Today's episode of <a href="http://www.appleturns.com"; target="_blank">AtAT</a> features a very cogent explanation of why SpyMac's iWalk is an elaborate fake. Check it out!
Escher
PS: I couldn't resist being part of the fastest growing thread in AI history.
<strong>Today's episode of <a href="http://www.appleturns.com"; target="_blank">AtAT</a> features a very cogent explanation of why SpyMac's iWalk is an elaborate fake. Check it out!
Escher
PS: I couldn't resist being part of the fastest growing thread in AI history.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thank goodness for AtAT. I can't believe ZDnet UK actually picked up on this story and reported it as if it were real.
<strong>well, if it's a fake, then someone spent about $50k doing it. i oversee a lot of postproduction work as part of my job and after i've read all the "proofs of fakes" and watched the video again, i'd say that it's real. but then again, i thought the photo of the cube was real too despite everyone saying "the shadow on the apple's going the wrong way" (oh wait, it was).
the reflection of the hand in the window where he's writing and the rotoscoping that it would take to put the hand in front of the text would be a huge pain in the ass. if you didn't want to roto the screen area to place the text into, you'd have to green screen it. the reflection and shadow of the hand convince me that it's not a greenscreen as you'd usually not make greenscreens out of reflective material. and the whole scene isn't really lit well enough to green screen anyway. it would be terrible to pull a matte from that scene. the text looks exactly as it does on my mp130.
guys, this is a real device of some sort. probably a prototype. or perhaps just the real thing.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah, the way you're doing it would cost $50k. The way he's doing it costs $30 and a pirated copy of Photoshop. It's a high quality printout behind a piece of plastic. The handwriting is digital pasted on with layers in Photoshop.
also, there is a huge difference between a couple of marketing photos done in a studio, and a simple "real-life" video done in somebody's living room.
Maybe we will begin a tradition of Japanese making cool hardware mods (a la the <a href="http://www.go2mac.com/story.lasso?newsID=8283"; target="_blank">skeleton iBook</a>) and europeans making elaborate hoaxes.</strong><hr></blockquote>
If I could find these guys I would not hesitate to join them. It must be pretty funny to do these things (just as funny as it is to point out the flaws). And thanks to you they now have a real task at their hand for the iFake #3. I still think it was amazing that you saw that before we actually could get the video directly from spymac :cool: .
The prototype claim is actually pretty smart. They can leave this in the dust and claim it was only a work in progress and make a completly new iWalk. Just as they did from the first to the current.
And yes I do sleep I am preparing for my final exam this semester so my sleep routine is completly ruined (sleep something like 2*3 hours each day)
If we don't see this released they can just shrug and say it's not ready yet or there are newer prototypes in the making.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Basically when Apple's next special event or MWNY, they're suddenly gonna come across a new prototype and so on like some sort of running joke and people will keep running to believe that it's just around the corner. Unfortunately he's learning; despite a history of creating fakes, more and more people will just believe that the next prototype is the real thing because his fakes are just gonna get better and better. I bet the next one will probably be a windows ce device shoved inside a case with a custom skin. That's when everyone goes nuts because there's no Photoshop artifacts to dispute at that point.
<strong>And yes I do sleep I am preparing for my final exam this semester so my sleep routine is completly ruined (sleep something like 2*3 hours each day)</strong><hr></blockquote>
<strong>And another thing, anyone who thinks Jonathan Ive would come up with something that ugly is delusional. </strong><hr></blockquote>
I actually think it would be something relatively close to that, minus the hideous scroll wheel. There's only so much you can do with a handheld - take iPod for instance. "Square made of white inside clear transparent shell" is about what you get these days. What is it you're expecting, exactly, "flower power?"
Why would Apple waste the $? Marketing? I DOUBT IT. Everyone here eats up everything Apple does, and the iWalk is squarely pointed towards us (us being people who look @ rumor sites). No way Apple is beind this. Doesnt make ANY business sense.
I posted this on another thread, but I am beginning to think that this is an Apple marketing stunt where Apple is controlling the flow of information about a new PDA. Thus, supporting the "beyond the rumor sites" headline.
This type of guerrilla marketing does make sense... cheap, self-propagating, generates buzz, etc.
Why else do i think it is an Apple stunt?
- SpyMac is too polished yet has no advertising. Who has the time or motivation pull a stunt like this without getting paid.
- They're collecting email addresses (for future direct marketing to those interested in an Apple PDA)
- The registration legal disclaimer is pretty protective of Apple's position (e.g."All content presented on this website, regardless of labeling, should be considered rumor and should not be the basis for any financial or investment decision, or a financial transaction of any kind.")
