Tag: card

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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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Join a community of leaders and educators information card (c. 2022)

This informational card is printed on card stock and features a photo of two educators sitting in a library, both using iPad devices. It is printed with the text “Join a community of leaders and educators.” The URL education.apple.com is printed below.

The back of the card is white and includes the text (printed in black):

“The Apple Education Community is an online space where education leaders, educators, and IT professionals can connect, share, and learn. Engage in thoughtful discussions, ask questions, share stories, and find helpful resources to support your work every day.”

Two QR codes are printed below the text. The QR code “For leaders” directs to https://education.apple.com/forum/leadership. The QR code “For educators” directs to https://education.apple.com/forum/teaching-and-learning.

All text on this card is printed in Apple’s San Francisco corporate font.

Source: Apple (leaders, educators)

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Luggage Identification Card (brushed stainless steel, 2009)

This Luggage Identification Card is metal with a silver brushed stainless steel finish. The metal edges of the card are folded in to secure a clear plastic front, a white card that reads “YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE,” and a matching stainless steel back plate. The metal back plate and card housing have holes that match positions so when threaded, the Luggage Identification Card remains secure.

The stainless steel back plate on this Luggage Identification Card is printed in white with the words “2009 Education Sales Club” in the Apple Myriad font. Apple Myriad was Apple’s corporate font used approximately between 2003–2017.

Source: Wikipedia (Typography of Apple)

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Apple employee challenge cards (2023)

Apple challenge cards are sent to Apple employees who participate in company-sponsored events, usually with a gift to celebrate the accomplishment of successfully completing the challenge.

These challenge cards include:

Close Your Rings Challenge (2023)—Hat’s off to you! Congrats! You finished strong. We hope you’re moved to keep on moving—and finding motivation even beyond this Challenge. Your exclusive Apple-branded hat will be an ongoing reminder to keep your body active and your head in the game. You deserve it.

[Editorial note: I wonder how many Apple employees looked at the grossly misspelled headline “Hat’s off to you!”—with the completely unnecessary apostrophe—before thousands of them were printed in metallic gold. Someone’s head was not in the game!]

Mindful Minute Challenge (2023)—One sip at a time. Cheers to you for completing the Mindful Minute Challenge. Enjoy this mug to help remind you to pause and practice mindfulness with something as simple as a sip. Or create your own mindful practice by slowly tracing the logo while taking a few breaths to find your own inner comfort.

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Notecard set (white, “fruit” color Apple logos, c. 2001)

This set of white notecards features five different designs. Each card measures 4.25 x 6.25 inches, and the front-center of each card has a color Apple logo that is approximately one-half inch wide.

The Apple logos are stylized to appear as though they are partially transparent. The colors resemble the “fruit” iMac G3 colors that were released on January 5, 1999: Blueberry (blue), Grape (purple), Tangerine (orange), Lime (green), and Strawberry (red).

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Apple employee challenge cards (2022)

Apple challenge cards are sent to Apple employees who participate in company-sponsored events, usually with a gift to celebrate the accomplishment of successfully completing the challenge.

These challenge cards include:

Close Your Rings Challenge (2022)—Hooray! You did it. Congrats on finishing the Close Your Rings Challenge with flying colors. We hope this journey has inspired you to keep the momentum going (and your body moving). Wear this Apple-branded pullover shirt as a reminder to keep on closing those rings—you’ve earned it.
Mindful Minute Challenge (2022)—Your presence is a gift. Relax, reflect, and remember your practice can be flexible (and comfortable). Use this cozy pillow-blanket combo to rest your head, take a seat, or elevate your mindful practice any way, or anywhere, you wish. Be present and keep going. You’ve got this.

Sources: MacRumors

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Apple Watch Woven Nylon Band (42mm, Close Your Rings, Black Buckle, 2018)

[This is my 800th post!]

This “Close Your Rings” Apple Watch Woven Nylon band was only available to Apple employees who participated in and completed the “Close Your Rings” challenge in 2018.

According to MacRumors writer mikedop, who has extensively researched and written about the challenges:

“The Close Your Rings Woven Nylon was the second ever employee exclusive Apple Watch band. This exclusivity combined with the unique design lead to a high demand for the band on secondhand markets like eBay… The Close Your Rings 2018 prize came with a challenge card as well…in a book-like style, with the text on the outside and the band stuck to the card on the inside. The text, sitting on the front below a metallic silhouette of the activity rings in either gold, silver or bronze, read the following: ‘Closure. At last. You did it. You completed the Close Your Rings Challenge, and this band is proof. Put it on your wrist. Let it go straight to your head. You’ve earned it. Wear it, flaunt it, feel free to sweat all over it. It’s yours.’”

Incidentally, the first employee-exclusive Apple Watch band was the original Pride band given to employees who attended the LGBT Pride festival in San Francisco on June 26, 2016.

This Close Your Rings woven nylon band is all black with black plastic lugs and a black buckle. It has a three-color loop closure (called the “keeper” in watch parlance) in blue, green, and red—representing the colors of Apple’s Activity rings. This band is in the 42mm size.

Although this band was not available for sale, this is the description that Apple used for the Woven Nylon Band collection:

“Every Woven Nylon band is made from over 500 threads woven together in a unique, colorful pattern. Monofilaments connect four layers of the weave to create a single durable band with a comfortable, fabric-like feel.”

Sources: Apple, MacRumors (mikedop, Pride band)