QuickTake photos document Jobs' return to Apple in 1996

Former Mac OS Evangelist Tim Holmes has posted a set of previously-unpublished pictures on photo-sharing service Flickr documenting the evening event at which Steve Jobs was formally introduced as returning to Apple, late on Friday, December 20, 1996. The set of photos was taken with an Apple QuickTake camera, which Holmes notes "Jobs killed within the year." He happened to have the camera on him by chance, as he was unaware of the event's significance ahead of time but had gotten into the habit of carrying it with him everywhere.

Holmes said in notes accompanying the photo set that "my manager came rushing past my office door saying to come with him to Town Hall [Apple's theater for announcements, company meetings and the like]. It was clearly not a company meeting ... we had no idea what was about to happen." Holmes notes that colors in the photos are "way off" due to the "poor quality of digital cameras in 1996," noting that Jobs' jacket (which appears purple in most shots) was actually black. A sample of the photos is seen below.

Somersby Cider parodies Apple ads, stores in new TV spot

Somersby Cider, UK-based producer of alcoholic apple cider, has produced a slick, cheeky parody of "Apple culture" with a new TV spot that showcases its flagship product. The ad, entitled "The Somersby Store," compares a glass of the cider to the latest must-have gadget for consumers, complete with an apple (cider) store opening to enthusiastic fans, who marvel at its good looks, ease of use, "docking" system (holding the glass), "one click" (toast) to connect, and "open mouth, interface" that's easily "downloaded."

The ad (seen below) even takes a friendly jab at Apple, noting that their product "works perfectly in direct sunlight." The ad mimics the Apple Store culture and both Apple's goals and its fans' reactions beautifully, right down to using the same music heard in some previous Apple commercials.

by MacNN Staff