What Apple’s iPad 3 Keynote Icons Really Mean

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Apple loves putting little Easter eggs in their invitations to tease fans about what to expect at their events. Along with some sly cryptic phrases that are meant to intrigue you without actually telling you jack squat, Apple sometimes includes a few app icons to give fans a hint about what’s coming. The iPhone 4S invitation had a “1” above the phone icon to denote that they would be announcing only one new phone. In their latest invitation, Apple has given us the picture of an iPad with three apps in the dock – Maps, Calendar, and Keynote – along with the phrase, “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

What does it mean!? Well, after taking a 30-minute online web course in Cryptology, I’m pretty much an expert at reading into Apple’s secret codings and here’s my break down of what to expect based on the secrets of the invitation icons.

The Maps icon – Many of Apple’s past keynotes have included the Maps icon. The icon depicts the location of Apple’s Headquarters right off Interstate 280 in Cupertino California. Most of the time the Maps icon is used to denote where the special event is taking place, and while this event isn’t going to be held on Apple’s campus, it will be a short drive away in San Francisco, so that’s probably what Apple is conveying in the invitation. However, if you want to get all crazy and look deeply into the invitation symbology, maybe Apple is throwing it out there that they are releasing a new Maps app. Apple has purchased two map making companies over the past few years, so it’s not completely out of the question, but I wouldn’t count on it.

The Calendar icon – Does that icon look like it’s a retina display icon? I can’t really tell, but it looks really crisp. Obviously this icon is telling the date of the event – Wednesday the 7th. But why is the finger touching it? And why does the invitation have the line, “We have something you really have to see. And touch.” Will the iPad 3 have haptic feedback capabilities so that your fingers tingle every time you touch it? I hope not. And we haven’t heard anything close to that from the rumor-mill so we don’t think that’s actually going to happen. Apple is just using the finger to put emphasis on the date because it’s going to be totally magical.

The Keynote icon – Well obviously Apple will be running a keynote to talk about how super cool their new iPad 3 is going to be, so the Keynote app makes sense. I know Microsoft is rumored to be coming out with Microsoft Office for iOS, but it looks like Apple is saying, “Hey guys, we still make some pretty great productivity software that we personally use to melt your faces off at every event and send fanboys into orgasmic realms of ecstasy.”

Combining the meaning on all three icons we think Apple is saying: “Use the Maps app to get to the event. Schedule it in your Calendar on the 7th, and get ready for a spectacular keynote because you just might poop your pants when you touch our new device.”

Not convinced of my analysis? We got two other swami’s who have given their interpretations too, here and here.

 

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