apple-history posts

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Apple

30 years of Apple in three minutes

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Dec 16th, 2008

Megan's great roundup of Apple history from the other day wasn't enough nostalgia for you? It should have been -- wow there was a lot of old Apple stuff in there. But just in case your itch for the days of Apple yore isn't yet scratched, here's a great little video compilation of every Apple product from the last thirty years, squished into three minutes and set to Fiona Apple's cover of "Across the Universe."

The IIe! The PowerCD! The QuickTake! And even those early notebooks, which look so blocky today, were impressive in their time. Unfortunately, this video won't tell you much about what these products all were, but just the sight of some of these old units is enough to make the memories come flooding back for us old Apple fans. The iPhone and the iPod are so much hipper, it seems, compared to the units of Apple's past -- you think we'll ever look back with such nostalgia on the first touchscreens we got? A product like the Newton was so charming because it was so quirky, but the iPhone is sleek, popular, and impressive. Do you think future generations will look back at today's Apple products with the same fondness?

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Tags: apple, apple-history, apple-iie, history, ipod, newton, nostalgia, power-cd, video

Filed under: Apple, Apple History

A nice collection of Apple print ads

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Feb 8th, 2008

Here's a great collection of Apple print ads from the past twenty years.

What I've found interesting is that trademark aspects of today's Apple machines can be found in these old designs, like fan-free heat dissipation, the tendency to shrink things and ads that show disembodied hands holding their hardware.

While you're there, check out this great 39-page advertisement for the Macintosh. Talk about hype.

My favorite campaign is the Think Different series of TV spots and posters. What's yours?

[Via Coudal Partners]

Tags: advertisements, apple, apple-history, macintosh

Filed under: Multimedia, Apple History

MacHeads: The movie

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Jan 22nd, 2008

Perhaps you've seen the documentary Trekkies. Hosted by the late Tasha Yar (curse you, Armus!), it profiles several of the show's most zealous fans and by that I mean people with serious mental disorders. Did you see what they did to that poor truck? None of us would get so carried away with our Apple fandom.

Just a minute. Before you set your phasers to Smug, check out the trailer for MacHeads: The Movie. It feels like a cross between Trekkies and Leander Kahney's The Cult of Mac. Several users proclaim their love, including the guy with the tattoos and the girl who states in no uncertain terms that she has never slept with a Windows user.

A few Mac celebs appear as well, including the man who isn't America's least-beloved technology pundit. The movie looks awesome, and we can't wait to see it. Not that we're obsessed or anything.

[Via JSTAMANT.com]

Tags: apple-history, lore, macheads, movie

Filed under: Macworld, Steve Jobs, Apple History

The Ghost of Macworld Past

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Jan 7th, 2008

We had fun talking about our favorite moments from Macworld keynotes during last night's talkcast. From the Big Brother moment in Boston to Steve dropping the S-Bomb in 1997 (twice!).

Today, we've compiled the best videos we could find into a single post. Behold the Ghost of Macworld Past, and enjoy the nostalgia.

Steve announces Apple's partnership with Microsoft, Bill Gates appears. Observe how hesitant Steve is to begin this segment of the keynote and the stunned crowd's reaction. Do you think it was a coincidence that Bill's appearance on the big screen was so similar to the 1984 ad? Don't bet on it.
The introduction of the iMac. This is my favorite Macworld memory, as it's the moment that "saved" Apple. That round, plastic design became iconic, and you know the rest.
Noah Wyle appears as Steve Jobs. Fresh from playing Steve in The Pirates of Silicon Valley, Noah took a break from the ER set to briefly play Steve on stage at the start of the scheduled keynote. Watch Steve chastise him for not opening a bottle of water before beginning to speak.
The introduction of the iBook. Remember "iMac to go?" Oh, how I wanted one of these.
Steve introduces Mac OS X. I didn't see the public beta of Mac OS X, so I was floored by this presentation. I bought 10.0 the day is was made available.

Here are four more great moments from Apple history. While they weren't filmed at Macworld, they still have a place in our retrospective.

Mac OS 9's funeral (WWDC 2002). So long, extension conflicts, system freezes and Platinum Sounds. We'll miss you. Kind of.
Steve plays the 1984 ad in public for the first time. I think this is his best speech ever. The insane crowd reaction gives me goosebumps.
The introduction of the iPod (Special media event). I clearly remember thinking, "An Mp3 player? We're supposed to be all excited over an Mp3 player?!?" What do I know?
The introduction of the Macintosh (Shareholder's meeting). Another great moment. Watch the crowd lose their collective minds when the tiny Mac "talks." Hey Steve, nice bow tie.

Tags: apple-history, keynote, macworld, steve-jobs

Filed under: Apple History

What to do with 4,000 Newton modems

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Nov 27th, 2007

When the cat's away, the mice will play.

The cat being Steve Jobs (absent from Apple in 1996) and the mice a team of Newton developers who found themselves alone with 4,000 modems and a video camera. As you've undoubtedly surmised, they created an impressive domino-type arrangement of the modems in the halls of Apple.

The video is longer than it needs to be, so skip ahead a bit. While you're at it, dig the 90's fashion statements. ~~Flock Of Seagulls~~ Nirvana concert, anyone?

[Via Macenstein]

Tags: apple, apple-history, newton

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