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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.
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Anonymous
May 24, 2008 at 7:43pm
OMG I want a squidget but I think the diameter of it should be like 2 inches more.
Anonymous
May 12, 2008 at 8:31am
I think there should be a scroll wheel for the windows..... It would be so cool!!!!
Mob
April 20, 2008 at 2:59am
It is good that someone writes articles which really matters something. Thank you for this article, it’s full of knowledge which is hard to find in tons of rubbish in our famous world wide web. Regards and good luck!
Anonymous
March 26, 2008 at 6:44pm
I WANT ONE SOOO BADLY! DOSE N E ONE KNOW IF AND WHEN IT WILL BE COMING OUT?!?!?!?!??!?!
Mohammad
February 15, 2008 at 4:17am
Where can i buy an iCar from saudi arabia
Can i find it in the audi shop
icar is a prodotypw
March 29, 2008 at 6:05pm
it is just a prodotype
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surfer33
January 28, 2008 at 5:35pm
The Squidget looks soooo cool! I can't wait for that to come out!
Anonymous
February 11, 2008 at 4:07pm
To 75% of everyone who posted above... THIS ISN'T A REAL PROTOTYPE! Mac|Life is just trying to show possible prototypes! THIS THING IS NOT "COMING OUT" ever! Its not even being planned to being planned to consiodered to think abnout to decide if it even has a chance to become a REAL prototype! Capishce? ....having said that, I STILL WANT THE iPROTECTION!
alexandrastinson
January 27, 2008 at 9:04am
i soo want a squidget when it comes out my parents will buy it for me!!!!
Anonymous
January 23, 2008 at 9:35pm
i want the freakin ieye it is so awesome
Steve Jobs
January 22, 2008 at 6:54pm
I thought we shut down Think Secret!
Anonymous
January 20, 2008 at 5:45pm
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!!?
Anonymous
January 11, 2008 at 11:10am
This is just fake !!!!!
Squidget?
January 09, 2008 at 10:06pm
When is the squidget going to vow out?
Anonymous
January 06, 2008 at 5:05pm
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.
alyssa
January 06, 2008 at 1:03pm
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...
Anonymous
January 09, 2008 at 8:21pm
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?
Anonymous
January 03, 2008 at 11:29pm
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.
GuerrillaMonsoonDan
January 02, 2008 at 6:09am
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
Anonymous
January 02, 2008 at 2:28am
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!
Anonymous
January 01, 2008 at 7:27pm
I have to have the Squidget. It looks sooo cool! That would be awesome. I wonder what else Apple will think of!
Anonymous
December 31, 2007 at 12:48pm
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.
alexandrastinson
January 27, 2008 at 9:12am
tell him or her to tell apple to make the darn squidget
Anonymous
January 02, 2008 at 6:43pm
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)
KSW, Atlanta
December 23, 2007 at 7:10am
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
Anonymous
December 20, 2007 at 2:56pm
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.
Nick
December 19, 2007 at 8:54pm
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!
Anonymous
January 18, 2008 at 1:55pm
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...
Anonymous
January 09, 2008 at 8:25pm
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.
Anonymous
December 30, 2007 at 1:30pm
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.
Anonymous
December 18, 2007 at 10:16am
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