October macbook event....what is the mysterious...BRICK?

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  • Reply 81 of 124
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Olternaut View Post


    This would mean that we are looking at some sort of NAS device of some kind or perhaps a home server of some sort?



    Time Capsule already is a NAS Device, with some extras.



    Would it be possible to have a major firmware update to greatly expand it's functionality (and available to current owners) like what was done for the AppleTV?



    Synchronizing between computers is still an issue; a utility to do that locally would be nice. Also, it could probably perform some media server duties.
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  • Reply 82 of 124
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    If anyone is up to date on the X11 subsystem on Mac OS you will know about XQuartz. If you read up on the latest release you will see several mentions of fixes for tablets. The seems to be a rather obvious indication that Tablets are coming.



    At least that is my hope. I'm not near a Mac right now so I can not check up on exactly what they are talking about. They could always be talking about data input tablets.



    Dave
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  • Reply 83 of 124
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post


    If anyone is up to date on the X11 subsystem on Mac OS you will know about XQuartz. If you read up on the latest release you will see several mentions of fixes for tablets. The seems to be a rather obvious indication that Tablets are coming.



    At least that is my hope. I'm not near a Mac right now so I can not check up on exactly what they are talking about. They could always be talking about data input tablets.



    Dave



    Even so, I still don't expect a large multi-touch device from apple till Macworld 09. All I can say is that by Macworld it will be 2 years since the iphone's debut. I don't count the iphone 3G because that was just a refresh.

    I believe that Steve has something spicy hot brewing that should be ready from the oven to debut at Macworld that will keep Apple ahead of the game in terms of mobile devices.



    Thats what my gut says.
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  • Reply 84 of 124
    olternautolternaut Posts: 1,376member
    In case your not a mac nerd and you don't frequent MULTIPLE Apple rumor sites you need to take a look at this new rumor tease........



    http://www.9to5mac.com/brick-clue-number-two



    Of all the responses in the comments thread my favorite is one that mentions the "brick" might be a wireless usb hub type of device that does aways with the need for multiple ports on the macbooks so they can be made even slimmer.

    But who knows what its going to be at this point.



    Whatever it turns out to be, according to 9to5mac, its going to be........HUGE! \
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  • Reply 85 of 124
    wizard69wizard69 Posts: 13,377member
    I keep hearing these references to external hubs replacing USB ports on a Mac Book and I have to ask why anybody would want such a thing? The problem is this, you want to be able to take those ports with you, especially USB. If Apple went this way it would be a certain sign that they didn't learn from AIR! It would be one thing if the ports substituted for the same on a laptop, for stationary use, but replacing such ports is unacceptable.



    In any event I fail to see how a USB port makes a laptop bigger. To be a laptop it still needs a screen of significant width. That along with a keyboard, track pad and disk drive do more to define a laptops size. If Apple really wanted to go thin they would get Samsung to make SSD as PC boards that plug in like daughter cards.



    My vote goes for something besides a hub.



    Dave
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  • Reply 86 of 124
    jruijrui Posts: 24member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post


    I keep hearing these references to external hubs replacing USB ports on a Mac Book and I have to ask why anybody would want such a thing? The problem is this, you want to be able to take those ports with you, especially USB. If Apple went this way it would be a certain sign that they didn't learn from AIR! It would be one thing if the ports substituted for the same on a laptop, for stationary use, but replacing such ports is unacceptable.



    In any event I fail to see how a USB port makes a laptop bigger. To be a laptop it still needs a screen of significant width. That along with a keyboard, track pad and disk drive do more to define a laptops size. If Apple really wanted to go thin they would get Samsung to make SSD as PC boards that plug in like daughter cards.



    My vote goes for something besides a hub.



    Dave



    I think the same
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  • Reply 87 of 124
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,585moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Olternaut View Post


    In case your not a mac nerd and you don't frequent MULTIPLE Apple rumor sites you need to take a look at this new rumor tease........



    http://www.9to5mac.com/brick-clue-number-two



    Of all the responses in the comments thread my favorite is one that mentions the "brick" might be a wireless usb hub type of device that does aways with the need for multiple ports on the macbooks so they can be made even slimmer.

    But who knows what its going to be at this point.



    Based on that image, it looks to me like laser-based displays. If Apple are the first to bring these to market in an affordable way, this will be the biggest thing since the iphone.



    The Mitsubishi laser TV is said to be coming out in the 3rd quarter (i.e any time now) at $7000:



    http://www.laser-tvs.co.uk/



    I don't see Apple going down the route of a TV but simply using the tech in their own displays is enough to make a big impact.



