Vratislav Holub Apple has several interesting products in its portfolio, which of course cannot do without various accessories. However, since the world of modern technology is moving forward at a rocket pace, the accessories that we use together with the given device also change with the passage of time. This development has understandably affected Apple as well. With the Cupertino giant, we can find a number of accessories, the development of which has been completed, for example, or has even stopped being sold completely. Let's look at some of them in a little more detail.
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Forgotten accessories from Apple
The current coronavirus era has shown us how much modern technology can help us. As social contact has been significantly limited, people have largely used video conferencing solutions, thanks to which we can talk and see the other party, or even the whole family or team, in real time. All of this is possible thanks to the built-in FaceTime cameras in our Macs (TrueDepth cameras in iPhones). But the so-called webcams were not always so good. Apple has been selling so-called external since 2003 iSight a camera that we can consider the predecessor of today's FaceTime camera. It simply "snaps" onto the top of the display and connects to the Mac via a FireWire cable. Moreover, it was not the first video conferencing solution. Even before that, in 1995, we had it available QuickTime Video Conferencing Camera 100.
What does a forgotten accessory look like?
At the turn of the millennium, Apple even sold its own branded speakers Apple Pro Speakers, which were intended for the iMac G4. A recognized expert in the world of audio, harman/kardon, even participated in their development. In a way, it was the predecessor of HomePods, but without smart functions. A small Lightning/Micro USB adapter was once sold as well. Today, however, you won't find it in Apple Stores/Online Store. The so-called is in a similar situation TTY adapter or Text Phone Adapter for Apple iPhone. Thanks to it, the iPhone can be used in combination with TTY devices, but there is a minor catch - the adapter is connected via a 3,5 mm jack, which we can no longer find on Apple phones. However, this product is listed as sold out in the Online Store.
Have you ever thought that Apple also sells an alkaline battery charger? This product was called Apple Battery Charger and it wasn't exactly the cheapest. In particular, it was able to charge AA batteries, with six of them in the package. Today, however, the product is more or less useless, which is why you simply cannot buy it from official sources. But it made sense at the time, as the Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard relied on these batteries. It is also interesting at first glance iPad Keyboard Dock – the forerunner of today's keyboards/cases for Apple tablets. But then it was a full-fledged keyboard, very similar to the Magic Keyboard, which connected to the iPad through a 30-pin connector. But its aluminum body of larger dimensions also had its shortcomings. Because of this, you only had to use the iPad in portrait mode (or portrait).
You can still buy some
The pieces mentioned above have mostly been canceled or replaced with a more modern alternative. However, the Cupertino giant is also worth the accessories, which unfortunately did not have any successors and rather fell into oblivion. In such a case, the Apple USB SuperDrive appears to be a great example. This is because it is an external drive for playing and burning CDs and DVDs. This piece also attracts with its portability and compact dimensions, thanks to which it is possible to take it practically anywhere. Subsequently, all you have to do is connect the drive via the USB-A connector and you can enjoy all their advantages. But it has a small catch. Both CDs and DVDs are quite outdated these days, which is why a similar product simply doesn't make that much sense anymore. Even so, this model is still being produced.
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Both CDs and DVDs may be obsolete, but they are still used and are often the only way to distribute and archive sensitive data and electronic documents. You are then recorded without an optical drive.