Like many people, I checked the calendar as soon as I woke up this morning and read about Apple’s brand-new product — the iPhone Pocket.
Surely it must be April Fools’ Day, I thought in a pre-coffee haze, as I read Apple’s press release. The PR talks fawningly about an accessory “inspired by the concept of ‘a piece of cloth.’”
But no. The iPhone Pocket is very real — and not a joke!
It’s a fashion-forward crossbody holder for the iPhone and other stuff that harks back to the iPod Socks of the aughts. Plus, it’s got quite the pedigree. Apple produced it in conjunction with the design firm founded by Issey Miyake, aka the guy who made Steve Jobs’ favorite turtlenecks.
The limited-edition iPhone accessory — which comes in a variety of colors and two lengths, and is made of 3D-knitted textile — is clearly aimed at the Asian market.
It’s all very serious.
“The design of iPhone Pocket speaks to the bond between iPhone and its user, while keeping in mind that an Apple product is designed to be universal in aesthetic and versatile in use,” said Yoshiyuki Miyamae, design director of Miyake Design Studio, in the super-serious press release. “iPhone Pocket explores the concept of ‘the joy of wearing iPhone in your own way.’ The simplicity of its design echoes what we practice at Issey Miyake — the idea of leaving things less defined to allow for possibilities and personal interpretation.”
The iPhone Pocket’s price is quite serious, too: It costs $149.95 (for the short version) or $229.95 (for the long one).
As you can see from the social media posts below, the internet is having a field day savaging Apple’s latest expensive product, much like it did with the Vision Pro’s new (and similar-looking) Dual Knit band.
Cult of Mac writer Ed Hardy isn’t a fan of Apple’s latest release, either. He describes the iPhone Pocket as a silly, pretentious “unholy union between a scarf and a sock.”
Seriously, what’s your take? Let us know in today’s poll.
Also in today’s newsletter:
If you’re recording high-res videos on your iPhone, the new Planck SSD might come in handy. It can hold up to 2TB of data and attaches to your iPhone in a very subtle way. Read our hands-on review of the impressive new storage device.
Here’s even more proof that a new HomePod mini is coming soon.
Adding Apple Intelligence to the Shortcuts app unlocks some pretty powerful automations.
With its gigantic and gorgeous 12.9-inch screen, the original iPad Pro was a really big deal when it arrived on this day in 2015. But some folks just couldn’t get over the Apple Pencil.
— Lewis Wallace, managing editor
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Tweets of the day
Wallpaper of the day
One more thing ...
I asked Issey to make me some of his black turtlenecks that I liked, and he made me like a hundred of them.
Today’s poll
Results from yesterday’s poll: Did you watch the first episode of new Apple TV show "Pluribus"?
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