Pal?

o and a · June 3, 2003 12:40PM

www.macrumors.com

Quote:

TopTechTips posts a story about "a new piece of Apple software/hardware called 'Pal'". TopTechTips was sent screenshots as well as a box shot, which remains on the site.

Update: It is looking more and more like this piece of software or hardware from Apple will basically take your desktop/files and put it on to "Pal" (Assuming it is a Firewire drive or more likely an internet service) and you will be able to access your desktop and all of your preferences from any Panther Mac that has "Pal" installed.

The box shot mentions Mac OS X 10.3 being a requirement.

ed. note: Still trying to gather details... while some are speculating it may be hardware, the description appears to be of an Internet/.Mac service.

macusers · June 3, 2003 12:49PM

we are already talking about this in mac os x

o and a · June 3, 2003 12:50PM

Seems weird...or useless considering ipod unless this uses ipod...

Images take from toptechtips.net

http://www.toptechtips.net/images/ar... honking image

[edit by Amorph: URLized overly large image]

alex london · June 3, 2003 12:58PM

Quote:

From the .mac learning centre, it says coming soon and this, Mac Presents:

Anywhere Access

Discover the convenience of accessing your data from any Internet connected computer.

macsrgood4u · June 3, 2003 1:18PM

PAL= Portable Audio Lab. One of the greatest portable radios ever made. It's available here from Tivoli Audio.

the mactivist · June 3, 2003 1:24PM

I'm guessing it's a fake because:

1) the kerning (spacing between the letters) is not perfect. Apple is very picky with it's product layout.

2) The cover shot of the box, where it's a bit washed out from a 'flash' or something - the shading looks photoshopped. Actually, the whole thing looks photoshopped.

audiopollution · June 3, 2003 1:47PM

The thing I like the most, about spy shots on rumour sites, is that they bring all the photoshop experts out of the woodwork.

soopadrive · June 3, 2003 1:57PM

Fake. Photoshop is seen too easily in these pictures (shading). Certainly a neat idea, however.

\

chilleymac · June 3, 2003 2:31PM

i don't neccesarily think this is real, but it sure cracks me up that people think they are such experts. How many people thought the MacBidoobie pics of the Speedholes G4 were real? Not Many... Myself included

frawgz · June 3, 2003 2:59PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mactivist

I'm guessing it's a fake because:

1) the kerning (spacing between the letters) is not perfect. Apple is very picky with it's product layout.

Actually I remember the kerning on one of the OS X CDs was messed up.

ti fighter · June 3, 2003 3:09PM

Its like they had enuff time to take 3 shots, why the hell does everyone of them have to be crooked and words going off the sides. Why would they use words like "forget syncing" when they have another peice of software called isync? Confuses consumers. Fake...

clonenode · June 3, 2003 3:12PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mactivist

I'm guessing it's a fake because:

1) the kerning (spacing between the letters) is not perfect. Apple is very picky with it's product layout.

2) The cover shot of the box, where it's a bit washed out from a 'flash' or something - the shading looks photoshopped. Actually, the whole thing looks photoshopped.

I agree. It was one of the first things I noticed. Also, considering that these are "spy photos" (because of their odd cropping) other aspects of the photos are too good - like the exposure and the color and the resolution. If these were truly taken "on the sly" they would be a bit rougher. If there was ample time to get them looking as crisp, focused and lighted as well as they are, then why are they composed (cropped) so poorly.

I say: FAKE.

bigc · June 3, 2003 3:14PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MacsRGood4U

PAL= Portable Audio Lab. One of the greatest portable radios ever made. It's available here from Tivoli Audio.

OT: Looking for a small radio to take into the field with me. Think these are better than a Grundig for reception in far away places?

kidred · June 3, 2003 3:54PM

Quote:

Originally posted by clonenode

I agree. It was one of the first things I noticed. Also, considering that these are "spy photos" (because of their odd cropping) other aspects of the photos are too good - like the exposure and the color and the resolution. If these were truly taken "on the sly" they would be a bit rougher. If there was ample time to get them looking as crisp, focused and lighted as well as they are, then why are they composed (cropped) so poorly.

I say: FAKE.

