Apple Hardware Prototypes: Four Radical New Concepts Revealed

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Apple Hardware Prototypes: Four Radical New Concepts Revealed

Posted 11/28/2007 at 1:15:05am | by Jon Phillips

Squidget

It’s addictive, inexpensive, and blingfully customizable. Meet Apple’s flamboyant first foray into the tweenager market.

Just like the widgets that populate our Dashboards, the Squidget is compact, lightweight, and imminently useful for very specific tasks. It’s also got all the visual energy of a Skittles party on happy dust, making it an extension of Apple’s move toward wilder colors and ever-more-canny form factors. Aimed squarely at the iChat demographic, the chameleonlike Squidget includes a select menu of iPhone apps and costs just $129, making it a communication/entertainment gadget that 8- to 14-year-olds could plausibly afford.

Click to enlarge

1. Expect to see Apple partner up with the elite fashion houses. The plaid stripes of this special-edition Burberry model flow seamlessly from the video wallpaper to the glossy shell. Even the perimeter lighting displays the Burberry palette.

2. Apple revamps its Squidget shells in new colors, patterns, and finishes twice a year, creating a style line that evolves as quickly as teen couture.

3. On Squidget-optimized MySpace home pages, your friends can check out your playlists and uploaded photos, and even install your customized identity theme, which kicks into action whenever you initiate a chat session. Like a “push ringer” on steroids, your photo pops up on your pal’s screen, and his spaz lighting begins blinking out your name in Morse code.

4. The three function buttons on the inside can be assigned various contextual tasks, but one must always be your Home button, lest navigation become wonky. Squidget games, optimized by developers just for Apple, make liberal use of these three physical keys.

5. With a diameter of 2.2 inches, the Squidget is a tad narrower than the iPhone. You can stuff it in your pocket, wear it like a wristwatch, or rock it around your neck, Flavor Flav style.

Squidget communication is firmly rooted in the world of alphanumerics—instant messaging over Wi-Fi and text messaging over a cell network. Swivel the outer disc and you’ll find an inexpensive monochrome LCD displaying a touch keyboard. Once you’ve finished getting your dish on, you can surf the Web, or download music and Squidget-exclusive games directly from iTunes. With just 1GB of solid-state memory, there’s no room for a large iTunes collection, but the $12.99 all-you-can-text monthly service plan includes “pushed” songs in your favorite genres. The tracks appear magically in a bucket of dedicated memory, and you can listen to them for free for 72 hours before they disappear. Should you decide to transfer a song to permanent memory, you pay just 75 cents per track (a nifty price break for the Squidget Nation).

Using a next-gen version of Toshiba’s just-announced circular LCD technology, the Squidget can display custom wallpapers—either static images or video screen savers—that cover nearly the entire surface of the upper lid. But the truly killer personalization feature is Squidget Public Alert System Lighting (aka “spaz lighting”): The entire perimeter of the device is ringed with a light strip that can be programmed to blink out codes in different colors, locations, and durations. Magenta lights chasing each other around the perimeter might mean your girlfriend wants to chat. Yellow lights rapidly blinking on and off could signal that your mom wants you home for dinner.

And dark blue lights that just pulse slowly, on and off? That’s your signal to the world that you’re in the depths of teen angst, and disturbing you now would be a very bad idea.

COMMENTS: 81

TAGS: Apple Hardware, Apple Concepts

COMMENTS

Gotta have a Squidget
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 12:56

I can't wait to buy that Squidget one day - definitely the Burberry one.

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bmw!!!
Submitted by Michael Dunlop (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 13:19

NO! Apple needs to partner with BMW to make the iCar! after all they do have iDrive in there cars...

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preach!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 16:17

Yep, iDrive is just begging for an Apple-like interface

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AUDI is much sexier than BMW!
Submitted by Crtaylor (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 06:10

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. :[

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good ideas
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 15:11

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.

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Most large departments do
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2007-12-05 15:56

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.