    "One major claim of laser advocates is the ability to produce undiluted, perfect colors allowing precise hue mixing. Advocates claim that 90% of the perceptible color gamut can potentially be reproduced.[18] Other improvements that laser advocates claim are bulbs that will never blow out, and increased efficiency by using two-thirds less power than traditional rear projection televisions.[17] Historically, however, lasers have been too bulky and expensive for widespread adoption.

    The laser technology advocates claim that the technology will allow displays with a richer, more vibrant color palette than the conventional plasma, LCD or CRT displays.[17]

    They also claim the displays will:[19]

    be half the weight and cost of Plasma or LCD displays

    require around 25% of the power required by Plasma or LCD displays

    be very thin like Plasma and LCD displays are today

    have a very wide colour gamut. Twice the color of today's HDTVs.

    have a 50,000 hour life

    maintain full power output for the lifespan of the laser, resulting in a picture that doesn't progressively degrade over time, such as with plasma and LCD technology"



    And one huge advantage should be no dead pixels.



    As for what the brick part is, perhaps it's an external component merged with the power brick to house the laser unit and it then connects to a razor thin display like a new Cinema display via optical fibre.
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  • Reply 88 of 124
    olternautolternaut Posts: 1,376member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin View Post


    Based on that image, it looks to me like laser-based displays. If Apple are the first to bring these to market in an affordable way, this will be the biggest thing since the iphone.



    The Mitsubishi laser TV is said to be coming out in the 3rd quarter (i.e any time now) at $7000:



    http://www.laser-tvs.co.uk/



    I don't see Apple going down the route of a TV but simply using the tech in their own displays is enough to make a big impact.



    "One major claim of laser advocates is the ability to produce undiluted, perfect colors allowing precise hue mixing. Advocates claim that 90% of the perceptible color gamut can potentially be reproduced.[18] Other improvements that laser advocates claim are bulbs that will never blow out, and increased efficiency by using two-thirds less power than traditional rear projection televisions.[17] Historically, however, lasers have been too bulky and expensive for widespread adoption.

    The laser technology advocates claim that the technology will allow displays with a richer, more vibrant color palette than the conventional plasma, LCD or CRT displays.[17]

    They also claim the displays will:[19]

    be half the weight and cost of Plasma or LCD displays

    require around 25% of the power required by Plasma or LCD displays

    be very thin like Plasma and LCD displays are today

    have a very wide colour gamut. Twice the color of today's HDTVs.

    have a 50,000 hour life

    maintain full power output for the lifespan of the laser, resulting in a picture that doesn't progressively degrade over time, such as with plasma and LCD technology"



    And one huge advantage should be no dead pixels.



    As for what the brick part is, perhaps it's an external component merged with the power brick to house the laser unit and it then connects to a razor thin display like a new Cinema display via optical fibre.





    Rumor clue number 1: "brick" is mentioned by an insider.



    Rumor clue number 2: the green laser.



    Rumor clue number 3: An aluminum slab? http://www.9to5mac.com/macbook-brick-riddle-3
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  • Reply 89 of 124
    I think this is going to be all about MacBooks, really boring and nothing we haven't heard allready in multiple rumors. The green laser? Green light? Seems to allude to the more eco-friendly (green) LED backlit screens. I'm guessing these will be made standard, only the MacBooks and one of the 17 inch models are missing them as it is. The aluminium slab? Aluminium enclosure standard across the line. Even for the MacBooks.

    The brick could be meant as a symbol of a basic bulding block, the foundation of Apples business (which fits with the MacBook line), and as a symbol of uniformity. Which would fit in with the MacBook line having the same general design and building materials.
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  • Reply 90 of 124
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,585moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Olternaut View Post


    Rumor clue number 1: "brick" is mentioned by an insider.



    Rumor clue number 2: the green laser.



    Rumor clue number 3: An aluminum slab? http://www.9to5mac.com/macbook-brick-riddle-3



    It doesn't sound very reliable to be honest. The link to that last article, that guy Seth says 'I think I've found it'. In other words, he's just making up some random speculation. It works well for increasing hit count on his blog over the next 2 weeks but it's not a nice thing to do if he really doesn't have any idea what it actually is.



    The green laser image is at least interesting. One thing I was thinking of was the Lenslet optical processor:



    http://www.wired.com/science/discove.../2003/10/61009

    http://www.theinquirer.net/en/inquir...ps-firm-claims

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10...raops_optical/

    http://www2.electronicproducts.com/O...6-NOV2003.aspx

    http://www.controleng.com/article/CA491825.html

    http://www.dspdesignline.com/showArt...leID=192200372

    http://www.elektor.com/news/electro-...264.5097.lynkx



    This was announced years ago. Like it says:



    "The company's prototype is fairly large and bulky but when Lenslet begins to supply the processor in a few months it will be shrunk to 15 by 15 cm with a height of 1.7 cm, roughly the size of a Palm Pilot."



