Video: Apple logo modded as secondary LCD
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Mar 13th 2009 5:33AM
posted Mar 13th 2009 5:33AM
[Thanks, Chris T.]
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Stands against Apple's minimalist design trend... but I would love this nonetheless... if I were a Mac guy.
Just think of all the tiny apple shaped porn he can watch.
Just think of all the tiny apple shaped porn he can watch.
M$ should hire this young man before this yet another one gone to Apple ...
what for?
another one, really?
cool, but so fucking useless
this is how most apple products are
Anyone who doesn't understand what "a neat hack" means really should go someplace where Serious and Constructive discussions of a Serious and Constructive nature take place amongst fellow Serious and Constructive users of Serious and Constructive computers.
modders = useless
Having fun = useless.
so much fun having an apple logo become an lcd..
Well, ever thought about why modders do mods?
Hmmm... let me think.... Oh, could it be because they are having fun doing mods? Nah, they sure only do it because of the end result...
/sarcasm
how they end up wasting so much money and end up with utter crap is beyond me...
Probably a more mature pasttime than you telling your dick in hard in every second or third post you do.
Nice avatar!
wow, now i have an internet stalker... nice
@GB actually you mod stuff ( well not you per say ) because you can. Sure you have fun when you mod things but this is no the goal. Plus you also mod things in order to make them do something that the manufacturer didn't intend them to do but you thought would be cool. So F all a ya'll this is a pretty nice mod. Pointless, sure. However, it has a pretty high level of technical difficulty, does not destroy the overall appearance/appeal of the original product and is something new.
grammar police *woooo wooo woooo woooo wooo*
it's "per se" asswipe
Derek: what gives, Grumpus? Are you sitting on your wallet or do you have to go take a piss? You got a toothache or something? Why did you even bother changing your avatar from the stock Engaget one then?
Here's a tip: If you find yourself typing in things like "I'll never understand..." or "Why they do that is beyond me" and submitting that for everyone to see, just know that it makes you look like a boring out-of-touch ass.
Troll detected
stop replying to my post
@cg0def:
Duh, of course you do mod because you can. I don't think that anyone without any technical knowledge would just try to mod (and possibly destroy) a MacBook just because for fun's sake (unless you are pretty rich and a bit destructive, maybe...). And it's also pretty obvious that you mod something because you thought the feature your "inventing" is cool, but if you don't see any fun in this, I don't think you'd do that.
No, people will reply. Take responsibility for what you say.
derek, I was going to be nice but... you're a dick.
Derek = Douche
Derek hates modders cause the last mod he tried (penis pump) only got him to 2 1/2 inches...
spam
. douche
-1
I'z in ur inboxz spamming ur postz
1st mistake: criticizing a modder.
2nd mistake: checking the "Email me when someone replies to this comment" button
3rd mistake: asking people to stop responding to your post
All of these will get you plenty of responses. Lol. I would gladly just spam your mailbox, douche.
Also, 99.9% of mods are just to make something look cool. That is the purpose of a mod: to add functionality where it didn't exist before. Sure it may be impractical, but it looks cool and shows your technical prowess.
So shut up if you don't understand and just move on.
You are an idiot.
hmmmmmm
Looks pretty neat, actually.
Yeah, it'd be really cool if something like this was a standard option. Not really much point I guess, but it'd be neat just for iTunes and such.
very cute...but all that hard work for just that little thing...if u have the patience i guess...
That's probably the same thing people were saying when modders started putting lexan windows on their desktop PCs. It's a really neat thing from a geek perspective. It'd be really cool to have a smoldering Apple logo to wow all the babes at Starbucks while you're working on your next big script, but when it comes right down to it, it's just for geek cred and mostly only MAKE'r geeks would have the balls to try it. Laptop modding is certainly not as common as desktop modding. So, kudos to that guy for stepping things up a little.
"It'd be really cool to have a smoldering Apple logo to wow all the babes at Starbucks while you're working on your next big script,"
wow, you'd be a 3-in-1 cliché.
