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A precarious perch
On the list of "Places I wouldn't want to use my Apple notebook" this would be near the top. Maybe I'm just not brave enough to handle it. Have you ever used your MacBook (or PowerBook) next to a large quantity of water? [Photo credit: Ondra Soukup]
A very Apple office
"I looked around my office and realized I have a few 'books from Apple," reads Christian M. M. Brady's photo caption for the snapshot above. "A few" is an understatement, and bonus points for the trio of retro Apple desktop bookends on the shelves. [Photo credit: Christian M. M. Brady]
An iPad execution
I have no idea why this poor Apple tablet was fired upon, what its crimes were, or who decided it needed to meet its end at the end of a gun barrel. The photo has no description, making the mystery even more... mysterious? Anyway, the iPad seems to have managed to stop the small-caliber round in its tracks, as there doesn't appear to be a clean hole through the device, so bravo Apple engineers! Your creation can take a bullet. [Photo credit: Anthony DiLaura]
How many stickers is too many?
We ran a poll back in April asking how you feel about stickers on your MacBook. Not surprisingly, a whopping 41% of you said you'd never consider such a thing, while just 19% embraced the practice enthusiastically. But how much is too much? I have a feeling that the MacBook Pro pictured above falls into the "WHY!?" category, but I'll leave you to decide. I count at least 35 stickers here, which is quite an achievement in its own right, but I can't help but feel that the little glowing Apple logo smothered underneath them is crying out for help. [Photo credit: Roo Reynolds]
Posing by Steve's whip
The peculiar parking habits of Steve Jobs are quite legendary. Seeing his license-plate-free Mercedes parked in the handicapped stall of Apple HQ was a seemingly regular occurrence. So much so, in fact, that visitors treated it as a photo op. Anywhere else in the world, taking a photo next to a random vehicle might be treated as strange, but this is Cupertino. [Photo credit: Claire L. Evans]
A Mac SE becomes a store sign
This is some fantastically creative use of an old Mac that still has some life left. Bonus points for using it at what appears to be a retro clothes shop, since the Mac SE is a bit of an antique in its own right. I wonder if the Mac is for sale too? [Photo credit: Maduarte]
Inconsiderate iMac disposal
Apparently these poor, defenseless iMacs were just chucked into a snowy ditch when they had outlived their usefulness. That's a horrible end to an otherwise colorful life. Shame on whoever did this, and may you forever be cursed with dropped calls and Safari crashes. [Photo: Jason Matthews]
The iLamp G4
This is seriously one of the most creative uses of old Mac components that I've ever seen. I'm not sure a high-temp bulb next to that white plastic is a great idea, but I suppose if it melts that's just part of its charm. [Photo credit: Photo Giddy]
The 100% organic iPod
We've all heard the stories about Apple going green, but this is taking things a little bit too far. [Photo credit: absoluv]
Kids would be much simpler if they had a built-in scroll wheel
This is pretty adorable, though I wonder if he also has a "quiet" switch... [Photo credit: Upsilon Andromedae]
Design synergy
Not only does the original Mac mini fit perfectly inside the bottom of the G4 cube, but all the cords and rear fan are perfectly accessible from the gap in the rear. It's almost like it was planned. [Photo credit: Djenan Kozic]
A Mac graveyard
I'm not sure of the back story on this somewhat creepy collection of defunct computer hardware, which includes quite a few elderly Macs including a Power Mac G4 Cube and a gaggle of iMacs. The photo description says simple "In an old Mac shop," which makes it even more mysterious. Either way, it looks like a meeting of depressed Macs, discussing their glory days. There are some other classics in this collection. Anyone see that Commodore CBM Model 4032 hiding near the Cube? [Photo credit: Martin Deutsch]
A family of four... um, Apples?
