Tag: Generation 3

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Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop (PRODUCT(RED), Generation 3, 45 mm, Size 12, 2022)

The Braided Solo Loop Apple Watch band was released in 2020 along with the Apple Watch Series 6. The packaging describes this product as a “Textile Fitted Band.” According to Apple’s website:

“Each Braided Solo Loop features a unique, stretchable design that’s ultracomfortable and easy to slip on and off your wrist. Created by weaving 16,000 recycled polyester yarn filaments around ultrathin silicone threads using advanced, precision-braiding machinery, then laser cutting the band to an exact length for a custom fit. The band offers a soft, textured feel and is both sweat and water resistant.”

The color of this band is red and part of Apple’s PRODUCT(RED) partnership. It was available in 41 mm and 45 mm widths. The 41 mm Braided Solo Loop was sold in wrist sizes 1–9, and the 45 mm Braided Solo Loop was sold in wrist sizes 4–12. This is the second version of the PRODUCT(RED) Braided Solo Loop (Apple had released three versions of this band as of 2024—the second and third versions were identical except for packaging.)

The product box featured the message “Apple is proud to join (RED) in funding programs to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.” As of 2024, Apple’s dedicated (RED) page noted:

“Apple and (RED) are committed to fighting AIDS. In 17 years, we’ve contributed more than a quarter of a billion dollars, helping provide lifesaving treatments to people living with HIV. And with your support, we are not backing down.”

According to Apple’s website, “This band comes in custom sizes because it’s designed for an ultracomfortable fit. An accurate measurement will help you get the size that’s right for you.” The website allowed buyers to download a PDF and cut out a “tool” that wrapped around the wrist to designate the band size needed.

Source: Apple (product, (RED)), Bandbreit app

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Apple TV (Generation 3, Early 2013)

When the Apple TV was first released in 2007, it was described as an “easy to use and fun way to wirelessly play all your favorite iTunes content from your PC or Mac on your widescreen TV, including movies, TV shows, music, photos and podcasts.” Three years later, the Generation 2 Apple TV was released in a form factor 80% smaller than the original device and with enhanced streaming capabilities.

The Generation 3 Apple TV was released on March 7, 2012, and featured “1080p programming including iTunes movies and TV shows, Netflix, Vimeo, photos and more in HD. With iTunes in the Cloud, customers can purchase and play their favorite movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store and watch them instantly on their HD TV.”

In addition to a “simpler, refined user interface,” AirPlay allowed users to stream or mirror content from an iPad or iPhone 4S to Apple TV.

The Apple TV Generation 3 looked identical to the Generation 2 model. It was 0.9 inch high, 3.9 x 3.9 inches square (with rounded corners) and weighed 0.6 pound. It used an Apple single-core A5 processor and had both Wi-Fi (802.11a, b, g, or n) and a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port. Its audio/visual ports included HDMI and optical audio, and its maximum video output was 1080p, 1920 x 1080 HD (the Generation 2 was capable only of 720p).

The Early 2013 version of the Generation 3 Apple TV (model A1469) was not officially touted by Apple as an upgrade, but the internal hardware changed in approximately March 2013. EveryMac called this the Generation 3 “Revision A” version and reported that “Compared to the model it quietly replaced, it has a smaller 28 nm version of the Apple A5 processor (S5L8947), different identifiers, and supports Peer-to-Peer AirPlay (running Apple TV Software Update 7.0 or later).”

Sources: Apple (original Apple TV, Generation 2 Apple TV, Generation 3 Apple TV, technical specifications), EveryMac (early 2012, early 2013)

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Apple TV (Generation 3, Early 2012)

When the Apple TV was first released in 2007, it was described as an “easy to use and fun way to wirelessly play all your favorite iTunes content from your PC or Mac on your widescreen TV, including movies, TV shows, music, photos and podcasts.” Three years later, the Generation 2 Apple TV was released in a form factor 80% smaller than the original device and with enhanced streaming capabilities.

The Generation 3 Apple TV (model A1427) was released on March 7, 2012, and featured “1080p programming including iTunes movies and TV shows, Netflix, Vimeo, photos and more in HD. With iTunes in the Cloud, customers can purchase and play their favorite movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store and watch them instantly on their HD TV.”

In addition to a “simpler, refined user interface,” AirPlay allowed users to stream or mirror content from an iPad or iPhone 4S to Apple TV.

The Apple TV Generation 3 looked identical to the Generation 2 model. It was 0.9 inch high, 3.9 x 3.9 inches square (with rounded corners) and weighed 0.6 pound. It used an Apple single-core A5 processor and had both Wi-Fi (802.11a, b, g, or n) and a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port. Its audio/visual ports included HDMI and optical audio with a maximum video output of 1080p, 1920 x 1080 HD (the Generation 2 was capable only of 720p).

Sources: Apple (original Apple TV, Generation 2 Apple TV, Generation 3 Apple TV, technical specifications), EveryMac

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AirPort Extreme (Generation 3, Apple Service part, Early 2009)

According to Apple, this AirPort Extreme (Generation 3) provided “simultaneous dual-band wireless 802.11n networking. When you set up your AirPort Extreme Base Station, it creates two high-speed Wi-Fi networks.”

