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SSharon · Jul 14, 2010, 10:35 PM

The other day I couldn't find a small enough screwdriver or tool to remove the pins from a watch so I could take out some extra links and the iPad SIM eject tool came to the rescue.

Even with things as slow as they are here, I'm confident you guys have also come up with alternate uses for the SIM eject tool and maybe some other gadgets as well.

imitchellg5 · Jul 15, 2010, 12:24 AM

Toothpick.

SSharon · Jul 15, 2010, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Toothpick.

Don't tell me you actually do this. Speaking of pick though I wonder whether it would be a good tool to pick locks with.

olePigeon · Jul 15, 2010, 04:00 PM

Is it too small to force-eject a floppy or optical disc?

imitchellg5 · Jul 15, 2010, 06:20 PM

Well, I don't have an iPhone, so no.

ghporter · Jul 15, 2010, 07:37 PM

You mean the "custom modified paper clip segment" that came with my iPhone? No "alternate uses" come to mind. However, I got an honest to goodness "disc eject tool" with an optical drive I bought a while ago. It is a straight piece of (paper clip sized) wire with a triangular bent handle end on it. It is in my handy computer tool kit, right next to my "homebrew" disc eject tool...

richwig83 · Jul 15, 2010, 07:51 PM

Use it for the reset buttons on apple airport products!

SSharon · Jul 15, 2010, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

You mean the "custom modified paper clip segment" that came with my iPhone? No "alternate uses" come to mind. However, I got an honest to goodness "disc eject tool" with an optical drive I bought a while ago. It is a straight piece of (paper clip sized) wire with a triangular bent handle end on it. It is in my handy computer tool kit, right next to my "homebrew" disc eject tool...

Which iphone came with the sim ejector? The iphone 4 I got today doesn't have one unless I'm just missing it.

I've never heard of or seen a disc eject tool, do you remember what brand the optical drive was?

Using it for reset buttons is a good idea.

olePigeon · Jul 16, 2010, 12:21 AM

Poke holes in condom packages.

AKcrab · Jul 16, 2010, 01:26 AM

osiris · Jul 16, 2010, 09:17 AM

It looks like a defective tuning fork for very small people.

OwlBoy · Jul 16, 2010, 01:17 PM

Eating tiny wieners.

olePigeon · Jul 16, 2010, 03:10 PM

You could roast mini marshmallows.

Person Man · Jul 17, 2010, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

Which iphone came with the sim ejector? The iphone 4 I got today doesn't have one unless I'm just missing it.

I guess Apple doesn't include them with iPhones any more. My brother's iPhone 4 didn't come with one either.

Wow, those things probably cost what? A penny or two to make? How cheap can you get?

When I bought my first iPod (40 GB 4th generation), it came with everything: A CD containing iTunes, AC adapter, Universal Dock, Adapter for Universal Dock, dock cable, earphones, and two sets of black foam earphone protectors.

When I bought my 80 GB iPod Video, it came only with universal dock adapter, dock cable, earphones and earphone protectors.

My 160 GB iPod Classic only came with dock cable, earphones, and earphone protectors.

My 2nd generation and 3rd generation iPod touches only came with dock cable and earphones. The 2nd generation one came with a cleaning cloth. They stopped including the little foam protectors in both, and no cleaning cloth with my 3rd generation.

My iPhone 3GS came with dock cable, power adapter, SIM eject tool, and earphones.

What's next? iPod (or iPhone) only? No earphones or dock cable? (Have to buy those separately).

My Apple IIgs (from 1986) came with a 190 page, full size Owner's Manual, plus System Software User's Guide (210 pages) and a 20 page Setup Guide.

My Power Macintosh 7600 came with one, 168 page Owner's Manual (still full size).

My 17" unibody Aluminum MacBook Pro came with a CD jewel case-sized 87 page manual.

I detect a trend here, and I don't like it.

kmkkid · Jul 17, 2010, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Person Man

I guess Apple doesn't include them with iPhones any more. My brother's iPhone 4 didn't come with one either.

Wow, those things probably cost what? A penny or two to make? How cheap can you get?

When I bought my first iPod (40 GB 4th generation), it came with everything: A CD containing iTunes, AC adapter, Universal Dock, Adapter for Universal Dock, dock cable, earphones, and two sets of black foam earphone protectors.

When I bought my 80 GB iPod Video, it came only with universal dock adapter, dock cable, earphones and earphone protectors.

My 160 GB iPod Classic only came with dock cable, earphones, and earphone protectors.

My 2nd generation and 3rd generation iPod touches only came with dock cable and earphones. The 2nd generation one came with a cleaning cloth. They stopped including the little foam protectors in both, and no cleaning cloth with my 3rd generation.

My iPhone 3GS came with dock cable, power adapter, SIM eject tool, and earphones.

