Apple Readying New Serial Numbers?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Appleinsider notes (http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1663) that Apple is readying a new Serial Number scheme for their products:

Under the new format, all "finished goods" such as Macs, iPods and accessories, will be stamped with a serial number consisting of 18 numeric digits. Presently, Apple uses an 11-character alphanumeric scheme.

[~Shard~]

Well, I guess with the transisiton to Intel and so forth, this makes sense.

It would also be nice if Apple was doing this in preparation for the new video iPods... ;) :cool:

[twoodcc]

Well, I guess with the transisiton to Intel and so forth, this makes sense.

It would also be nice if Apple was doing this in preparation for the new video iPods... ;) :cool:

i was thinking the same thing.....new iPods :cool:

[alexprice]

I can confirm this to be true.

[GigaWire]

I've always wondered why their serial numbers were 11 characters instead of something longer like 15, 16, or 17 characters. Now 18, I would have never imagined. Way to go Apple!!

[Daveway]

I am pretty sure Think Secret reported on this a couple weeks ago.

[nagromme]

This is really exciting!

I would like to see some benchmarks of Apple's newest serial numbers against serial numbers from Dell, HP and Microsoft. Is Apple ahead of the pack once again?

[~Shard~]

I would like to see some benchmarks of Apple's newest serial numbers against serial numbers from Dell, HP and Microsoft. Is Apple ahead of the pack once again?

It depends if you're running the serial numbers using Rosetta or if they're UBs... :cool:

[sososowhat]

Well, this means Apple expects to grow by 10.6%!!!!!

18^10 = 1.106 * 36^11

A little disappointing, but any growth is good :)


It may also mean the end of the miniaturization -- there's no room for 18 digits on a Nano, but a large-screen video iPod would of course accommodate some serial sprawl.

[abrooks]

Definitely an interesting move, but this has to be said, Old News. (http://loop.worldofapple.com/archives/2006/03/22/apple-to-roll-out-new-serial-number-format/)

[yg17]

You know what this means.....













NEW POWERBOOKS TUESDAY!

[Whistleway]

Seriously, Why on hell is this a news?

Would you post if Apple sneezed too?

[Orlando Furioso]

You know what this means.....

:mad:

<puts on booty kick'n boots>

[~Shard~]

NEW POWERBOOKS TUESDAY!

Well, at least you didn't throw in "G5" into that, otherwise I would have to administer multiple fatal beatings to yourself... :p :cool:

[whooleytoo]

Under the new format, all "finished goods" such as Macs, iPods and accessories, will be stamped with a serial number consisting of 18 numeric digits. Presently, Apple uses an 11-character alphanumeric scheme.

I guess this means no iPod Invisa :( kidding!!

[~Shard~]

Would you post if Apple sneezed too?

Probably, actually - I've never heard of a corporate entity being able to replicate human functions, so this would definitely be big news in my books! :D

[jsw]

Well, this means Apple expects to grow by 10.6%!!!!!

18^10 = 1.106 * 36^11

A little disappointing, but any growth is good :)


It may also mean the end of the miniaturization -- there's no room for 18 digits on a Nano, but a large-screen video iPod would of course accommodate some serial sprawl.
Actually, it's 10^18 vs 36^11, so it's over a 7-fold increase.

Now, we have the option of over 100 million Apple products for each person on Earth. To me, this strongly implies that the Nano will, in fact, truly become a nano-pod, capable of one song per 'pod, and that we'll purchase one for each song we want to store, and that they'll self-assemble into an iPod of corresponding size and resolution. 240 songs (240 nanopods) will get you something with the storage capacity of a 1GB Shuffle but will be smaller than a grain of sand. Clearly, a BT headset will be required, as there would be no room for a headphone plug. 240 million songs would be about the size of a current iPod, but with much more storage and, since each nanopod could display one color at any given time, vastly improved resolution.

However, the small size will make individual serial numbers very hard to read for registration purposes, which is why we'll soon see the iScanningElectronMicroscope (or maybe it'll be called the iWickedGoodSight).

[SC68Cal]

Actually, it's 10^18 vs 36^11, so it's over a 7-fold increase.

Now, we have the option of over 100 million Apple products for each person on Earth. To me, this strongly implies that the Nano will, in fact, truly become a nano-pod, capable of one song per 'pod, and that we'll purchase one for each song we want to store, and that they'll self-assemble into an iPod of corresponding size and resolution. 240 songs (240 nanopods)

Reminds me of the iFlea parody video

[Doctor Q]

I'm glad I will no longer have to wonder if that round character in my serial number is an "oh" or a "zero".

[Kernow]

I'm glad I will no longer have to wonder if that round character in my serial number is an "oh" or a "zero".