- Apple legal has not shut this site down since it's launch in October despite it's abuse of Apple trademarks and logos.
- The entire focus of SpyMac seems to be to build excitement for the iWalk. There is nothing else controversial on the site. A few pics of 10.2 (which Apple mysteriously allows to remain online), a few generic iMac renditions (which certainly won't approach the coolness of the now mandatory introduction of a new LCD iMac), a brief "skeptical" mention of G5 which seems to ask us to be realistic and not get our hopes up ("We are reading those reports [of the G5] with great amusement though, since they appear to tell us exactly what we want to believe, no matter how realistic that may be."
- The quality of the "fakes" is very high showing advanced concepts from Newton OS. Again, who has the spare time or resources to do something like this? Who would gain from this? (Answer: Apple would if they intend to deliver "way beyond" SpyMac's predictions.)
My speculation is that SpyMac is giving us info about what Apple wants us to get excited about. Conservative and harmless info about things everyone expects to see at MWSF --- LCD iMac, faster processors, information about 10.2. Teasers of an advanced PDA by showing us mock-ups and prototypes. I further predict, that Apple will introduce a PDA (not called the iWalk) which will be similar to but exceed the info presented on SpyMac.
The Zaupruder film is real. It's just how one interprets JFK's movements after being hit (from the front or back) that is the BIG question. This one and the Alien one are good hoaxes.... or are they?
I still don't see the non-moving text, nor do I feel that the finger/jog dial evidence is conclusive. But I do not believe we will see Steve Jobs hold this device up on Monday.
Apple's designs are always clean and streamlined--e.g. nothing bulges. That dial thingy with the chrome logo sticks out, and just doesn't look like anything "Apple" but the old G4/iBook power adapter.
According to our little <a href="http://www.misterpoll.com/poll.mpl?id=2810477631"; target="_blank">poll</a> people is rather cool headed here. That surprice me a lot based on the normal hype around here.
Comments
Escher
PS: I couldn't resist being part of the fastest growing thread in AI history.
<strong>Today's episode of <a href="http://www.appleturns.com"; target="_blank">AtAT</a> features a very cogent explanation of why SpyMac's iWalk is an elaborate fake. Check it out!
Escher
PS: I couldn't resist being part of the fastest growing thread in AI history.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thank goodness for AtAT. I can't believe ZDnet UK actually picked up on this story and reported it as if it were real.
<strong>well, if it's a fake, then someone spent about $50k doing it. i oversee a lot of postproduction work as part of my job and after i've read all the "proofs of fakes" and watched the video again, i'd say that it's real. but then again, i thought the photo of the cube was real too despite everyone saying "the shadow on the apple's going the wrong way" (oh wait, it was).
the reflection of the hand in the window where he's writing and the rotoscoping that it would take to put the hand in front of the text would be a huge pain in the ass. if you didn't want to roto the screen area to place the text into, you'd have to green screen it. the reflection and shadow of the hand convince me that it's not a greenscreen as you'd usually not make greenscreens out of reflective material. and the whole scene isn't really lit well enough to green screen anyway. it would be terrible to pull a matte from that scene. the text looks exactly as it does on my mp130.
guys, this is a real device of some sort. probably a prototype. or perhaps just the real thing.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah, the way you're doing it would cost $50k. The way he's doing it costs $30 and a pirated copy of Photoshop. It's a high quality printout behind a piece of plastic. The handwriting is digital pasted on with layers in Photoshop.
also, there is a huge difference between a couple of marketing photos done in a studio, and a simple "real-life" video done in somebody's living room.
[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: Nebrie ]</p>
<strong>
Maybe we will begin a tradition of Japanese making cool hardware mods (a la the <a href="http://www.go2mac.com/story.lasso?newsID=8283"; target="_blank">skeleton iBook</a>) and europeans making elaborate hoaxes.</strong><hr></blockquote>
If I could find these guys I would not hesitate to join them. It must be pretty funny to do these things (just as funny as it is to point out the flaws). And thanks to you they now have a real task at their hand for the iFake #3. I still think it was amazing that you saw that before we actually could get the video directly from spymac :cool: .
The prototype claim is actually pretty smart. They can leave this in the dust and claim it was only a work in progress and make a completly new iWalk. Just as they did from the first to the current.
And yes I do sleep
<strong>
They've got theirselves covered.
If we don't see this released they can just shrug and say it's not ready yet or there are newer prototypes in the making.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Basically when Apple's next special event or MWNY, they're suddenly gonna come across a new prototype and so on like some sort of running joke and people will keep running to believe that it's just around the corner. Unfortunately he's learning; despite a history of creating fakes, more and more people will just believe that the next prototype is the real thing because his fakes are just gonna get better and better. I bet the next one will probably be a windows ce device shoved inside a case with a custom skin. That's when everyone goes nuts because there's no Photoshop artifacts to dispute at that point.
