Apple has made its Thai website black and white to honor the death of Thailand's king Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away last week at the age of 88. Bhumibol Adulyadej had served as the ninth monarch of Thailand since 1946, making him the world's longest-serving head of state at the time of his death ahead of Queen Elizabeth II.

apple-thailand-black-white
The monochrome website reflects Thai citizens who have dressed in pure black or black and white to mourn the loss of Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was a highly revered figure in the country. Thai TV stations have also provided footage of the king in black and white, colors that represent grief and purity respectively in the country.

Top Rated Comments

kingpushup Avatar
110 months ago
With a fortune, the king could have eradicated poverty.

Of course, no-one can express such thoughts openly, but don't believe that everyone participating in the current exaggerated displays of mourning is doing so voluntarily, in that sense they are no more free than North Koreans.
I learned long ago: When someone is mourning, just let them mourn and breathe. Support their grief or say nothing.

My partner has been watching black and white videos basically non-stop and crying generally. She Skypes with family and they just cry. I appreciated what Apple and Google did in Thailand with the Black and White concept. I just observe.

Now I want to share a bit from those I know outside my partner's circle of family and friends, because I do a bit of international business and have friends in a variety of levels over there.

I am connected to Thai farmers - average really poverty level folks. But just because they do not have high tech gadgets does not mean that they do not appreciate what they have.

Right now tho, they are really really grieving.

I am a colleague of a few politicians there. Most in Thai politics want to move away from the king's legacy - to varying degrees; they want to develop the land and boost professional urbanites. Some are seeking specifically to solidify a national narrative that does NOT include the king's legacy work for farmers' rights.

Interesting example: Let's change the constitution so that each professional class gets an equal vote. Lawyers and doctors and ... each get a vote. Farmers also get one vote as a class - and thus lose every time. Fortunately that did not pass.

The king had tremendous assets in land primarily in downtown Bangkok. Not liquid and not really his to sell. The king was a figurehead as the Queen of England, yet he gave and emphasized the importance of giving to the farmers.

The king's children are each different in their own ways. While he lived humbly, some children liked the celebrity nature of royalty. You could complain that he should have reined them in. The king's next in line is one like that, and Thai people and politicians alike fear that direction; but again this fear is tempered by the fact that Thai royal power is limited largely to figurehead status.

The king's temperment held some politicians in check against their egos somewhat. Still, small revolutions occurred especially as he was getting older and ill, and some politicians self-currupted. The fear is that such political opportunism will be less tempered in the absence of the modest king. The next in line shows little modesty or skill to guide the hearts and minds of politicians.

Those I know with wealth could definitely do more! They admit this, but are focused on business- just not looking to give away what are absolutely more liquid assets.

The king did what he could largely to conserve farmers rights and farmland, and that was precisely what caused such a backlash from some politicians for such constitutional amendments as I noted above; an overreaction to the king's guarding of the farmers.

Now, I do not have an opinion what the final form should be in government there, as I am not Thai myself and as I believe that governments are constantly responding to their situations and growing to adapt.

However, Thai grief is real. It is not North Korea. Though I could see where you are coming from given how crazy the world has become - who knows what anymore, right? And some strong politicians do coerce, I get that. But the ambitious types in Thai politics are currently wanting to forget the king, not to remember him.

Outside Thailand, markets fear the instability.

Inside now farmers and many wealthy and many in between now fear the future given the political ambitions of a few, who see the next in line as less capable to temper them and less interested in protecting farmers.

Personally again I believe that These last 15 years have allowed Thailand to prepare. They have seen political corruption of a few, and have seen course corrections as a country. They are experienced and, god willing, ready for the next moment about to come.

Apart from all that, again just a nice small thing what Apple and Google did to align with the many in this moment.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kingpushup Avatar
110 months ago
Kind gesture of respect. I know many mourning, watching and rewatching black and white footage of their king. He was a source of stability for their country and a force for good in support of their many poor farmers. So, he will be missed, but their solidarity for him is a huge sign of support for continued stability. Nice to see Apple recognizing this moment of solidarity and transition.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mazz0 Avatar
110 months ago
Kind gesture of respect. I know many mourning, watching and rewatching black and white footage of their king. He was a source of stability for their country and a force for good in support of their many poor farmers. So, he will be missed, but their solidarity for him is a huge sign of support for continued stability. Nice to see Apple recognizing this moment of solidarity and transition.
Yeah, nice to see Apple showing respect for a man who you get sent to prison for saying anything negative about.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
110 months ago
Isn't it possible that you have this rosy picture of the man because that's the only image your government allows to be portrayed? The subjects of North Korea will tell you the same thing about their glorious leaders. You can call it twisted, but personally I find it hard to believe in somebody's benevolence when anyone who says something negative about them gets sent to the gulag.
I must say you don't have the slightest clue what you are talking about. There are thousands and thousands of western ex-patriates living in Thailand. This is nothing like North Korea. You are being ridiculous.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vip007 Avatar
110 months ago
Of course, no-one can express such thoughts openly, but don't believe that everyone participating in the current exaggerated displays of mourning is doing so voluntarily, in that sense they are no more free than North Koreans.
Without trying to make this a political discussion: I am not Thai, but have friends who are. Regular folks, not elites, but neither the farmers from the rural north. And they were and are all genuinely mourning the king's passing. Now, whether or not they have a full picture of what the royal family has or has not done, what kind of wealth they may have amassed (which they know about the crown prince), who benefited from the cult of the king is another thing. The fact is that for majority of Thais the king was an inseparable part of their lives. It is a welcome sign that a western company like Apple respects differences and is sensitive to them.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Donnacha Avatar
110 months ago
... a force for good in support of their many poor farmers ... their solidarity for him is a huge sign of support for continued stability ...
With a fortune estimated between 40 and 50 billion dollars, the king's assets were far better hidden then billionaires who don't have their own country and laws that ruthlessly suppress any discussion. During the course of 7 decades, the highly publicised gestures of "support" for the dirt poor majority were peanuts compared to the ludicrous wealth being amassed by the royal family and the elite who hide behind them.

