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Apple Hardware Prototypes: Four Radical New Concepts Revealed
Posted 11/28/2007 at 1:15:05am | by
Jon Phillips
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Take yourself back to 2001. Digital audio players were nothing more than nichey gadgets bopping around the periphery of the consumer-electronics market. Then came the dynamo we now simply call “the classic,” and in a flash, both digital music and Apple’s repute as a hardware company achieved something close to metacultural transcendence.
The iPod gave its owners a fashion statement, a design icon, a mark of cultural literacy. It became a synonym for all portable music players and turned even the most clueless consumers into knowing technophiles. Even the iPod’s essential design—soft, white, and devoid of busy interface elements—made a powerful new statement about consumer-electronic aesthetics. The follow-up to the iPod would have to be equally magnificent. The world expected nothing less than another category-creating piece of lifestyle gear.
Apple didn’t let us down. Last year the company gave us the iPhone, and within a single news cycle, the definitions of smartphones, cell phones, audio players, video players, and even GUIs were rewritten. Rewritten, combined, pushed, pulled, exploded, congealed, and totally turned on end.
But what comes next? Apple now finds itself in the enviable position of trying to top its latest mass-market phenomenon. We don’t know what Steve Jobs is preparing to pull from his jeans pocket at the next Mac Expo, but we must assume his R&D teams are working on something very, very cool.
Just for fun, we challenged ourselves to conceive four new product directions for Apple Almighty. Our parameters were twofold: First, our imaginary products would have to be technically feasible (kinda, sorta), and, second, they would have to represent a trip into uncharted territory—either a new product category or consumer demographic. On the following pages you’ll find the fruits of our fanciful, fictitious, faux R&D. Our prototypes, we hope, will leave you thoroughly delighted.
COMMENTS:
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Gotta have a Squidget
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 13:56
I can't wait to buy that Squidget one day - definitely the Burberry one.
Submitted by Michael Dunlop (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 14:19
NO! Apple needs to partner with BMW to make the iCar! after all they do have iDrive in there cars...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 17:17
Yep, iDrive is just begging for an Apple-like interface
Submitted by Crtaylor (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 07:10
Audi should have the iCar, in my opinion. They are already very luxurious as it is. Therefore, it would be the ultimate marriage between a cool car and an Apple computer. The idea of putting this in a Beatle would just be too cheesy. :[
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 16:11
There are some very creative ideas in this intentionally over-the-top feature... for instance, having a "distress" button on GPS-enabled phones that calls the police and sends your GPS coordinates. If only police departments had the ability to respond quickly and find you by GPS- my guess is that if officers want GPS, they have to buy it on their own.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2007-12-05 16:56
Most large departments do have GPS. I am an Officer in a major city and we have a really good GPS system on our in-car Panasonic Toughbooks (I'm exclusively Apple at home). I think it would be a great tool to add to phones as we usually have to use triangulation methods through the carrier. It would make it a lot easier if we could just go to the GPS coordinates, especially if once activated, the phone was tracked until reset.
Submitted by Omer Zach (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 17:27
I would sell my soul for an iCar.
Submitted by :oetze (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 13:30
then you must call 666 66 666 6 and ask for S. Atan :)
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 19:15
What's with the SONY Ads? Is this some Synergy thing... Mac/Life is about Apple, Apple is Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs sits on the Board for Disney, Disney Uses Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray is SONY, therefore sony advertises in Mac/Life.
Submitted by JonPhillips (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 07:58
Love the theory! (Seriously, I do...) Mind if I put this in the letters section of the magazine?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2007-12-21 02:14
NO, apple and sony are completely different companies competing in both different and the same fields. you cannot compare apple and sony like that. What if steve jobs passed away, he would no longer be on the board of directors for disney and therefore the relationship you made with apple and sony would be cut off.
yes i believe that apple and sony have some relation but i believe the one you made is not the appropriate one.
