Tag: 2019

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Apple Card (Titanium, Mastercard, 2019)

The Apple Card was a Mastercard credit card created by Apple and issued by Goldman Sachs. The Apple Card was designed primarily to be used with Apple Pay on an Apple device (e.g., iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac), but also included a physical credit card made of Titanium. The Apple Card was only available in the United States and reportedly had 12 million cardholders as of 2024.

This [expired] physical Apple card is made of titanium and could be used at locations where Apple Pay payments were not accepted. The logos and cardholder name on the card were laser-etched. The card does not have a card number, CVV security code, expiration date, or signature. Apple described the card:

“With laser etching and clean styling, Apple Card is designed with the same craftsmanship we bring to all our products. And it’s the only credit card made of titanium—a sustainable metal known for its beauty and durability. When you use the card, you’ll get 1% Daily Cash back on every purchase. Since Mastercard is our global payment network, you can use it all over the world. For apps and websites that don’t take Apple Pay yet, just enter the virtual card number stored securely in your Wallet app.”

These features are part of Apple’s philosophy of security. Apple explains:

“With advanced security technologies like Face ID, Touch ID, and unique transaction codes, Apple Card with Apple Pay is designed to make sure you’re the only one who can use it. The titanium card has no visible numbers. Not on the front. Not on the back. Which gives you an enhanced level of security. And your data isn’t sold to third parties for marketing or advertising.”

MacRumors offers a periodically updated Guide about the Apple Card that explains its features. The resource includes information such as:

  • If someone finds or steals your card, there’s no real way for them to use it, at least for online purchases.
  • There’s still a traditional magstripe on the back, along with a built-in chip. While the card number and CVV are not on the card itself, you can find them in the Wallet app if you need them.
  • The physical Apple Card does not support contactless payments itself — you need to use your iPhone for Apple Pay payments.
  • There is no cost for the card and there is no fee associated with replacing it if you lose it.
  • Monthly Apple Card statements are provided in the Wallet app. You can save a PDF of the statement from the Wallet app so that you can access it on other devices.

The titanium Apple Card weighs 14.7 grams.

Sources: Wikipedia, Apple, MacRumors Guide

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Smart Folio for iPad Pro 11-inch (Charcoal Gray, 2019)

Apple described the Smart Folio for iPad Pro 11-inch:

“The Smart Folio for iPad Pro is thin and light and offers front and back protection for your device. It automatically wakes your iPad when opened and puts it to sleep when closed. The Smart Folio attaches magnetically, and you can easily fold it into different positions to create a stand for reading, viewing, typing, or making FaceTime calls.”

The Smart Folio design was released along with the Smart Keyboard Folio design for the iPad Pro Generation 3. The Folio form factor added the functionality of allowing both folios to attach to the back of the iPad with strong magnets. Both Smart Folio designs offered back protection, while previous Smart Cover designs only offered front protection.

This Smart Folio is compatible with all iPad Pro 11-inch models released until 2023, including Generations 1–4.

This Smart Folio is Charcoal Gray, a shade of dark gray.

Sources: Apple, Wikipedia

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Apple Watch Series 5 (Stainless Steel, Space Black, 40 mm, 2019) with Milanese Loop (Space Black)

The Apple Watch Series 5 looked similar to the Series 4, but had an “Always-On” Retina display “that never sleeps,” a faster processor, and more storage. The GPS model required an iPhone tether to use the phone features (higher-end models had built-in wireless cellular). This watch added international emergency calling that allowed calling “emergency services directly from Apple Watch in over 150 countries, even without iPhone nearby.”

Like all previous Apple Watch models, the Apple Watch Series 5 uses a Digital Crown and a touch display. The screen is OLED at 368×448 with haptic feedback and a Force Touch display. New health and fitness features with Series 5 included Cycle Tracking, the Noise app and Activity Trends.

Previous Apple Watch models used screens that went black to conserve power. The Always-On screen in the Series 5 was made possible by the OLED display and other hardware and software. According to Apple:

“Each watch face has been carefully optimized for the new display and to preserve battery life, the screen intelligently dims when a user’s wrist is down and returns to full brightness with a raise or a tap. Several advanced technologies work together to deliver this new feature, including the industry’s only low-temperature polysilicon and oxide display (LTPO), ultra-low power display driver, efficient power management integrated circuit and new ambient light sensor.”

Three different stainless steel options were available: gold, silver, and space black—all three available on the previous model. The Series 5 introduced the “Apple Watch Studio,” both on the Apple website and on the Apple Store app. The Apple Watch Studio allowed the opportunity for buyers to select a “preferred case and band combination to create a look that is uniquely their own.”