The AirPort Extreme Generation 3 had 5 ports:

  • 1 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Wide Area Network (WAN) port (for DSL/cable modem)
  • 3 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN) (for Ethernet devices, such as printers or computers)
  • 1 USB port (for a USB printer, hard disk, or hub)

This device is packaged as an Apple Service part and does not include the retail packaging. The box, labeled Part Number 661-4908, contains the three parts needed to repair or replace the device including a power adapter, a power plug (North America), and a base station.

This AirPort Extreme model was available for less than 8 months before it was replaced by the Generation 4 model. It measured 6.5 x 6.5 inches square and was 1.3 inches tall. It weighed 1.66 pounds.

Sources: Apple (manuals), Wikipedia

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AirPort Time Capsule 802.11n (Generation 3, 2TB, 2009)

The AirPort Time Capsule was a device that combined Apple’s Wi-Fi base station with a built-in hard drive that allowed network-attached storage (NAS). This example (A1355) is the third of five generations of this product released between 2008 and 2013. Apple described this product as a “Backup Appliance” that was designed to work with its Time Machine software that was released with Mac OS X 10.5.

Using the Time Machine software, Time Capsule creates backups of the operating system and files wirelessly and automatically, thus eliminating the need for an external hard drive. Time Machine made hourly backups of the files that were changed and managed older backup images to save space. The initial backup of a computer using Time Machine could take several hours (or overnight) on an 802.11n wireless network, but subsequent hourly backups occurred instantly and far more quickly (depending on file sizes).

This Generation 3 model used the same design as Generations 1–4: 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches tall. The Generation 3 included the following interfaces:

  • One Gigabit Ethernet WAN port for connecting a DSL or cable modem
  • Three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for connecting computers or network devices
  • USB port for connecting a USB printer or USB external hard drive
  • 802.11n wireless

Time Capsule used a Hitachi Deskstar hard drive, the same hard drive sold with Apple’s Xserve server products. The Hitachi Deskstar met or exceeded 1 million hours mean time between failures (MTBF) status, common for server-grade hard drives.

Sources: Apple, Wikipedia

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Wireless Keyboard (Generation 3, 2009)

Apple’s Wireless Keyboard, Generation 3, was released in October 2009 and was a slight revision to the Generation 2 version. The Generation 3 version used only two AA batteries (instead of three) and became Apple’s new standard, shipping with iMac computers released the same day.

Like its Generation 2 predecessor, this keyboard was thin and had an aluminum enclosure with thin white keys, similar to the laptops of the time. In addition, functions were added to the function keys such as media controls. Its round power button was found on the right side of the keyboard—opposite the cylindrical battery enclosure. It connected via Bluetooth.

This keyboard style was updated one more time to a Generation 4 version when Mac OS X Lion (10.7) was released. The Generation 4 version updated two function keys: the Exposé key was changed to a Mission Control key, and the Dashboard key changed to a Launchpad key.

This keyboard design was replaced entirely on October 13, 2015, with the Apple Magic Keyboard.

Source: Wikipedia

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Apple Watch Classic Buckle (Generation 3, 316L Stainless Steel Buckle, 42 mm, Red, Spring 2016)

The Apple Watch Classic Buckle was made in two sizes and fit wrists measuring 130–195 mm (38 mm version) and 150–215 mm (42 mm version). Apple described this band as a traditional design “made from a calf leather that ages naturally over time to acquire a beautiful patina. A contrasting interior lining creates a dramatic two-tone look, and the color-matched edge stitching provides a subtle complement.”

This version of the Classic Buckle is the third generation of the design (the fourth generation added a spring-loaded square buckle to make it easier to insert the band). Its color is Red, but the band is not part of Apple’s (PRODUCT)RED collection.

In this example the Red Classic Buckle is paired with an Apple Watch Series 7 in silver stainless steel.

Sources: Apple, Bandbreite app

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iPad Pro 11-inch (Generation 3, Wi-Fi, 128GB, 2021)

The Generation 3, 11-inch iPad Pro appears the same externally as its two predecessors, but uses Apple’s significantly faster M1 chip and adds an enhanced front camera. This iPad Pro featured an Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores along with a 16-core Neural Engine. The iPad Pro website boasts that this model is “Supercharged by the Apple M1 chip” with “Mind-blowing performance.”

Apple adds:

“With M1, iPad Pro is the fastest device of its kind. It’s designed to take full advantage of next‑level performance and custom technologies like the advanced image signal processor and unified memory architecture of M1. And with the incredible power efficiency of M1, iPad Pro is still thin and light with all‑day battery life, making it as portable as it is powerful.”

This iPad Pro 11-inch uses an LED-backlit 2388×1668 Liquid Retina display (264 ppi, 600 nits) with a thin black bezel with rounded corners and flat sides. This iPad is Space Gray, and it was also available in Silver. This 128GB models used 8GB RAM (as did the 256 and 512 GB options, while the 1 and 2 TB models used 16 GB of RAM).

This iPad Pro included a USB-C port (Thunderbolt/USB 4) for charging and wired connectivity. Wireless connectivity included 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. Cellular models were also available.

The 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front camera was the first iPad camera to offer the Center Stage feature that automatically keeps people in the camera frame by zooming and panning. Its two rear cameras included a 12-megapixel wide angle and a 10-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens.

Like iPhone Pro models of the time, this iPad Pro also included LiDAR and Face ID. It could also use a Generation 2 Apple Pencil that charged using a magnetic connection on the side of the iPad. A similar iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch screen was sold at the same time as this 11-inch model.

Sources: Apple, EveryMac