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

Apple Watch Sport Loop Demo (Plum, 44 mm, 2020)

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

This band is primarily “plum,” a shade of dark purple, with two different color edges. One edge is orange and the other is dark pink. The plastic connectors are dark plum, and the plastic closure is orange.

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.”

This band’s packaging is marked “Demo,” meaning that it was meant to be used as an Apple Store demonstration band for potential customers to see and try in person. However, the box was unopened and the band was never used as a Demo.

Source: Apple, Bandbreite

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)

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

Apple Watch Sport Loop (45mm, Lavender Gray/Light Lilac, Spring 2022)

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

This Lavender Gray/Light Lilac band used a two-stripe design first introduced in Fall 2021. One stripe was “Lavender Gray,” a shade of shade of light purple-gray, and the other was “Light Lilac” a light pale purple (almost white). The edges and connector plastics were a contrasting yellow (similar to the “Lemon Zest” shade used in Apple’s Spring 2022 collection), and the closure plastics matched the Lavender Gray stripe.

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, Bandbreite

iPhone 14 Pro (Deep Purple, 2022)

The iPhone 14 Pro was announced on September 7, 2022; began pre-orders on Friday, September 9, 2022; and was available beginning Friday, September 16, 2022. Apple’s website led with the following description of the iPhone 14 Pro:

“A magical new way to interact with iPhone. Groundbreaking safety features designed to save lives. An innovative 48MP camera for mind-blowing detail. All powered by the ultimate smartphone chip.”

The primary new technologies used in the iPhone 14 Pro included: “Always-On display, the first-ever 48MP camera on iPhone, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, and an innovative new way to receive notifications and activities with the Dynamic Island.”

The four colors available at release were deep purple, silver, gold, and space black. The iPhone 14 Pro had a 6.1-inch “Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion” with an Always-On display (for the first time on an iPhone) that used a 1Hz refresh rate with power-efficient technologies. In practice, the Always-On display faded to a dim/dark version of the Wallpaper and allowed the time and up to four widgets to show (a widget above the time and up to 3 below the time). Other “Live Activities” showed in the bottom two-thirds of the Lock screen, including alerts and play/pause options for media.

The iPhone 14 Pro also delivered “the highest outdoor peak brightness in a smartphone: up to 2000 nits, which is twice as bright as iPhone 13 Pro.”

The Dynamic Island was also introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro. The design of this iPhone removed the “notch” that had been used since the iPhone X and moved the functions slightly lower into a pill shape. Apple described the Dynamic Island system as one “that blends the line between hardware and software, adapting in real time to show important alerts, notifications, and activities. With the introduction of the Dynamic Island, the TrueDepth camera has been redesigned to take up less of the display area.”

Apple continued, “Without impeding content on the screen, the Dynamic Island maintains an active state to allow users easier access to controls with a simple tap-and-hold. Ongoing background activities like Maps, Music, or a timer remain visible and interactive, and third-party apps in iOS 16 that provide information like sports scores and ride-sharing with Live Activities can take advantage of the Dynamic Island.”

The iPhone 14 Pro camera system added a 2x camera (in addition to the 0.5x, 1x, and 3x options on the iPhone 13 Pro). The iPhone 14 Pro also offered a new “48MP Main camera with a quad-pixel sensor that adapts to the photo being captured, and features second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization.”

Other new camera features included a front TrueDepth camera with an ƒ/1.9 aperture for better low-light photos and video, adaptive True Tone flash with an array of nine LEDs, and Action mode for “incredibly smooth-looking video that adjusts to significant shakes, motion, and vibrations, even when video is being captured.”

All iPhone 14 models added Crash Detection that used a variety of built-in sensors (dual-core accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, GPS, and microphone) to “detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.” Additionally, Emergency SOS via satellite was added, “which combines custom components…to allow antennas to connect directly to a satellite, enabling messaging with emergency services when outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.”

The iPhone 14 Pro models are powered by the A16 Bionic chip that includes two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, an accelerated 5-core GPU with 50% more memory bandwidth, and a new 16-core Neural Engine capable of nearly 17 trillion operations per second.

Many of the new features of the iPhone 14 Pro were enabled by iOS 16, released along with the entire iPhone 14 line.

This iPhone 14 Pro example is Deep Purple.

Sources: Apple (iPhone 14 Pro, Newsroom)

Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop (45mm, Size 12, English Lavender, Fall 2021)

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. Made from 100 percent recycled materials, the 16,000 polyester yarn filaments in each band are interwoven with thin silicone threads using advanced braiding machinery then laser cut to an exact length. The 300D construction offers a soft, textured feel and is both sweat-resistant and water-resistant.”

The color of this band is English Lavender, a shade of light purple. It was available in 41mm and 45mm widths. The 41mm Braided Solo Loop was sold in wrist sizes 1–9 and the 45mm Braided Solo Loop was sold in wrist sizes 4–12.

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

Color-changing pens (Bic; neon purple, green, & pink; black logotype; c. 1990)

This set of neon-colored Bic pens have black caps and are printed with a black Apple logotype in Apple Garamond, Apple’s corporate font at the time.

The three neon colors include purple, green, and pink.

UPDATE: After I posted this originally, I discovered an eBay listing for Apple “color changing pens” that looked just like these. I tested them by grasping them for a few minutes, and found that they are, indeed, color changing with heat! I’m not sure if the effect has faded with age, but each of the three colors still fade. The last three photos show the effect.

iMac G3/266 (grape, 1999)

The iMac G3/266 featured a 266 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor, 32 MB of RAM, and a 6.0 GB EIDE hard drive. Its screen was a 15-inch CRT display.

This iMac was offered in five different colors: lime (lime green), strawberry (pinkish-red), blueberry (bright blue), grape (purple), and tangerine (orange-yellow). Previously, the iMac was available only in Bondi blue (blue green).

This iMac is grape.

The iMac G3/266 models had similar specifications to the Revision B iMac line before, but shipped with a larger 6.0 GB hard drive and lacked the “Mezzanine” internal expansion slot and IrDA.

Source: EveryMac.com