Apple is understood for its iconic units such because the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, however the firm additionally has an intensive lineup of equipment, starting from USB cables to iPhone instances and even Apple Watch bands. And the corporate has simply added a brand new member to its household of equipment.
Dubbed iPhone Pocket, the brand new accent is the results of a collaboration between the corporate and Issey Miyake. It’s basically a small material sleeve with an expandable strap described as a “lovely option to put on and carry your iPhone” round. Surprisingly, costs can attain $230 per piece.
However this isn’t Apple’s first head-scratching accent. Learn on as we dive into a number of the firm’s most head-scratching creations.
iPod Socks
Apple
When Steve Jobs introduced iPod Socks as a “revolutionary new product” throughout an Apple occasion keynote in October 2004, many individuals laughed, pondering that Jobs wasn’t critical about launching a pack of colourful socks for iPods. Jobs even joked about how different corporations have been making some huge cash from third-party iPod equipment, whereas Apple had zero official equipment at that time.
The concept was to compete with protecting instances for iPods, however with an unique, enjoyable, and surprising contact that solely Apple may present. The socks have been suitable with just about all iPod fashions accessible on the time and guarded them from scratches once they weren’t getting used.
iPod Socks weren’t precisely handy because you needed to take the iPod out of the sock to entry the Click on Wheel. Nonetheless, the accent was enjoyable, distinctive, and most significantly, fairly reasonably priced. A pack that included six coloration choices value $29, lower than $5 per sock.
In some ways, we are able to say that the brand new iPhone Pocket has a contact of inspiration from iPod Socks.
U2 iPod
Apple
Additionally in 2004, on the identical occasion the place Jobs introduced iPod Socks, Apple additionally unveiled the U2 Particular Version iPod. To have fun the nice relationship between Apple and U2, the corporate launched a particular version iPod in black with a purple Click on Wheel. On the again, the iPod had the signatures of every member of the band laser-engraved.
Prospects who purchased the U2 iPod additionally obtained an unique poster and a $50 coupon towards the first-ever Digital Field Set containing all of U2’s music as much as that time. It was clearly made for superfans of U2 and wasn’t the final time Apple and U2 would trigger waves of confusion.
Solely 4 generations of the U2 iPod have been launched over time, making the product an costly collector’s merchandise for individuals who nonetheless have one. The existence of the U2 iPod is a reminder that Apple likes to collaborate on new merchandise on occasion.
iPod Hello-Fi
Apple
Marketed as “house stereo reinvented,” the iPod Hello-Fi was Apple’s first try to deliver music and its minimalist design language into the lounge. A decade earlier than HomePod existed, the iPod Hello-Fi amplified songs performed by way of the iPod with the assistance of a number of audio system and a big built-in woofer.
Since AirPlay wasn’t a factor again then, customers needed to plug their iPod into the Hello-Fi system utilizing a 30-pin connector precariously positioned on the prime of the heavy speaker. There was additionally a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting different units to the iPod Hello-Fi.
As a result of its excessive worth ($349), unimpressive sound, and lack of wi-fi connectivity, the iPod Hello-Fi by no means turned a success. Apple ended up discontinuing the product only one 12 months later, after launching the primary iPhone. And most of the people most likely by no means missed it.
iPad Keyboard Dock
Apple
When Apple introduced the primary iPad in 2010, the corporate additionally launched an intriguing accent: the iPad Keyboard Dock. As an alternative of a wi-fi keyboard or a folio case, it was actually a dock with a full-size keyboard hooked up.
Regardless of Apple’s try to incorporate keyboard shortcuts particularly designed for the iPad, the keyboard felt awkward, had no adjustability, and required the iPad to be linked through the 30-pin connector. Due to that, it was solely doable to make use of the iPad with the keyboard in portrait orientation.
The accent value $69, which was considerably costly for a clunky keyboard. The iPad Keyboard Dock was discontinued a 12 months later, after the launch of the iPad 2. It took Apple 4 years to launch one other keyboard for the iPad, this time a a lot better one (the Sensible Folio Keyboard).
Mac Professional Wheels Package and Professional Show Stand
Apple
When Apple launched the 2019 Mac Professional and Professional Show XDR, the corporate marketed it as a modular, skilled desktop that would deal with every little thing from 8K video enhancing to superior 3D rendering. However alongside this long-overdue Mac and monitor, the corporate unveiled two equipment that made all of the headlines.
For $699, prospects may substitute the usual stainless-steel toes with a set of 4 polished wheels so they might simply transfer their Mac Professional round. The concept made some sense for studio environments, however the worth (practically $175 per wheel) turned the Mac Professional Wheels Package right into a meme.
To make issues worse, the wheels don’t include all of the instruments wanted to put in them on the Mac. As well as, the wheels don’t have locks, so your $6,000 laptop may merely roll away if the ground isn’t completely stage.
However that wasn’t the one confoundingly overpriced accent launched. Whereas the Mac Professional’s companion monitor, the 32-inch 6K Professional Show XDR, actually impressed with its specs, customers have been extra shocked that the $5,000 monitor didn’t include a stand included.
Reasonably, Apple bought a Professional Stand individually with an insane $999 price ticket. It was unimaginable to not discover the gang’s unfavourable response on the occasion in the course of the announcement (which was notably Apple’s final stay keynote).
Each merchandise are over-engineered, superbly crafted, and exhausting to justify. But, they’re each nonetheless stocked in shops.
Apple Sprucing Fabric
Apple
In 2021, Apple quietly launched an adjunct that nobody requested for, however everybody talked about. The Apple Sprucing Fabric appeared on the corporate’s on-line retailer with a $19 price ticket and a easy description: a tender, nonabrasive materials that “cleans any Apple show.”
Nearly instantly, the material went viral. Some mocked it as the final word image of Apple’s luxurious pricing, whereas others defended it, claiming it truly labored higher than low-cost microfiber alternate options. The product even bought out inside hours, with delivery dates slipping by months.
It turned each a meme and a collector’s merchandise, proving that Apple may even flip a easy cleansing accent into a standing image. To at the present time, the Sprucing Fabric stays on sale, a small however excellent instance of Apple’s capability to make small issues appear premium.
iPhone Crossbody Strap
Apple
Extra not too long ago, Apple launched one other accent that divided individuals’s opinions: the iPhone Crossbody Strap. The strap will be hooked up to all Apple iPhone 17 instances and lets customers put on their model new iPhone as a trend accent, just like the brand new iPhone Pocket.
Whereas some see no level within the accent, others appear to love the thought of carrying their iPhone round as if it have been a small purse. One factor we are able to’t deny is that the accent isn’t low-cost both: $59 for every skinny strap, and the case isn’t included.
Bizarre, however very Apple
As you may see, Apple has an extended historical past of making an attempt to push new equipment. Whereas some fail, others emphasize Apple’s capability to show nearly something right into a premium product.
It’s nonetheless too early to inform whether or not the brand new iPhone Pocket might be a success or whether or not it’ll quietly disappear in a 12 months, however not less than Apple is as soon as once more making an attempt to do one thing totally different.
