Curved iMac concept bends beyond the realm of plausibility
By Donald Melanson 
posted Feb 29th 2008 12:21PM
posted Feb 29th 2008 12:21PM
You don't have to venture very far to dig up unofficial concepts for Apple products of all sorts, but this one from designer Nuno Teixeira is certainly more attention grabbing than most, even if it isn't any more realistic. Dubbed the "iMac iView," the main distinguishing feature here is obviously the curved screen, which isn't actually all that far out there, but still a ways from becoming anywhere near commonplace. As if that wasn't enough, the concept also boasts a second screen on the rear (pictured after the break), and webcams on both the front and back, which would finally let you have impersonal conversations with the person sitting right across from you. Hit up the read link below for a couple more pics.
Digg it!
http://digg.com/apple/Curved_iMac_concept_bends_beyond_the_realm_of_plausibility
No.
Alex why are you back? No one is going to Digg it, go away. Does anyone know if there is a way to report him to digg or something for stealing other peoples articles or something?
Uhm, do you know what digg is? The whole point of it is to post links to articles you find interesting. You can't "steal" articles by posting a link on digg.
He is trying to make money by asking ppl to digg it. more hits = more money
@Curtis and pkilla: please learn what digg is before accusing Alex of 'stealing' articles to 'make money.' Joey is absolutely right; both of your accusations are completely false. the only thing that digging this article will do is get it more views from people that don't necessarily check engadget.com daily.
dugg.
But does it have Blu-ray?
and does it blend?
no, but it bends =)
knowing apple and its pricing, the bending will be done by the consumer :)
I see what you did there.
It plays Crysis too, but only if you rewire the video connector to work on a real computer.
*drool*
Well. I don't see the point for having such a curve display, and the 2nd display seems not useful to all ppl.
Bring us LED Cinema Display first!!! Apple!!
I'd have to see it in person. I have dual 22" wide-screen, and a single curved screen that is, say 3360 X 1890, might be a lot more ergonomic. The screen on that back is, as you say, pretty much completely useless...
I think the display on the back could actually be useful if you were (for example) going over photos with a client and wanted them to be able to see them without looking over your shoulder. They could view the large screen and you could control the images from the display in the back. You'd have to have it set up so that the display wasn't directly between you, but it could be nice...
The screen on the back could be similarly useful in video-conferencing. If you're having a meeting that's partially remote, and partially you and the other guy in your office, that other guy doesn't have to crowd around behind you now. They can use the other camera and screen.
The second screen and camera might be a lot of resources put into a rather narrow scope of application though.
The problem with having the screen on the back is you would have the computer directly in between you and the person you're taking to. That would get in the way a lot
Same here. I can't see the point in curved scrrens unless they are more than 32".( To get better viewing angles) But I doubt that this will be as big as that.
I have the 30" and I sometimes wish it was curved. I find myself moving closer when I want to see details on the outer left and right edges...
this might be cool in a professional dance club/dj setting more for the "wow that's a cool set up". the small screen on the other side could simply show in real time the DJs software screen running serato, traktor, or whatever.
That's like having a screen on the back of your TV
Forget impersonal conversations, I'm thinking Battleship.
Looks like a Vista SideShow display on back!
I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC
OMG M$ stole that idea from Apple!! They had teh idea 15 years ago!!!
/Apple fanboy sarcasm
It's sexy - I'll give it that... but I'm having trouble understanding the rear screen. It is for some kind of kiosk? Or just for overpaid execs with enough floor space in their office to have their desk in the middle of the room rather than against a cubicle wall?
I'm not playing game online?!
I was in MAc's Executive Briefing center at Lexington/53rd St yesterday. They had a huge (mustabeen 32") imac. That thing was incredible. This one is really nice and I bet it would sell well if nothing more than a showoff display.
I'm no apple fan, but 32" is way bigger than the biggest iMac they make if I'm not mistaken. Thought 24" was the biggest, which is a LONG ways off from 32". That's the size of apple's biggest display, which, i might add, has gone unchanged for far too long. It makes the Mac Mini look like it's loved by Apple.