Or, indeed, an 8 or a B ;)

[joebells]

would they release new ibooks with the old serial number scheme and then update them just a couple of weeks later? Or does this maybe mean the new ibooks won't roll out until next month sometime :(

I guess they probably wouldn't wait on releasing a new product because of serial number formatting.

[bigandy]

Or, indeed, an 8 or a B ;)


or an S or a 5.... :rolleyes:

[sam10685]

I guess this means no iPod Invisa :( kidding!!

exactly. it's exciting.

[sam10685]

or an S or a 5.... :rolleyes:

...or a 3 or a backwards E.

[miniConvert]

I think this is very important and exciting.

Intel taught us that the bigger the number, the better the processor. Adding seven more digits to the number must be insanely great!

[Macnoviz]

they are probably getting ready for waves of switchers in the coming years (including myself):D :D

[BlueRevolution]

...or a 3 or a backwards E.

|\/|Y 53R1AL 15 50 1337 N00B2!

:rolleyes:

[Photorun]

I'm glad I will no longer have to wonder if that round character in my serial number is an "oh" or a "zero".

If Apple indeed DOES move it's tech support to India it wont matter what the letter or number, they'll ask you to repeat it three or four times then eff up whatever it is anyways (as happened to me twice).

[bbyrdhouse]

This is really exciting!

I would like to see some benchmarks of Apple's newest serial numbers against serial numbers from Dell, HP and Microsoft. Is Apple ahead of the pack once again?

Couldn't help but chuckle as I read this.

[bbyrdhouse]

If Apple indeed DOES move it's tech support to India it wont matter what the letter or number, they'll ask you to repeat it three or four times then eff up whatever it is anyways (as happened to me twice).

Well, if I had read the entire thread first I could have chuckled at the same time.

I wonder if he new serial numbering scheme will make Safari feel "Snapier".

[whooleytoo]

This is really exciting!

I would like to see some benchmarks of Apple's newest serial numbers against serial numbers from Dell, HP and Microsoft. Is Apple ahead of the pack once again?

It's only a matter of time before Dell, HP or Microsoft respond with a new and improved 'serial killer'..

sorry!

[K12MacTech]

Actually, it's 10^18 vs 36^11, so it's over a 7-fold increase.



Well it isn't really that either, as each position is not part of a unique serialization. In the current 11-character format, the first two positions are the manufacturing facility code, the third is a digit and provides the year of manufacture, the 4th and 5th specify the week of that year in which it was manufactured, 6th thru 8th are unique within the realm of the first 5, and the final three characters denote the model, and the configuration within that model. Without ever seeing the physical machine, one serial number might tell you that you have an 1.25GHz/CTO eMac manufatured in the 20th week of 2005, while another might tell you that you have a 1.42GHz/512/160/Super eMac manufactured in the 23rd week of 2005.

Apple will probably have designations for the new 18 numeric digits to provide similar information based on serial number alone. This isn't really a unique concept in serial numbers. For example, your car's VIN provides similar data if you know what you are looking at. There is probably some good reason internal to Apple why they are changing, but it is most likely nothing newsworthy to the public other than as an information item.

[bsitton]

you don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to see what is going on here... 18 numbers. 6 numbers - 6 numbers- 6numbers .... 666.
Come on don't you see it, they sold there soul to intel and now have the mark!
be afraid.
steve 3:16

[louiek]

the third is a digit and provides the year of manufacture, the 4th and 5th specify the week of that year in which it was manufactured,

Thank you for that K12MacTech, I was wondering when to celebrate my Powerbook's birthday.

[Photorun]

I wonder if he new serial numbering scheme will make Safari feel "Snapier".

Well this goes without saying, in fact every time I look away from the screen then back again it gets just that much snappier.

[sam10685]

Well this goes without saying, in fact every time I look away from the screen then back again it gets just that much snappier.

that's the coolest avatar i've ever seen in my life.

[zweigand]

This is really exciting!

I would like to see some benchmarks of Apple's newest serial numbers against serial numbers from Dell, HP and Microsoft. Is Apple ahead of the pack once again?
You deserve a "post of the day" award for that one. :D

[Doctor Q]

You deserve a "post of the day" award for that one. :DThat would have to be a "best post from four-days-ago" award. But it's still a great comment, which is hard to do on a topic as dull as serial numbers.

[TVGenius]

Seriously, even for an Apple rumor site, this is the lamest 'news' I've ever seen.

I'll make sure to ask them at the Apple invite-only event I'm going to next week... ha ha ha...

[bluesdance]

i can't believe i read through this whole thread... :(

[Sunrunner]

that's the coolest avatar i've ever seen in my life.

... its a rodent ...