What's next? iPod (or iPhone) only? No earphones or dock cable? (Have to buy those separately).

My Apple IIgs (from 1986) came with a 190 page, full size Owner's Manual, plus System Software User's Guide (210 pages) and a 20 page Setup Guide.

My Power Macintosh 7600 came with one, 168 page Owner's Manual (still full size).

My 17" unibody Aluminum MacBook Pro came with a CD jewel case-sized 87 page manual.

I detect a trend here, and I don't like it.

Lets not forget the lack of remote for new macs.

SSharon · Jul 18, 2010, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by kmkkid

Lets not forget the lack of remote for new macs.

Yea, my original iphone came with a screen cleaning cloth and a dock. Thankfully the iphone 4 fits in the dock nicely with no modifications.

God only knows why, but the apple stickers always seem to be there.

Person Man · Jul 18, 2010, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by SSharon

God only knows why, but the apple stickers always seem to be there.

Yes, but Apple has gotten stingy with those, too.

You used to get four stickers. Two big, two small. Now you only get two small ones.

badidea · Jul 18, 2010, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by SSharon

Which iphone came with the sim ejector? The iphone 4 I got today doesn't have one unless I'm just missing it.

I'd say you're just missing it because mine came with the sim ejector!

Eriamjh · Jul 18, 2010, 08:02 AM

My iPhone4 did not come with the SIM ejector. It's not listed on the BOM as being in the box from Apple.

Andy8 · Jul 18, 2010, 08:11 AM

Perhaps locked iPhone4s have no need for a sim ejector.

ghporter · Jul 18, 2010, 09:34 AM

Here's my 3Gs' SIM tool in the original packaging:

I wonder if there's one hidden away in the packaging of the iPhone4...The way mine is packed with everything else is, frankly, pretty hard to find.

-Q- · Jul 18, 2010, 10:13 AM

There was no SIM ejector with the iPhone 4, nor was there a cleaning cloth. Apple does seem to be getting cheaper on the little niceties that used to accompany their products.

SSharon · Jul 18, 2010, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by Andy8

Perhaps locked iPhone4s have no need for a sim ejector.

haha, touche! But then why does the ipad come with the sim ejector tool?

I'm thinking I should unlock my old iphone for when I go overseas. Are there any reasons not to?

badidea · Jul 19, 2010, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Here's my 3Gs' SIM tool in the original packaging:

I wonder if there's one hidden away in the packaging of the iPhone4...The way mine is packed with everything else is, frankly, pretty hard to find.

That's exactly where and how my sim ejector tool was packed with the iPhone4 (and my iPhone4 IS sim-locked)!

The Godfather · Jul 21, 2010, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

haha, touche! But then why does the ipad come with the sim ejector tool?

I'm thinking I should unlock my old iphone for when I go overseas. Are there any reasons not to?

The iPad is the only iOS device that comes unlocked from Apple, I think. Getting data-only service in countries that don't exist for Apple is the difficult part.

subego · Aug 17, 2010, 11:19 AM

Use 'em to make... A Terminator.

Apple purportedly utilizing Liquidmetal alloy in SIM ejector tool -- Engadget

Spheric Harlot · Aug 17, 2010, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Person Man

Yes, but Apple has gotten stingy with those, too.

You used to get four stickers. Two big, two small. Now you only get two small ones.

iPods have always come with two small ones only, AFAICR.

ort888 · Aug 17, 2010, 11:51 AM

Every Apple product I have ever purchased has come with two stickers.

Spheric Harlot · Aug 17, 2010, 11:56 AM

The Colo(u)r Classic had a whole sheet of peppy stickers in addition to the rainbow Apple ones.

Person Man · Aug 17, 2010, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

iPods have always come with two small ones only, AFAICR.

Yes, iPods have always come with two small stickers only. But I was referring to Apple products in general, not just iPods. They all used to come with four stickers. They didn't change to two stickers until Jobs came back to Apple and sucked the colors out of the logo.

SSharon · Aug 17, 2010, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Use 'em to make... A Terminator.

Apple purportedly utilizing Liquidmetal alloy in SIM ejector tool -- Engadget

That does explain why the tool worked so well for removing those stubborn watch link pins that inspired this thread. I have no idea what else the technology could be used for though.

Goldfinger · 05:36 PM

My iPhone 4 did have a SIM eject tool in the box. Maybe only in the European boxes ?

chabig · Aug 17, 2010, 07:17 PM

It's good for pricking fingers for blood samples.

moonmonkey · Aug 17, 2010, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

Don't tell me you actually do this. Speaking of pick though I wonder whether it would be a good tool to pick locks with.

Nerdy answer: Its just a pin shape so would not be much use, if it was flat edged and wide you could use as a torsion wrench (like some harclips), most "picks" are knobbly shaped for raking fast across the pins (while the torsion wrench is inserted) to make the locks internal pins stick.

So no it would not.