Apple development company Panic has had an iPod prototype in a closet for two decades and is now showing it to the world.
Why are hyperlinks dark blue and underlined? On Mozilla’s blog, Elise Blanchard explores the history and possible reasons for this seemingly arbitrary design choice.
An Italian man has procured a prototype of Apple’s infamous AirPower—a multi-device wireless charging mat the company canceled two years after its announcement without ever shipping it.
Faced with the inability to gather signatures in person on a commemorative certificate for a departing friend, Adam Engst simulated the process by collecting messages with Google Forms, turning them into text graphics with handwriting fonts, and arranging them in a layout program.
Parker Ortolani of 9to5Mac has created concept art of Mac OS 9-based phones, watches, and tablets. Imagine what might have been if the hardware technology of the day had been up to the task.
Looking for the perfect gift for an Apple fan? Look no further than Stephen Hackett’s 2022 Apple Hardware Calendar, a 20-by-13-inch wall calendar featuring product photos and launch dates.
Kirk McElhearn mailed an AirTag to a friend to see if he could track it as it worked its way through the mail system. Short answer: he could, although the AirTag’s behavior upon arriving wasn’t entirely as expected.
Stephen Hackett of 512 Pixels has gathered together sound clips of the chimes of death played by various classic Mac models when they couldn’t boot. They’re fascinating, but if you experienced these a lot back in the day, beware of flashbacks!
Electric bicycles have become popular for their motor-assisted, eco-friendly locomotion, and some even have companion apps. Julio Ojeda-Zapata took a break from his traditional road bike to test two such high-tech e-bikes and found that their iPhone-based connectivity adds considerably to the experience.
Remember Apple’s “Think different” ad campaign and those striking black-and-white images of historical figures? What you probably didn’t know is that backup software company Dantz Development had parodies created of those posters as decorations for a late-1990s Macworld Expo party. Here they all are.
In a long, amusingly written blog post, the hacker known as “Alex” outlines how he discovered former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott’s passport number and phone number from an ill-advised Instagram post, got Qantas to fix the security hole, and avoided going to jail.
15 years ago, Apple helped the US government develop a custom iPod for clandestine missions. Of course, neither Apple nor the US government will admit this ever happened. Former Apple engineer and inadvertent intelligence operative David Shayer tells the story of the iPod that never existed.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is turning 70, and he’s inviting everyone to celebrate his birthday with him online.
Tired of the nonstop drumbeat of negative news? Science, technology, and even governments are doing amazing things that are actually improving the world in significant ways. To give your brain a break, Adam Engst recommends the Future Crunch newsletter’s weekly roundup of positive news stories.
Six Colors publisher Jason Snell has started a series of essays, podcasts, and videos that will explore 20 notable Mac models. Adam and Tonya Engst will make guest appearances on the podcast, so be sure to tune in.