triangle carrying case with the “default” silicone ear tips. I do not have the capsule with the additional silicone ear tip sizes.

Sources: 9to5Mac, CNET, iMore

Mini-VGA to Video Adapter (unopened, 2008)

Apple’s Mini-VGA to Video Adapter was designed so Mac computers with a built-in Mini-VGA port could be connected to a device with an RGB video or S-video port. According to the packaging, compatible devices included:

“iBook without an external reset button, 12-inch PowerBook G4, or 17-inch iMac (1.0GHz) with mini-VGA port.”

The packaging included a bag with a white back and clear front to fully view the adapter that was being purchased. The bag was sealed with a black cardboard top printed with product information. The font used was Apple Myriad, Apple’s corporate font of the time.

Source: Apple (product package)

USB Ethernet Adapter (2008)

Apple describes this adapter as a “Apple USB Ethernet Adapter with built-in 4.6-inch USB cable” and its model number is A1277.

According to Apple, this adapter allows you to “Easily connect your Mac computer to an Ethernet network with the Apple USB Ethernet Adapter. Small and light, it connects to the USB 2.0 port of your Mac and provides an RJ-45 connector that supports 10/100BASE-T performance.”

Source: Apple

The future has already arrived Apple Education brochure (April 2008)

This brochure was sent to education customers and had purple/violet space-themed cover art that resembled the Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) default wallpaper. It had the text: “The future has already arrived at www.apple.com/education/hslabs.” The text is printed in Apple Myriad, Apple’s corporate font used at the time.

The back of the mailing is all white and included address and postal information. The folded piece measures 8.5 x 14.25 inches.

The bottom of the mailing includes the following text:

© 2008 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Boot Camp, and iLife are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft product screenshots) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. *Windows XP and Windows Vista sold separately. April 2008 L363415A

This brochure remains in its original plastic.

Source: Apple

Conference bag (gray, c. 2008)

This gray bag features a single white Apple logo on the front center. This bag was distributed at an educational technology conference in the late 2000s. Conferences frequently distribute these types of bags in vendor areas to assist attendees in carrying the printed conference guide, brochures, and tchotchkes such as pens, t-shirts, and other logo-printed items.

This bag is made from polypropylene by Logomark. The product line is SOVRANO (style KT6500). According to the company website, the bag measures 12 inches W x 14 inches H x 8 inches D.

Source: Logomark

T-shirt, I visited the Mothership. (black, c. 2008)

This black t-shirt features the words, “I visited the Mothership.” on the front center printed in white in the Apple Myriad font. Although the architecture of the current Apple headquarters, Apple Park, resembles a UFO, this shirt refers to the 1 Infinite Loop location. Apple Park had not been constructed when they sold this shirt.

The back of the shirt features a white Apple logo at the top center.

This well-worn shirt is a Hanes Beefy-T brand in size 2XL. It was made in El Salvador. I purchased this shirt at the Apple Company Store.

T-shirt, I’m a Mac (dark orange, 2008)

This t-shirt is dark orange and features the words, “I’m a Mac.” front and center.

The t-shirt is a reference to an Apple ad campaign that ran from 2006–2009 titled “Get a Mac.” Television commercials and print ads featured two actors, Justin Long as “Mac” and comedian John Hodgman as “PC,” against an all-white background. Wikipedia describes the ads:

“The two…act out a brief vignette, in which the capabilities and attributes of Mac and PC are compared, with PC—characterized as formal and somewhat polite, though uninteresting and overly concerned with work—often being frustrated by the more laid-back Mac’s abilities.”

The t-shirt tag indicates it is a Hanes Beefy-T brand made from 100% cotton in size 2XL. It was made in El Salvador. The back of the t-shirt is blank.

Although Apple sold a shirt with a similar design, this shirt was exclusive to the Apple Distinguished Educator program. I am part of the ADE Class of 2007. (The Apple Company Store version uses smaller text with the words “Hello, I’m a Mac.” and has a white Apple logo on the top-center of the back.)

Source: Wikipedia

Xsan 2 box (2008)

This Xsan 2 retail box from 2008 includes the software to set up Apple’s SAN (Storage Area Network) solution on a Mac with a G5 processor with an Apple Fibre Channel card running Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server 10.5 or later.

The box uses the tagline, “Share terabytes of storage. Zero bottlenecks.”

The four key technologies highlighted on the box include:

  • Simplified setup
  • MultiSAN
  • Full-throttle performance
  • Spotlight

The Xsan 2 setup guide is not for the faint of heart. It lists “Equipment You’ll Need” and specifies, “To set up a SAN using the instructions in this guide, you need:”

  • RAID storage devices for SAN storage
  • Two computers running Mac OS X Server v10.5 to act as SAN metadata controllers
  • One or more SAN client computers running Mac OS X v10.5 or Mac OS X Server v10.5
  • An Intel or PowerPC G5 processor and at least 2 GB of RAM in each SAN computer
  • An additional 2 GB per SAN volume in each metadata controller that hosts more
  • than one SAN volume
  • An Apple Fibre Channel PCI, PCI-X, or PCI-E card installed in each SAN computer
  • A Fibre Channel switch and cables for all storage devices and computers
  • An Ethernet switch and cables for the private SAN metadata network
  • A second Ethernet switch and cables for public intranet and Internet access
  • An equipment rack for your RAID storage systems and Xserve computers
  • A list of qualified RAID systems and Fibre Channel switches is available on the Xsan website at www.apple.com/xsan

Source: Apple