New materials were also offered with the Series 5, including natural titanium and space black titanium. Aluminum cases in silver, gold, and space gray were offered in “100 percent recycled 7000 series aluminum.”

This unopened Apple Watch Series 5 is Space Black Stainless Steel in the 40 mm (a rare inclusion in my collection of mostly large-size Apple Watch models). This example includes a matching Space Black Milanese Loop.

Source: EveryMac, Apple

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Hydro Flask (spearmint, white logo, c. 2019)

This Hydro Flask insulated water bottle features the distinctive (and now discontinued) spearmint color (a shade of green) and features a white Apple logo. The bottom of the bottle specifies it is a 20-ounce model.

The Hydro Flask website (as of 2024) refers to this particular model as a “20 oz Wide Mouth,” named for its capacity, and it includes an “insulated cap for wide mouth bottles.” This bottle has a cap, “Flex Cap Strap,” and “Boot” (rubberized bottom)—all color-matched in the spearmint color.

Source: Hydro Flask

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iPhone 11 Pro Max Leather Case (black, 2019)

The Leather Case for the iPhone 11 Pro Max was made from “specially tanned and finished European leather, so the outside feels soft to the touch and develops a natural patina over time.” The case included “machined aluminum buttons match the finish of your leather case, while a microfiber lining inside helps protect your iPhone.”

The iPhone 11 Pro Max allowed wireless charging using the Qi charging standard of the time. This leather case was designed to allow wireless charging to pass through the case. (However, the case did not include Apple’s built-in MageSafe wireless charging—it was released a year later along with the iPhone 12.)

This iPhone 11 Pro Max Leather Case is black.

Sources: Apple, Wikipedia

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iPhone 11 (64GB, Purple, with iPhone 11 Clear Case, 2019)

When Phil Schiller introduced the iPhone 11 at a special event on September 10, 2019, he described the device:

“iPhone 11 is the next generation of iPhone, packed with great new capabilities in an incredible design, including new Ultra Wide and Wide cameras for gorgeous videos and photos, the power and ease of use of iOS 13, and A13 Bionic—the fastest chip ever in a smartphone that quickly handles the tasks that matter most to people every day.”

The iPhone 11 was the first of Apple’s base model phones to include a dual-camera system. Apple described the cameras in a press release:

“iPhone 11 introduces a dual-camera system with all-new Ultra Wide and Wide cameras that are deeply integrated into iOS 13, offering the highest quality video in a smartphone and major advancements in photography for the ultimate camera experience.”

Compared to previous models, the camera system was a major leap forward for iPhone. The camera system had two 12MP cameras (Ultra Wide and Wide). The A13 chip allowed Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, and Portrait Lighting included six effects: Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono. Panorama mode allowed photos of up to 63MP. Videos could be recorded at up to 4K (at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps). Machine learning capabilities allowed Cinematic video stabilization (4K, 1080p, and 720p) and continuous autofocus video.

iPhone 11 was available in six “stunning colors” including purple, green, yellow, black, white and PRODUCT(RED). This example is purple, a lighter shade of purple sometimes referred to as “lilac.”

This phone had a Liquid Retina HD display that measured 6.1‑inch (diagonal) display at 1792 x 828‑pixel resolution (326 ppi). The A13 Bionic chip allowed for “the best machine learning platform in a smartphone” at the time of its release. It used a 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores, a 4-core GPU, and an 8-core Neural Engine.

The iPhone 11 was also the first base iPhone to lack a Home button. Its six sensors included Face ID, barometer, 3‑axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

The design of the iPhone 11 included rounded edges and the front and back were made of glass. Apple noted, “With a back design that is precision milled and sculpted from a single piece of glass, iPhone 11 features the toughest glass ever in a smartphone.”

This iPhone is shown in an iPhone 11 Clear Case. Apple described the case as “Thin, light, and easy to grip.” According to Apple’s website:

“Made from a blend of optically clear polycarbonate and flexible TPU materials, the iPhone 11 Clear Case provides a solid, comfortable feel. The back is designed to be sturdy, while the sides are made from a softer, more flexible material that fits right over the buttons for an improved grip. And when it’s time to wirelessly charge, just leave the case on and set your iPhone on your Qi-certified charger. On the surface, a scratch-resistant coating has been applied to both the interior and exterior. And all materials and coatings are optimized to prevent yellowing over time.”