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I want an iCar!!!
Submitted by Omer Zach (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 16:27

I would sell my soul for an iCar.

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then you must call 666 66
Submitted by :oetze (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 12:30

then you must call 666 66 666 6 and ask for S. Atan :)

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Sony AD
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-11-27 18:15

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.

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Love the theory! (Seriously,
Submitted by JonPhillips (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 06:58

Love the theory! (Seriously, I do...) Mind if I put this in the letters section of the magazine?

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NO, apple and sony are
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2007-12-21 01:14

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.

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icar
Submitted by kim krause (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 04:53

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.....

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I am not sure if Apple would
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 05:51

I am not sure if Apple would ever make mats with their logo to put your dirty shoes on.

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Apple car mats
Submitted by alpha (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 18:13

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

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Please come out with this camera!
Submitted by Crtaylor (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 06:05

I would really like to buy this camera if it ever comes out! It just looks plain awesome, and i love Apple!

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The icar would become the
Submitted by inspired (not verified) on Wed, 2007-11-28 20:21

The icar would become the most stolen car in America

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Plausible? Very plausible...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2007-12-03 12:19

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.

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Squidget
Submitted by Personsen (not verified) on Tue, 2007-12-04 16:05

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!
:(

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hmm...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2007-12-06 13:33

the iCar needs more cupholders.
which bring me to my next point: must be waterproof and very easy to clean.

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the squidget looks soooo
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2007-12-07 13:55

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!

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when does this come out?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 2007-12-08 19:46

when does this come out?

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Volkswagen!
Submitted by Michael (not verified) on Mon, 2007-12-10 22:55

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.

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tha squid get is hell gay.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2007-12-12 09:25

tha squid get is hell gay.

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I NEED a Squidget
Submitted by Anonymous Apple Fan (not verified) on Sat, 2007-12-15 20:30

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.

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squidget
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008-01-17 17:09

do you have to have a squidget to communicate with some1 who has a squidget???

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uh about the squidget
Submitted by indonica Hamdani (not verified) on Sun, 2007-12-16 00:28

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

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chris wylabe said hes gay
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2007-12-18 09:16

hy es5

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a few Q's
Submitted by Nick (not verified) on Wed, 2007-12-19 19:54

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!

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i agree. the squidget is
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2007-12-30 12:30

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.

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Answering Nick's question
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-09 19:25

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.

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the squidget has a tiny part
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2008-01-18 12:55

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...

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no iCamera, please
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2007-12-20 13:56

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.

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iCar
Submitted by KSW, Atlanta (not verified) on Sun, 2007-12-23 06:10

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

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i have a friend that works
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2007-12-31 11:48

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.

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Squidget
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-02 17:43

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)

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come on
Submitted by alexandrastinson (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-27 08:12

tell him or her to tell apple to make the darn squidget

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I have to have the Squidget.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-01 18:27

I have to have the Squidget. It looks sooo cool! That would be awesome. I wonder what else Apple will think of!

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All of It
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-02 01:28

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!

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iCar
Submitted by GuerrillaMonsoonDan (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-02 05:09

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

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Flaws in the Products
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008-01-03 22:29

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.

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squidget
Submitted by alyssa (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-06 12:03

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...

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The Squidget
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-09 19:21

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?

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im telling you, apple is
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-06 16:05

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.

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Umm
Submitted by Squidget? (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-09 21:06

When is the squidget going to vow out?

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when is it coming out and
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008-01-10 09:00

when is it coming out and are you sure it will cost $129?

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This is just fake !!!!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2008-01-11 10:10

This is just fake !!!!!

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SQUIDGET!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-20 16:45

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!!?

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I thought we shut down Think
Submitted by Steve Jobs (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-22 17:54

I thought we shut down Think Secret!

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pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaassssssssssssseeee!!
Submitted by alexandrastinson (not verified) on Sun, 2008-01-27 08:06

please make a squidget it would mean the world to me

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wow
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2008-01-23 20:35

i want the freakin ieye it is so awesome

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