You're an idiot.
I've been there. No they don't. Shut up.
The largest Apple display is a 30". The largest iMac is a 24". This guy is a moron.
And if the screen was actually that wide, there would be no reason for so much extra space on the sides...although it is just a concept. Quite interesting though.
Conceptually, I can see a use for both.
Curved screen: depending on how big it is, it would allow enough real estate to be like having multiple monitors. The curve would help the users' eyes from having to refocus as they moved from side to side. Too much time from screen to screen kills my eyes if they have to refocus.
Dual screens/cams: would allow for multiple people to be involved in desktop VTCs. This would be *awesome* in the environment I work in.
Bring it on, I say.
actually, the rear screen would be great for my boss; when she walks in my office, then they could see me on Engadget multiple times a day.
The screen on the back would make this a great for genius bar demonstrations and the coolest till ever. I would imagine there were a lot of uses this in business, but would be probably useless in a domestic setting, although would bring a game of battleships into the new century.
"Who are the ad wizards that came up with that one?"
it is quite sexy! I'd tap that...
haha... dude, you need a girlfriend/boyfriend... that's funny...
Apple has always talked about how accurate in color and aspect ratio their screens are... This would significantly skew the aspect ratios.
After all the effort to eliminate curvature and make a display flat, why would someone want one that was intentionally curved? It makes my eyes hurt just thinking about trying to focus on that.
Because it curves the RIGHT direction, and your eyes can focus better on large screens.
I could see this to be useful for a receptionist kind of environment where they might want to display map/contact/etc info to a client but still want their phone system software and/or computer desktop private from prying client eyes like this:
Client: Where might I find Mr. Dongle's office?
Receptionist: *displays map and contact info on external display* Second elevator on the left, 45th floor. He's expecting you.
Client: Thank you.
Receptionist: You're welcome. *Continues Solitaire game*
Actually, that is a good idea.
A few people (both here an on Gizmodo) have been tossing around the idea that it would be good for a till-point but the possible usefulness of the rear screen would be massively out-weighed by the unnecessary amount of room this would take up on a counter and the fact that it would get in the way of the sales person and customer talking to each other.
However, it probably would work for a receptionist - the sheer flashiness of it would make a good first impression when clients arrive.
Alienware is releasing a curved monitor.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dvice.com/pics/Alienware-curve2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dvice.com/archives/2008/01/ces_best_alienw.php&h=347&w=399&sz=56&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=0bZGNptMAFYNiM:&tbnh=&tbnw=&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dalienware%2Bcurved%2Bmonitor%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4GFRC_enCA202CA210
Yeah, I read about that a couple weeks ago. That's why I'm trying to figure out why Engadget is saying this is "beyond the realm of plausibility" because, as far as the screen goes, it's already been done, it's just putting the guts in it that will be the challenge.
Has no power connector. :o
It's self powered by the reality distortion field.
Maybe nicer to sit on than the current iMac...
The screen on the back is an actual negative. Boss, parents, etc. no longer have to sneak up behind you to see what you're doing! No more internet breaks! Bummer!
... no more internet breaks ...
Ahh, but that is the idea. You load up some random spreadsheet on the back screen. Animate it with a cursor moving randomly around. Then use the front screen for whatever you wish, and people will think you are really working on the spreadsheet. :)
that would be a fun one to drag to the apple store for repair...
What is the point of the 2nd display?? I know Alienware has a similar screen in the works so it does seem plausible (Though not from apple). But a second screen??
so?
gamertards....stop thinking about dropping this in your basement gamercave...the second screen on the back has nothing to do with you. It's clearly designed for an office environment where the computer would be sitting on a desk and someone would/could use the back screen.
Officetard - quit worrying about what gamers would like to do with a nice curved screen and get back to pushing pencils and stapling stuff together. Don't forget to check your post-its too, you might forget that you had a meeting scheduled this afternoon....
