Simple Beep

e1 – Startup Chime

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Our first episode takes a tour of the Macintosh startup chime, from drilling holes in a prototype Mac case in 1982 to the current chime we've known and loved since 1999.

Links for this episode:

  • Origin of the chime
    • From the Apple II to the Macintosh
  • Jim Reekes
    • Interview about the chime, Sosumi, and more [NSFW audio]
    • Several retellings of the story: [1] [2] [3] [4]
    • Reekes' (nonexistent) Wikipedia entry
  • Stanley Jordan
    • artist of the Power Mac 6100/7100/8100 chime
  • The chime in pop culture
    • WALL•E
    • The Mac in Futurama
    • Startup chime library prank
  • Trademark on the chime
    • Trademark granted in 2012
    • Sound file included in USPTO filing [MP3]
    • Mactracker
  • Silencing the chime
    • Silent Start [MAS link]

    • Macworld tips article [November 1997 issue; link requires library/university access]

"A number of readers have contributed more ideas for turning down or silencing the start-up chime. Instead of plugging in headphones or an earphone as suggested in August's Quick Tips, Jeffrey Lomicka of Maynard, Massachusetts, plugs in a 1/8-inch flathead nylon screw. He cut it to 5/8 inches in length and tied a string to the head to make it easy to remove."
...more
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Simple BeepBy Ed Cormany and Brian Sutorius
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