Submitted by kim krause (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 05:53
doesn't anyone remember the first icar...it was a white smart with a built in ipod cradle.in fact smart was the first car manufacturer to offer an ipod kit over 3 years ago.i have one in my smart cabrio and even the newest ipods still fit in the cradle. sad actually that this little car was so ahead of its time yet still isn't totally accepted as a real car. maybe when oil hops over the 100 buck mark people might wake up.....
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 06:51
I am not sure if Apple would ever make mats with their logo to put your dirty shoes on.
Submitted by alpha (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 19:13
I think as long as you were wearing their shoes (not the nike ones) they'd be ok.
http://redlightrunner.stores.yahoo.net/vinsixcolaps.html
Submitted by Crtaylor (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 07:05
I would really like to buy this camera if it ever comes out! It just looks plain awesome, and i love Apple!
Submitted by inspired (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 21:21
The icar would become the most stolen car in America
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2007-12-03 13:19
You may have touched on something with the iEye. Apple should definitely look into the digital camera market; both still and video. An Apple camera would do for photography and videography what the iPod did for digital music and the iPhone is doing for smartphones/communications/PDAs.
Submitted by Personsen (not verified) on Tue, 2007-12-04 17:05
I want one so bad, you guys should send the idea to apple and they might make it. A LOT of people will buy them, it looks so cool!
:(
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2007-12-06 14:33
the iCar needs more cupholders.
which bring me to my next point: must be waterproof and very easy to clean.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2007-12-07 14:55
the squidget looks soooo cool! i'd def. buy one. i'd also buy the ieye. but for the i car it would be not so cool they definitly should partner with bmw or Ferrari not audi!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 2007-12-08 20:46
when does this come out?
Submitted by Michael (not verified) on Mon, 2007-12-10 23:55
I would prefer to see the iCar implemented in a Jetta or Beatle.
Jetta has a cool design and Beatle has the awesome colors like the original Powerbooks and iMacs.
Also being a lower end vehicle would make them more affordable and thus marketable.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2007-12-12 10:25
tha squid get is hell gay.
Submitted by Anonymous Apple Fan (not verified) on Sat, 2007-12-15 21:30
The Squidget is the absolute coolest thing I have ever seen. MacLife, I saw this in your magazine and went straight to the web. The 'spaz lightning' is the really innovative part. You should call it iPaging...
Anyway, the push songs is a good idea, but by using a mini-jack to mini-jack cable and the Line-in port on a computer, you could just record it in Audacity/GarageBand and not have to pay.
Submitted by indonica Hamdani (not verified) on Sun, 2007-12-16 01:28
how amazing. im getting one for suuuure
but i thinkit would be better if the shape was a little rectangle than a circle. It looks liek its easy to slip out of your hands and it looks lieka little powder compact....Im still getting one though haha
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-12-18 10:16
hy es5
Submitted by Nick (not verified) on Wed, 2007-12-19 20:54
are these REAL prototypes??? if so...when will they be coming out? if not...you should work as hard as you can to at least send the squidget idea into mac. it is the most genius idea i have EVER seen in my life! i would definately buy one...is the squidget just txting or a phone too...cuz i have had the idea to make a cheap text only product that looks really neat...looks like youve managed to do that! also for the squidget...does it have a built in iPod as well??? please reply!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2007-12-30 13:30
i agree. the squidget is awesome. but it wouldn't matter if it had an iPod becuause i already have one, but not everyone does.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-09 20:25
Yes, the squidget has a music feature...it's more like a music player than a texting device anyways. And I don't believe it is a phone.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2008-01-18 13:55
the squidget has a tiny part of it dedicatted to song but there isn't a lot of memory for a bunch of songs but it can hold probably a few hundred around there...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2007-12-20 14:56
Apple wouldn't fare well if they entered the digital camera industry. There are too many well sedimented segments and niches within the consumer market alone for Apple to land one huge product with the kind of effect had by the iPod. The strategy of revolutionizing should be preferred over jumping bandwagons.
Submitted by KSW, Atlanta (not verified) on Sun, 2007-12-23 07:10
I think you missed the biggest part of iCar.
A million mobile wireless sites all with access to iTunes/iTV.