    ... or a brick.



    "In five years we plan to shrink it to a single chip"



    This is 5 years later though so it shouldn't be that big. It would be ideal for OpenCL.



    Optical DSPs can perform simple functions very quickly - 1,000 times faster than an average chip. Sure beats using a GPU.



    The wireless hub idea isn't very interesting because we already have them:



    http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...uct_Id=377793#



    Wireless charging sounds great but the technology is too far away right now.



    I really hope it's laser based displays because if there's anything that Apple's machines need it's better and more reliable displays. Plus they could be thinner. There can't be anything brick-like about it though because displays have to work without the power supply on a laptop.



    Batteries could sure use some improvement in size, weight, performance but I'm not sure how a brick helps.



    Whatever it turns out to be, I just don't want to see Apple puking HP's design style over the Mac lineup. A black display with a silver base looks horrible:



    http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en...4-3744201.html



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Blutnerd


    The brick could be meant as a symbol of a basic bulding block, the foundation of Apples business (which fits with the MacBook line), and as a symbol of uniformity. Which would fit in with the MacBook line having the same general design and building materials.



    Yeah it could just be something symbolic like maybe the entire Mac product family could be moulded from the same block of aluminium.



    I'll be very disappointed if absolutely nothing happens with the Mini though. It's really the most brick-like machine they have and it's in dire need of an update.
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  • Reply 91 of 124
    kendokakendoka Posts: 110member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin View Post


    ...A black display with a silver base looks ...



    ... really good, actually.
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  • Reply 92 of 124
    phongphong Posts: 219member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kendoka View Post


    ... really good, actually.



    Not on a laptop. On regular displays, it does, though, which is why I like the Panasonic and Philips HDTV monitors.
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  • Reply 93 of 124
    olternautolternaut Posts: 1,376member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin View Post


    It doesn't sound very reliable to be honest. The link to that last article, that guy Seth says 'I think I've found it'. In other words, he's just making up some random speculation. It works well for increasing hit count on his blog over the next 2 weeks but it's not a nice thing to do if he really doesn't have any idea what it actually is.



    The green laser image is at least interesting. One thing I was thinking of was the Lenslet optical processor:



    http://www.wired.com/science/discove.../2003/10/61009

    http://www.theinquirer.net/en/inquir...ps-firm-claims

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10...raops_optical/

    http://www2.electronicproducts.com/O...6-NOV2003.aspx

    http://www.controleng.com/article/CA491825.html

    http://www.dspdesignline.com/showArt...leID=192200372

    http://www.elektor.com/news/electro-...264.5097.lynkx



    This was announced years ago. Like it says:



    "The company's prototype is fairly large and bulky but when Lenslet begins to supply the processor in a few months it will be shrunk to 15 by 15 cm with a height of 1.7 cm, roughly the size of a Palm Pilot."



    ... or a brick.



    "In five years we plan to shrink it to a single chip"



    This is 5 years later though so it shouldn't be that big. It would be ideal for OpenCL.



    Optical DSPs can perform simple functions very quickly - 1,000 times faster than an average chip. Sure beats using a GPU.



    The wireless hub idea isn't very interesting because we already have them:



    http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...uct_Id=377793#



    Wireless charging sounds great but the technology is too far away right now.



    I really hope it's laser based displays because if there's anything that Apple's machines need it's better and more reliable displays. Plus they could be thinner. There can't be anything brick-like about it though because displays have to work without the power supply on a laptop.



    Batteries could sure use some improvement in size, weight, performance but I'm not sure how a brick helps.



    Whatever it turns out to be, I just don't want to see Apple puking HP's design style over the Mac lineup. A black display with a silver base looks horrible:



    http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en...4-3744201.html







    Yeah it could just be something symbolic like maybe the entire Mac product family could be moulded from the same block of aluminium.



    I'll be very disappointed if absolutely nothing happens with the Mini though. It's really the most brick-like machine they have and it's in dire need of an update.



    Truly impressed by that Israeli startup LENSLET. I too am patiently waiting for optical computing components to hit the mainstream. I'm also wondering and waiting for processing units that are actually powerful enough to support true artificial intelligence. Can optical computing do it? And whatever technology does achieve true commercially available artificial intelligence....would Apple be the first company to release such tech to the public?

