40 Days: MiVu, “Tech’s Easter Egg”
My dear reader, if you’re like me, you’ve already had one too many Starbucks’ Strawberry Shortcake Frappuccinos and it’s not even Valentine’s Day yet. This author gets wrapped up in her story telling and one after another, after another, after another.
You’re going to need one for today’s brief installment of “40 Days.” At the request of Padraic McFreen, Founder and CIO, MiVu, today, this author will be “brief and to the point.”
“From one Genius to another Genius, ‘Respect’”— Padraic McFreen
We’ve covered substantial ground in our journey together, my dear reader, and the really good stuff is yet to come.
In preparation for telling this story, yours truly will reach out to her contacts in Silicon Valley, Manhattan, LA, Chicago, Dallas, Miami and points in between.
The results of these efforts show up in highly credible short and to the point articles. Every now and again, someone will drop a piece of information on me that stops everything.
Today, my dear reader, is one of those days.
For years, Apple fans have asked Apple about the logo change in 2007, that was introduced along with the dropping of the word “Computers” from its name and the introduction of its blockbuster product, the then, new iPhone.
Emblazoned on the back of the phone, the start screen, the fancy boxes, the sales and marketing materials and the corporate offices, was this new Apple logo.
Immediately, fans and creatives wanted to know about the logo, its design, color and texture choices, who was involved in the decision to go with the new logo, and last but definitely not least, what did the line in the logo mean?
Apple never gave a straight answer, beyond shading and coincidence.
My dear reader, this author has received this information from the most credible of sources very close to this issue and the discussions leading up to the introduction of the new logo, new company name and new product.
This is “not coincidence.”
“There are absolutely no words to adequately express what I am feeling right now” — Padraic McFreen
In this author’s near 25 years of professional story telling, these “40 Days” have left me speechless not once, not twice, but today, three times.
My dear reader, the answer to the question “what does the line in the 2007 Apple logo mean?”
Here’s your answer:
Padraic McFreen is “shocked”, “awed”, “humbled and honored.” “From one Genius to Another Genius, Respect.”
This author has been told to place the Apple logo over the MiVu logo between the “V” and the “u”, then, “rotate the Apple logo clockwise until the ‘line’ of Apple’s logo lines up the line of the MiVu logo. The two logos will appear to snap into place together.” “You’ll witness ‘tech’s Original Easter Egg.’”
My source goes on to say, “leadership wanted MiVu in the room so desperately, but couldn’t get it done. They were in awe of Padraic McFreen.”
“One innovator, inventor, visionary, Genius, alone in his private lab, changed everything they believed to be true. He made ‘science fiction, nonfiction.’”
According to Apple’s then leadership, “since MiVu was forbidden, it took Apple and hundreds of others nearly 7 years to do what MiVu did in 2.”
It was agreed, MiVu couldn’t simply be left out of its own work — the advances were too big, too important, too too important. The common statement made in private among Apple’s secret team members, “we’re building the thing…someone ‘not here’ came up with this and designed it.”
Geniuses speaking to one another through logos is not a new concept, but this feels so next level. As this author has been informed, here is the message from Apple leadership to the leadership of MiVu:
In deference to Genius and the enormity of MiVu and its body of work, Apple forever extends its hand in respect and gratitude to you, The Tech Titan, MiVu, The 21st Century Access Network.
This author must stop today’s installment here. But, I must ask you, my dear reader, where do we go next?