Sources: Apple (specs, Newsroom)

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Apple Watch Sport Loop (44mm, Khaki, Fall 2019)

The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. They were available for the 38/40/41mm and 42/44/45/49mm Apple Watch models.

The Apple Watch Sport Loop band has been available in several styles and colors. This particular design is comprised of a two-tone design with one accent color. This Khaki Sport Loop uses dark khaki brown and dark chocolate brown as base colors with edges in a very light beige. The closure and connector plastics are all in a shade of dark khaki that matches the thread color.

Apple describes the Apple Watch Sport Loop band:

“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Sport Loop features a hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy adjustment. The double-layer nylon weave has dense loops on the skin side that provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. On the reverse side, the attachment loops are securely anchored for superior durability.”

Source: Apple, Bandbreite

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Apple Watch Sport Loop (44mm, Pomegranate, Fall 2019)

The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. They were available for the 38/40mm and 42/44mm Apple Watch models.

The Apple Watch Sport Loop band has been available in several styles and colors. This particular design is comprised of a two-tone design with one accent color. This Pomegranate Sport Loop uses two shades of pink as base colors with the edges in a pale pink. The closure and connector plastics are in a shade of pink that matches the lighter pink thread color.

This band’s namesake, the pomegranate fruit, comes from a shrub grown for thousands of years in the Middle East, India, the Mediterranean region, and now across the globe. The exterior of the fruit is the light pink color of this watch band, while the interior features an “inner flesh that’s packed with crunchy, juicy edible seeds called arils.” The arils are red/dark pink and resemble the darker color of the band. The accent color resembles the color of the interior flesh of the fruit that surrounds the pomegranate seeds.

Apple describes the Apple Watch Sport Loop band:

“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Sport Loop features a hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy adjustment. The double-layer nylon weave has dense loops on the skin side that provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. On the reverse side, the attachment loops are securely anchored for superior durability.”

Source: Apple, Bandbreite, Wikipedia, HealthLine

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Apple Watch Sport Loop (44mm, Dragon Fruit Sport Loop, Summer 2019)

The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 38/40/41mm and 42/44/45/49mm Apple Watch models. They were offered in sizes to fit 130–200mm wrists (38/40/41mm) and 145–220 mm wrists (42/44/45/49mm).

This Dragon Fuit band appears monochromatic and closely resembles the color of the exterior of a Dragon Fruit. Upon close inspection, the band uses at least three thread colors: pink, bright pink, and dark pink. The connector and closure plastics are all in the shade of pink that most closely resembles the color or the exterior of a Dragon Fruit.

This band’s namesake, dragon fruit, is also known as the pitaya, an edible species of cactus native to southern Mexico and along the Pacific coasts of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. The exterior of the fruit is the color of this Sport Loop. (The interior of a dragon fruit has white flesh peppered with tiny black, crunchy seeds—and is not represented in the design of this watch band.) The dragon fruit is said to taste like a cross between a pear and a kiwi.

Apple described the Apple Watch Sport Loop band:

“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Sport Loop features a hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy adjustment. The double-layer nylon weave has dense loops on the skin side that provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. On the reverse side, the attachment loops are securely anchored for superior durability.”

Source: Apple, Wikipedia, HealthLine

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Milanese Loop (Silver Stainless Steel, 2019)

The Milanese Loop was among Apple’s original Apple Watch band designs. In the press release in September 2014 announcing the original Apple Watch, Apple wrote: “Apple also created an entire range of watch straps [including] the Milanese Loop in a flexible magnetic stainless steel mesh.” The original Milanese Loop was available only in silver, but has been offered in a total of five colors: Silver (Spring 2015), Space Black (Spring 2016), Graphite (Fall 2020), and two shades of Gold (Fall 2018, Fall 2020).

Apple describes the Milanese Loop:

“A modern interpretation of a design developed in Milan at the end of the 19th century. Woven on specialized Italian machines, the smooth stainless steel mesh wraps fluidly around your wrist. And because it’s fully magnetic, the Milanese Loop is infinitely adjustable, ensuring a perfect fit.”

Apple specifies that the Milanese Loop is not water resistant and cautions that the band contains magnets that may cause interference with the Compass on the watch.

The 38/40/41mm version of the band band fit 130–180mm wrists, while the 42/44/45/49mm version fit 150–200mm wrists. Although this design and color was released in 2015, this Milanese Loop is dated 2019 on the packaging, and the product was still available on the Apple website as of March 2023 (for $99).

Source: Apple (Newsroom, product)