1) someone with the geeky vision of seducing women with their modded computer while
2) sitting in a starbucks café with an – albeit modded – apple laptop in front of you
3) showing how creative you are by writing the next film adaptation of WoW
nevertheless, i agree, kudos to that guy. a well done laptop mod.
Very cool! I'd love to see how he accomplished this.
Actually this is can be VERY usefull,
Remember ORB? This screen can be used when computer is in stand-by mode to present all sorts of info and use patters and colours to indicate certain info that computer is gathering in the background. Secondary monitors on laptops (as done on Vista machines) were not really popular because they need to be simple: single colour and pulsing, perhaps a moving simple pattern - that's it.
This screen can be perfect for those kind of applications. Although I suspect that Apple people has already a prototype where entire case can glow - after all I remember seeing a patent like that somewhere.
Anyhow, KUDOS to the modder - you Sir ROCK!
An eink external display over the cover would totally rock... it would be low-power and not be obtrusive. Even if the data isn't updated in real-time, it would be cool.
I was thinking the same thing. There are numerous times in my day when I need to know what time it is and since I no longer have a cell phone, I usually open up my computer to check the clock. It would be pretty neat to see the time in the apple logo.
Not useless. Just not as useful as other mods.
Josh: that is exactly what I was thinking. If this thing could display the current battery level, the date and time, or even the current song playing (provided, of course, you could play music with the lid closed) it would be extremely useful.
The screen in the mod looks really good. It might be in the video already (can't watch it with sound because I'm at work) but does it use the existing LCD's backlight or does it have its own? It might not even use very much power if it uses the existing backlight (like the apple logo does already).
i think it looks cool, all the haters are just automatically ragging on it cause its apple..
and what is with the hatred for apple? don’t get me wrong the fanboy fanatics need to grow the fuck up, but otherwise I find their products actually quite good, I have a dell xps and love it, my girlf has a macbook and loves it, I have an iphone and think its the best thing since sliced bread so this outright hatred on all things apple, I just don’t get, sure their shit is overpriced but fuck me so is a B&O tv but I aint gonna rag on em just cause I can’t afford it , strange world us nerds live in..
They're just pissed off that the shuffle's getting so many posts.. engadget should post the link to that apple-free yahoo pipe in bold red letters across the top of the home page...
This mod is pretty cool tho. It belongs in the "looks nice, maybe useful, wish I had it but I wouldn't bother doing it myself" category. Sort of like that 24-ssd rig samsung sponsored a few days ago.. If the guy had more time he can probably make it in to a mini-sideshow-esq thing..
Maybe you're new but this is how it usually goes.
Apple Store Down! - Post 1
Apple Updates iMac - Post 2
Apple Updates Mac Pro - Post 3
Apple Updates Mac Mini - Post 4 (Now remember there was so little updated they could have easily fit 2 thru 4 in one article)
Apple iMac (early 2009) Unboxing - Post 5
Apple Mac Pro (early 2009) Unboxing - Post 6
Apple Mac Mini Unboxing - Post 7
Apple iMac (early 2009) Hands On - Post 8
Apple Mac Pro (early 2009) Hands On - Post 9
Apple Mac Mini Hands On - Post 10
Apple iMac (early 2009) Teardown - Post 11
Apple Mac Mini Teardown - Post 12
Twelve posts on some of the most minuscule "updates", and now all the shuffle posts, it's kinda sad.
OMG!!! A new gadget/tech website has numerous posts about new products?! THOSE BASTARDS!!! Engadget is in this to make money and they do that by posting articles that people will click on, which increases the times their sponsors' ads are loaded, and read. If the sight of an Apple article as you scroll down bothers you THAT much, you may want to consider getting off your computer for a few minutes and chilling the fuck out. That just isn't normal.
Have fun in the inevitable court ordered anger management classes.
These are my personal reasons of contempt for apple:
-Overpriced hardware
-Overhyped products
-Apple cultists
-Perpetuates the false belief that the OS is hardware dependent
-Promotes computer illiteracy
-Planned obsolescence
-Are extremely aggressive patent trolls, consequently blocking many interesting products from coming to light
-Tout themselves as a company that makes products that can do anything & everything you want it to, but only within the boundaries of what they approve of.