    As for the October 14th event, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the clues so far. I think that it will be some sort of companion device that goes along with the new macbook products.
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  • Reply 94 of 124
    phongphong Posts: 219member
    I wonder if it has something to do with security. I mean, they had the Cryptonomicon in one one if those pics and an aluminum brick looks pretty secure. Some kind of unhackable base station? Quantum cryptography? No, I give up. :/
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  • Reply 95 of 124
    olternautolternaut Posts: 1,376member
    Holy fracking toledo!!



    9to5mac has just let what their sources say is the cat out of the bag on the brick. They are saying Apple has built their own friggin plant! A plant that is using state of the art manufacturing processes including using 3d lasers (yes 3d frickin lasers as in....3D not single beam) and water jets to custom shape computer casings out of blocks of aluminum!

    This means not only that apple will not have to rely on asia to make their products anymore but also that they will be able to come out with incredible new seamless designs that takes things to the next level while keeping prices down.



    Great news imo!



    http://www.9to5mac.com/macbook-brick
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  • Reply 96 of 124
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,585moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Olternaut View Post


    They are saying Apple has built their own friggin plant!



    That is good news because it means that we should see some better quality control, which has been slipping quite a bit. They can also design the machines better without the same restrictions.



    I didn't see this coming but it makes sense with what was said. Competitors can't match it and it will save money. They can guarantee production and delivery schedules too. No wonder Apple was saving up so much money.
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  • Reply 97 of 124
    olternautolternaut Posts: 1,376member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin View Post


    That is good news because it means that we should see some better quality control, which has been slipping quite a bit. They can also design the machines better without the same restrictions.



    I didn't see this coming but it makes sense with what was said. Competitors can't match it and it will save money. They can guarantee production and delivery schedules too. No wonder Apple was saving up so much money.



    Dude, would you react so calmly if you were told you were about to inherit a billion dollars? This is incredible news!



    The designs for products that this technology suggests.....geezus they have their own plant!.....that this stuff suggest would mean incredible new product designs (and cheaper) that no one will be able to match for a looooooong time.

    The new macbook designs will probably be incredible! That, and the fact that Apple is making PA Semi work to the bone will promise that the new products starting at MacWorld 2009 will be jaw dropping!



    Apple is going to pwn the entire tech industry. I expect Ballmer will be bawling like a baby real soon. If he isn't already.
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  • Reply 98 of 124
    cubitcubit Posts: 846member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iPeon View Post


    The "Brick" is a wireless power transmitter/recharger for portables.



    Clearly it is merely a useful piece of raw material needed to rebuild WALL Street....
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  • Reply 99 of 124
    A new US-based manufacturing process that has environmental benefits is something that would be attractive to Steve Jobs. (He was very proud of his NEXT factory.) And it would be a good fit for the attributes described in Oppenheimer's teaser. (Oppenheimer also said that there was $800 million set aside in 2009 for physical infrastructure (I forget the exact term), a huge increase over the amount budgeted for 2008, which tends to support this new-factory rumor.) And the source has a good track record. So this sounds like a credible rumor to me.



    I don't know whether it will be earth-shaking or not in practice, but I applaud Jobs for Thinking Different--and acting on it. At a minimum, it will generate a lot of excited, beneficial buzz about Apple, and polish Apple's image.
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  • Reply 100 of 124
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,585moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Olternaut View Post


    Dude, would you react so calmly if you were told you were about to inherit a billion dollars? This is incredible news!



    I reached a state of apathy a number of years ago and I haven't cared enough to change.



    I may change when I hear the news I want to hear and that news is for them to start building the machines that Apple used to build at Next.



    http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...3121/index.htm

    http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/feature...ol-wasn-enough



    Don't forget the goal Steve:



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9dmcRbuTMY



    The prosumer market. The Mac Pro is a great improvement over the Next stuff but the goal-posts have moved.



    http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl...-8&sa=N&tab=wi



    (a bit smaller though obviously)



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Olternaut View Post


    The designs for products that this technology suggests.....geezus they have their own plant!.....that this stuff suggest would mean incredible new product designs (and cheaper) that no one will be able to match for a looooooong time.



    There's still constraints regarding motherboards and cooling though so I don't see them having major departures from what computers look like now but it allows them to build devices like tablets by themselves.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Olternaut View Post


    Apple is going to pwn the entire tech industry. I expect Ballmer will be bawling like a baby real soon. If he isn't already.



    Yeah, I think he's a giant baby already. What I expect to see is Microsoft open a plant because it's what Apple are doing and then Ballmer standing in the middle scratching his head thinking 'wait a minute, we don't make computers'. Imagine if they started doing that as part of their end-to-end strategy.
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