I generally dislike the whole practice of putting stickers on your car to represent your immediate family, but I suppose if I were to join in, I'd consider this as a way to go. Of course, there's also the possibility that this person just really really loves Apple, in which case I'd have to insist that one sticker gets the point across just fine. [Photo credit: Lenore Edman]
So THAT'S what the inside of an iPhone looks like
No word on how this unfortunate iPhone 2G met its demise, but the damage it pretty remarkable and certainly points to something more than a simple drop. I like to imagine it died while being shot out of a cannon from the summit of K2. [Photo credit: Helen K]
'Okay Google, take a photo' comes to Search for Android app
Glass users are all too familiar with the battery of commands required to get the headwear to spring into action. Beginning today, two of those lines are available in the Google Search for Android app. If you say "Okay Google" followed by "take a photo," your device will launch the camera app. Similarly, "take a video" accomplishes the same, albeit it in movie mode. Of course, we prefer to speak into a smartphone only when absolutely necessary, and with plenty of other methods for launching into photo mode (including, of course, simply tapping the camera icon), this is a feature we don't plan to use anytime soon.
This iPod messed with the wrong people
It might look like the victim of a mob hit, but according to the photo's Flickr description, this iPod actually flew out of its owner's bag while rushing across a rainy street. That's a remarkable amount of damage from such a tumble, and imagining the media device getting riddled by a Tommy gun is much more entertaining, so we'll just pretend. [Photo credit: Findfado]
How to photograph a leaked Apple product
So you got your hands on an unreleased Apple product -- maybe even a prototype (oooooooh, yummy) -- and you want to let the whole damn world know about it? Good news! There's a tool that people like you often use to share their good fortune with the rest of the world, and it's called "The Internet!" Here in this wonderful digital land, there are writers and publications that will spread just about anything you can throw at them, as long as it can't actually be verified in any possible way. There are more of these types of websites than you can count on all your fingers and toes, but the good news is that if you get one of them to pay attention to you, the rest will follow suit! This is all dependent on one thing: having a fantastic, perfect, amazing photo to sacrifice to the rumor gods. Here are the rules you need to follow to become an anonymous Apple deity. Rule #1: Don't take a photo of a complete gadget It doesn't matter if you have an entire, functional version of Apple's unreleased phone, tablet or watch, because rumors aren't good if they don't have a little mystery to them. What you really want is a nondescript component that could really be used for absolutely anything. This way you give the rumor sites a bit of room to work in their own theories. The first thing you need to do is disassemble the device in question and find the most unremarkable part of it to focus on. The first two photos in this lineup won't get the rumor juices flowing, but that tiny, mysterious metal chunk really makes you wonder. What is it? What could it be for? Does it fit inside the new iPad or does it house the long-rumored NFC chip for the iPhone 7s? That's the kind of photo that gets clicks, ladies and gents. Tip: You get big bonus points if you can make it look like the photo was taken in a manufacturing setting. Rule #2: Obscure, obscure, obscure It might be tempting to take a great photo of a meaningless piece of glass or metal and just call it a day, but while it's a fantastic start, it's just doesn't pop unless we make sure there's some sort of unnecessary barrier to viewing the image clearly. There are a lot of tricks you can use, including placing the object behind a piece of glass, adding a ton of unnecessary glare to the photo by taking it at a weird angle or making sure the object is covered in plastic or other packaging materials. Because if you're going to take the time and substantial risk of leaking a product made by one of the most successful companies on the planet, there's zero reason to remove the sticky plastic. Tip: Do your best to make sure nobody can read any text on the object. Things like item numbers, manufacturing codes or other information that could lend credence to your claim aren't important to anyone. They just want a vague blob. Rule #3: Maximum excitement! If you have access to an unreleased Apple product, you're going to be pretty damn excited about it. The best way to express your excitement is to shake your hands violently as you snap the photo. This technique adds credibility to your claims by showing everyone that you're really nervous about getting caught. If you accidentally snap a perfectly still photo, you can add this "excitement" later in a program like Photoshop. The final rule If you've followed these steps, you should have a photo you can be proud of, and one that the internet will eat up with a jealous fervor. Many sites will argue over whether it's true, resorting to social media to vent about why someone does or doesn't believe it, but in the end, none of this matters, because you're the real winner even if nobody knows your name. That is one gorgeous leaked product photo. What is it? What does it do? Is it for the iPhone? Can we at least pretend it's for the iPhone? Of course we can! I took the photo, so I know what it really is. You don't. That means that I have the power, and I'm not giving it up. And I'm most certainly not going to tell you the truth, because that's the fourth and final rule of Apple rumormongering: Always leave them wanting more. [Photo credits: Ivyfield, Smemon, Uka0310, Parislemon, Mvchi, Dafe]