-The company as a whole has gone back on it's original underdog mentality to become just as 'evil' as m$
-Pays NO tribute to it's unix roots (referring to OS_)
-Did I mention ridiculously overpriced?
When you buy an apple product you are paying for the name. period. Any arguments about design superiority, usability & whatnot are simply stupid pissing matches. It's all a matter of opinion, so arguing is useless. What constitutes 'usable' for me is something entirely different to the next person. I'm a linux user (clearly ;P) & when I own a piece of machinery I want to be able to do whatever I choose with it...because it's mine! When people see my computer they're constantly asking what kind of computer it is because of the OS. I tell them it's a regular PC & the OS has nothing to do with hardware, they could run this on theirs, & I'm often met with a blank stare. It is because of conscious efforts by both M$ & apple that this OS=Hardware lie is perpetuated. The reason being is that they are scared. Scared that once consumers realize there is a FREE alternative out there they'll stop paying for their products. They not only encourage consumer ignorance, but endorse it. Microsoft has gone so far as to pay off government organizations to continue to use their products instead of switching to a more secure open-source alternative, which sickens me as their greed is now impacting national security of countries around the world. Now I'm NOT one of those linux guys who thinks everyone should switch to linux, because it's just not for everybody. However I do think that certain linux distros have reached a point where they are a viable alternative for the average user, and FOR FREE nonetheless. Personally, I don't understand why anyone would pay for something they could get for free, but like I said, that's just me & to each his own. It's a difference in what people consider 'usable'. All a matter of opinion & this is just mine. The last point I have to make is about the whole 'apple culture' that has evolved. It disgusts me. It is one more thing for laissez-faire pigs to feel elitist about. Congratu-f**king-lations, you bought a shiny overpriced product. That CLEARLY makes you better than everyone else. It's become nothing more than a pathetic status symbol that creates a false sense of superiority for it's user-base; the result of an admittedly genius marketing team. So yah... just something to mull over.
Cool but Pointless.
The concept is cool. But the screen size is to small to make it useful. Give it a year some manufacturer (i.e. Apple) will expand the concept and allow for a secondary view of a laptop screen. So people don't have to stand over your shoulder so y'all can work together.
Must be cool to animate a cute little worm worming around in the apple!
I reckon it would be cool if you could link it to the isight or webcam or whatever. Anyone looking at the top would be able to see right through :)
The guy did that near the end, but he didn't mirror it properly. It *does* look pretty slick, but it'd be perfect if it was mirrored properly :)
Seriously cool, would love this myself!
People saying that this is useless, I should imagine it seriously adds to the resale value of this laptop if he sells it on.
How the hell does it fit in there?
by the means of "empty space"
Yeah because THAT's what I wanna do, take apart my $1200+ investment to put something a screen in that I can't even see while doing anything on the machine. Nice.
I'm getting a hint that you don't plan on doing this?
Negative, lol. I don't own a Macbook, however I wouldn't do it to any laptop.
True, but 'tis a selfless mod. It doesn't benefit you - only onlookers
It's so other people at Starbucks can look at you. Oh what? I just stereotyped myself.
OMFG that is so EFING cool I THINK I JUST CRAPPED MY MAC LOVING PANTS!
Can you attach a PROPER secondary display now? How is triple monitor support on Mac OS X?
OS X supports triple (or however many you like) displays just fine.
The Intel integrated graphics in that BlackBook, not so likely.
"Oh, by the way, your laptop has a fat air bubble in it. Yeah, we just though you'd like to carry extra plastic and some air volume whenever/wherever you go. And then we thought you wouldn't notice, so we had some modders stick completely useless features in there, just so you remember how much empty space there's in there. Don't forget - yes, another screen could fit in there; but for the rest of you, it's just an empty cavity, we left it there just to screw with your head, and make you wonder"
I'm sure only Apple leaves any extra space in any of their products.