Apple could establish a global wireless network through the
use of auto's capable of 'extending a network' to millions on
the street or walking around. Paid for by the Auto Co's and drivers.
BRILLIANT! All hail Apple!KSW
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2007-12-31 12:48
i have a friend that works for apple. Not one of the highest people, but pretty well into their ranks=)
he told me a few weeks ago that apple will venture into the camera department. If its anything like the prototype above, I'll be one of the first to buy it.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-02 18:43
Are they sure about the squidget and everything they said in Mac-Life?
Oh, and is the a iProtection a joke? Please tell me it is. I can imagine the commercial now-
"It's an iPod- THAT CAN SHOOT 20,000 VOLTS INTO A MUGGERS
----!"
(1 2 3 4 softly playing in background)
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-01 19:27
I have to have the Squidget. It looks sooo cool! That would be awesome. I wonder what else Apple will think of!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-02 02:28
I think that all of these product ideas would do well. I think that Mac|Life should definetly give these to apple. Apple has already gotten alot of people to use their products, and with these ideas put into action even more people will use apple products. With this kind of creativity put into action the future could be an Apple World!
Submitted by GuerrillaMonsoonDan (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-02 06:09
Who the hell thought it would be a good idea to merge the iCar concept with a Ferrari? (below)
As if they don't cost enough already!!
I like the concept though, looks awesome! They'd need to offer a range of cars with the option though methinks, I can't afford a TT now, let alone if it had an Apple package.
They could release the Squidget in limited edition gold with a free Argos 'gold' chain, it'd sell like hotcakes to the tracksuit and trainer wearing contingent! Haha
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008-01-03 23:29
I thought that all of the products were great but they each had their own flaws
The Squidqet- MAJOR FLAWS! It is a law suit waiting to happen. First off if this product is reaching out to tweens myspace should not be there (if you need myspace so bad, go on the safari). Tweens AND teens should not be included as a main feature. SMS texting is ruining the purpose of the product for parents. $12.99 a month is not what parents want, they want thier kids to get this so they dont hhave to pay for a cell phone. Replace the SMS with iChat. (idea- add in an iSight JUST for video chatting, nothing else)
iEye- not really any flaws, just i think that photobooth effects should be added in.
iProtection- I laughed at first but i eventually saw how great it is. Only one flaw just in case it rolls in a backpack, purse, ect. it should have a special protective front so it doensnt tazer you
iCar- TO MANY FLAWS TO EVEN COMMENT ABOUT!
They all had some graet things too.
Submitted by alyssa (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-06 13:03
I think the squidget is so cool and it's perfect for teens! I def. can't wait for it to come out but I think they should make a pirates of the caribbean faceplate instead of preppy burberry...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-09 20:21
I've been trying to figure out when the squidget comes out because I'm so excited...do you know when it'll be released?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-06 17:05
im telling you, apple is planning on taking over the world! first the iPod, then the iPhone, next is the iCar, then the iHouse, then iRobot. then we are all dead.
Submitted by Squidget? (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-09 22:06
When is the squidget going to vow out?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008-01-10 10:00
when is it coming out and are you sure it will cost $129?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2008-01-11 11:10
This is just fake !!!!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-20 17:45
Hey this is actually my very first time reading and subscribing to a Technical Magazine and i bought your guys magazine 3 days Ago and noticed the SQUIDGET!! Now you might think this is sooo silly but me and everyone i showed the Squidget to would buy it. And let me tell You i showed ALOT OF PEOPLE!! And i was wondering are you guys goin 2 submit this idea to Apple? If not then I will JK but seriously i really need One!! I SERIOUSLY NEED AND WANT ONE PLZ TELL ME U R GOING TO TELL APPLE ABOUT THIS GREAT INVENTION!!?
Submitted by Steve Jobs (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-22 18:54
I thought we shut down Think Secret!
Submitted by alexandrastinson (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-27 09:06
please make a squidget it would mean the world to me
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-23 21:35
i want the freakin ieye it is so awesome
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