Apple taps Gap for iBook colour scheme

Why do Apple's iBooks and Gap's autumn line look the same? Coincidence, schmoincidence...

Someone recently described The Gap as the Microsoft of the clothing world. Indeed, but who is The Gap of the IT industry? Step forward, Apple. Now, we don't make this claim simply because the two companies are both considered to be the epitome of cool in their respective markets, but because there are some damn devious similarities in their current product strategies. Take, first, Gap. On the basis of ads the company is began airing on UK TV this week (and, we'd imagine, in the US and around the Globe too), it is pushing two key colours for its Autumn collection: orange and blue. Now consider Apple. It's big autumn push centres on its iBook consumer/education portable which will be made available in several colours, specifically: orange and blue. Does anyone else see the connection? And could this remarkable similarity be linked to the fact that Gap president and CEO Millard 'Mikey' Drexler joined Apple's board earlier this year? At the time, we wondered if this meant Apple would abandon its colourful approach to computer design in favour of khaki cases, but it seems Gap has picked up on Apple's sense of style instead. Coincidence? We think not... ®