I really hope you were just being sarcastic.
designed for an office? yea because we know how apple loves to make its products for the corporate world.....
No problem...I will. You go back to looking at the benchmarks of latest NVidia and AMD cards you can't afford. You should spend less time trolling for comments and figure out how you're gonna ask out the sexy elf you chatted with while playing WOW for 17 hours straight. Oh wait, you won't do that..it's way to normal.
Yeah that's right, they designed it for a gamertard lan party. yeah, because we know how much apple loves to make products for gamers...
You silly gamerofficetards, we ALL know Apple likes to make products for for gameroffices.
the screen in the back is useful, i do a radio show (no plug) and people who sit across from me would be able to see the same topic im reading from... that would be useful, i currently do it with my second monitor and during the broadcast i switch to mirror mode...
THis is probably not too far off the mark. Afterall, several LCD TV manufacturers have been looking at curved screens to create that home theater IMAX effect. Can't you just imagine the 130" Panasonic plasma curved like this in your basement? It's not just surround sound anymore, it's surround video too.
And wasn't there just a posting here a few days ago about a curved screen for your digital projector?
Well, except for the screen on the back, pretty cool.
Yeah that's right, they designed it for a gamertard lan party. yeah, because we know how much apple loves to make products for gamers...
This is the first time I've looked at an Apple product and gone "Wow, that actually is quite stylish and not excessively overhyped." Unfortunately, the impractical extra screen where you can't see it as well as the extra webcam just seem stupid. Even though this is a concept, I'd be willing to bet that, just like any other Tech-Art hybrid that Apple has plopped out, it'll be over priced for what it offers.
Interesting how people have given practical reasons for the second screen, but people keep saying it's impractical... Think before you post gamertards and officetards.
I'd feel less gay watching porn with my roommate if he was watching it on the second screen.
Cool
wow... nice illustrated rendered concept...
i hope this will be out here one day. a few practicality problems:
1. back screen - not everyone will use it
2. screen is perpendicular to the surface (ie. table), can't tilt adjust
3. the last time I remembered CD/DVD/BR aren't curved. you can't stick it in!
4. I still prefer 16:9/16:10.
well, some problems to tackle. not bad if apple buys this design.
Your post made me go back and look at the render itself. I do have one question about it; where is the reflection of the hand holding the iPhone coming from?
Haha.. it is cool looking!
The second screen is pointless, and would just be a reason for Apple to charge more. I don't care what the office/gamer/appletards have already said, it would serve no practical purpose when it comes right down to it.
That having been said: iView seems way to "cheap iPod product"-esque for an Apple product.
It would be the iMac Curve. The commercials would have the song "Don'cha" playing in the background and someone talking about how their mac has 'curves'.
I just don't understand the point of the back screen.
eh not so much the curveyness or the 2nd screen on the back... BUT, a camera on the back is BRILLIANT! think bout it, could gimmick it into a live-feed video for the screen's desktop, turning the desktop image into a literal window.
in essence you would be able to see through your computer screen.
thats a very simple idea that has legs.
Well, Apple could do it. Microsoft would attempt to copy it. And all you losers out there would find something to complain about.
At the size of typical desktops displays (even large ones), I don't see any value in a curved screen.
This will be gr8 for dual screen Ninjas
... just to be sure that no matter where you sit, there is a light source that it can reflect into your eyes.
How can anyone say the second screen is pointless!??
The main purpose it serves is to clearly display your Starbucks order so you don't even need to talk to the underling servers there. Just order ahead with the iPhone app, then walk in and setup at any open table. The screen will display a rendering of your custom grande, and blank screens will tip off security to wi-fi squatters.
Never underestimate what will sell in Japan.
have fun editing photos on this without distortion.... one wouldn't even be able to get a true idea of what a final product would look like... as for the screen on the back, i don't know that id want to spend my money on a screen that faces the wall most, if not all of the time.