Nice job! Very slick. I would just run those slow-mo explosions all day, with the opening music to Blade Runner.
I'm so glad I'm not an apple fanboy is my thought here, I don't know why though, I like tweaks and hacks, but when I see this person running itunes on his hack I just feel uncomfortable.
Yeah, cause iTunes is such a bad music application. Not.
For basic functionality, iTunes is brilliant. It always seems like a case of bashing Apple for the sake of being obstinate, rather than with reason.
I managed to avoid itunes, even though apple tried to sneak it on my system several ways and times, but if it's anything like quicktime I bet the word 'great' is a bit overstated.
I don't know... there aren't any pics of the mod happening. This could just be him removing the cover that goes over the apple logo. Did that on the old clamshell G3 iBook to make the Apple Logo glow outlined.
Maybe had Screen connected on Demo. I want to see the internals.
Sweet. I bet he gets all the girls in Starbucks.
This would be so fun to have... especially the iSight camera (although it needs to be horizontally reversed, shouldn't be difficult with PhotoBooth).
I would have a big scrolling banner to say stuff.
What's the battery drain like with two LCDs being powered? Anyone know how much this mod would cost?
An LCD itself uses a relatively small amount of power. It's the backlight in a display that sucks (power). Many cell phones have multiple displays back to back that share a single backlight, that's probably what's going on here. The Apple logo is normally illuminated by the screen backlight, all this guy has done is shoved a little (I'm guessing one of those photokeychain things) in there. At the moment the linked forum us kerploded, so I'm just guessing.
im liking this...great idea guys..im sure apple will end up using this and making it better..i can see a few uses for this..
I dont think its another LCD, probably just the back layer of the display taken off so the screen shines through both sides.
very good job √
It's like the ultimate DJ computer.
To be fair, I don't think the latte-superiority crowd as much of a choice about showing off the Apple logo when using their MB/MBP.. unless they were to cover it with electrical tape or something.
(my only laptop is a Thinkpad)
it would be a funny place for someone to notice pr0n while you were working in the library or a cafe
If Apple put this on MacBooks I'd pay a extra £1,000 for it! WOW!
I bet that MacBook would go for a lot on eBay!
I'm guessing he didn't by the extra Applecare...
another MAC lover i'm sick see crap like this, and i know what is in your brain now look another WINDOWS LOVER well not my friend i'm a GENTOO LOVER, btw the best thing WINDOWS have done is VISTA OS lololol jk jk. i'm playing around fellas look cool gj bro but if i was you MR make big logo will be nice, anyway gl
Do you know what "punctuation" is?
Keep up with the news of this mod here.. http://www.edsjunk.net
I will post tutorials, services, and even a link to a ebay auction if i decide to sell this macbook!!
I'm not an Apple fan but this is cool, nice mod!
well i think this is great mod.. and really loking foward to doit...
=)
modding it`s great..no matter if is apple or not..
So many people I know have to cover those light up logos up if they want to use their laptops in class that its a wonder that apple still persist with the kitch branding exercise on their lids.
I actually think this is pretty cool. Might not be high on the usefulness but I'll take one :D
I call BS.
There's a jump-cut in the second half of the video as the camera pulls away from the laptop as it's rotated to see the front.
Let's see...rotate the LCD 180 degrees, then mount a color transparency of a desktop screen grab on what's now the back of the LCD (which still gets backlight, so it looks real).
Then display video on the LCD where it'll be seen through the logo hole.
Pull back and stop the camera.
Flip the LCD back to its normal position
Start the camera again and (poorly) match it up so it looks like a continuous shot so we now see moving graphics on the front of the screen.
Give us details of parts used, show us some progress shots, or you're just another internet phony.
I'm guessing you caught a lot of flak for the tone of this particular article, Thomas.
You shouldn't piss off your editor!
actually pretty sweet... he did a great job on that and it's original
So, my only question is, does this usurp the external monitor docking capability?
Should've used the camera live feed to make it look like you can see through the computer,