What? Spy photos have to be crappy? Why? My smaller then a pack of cigarettes Canon elph takes photos at 3 megapixels better then most $1k plus cameras. So, why would the pics have to suck to be real?

It looks real enough to me. The photos are real and of a real box IMO. Now whether the box is a real Apple product remains to be seen.

ti fighter · June 3, 2003 4:06PM

I think he means more the fact that they are lit a certain way (not a general room light ambiance), not blurry, and dont looked rushed besides the off cropping. Yea resolution would not be a factor in validity heh

macsrgood4u · June 3, 2003 4:13PM

BigC.

The FM reception is the best of almost any radio. They have a special tuner that brings in about 30% more stations then a regular radio. AM is just average. The sound from the Mono speakers is unbelivable. Plug in stereo phones and if broadcasting that way you'll hear in stereo. Grundig has more bells and whistles but poorer sound. If you're primarily interested in AM go elsewhere.

kidred · June 3, 2003 4:14PM

He said color and resolution was too good to make it a on the fly spy photo and thus deemed it fake because the photo was good but badly cropped. I disagree because of the type of camera that can be bought today for under $400. Spy photos are always badly cropped, you never want too much info out and never want any background. Who knows, maybe there's a logo or branding in the top front right of the box that would give hint to it's date and thus who had access to it. Never discount it just because you don't believe the story that follows.

bodhi · June 3, 2003 4:14PM

I agree that the words: Forget Synching kills it. No way would Apple put that on there.

June 3, 2003 4:21PM

Hot white spots in the green areas are too sharp-edged. Not enough 'glass-esque' feathering...I smell a rat.

audiopollution · June 3, 2003 4:52PM

See, I was right. Look at all of these Photoshop experts. Fantastic.

ensoniq · June 3, 2003 5:34PM

Yeah...I remember how all these "Photoshop Experts" also predicted the spy shots of the Mirrored Drive Doors case were also "FAKE", for most of the same reasoning.

It doesn't matter if the photo looks crappy. A million reasons could explain that, besides the photos being fake. It doesn't matter if the images have "artifacts" or "imperfections" Does anyone even understand the JPG format? Saving a raw image as a JPG automatically (drumroll please...) CREATES artifacts and imperfections!

No one knows what "Pal" is...we're seeing a couple of rough photos completely out of context, without the entire text of the box being presented to us. Without that, a few words like "forget synching" doesn't negate the usefulness of iSync. It just means this product, WHATEVER it is, doesn't require it.

Some people think Pal is remote desktop software. Some think it's a hardware device. Honestly, I have no idea what it is. But just because we don't know WHAT it is, or just because we don't AGREE with whatever someone else is saying it is, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist at all. It just means we have way too little info to make an informed decision.

TopTechTips.net now reports:

"Pal is a small wireless device with a touch sensitive screen, which can remotely login to your desktop Mac. It is suitable for surfing the web on the move. When your Mac is out of range, Pal logs in to your .Mac account, to provide limited functionality - hence "forget syncing". It has a pen based input method, using Inkwell, but it is not positioned as a Tablet PC since it does not have an internal hard drive. It's not a Mac replacement, it's a Mac companion. It's not a personal organiser, it's a handy means of accessing your desktop and the Internet wherever you are. It puts our desktop at your fingertips literally because you can see you desktop form a handy hand-held device. The reason they called it Pal rather than iPal is because it's a whole new product category (think Newton, Pippin etc) which is designed to work with both the consumer and pro range. This also explains why the logo and type size are a little different. This is not a box, and this is not the Pal packaging - it's in store POS Don't ask me how I know all this - I just know ."

This goes along hand in hand with rumors about a tablet-like device that MacWhispers reported on HERE (#1) and HERE (#2) in the past months.

Whether this is real, or an amazing hoax remains to be seen. But the rush to decide based on a few unclear, out of context photos is what's so annoying. Proving the ever popular catch-22 here...everyone wants details on upcoming products (RUMORS), and yet as soon as someone gives us info we immediately beat them to death with ANGRY skepticism.

I hope all you "experts" are willing to eat your own ass when Apple announces Pal in the near future.

-- Ensoniq

Pal?

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