If so inclined, the king could have taken real steps to eradicate poverty in what is, actually, a relatively rich country. Whenever the poor tried electing leaders with any interest in actually helping them (with rural clinics, small welfare payments for the old and other minor attempts to alleviate true hardship) the army took over, with the full support of the king.

As for signs of support, no-one can really know what the Thai people truly believe or support, because they cannot vote and can receive 30 years in a hellhole prison for voicing an opinion or, even, liking the wrong Facebook post. My impression is that the king was a huge presence in everyone's life but most Thais, outside the elites, have serious misgivings about the whole system and are alarmed by the crown prince.

Of course, no-one can express such thoughts openly, but don't believe that everyone participating in the current exaggerated displays of mourning is doing so voluntarily, in that sense they are no more free than North Koreans.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
macbook pro blue green

When Will Apple Release the M5 MacBook Pro?

Wednesday March 26, 2025 4:53 pm PDT by
Apple regularly refreshes the MacBook Pro models, and a new version that uses M5 series chips is in the works. Apple just finished refreshing most of the Mac lineup with M4 chips, and now it's time for the M5. Rumors suggest that we could see the first M5 MacBook Pro models this fall. Design There have been no rumors of a design update for the M5 MacBook Pro models that are coming this...
Apple Lumon Terminal Pro

Apple's Mac Site Features Fictional 'Lumon Terminal Pro'

Wednesday March 26, 2025 12:19 pm PDT by
Apple is going all out with promotions for the popular Severance Apple TV+ show today, and as of right now, you'll find a new "Lumon Terminal Pro" listed on Apple's Mac site. The Lumon Terminal Pro is designed to look similar to the machines that Severance employees like Mark S. and Helly R. use for macrodata refinement. The Terminal features a blue keyboard, a small display with wide...
Facebook Feature

Facebook's New iPhone App Feature Turns the Clock Back to 2007

Thursday March 27, 2025 1:59 pm PDT by
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Facebook was all about staying connected with friends and family. However, as the social media platform added new features and grew over time, that core experience began to get drowned out. That changes starting now, according to Meta, which today introduced a new feature that will "bring back the joy" of classic Facebook. Specifically, Meta has redesigned the...
Generic iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Soon With These New Features for Your iPhone

Tuesday March 25, 2025 6:45 am PDT by
Apple is expected to release iOS 18.4 to the general public as soon as next week, following more than a month of beta testing. Apple's website says some iOS 18.4 features will be released in "early April," so the update should be out as early as Tuesday, April 1. Apple this week seeded the iOS 18.4 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, barring the discovery of any...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Supports 8K Video Recording, Suggests Leaker [Updated]

Wednesday March 26, 2025 4:06 am PDT by
Update 7:25 pm: Based on comments from our forums, it appears the original Weibo post may have been mistranslated and "8K" actually refers to the high price of the device rather than 8K video recording capabilities. The iPhone 16 Pro currently starts at 7,999 yuan in China. Our original article follows below. Apple's forthcoming iPhone 17 Pro models are capable of shooting 8K video, up...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

'iPhone Fold' to Feature Metallic Glass Hinge That Resists Deformation

Thursday March 27, 2025 4:21 am PDT by
Last week, we covered a report claiming that Apple's book-style foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold," as we are provisionally calling it here) will use liquid metal hinges to improve durability and help minimize screen creasing. Today, a Chinese leaker provided more details on the properties of this hinge material that help to clarify why Apple chose it for its first foldable device. According...
iOS 18 4 Ambient Music Control Center

How to Use iOS 18.4's New Ambient Music Feature in Control Center

Thursday March 27, 2025 7:45 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 18.4 update for the iPhone adds an Ambient Music feature to Control Center. Below, we take a closer look at how it works. iOS 18.4 is currently in beta, so the Ambient Music feature is not widely available yet. The update will likely be released to the general public next week. To use the feature on iOS 18.4, open Control Center and tap on the plus sign in the top-left...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock

Gurman: Jon Prosser's iOS 19 Mockups 'Aren't Representative' of Redesign

Tuesday March 25, 2025 4:47 pm PDT by
The iOS 19 mockup images that leaker Jon Prosser shared today are not representative of the actual iOS 19 design, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on social media. According to Gurman, the images that are "floating around" are based on "very old builds" or "vague descriptions," and are lacking key features. Gurman says that we can "expect more from Apple in June." Gurman made the same comment ...