Apple has first hand knowledge of something like the The Beanie Bubble. No, I’m not talking about the way iPhones and Apple Watches fly off the shelves and play hard to get. I’m talking about the Apple-branded microfiber Polishing Cloth the company introduced back in October. “Made with soft, nonabrasive material,” Apple’s description says, “the Polishing Cloth cleans any Apple display, including nano-texture glass, safely and effectively.”
Hardly sounds like a barn burner. But you know how some things just catch the public’s attention at just the right time? Pet rocks… Cabbage Patch Kids… Beanie Babies… Last fall, Apple’s $19 Polishing Cloth turned into one of those. Sales started in October and, almost immediately, the things sold out. For months. But, it’s been months, and the things are back in stock. While the Polishing Cloth does not seem to be available in stores right now, a piece from MacRumors says it is available to order from Apple’s site, with delivery promised in days, not weeks. As of this writing, ordering one from Apple’s site would have it buffing my display (nothin’ kinky) by Friday 14 January.