<strong>And yes I do sleep
No sleep=bad grades no?
-Paul
<strong>And another thing, anyone who thinks Jonathan Ive would come up with something that ugly is delusional.
I actually think it would be something relatively close to that, minus the hideous scroll wheel. There's only so much you can do with a handheld - take iPod for instance. "Square made of white inside clear transparent shell" is about what you get these days. What is it you're expecting, exactly, "flower power?"
-S
Dunno if it's real. Biggest evidence for me that it isn't is that the site is still posting the pics/video.
Besides, I don't want a PDA.
Think they could fit a slot loading DVD-ROM into the iWalk? Now that would be cool. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
<strong>
No sleep=bad grades no?
-Paul</strong><hr></blockquote>
No. I work best under extreme frustration and on animal insticts
Think.
Beyond the rumour sites. Way beyond
And then this shows up a few hours later. Probably the best (mock/fake whatever) we've all ever seen.
I think Apple are telling us, hey iWALK is cool, but what were gonna show is far beyond that.
Its a real thing, but not the real thing!
Do I have to do ALL the thinking around here
[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: MarcUK ]</p>
<strong>I think Apple have sent this out under cover THEMSELVES.
Think.
Beyond the rumour sites. Way beyond
And then this shows up a few hours later. Probably the best (mock/fake whatever) we've all ever seen.
I think Apple are telling us, hey iWALK is cool, but what were gonna show is far beyond that.
Its a real thing, but not the real thing!
Do I have to do ALL the thinking around here
[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: MarcUK ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Why would Apple waste the $? Marketing? I DOUBT IT. Everyone here eats up everything Apple does, and the iWalk is squarely pointed towards us (us being people who look @ rumor sites). No way Apple is beind this. Doesnt make ANY business sense.
-Paul
<strong>I dare say that the only film/video that's been analyzed more is the Zapruder film.
I think the alien autopsy video would come in after the Zapruder film, then maybe this one
This type of guerrilla marketing does make sense... cheap, self-propagating, generates buzz, etc.
Why else do i think it is an Apple stunt?
- SpyMac is too polished yet has no advertising. Who has the time or motivation pull a stunt like this without getting paid.
- They're collecting email addresses (for future direct marketing to those interested in an Apple PDA)
- The registration legal disclaimer is pretty protective of Apple's position (e.g."All content presented on this website, regardless of labeling, should be considered rumor and should not be the basis for any financial or investment decision, or a financial transaction of any kind.")
- Apple legal has not shut this site down since it's launch in October despite it's abuse of Apple trademarks and logos.
- The entire focus of SpyMac seems to be to build excitement for the iWalk. There is nothing else controversial on the site. A few pics of 10.2 (which Apple mysteriously allows to remain online), a few generic iMac renditions (which certainly won't approach the coolness of the now mandatory introduction of a new LCD iMac), a brief "skeptical" mention of G5 which seems to ask us to be realistic and not get our hopes up ("We are reading those reports [of the G5] with great amusement though, since they appear to tell us exactly what we want to believe, no matter how realistic that may be."
- The quality of the "fakes" is very high showing advanced concepts from Newton OS. Again, who has the spare time or resources to do something like this? Who would gain from this? (Answer: Apple would if they intend to deliver "way beyond" SpyMac's predictions.)
My speculation is that SpyMac is giving us info about what Apple wants us to get excited about. Conservative and harmless info about things everyone expects to see at MWSF --- LCD iMac, faster processors, information about 10.2. Teasers of an advanced PDA by showing us mock-ups and prototypes. I further predict, that Apple will introduce a PDA (not called the iWalk) which will be similar to but exceed the info presented on SpyMac.
How's that for a fun conspiracy theory?
:eek:
I still don't see the non-moving text, nor do I feel that the finger/jog dial evidence is conclusive. But I do not believe we will see Steve Jobs hold this device up on Monday.
Apple's designs are always clean and streamlined--e.g. nothing bulges. That dial thingy with the chrome logo sticks out, and just doesn't look like anything "Apple" but the old G4/iBook power adapter.
Maybe it's real, but just a prototype?
<strong>
They've got theirselves covered.
If we don't see this released they can just shrug and say it's not ready yet or there are newer prototypes in the making.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Prototypes don't get a CE certification, and I don't suspect that the FCC would be on it either.
[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: JLL ]</p>
It's far too ugly, and the name is ridiculous. It's a fake.
I'm enjoying the hype as much as the next person but let's not get too carried away.