Olloclip 4-in-1 iPhone lens gives you a new perspective on the world
If you're an iPhone owner, there's a good chance you take a lot of photos with your phone. That's totally understandable, given that Apple's recent smartphone offerings are widely considered to be fantastic for photography. Still, the built-in lens on your iPhone 4, 4s, 5 or 5s is still hampered by its physical limitations. The Olloclip external lens system is a clip-on accessory that offers four different view options that can seriously change the look and feel of your iPhone photos. Specs Lenses: 10X Macro, 15X Macro, Wide-angle, Fisheye Price: US$69.99 Design The Olloclip is tiny, and can easily fit in your pocket or bag with no trouble. That's a pretty crucial aspect of the accessory, especially since you're not going to want to have it equipped as you go about your day-to-day tasks. The clip portion of the device is plastic while the lenses themselves are made of metal (and glass, obviously). The clip feels snug when applied to the iPhone, and while it's not difficult to slide off when you're done, there's also little chance that it would fall off on its own. Because of how the accessory is designed, two of the lenses are placed on each side, and the metal lens casings -- which house the fisheye and wide-angle lenses -- unscrew from the plastic clip to reveal a macro lens on either side. If you read our previous review of the original Olloclip 3-in-1 lens -- which featured 10X macro, wide-angle and fisheye lenses -- this version is essentially an updated version of that, and also includes a 15X macro option. Functionality Once the Olloclip is applied to your phone, taking photos is as simple as it's ever been. There's no tweaking or adjustments needed, and switching from one lens to another takes only a few seconds. The autofocus and other built-in iPhone features work as they always have, so you can shoot burst photos, play around with various filters or shoot slow-mo video without issue. If you know how to shoot a photo with your iPhone now, you'll know how to do it with the Olloclip; it's as simple as that. As a package, the Olloclip's lenses are a great combo, but some are definitely a bit more useful than others. The fisheye lens, for example, is fun for goofy shots, but it's not something you'll use daily. Between the two macro lenses, the 15X option is definitely going to be your go-to, simply because if you're looking for macro functionality, the more the better. The wide-angle lens will get the most use from aspiring iPhone photogs, and it's worth the price of admission all on its own. It's great for outdoor shots as well as large group photos where you need to cram as many people into the frame as possible. Conclusion The Olloclip 4-in-1 is a fantastic accessory that is both easy to use and a whole lot of fun to play around with. The lenses included are great for shooting types of photos you've never had the chance to before, and if you're tired of your Facebook photo albums or Flickr collection is looking a little dull, this is one of the easiest ways to spice it up. Rating
Can you guess what happened to this iPhone?
The internet is filled with photos of destroyed Apple devices, and a simple Google search will display plenty of photos of cracked screens and water damage. But this iPhone, posted on Reddit by user Tstone11, is special. As you can see from the photo, the device is completely destroyed, and I can't imagine there's a single functional part left on the phone. Its frame has been curved; its front and back covers are obliterated; and if not for the Apple logo shining through the cracked glass, it wouldn't even be recognizable as an iPhone. But what could cause this amount of damage? A truck tire? A hundred swings of a massive hammer? Satan himself? No, it was a piece of gym equipment. Tstone11's description of the photo is simply "Look what happened to my sister's iPhone, caught in the belt of a treadmill." Let this be a lesson to all of you: Exercise is dangerous. [Photo credit: Tstone11]
iPod vs. Lawn Mower
A sad sight. Personally, the 3rd gen iPod nano is one of my favorite Apple devices of all time. The color screen was fantastic for playing games (Peggle was my favorite) and it was almost impossibly thin for its time. And this is what it looks like after it's been demolished by a lawn mower. [Photo Credit: Matt Rasmussen]