iPhone server rack an exercise in network storage indulgence

Here's one way to get yourself noticed. Japanese developer FreeBit, in looking for a way to show off its Serversman iPhone app, has debuted a prototype ultra-small server rack. Perfect for when you happen to have up to five iPhones / iPod touches lying around and nothing better to do but turn them into overpriced network storage solutions -- then again, if you're rocking five of Apple's touchscreens, there's a good chance money isn't your biggest concern.

[Via DVICE]

[Alex Padilla @ Jul 15th 2009 6:41PM]

Ross makes a pretty good point in the last sentence there. Almost justifies the damn thing.

[Tinu @ Jul 15th 2009 6:46PM]

I would put a yellow toy duck in there.

[darkstar @ Jul 15th 2009 7:22PM]

yep! i have seen people with 2 iphones.
i guess thats the only way they can really multitask for now.

[Gilbert Mendoza @ Jul 15th 2009 7:32PM]

@darkstar
"i guess thats the only way they can really multitask for now."

Hahaha! That was pretty funny.

[WindowsFTW @ Jul 16th 2009 4:46AM]

darkstar,

Gold, absolutely gold! :-D

[10minutehobo @ Jul 16th 2009 10:25AM]

Once again Apple's implementation of a common feature is way superior to everything else (included non related stuff).
Is there anything Apple can't do?

[Sahil @ Jul 15th 2009 6:43PM]

Thats a crapgadget nominee right there.

[murmermer @ Jul 15th 2009 7:30PM]

ya how are you supposed to even plug in the iPhones? the port is facing the door/window!!!!!

[Information Central @ Jul 15th 2009 7:31PM]

Especially since, for this to work, the dock connectors would have to face INTO the unit. As depicted, the phones are connected to nothing.

[Information Central @ Jul 15th 2009 7:32PM]

Bah! The Swedish guy above me sneaks in by one minute.

[allenvanhellen @ Jul 15th 2009 6:44PM]

no

[yokel @ Jul 15th 2009 8:51PM]

yes

[Ian @ Jul 17th 2009 1:12AM]

maybe?

[Ethan @ Jul 15th 2009 6:47PM]

They're also about the right size for a paperweight.

[Brainy142 @ Jul 15th 2009 6:49PM]

I'l be taking one of those *yoink*

[Brainy142 @ Jul 15th 2009 6:50PM]

But seriously, who would want to use an iphone as a storage device FAIL.

[loocas @ Jul 15th 2009 7:56PM]

Same people who'd want to use iPhone as a smartphone.

[CubeGuy @ Jul 15th 2009 8:57PM]

@loocas I love my iPhone and all, but zing.

[Kawaiipikachu @ Jul 15th 2009 6:53PM]

You be surprised that in this household theres
1 1st gen iPod Touch 16GB
2 2nd iPod Touch &
1 iPhone 3Gs
And yes money is a thing in this household so we not super rich .

[Maeztro @ Jul 15th 2009 7:15PM]

I agree. My wife and I each have an iPhone, plus I have a Touch that my son uses...so there is 3 of the slots...Now make this thing a charger and we are good to go.

[lawyer bird @ Jul 15th 2009 7:42PM]

So it'll go like this:

"Honey! Junior! I'm going to fire up the server, so bring me your iphones and itouches. I temporarily need to store 64 GB of stuff, and this is obviously the best way to do it. You won't be able to use them for awhile, though, ok?"

*You put them in server*

*pause*

"How cool is that?"

You're going to me Mr. Popular.

[Peter @ Jul 15th 2009 9:18PM]

"And yes money is a thing in this household so we not super rich ." - I guess it's just not that much of a "thing"

[Stephen @ Jul 15th 2009 6:54PM]

Wouldn't it get really really hot in there with all those iPhones in such a small space?

[redleader158 @ Jul 15th 2009 6:57PM]

WIN

[mvp @ Jul 15th 2009 7:37PM]

yeah sounds like a mini oven to me.

[NohOne - The official hater, stalker, and psychopath @ Jul 15th 2009 7:51PM]

Just don't store them in a car

[iRoc @ Jul 15th 2009 6:54PM]

A better use for 5 Apple touch screen devices would be a belt! It could play video and scroll text to advertise how much money the wearer has to toss around. I mean if you want to flaunt it, don't $crew around. Do it big. Hiding your devices in a box is not flaunting it. That's hording.

[AnnoyingPoster @ Jul 15th 2009 6:57PM]

most useless piece of shit ever.

[jeffs99 @ Jul 15th 2009 8:12PM]

the server rack ain't much to wite home about either

[dorvalthree @ Jul 16th 2009 2:22AM]

hahahaha

[Clyde Berry @ Jul 15th 2009 7:09PM]

I'll buy this. Not because I like (or even own) an iPhone or Touch. Simply because I enjoy little yellow duckies.

[lennoxrobinson @ Jul 15th 2009 7:09PM]

I hope he has a good cooling solution

[murmermer @ Jul 15th 2009 7:27PM]

There has never been any problems with the iphone overheating... oh wait- they should re-brand this thing as a machine that turns your white iPhone into a brown one!

[iKurt 7 @ Jul 15th 2009 7:13PM]

Perfect.

[ShyGuy91284 @ Jul 15th 2009 7:25PM]

Give it a couple years. Once yearly upgraders have stocked up five iPhones, this may be usable by many.

[Pup @ Jul 15th 2009 7:30PM]

iRaq?

[neofolklore @ Jul 16th 2009 8:32AM]

just filed a patent.

[Nexus1 @ Jul 15th 2009 7:50PM]

It's not a RAID storage - RTFA or at least watch the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ0c_8QLJ7A

[bigd7387 @ Jul 15th 2009 7:49PM]

How can this NOT be a CRAPGADGET? This has less function than a usb fan.

[Shawn @ Jul 15th 2009 7:55PM]

That is COMPLETELY USELESS. If you have that kind of money you are better off investing in SSD's. Although I am impressed that someone actually thought this up and that it actually works.

[iKurt 7 @ Jul 15th 2009 8:10PM]

I think this is perfect for businesses that deploy iPhones. For instance, a restaurateur in Great Food Group are streamlining their service with the iPhone:

http://images.apple.com/iphone/business/profiles/great-food/?sr=hotnews

iPhones have been accepted in the business world because it is streamlined and easy to use, I wouldn't be surprised if a business has more than 5 iPhones.

[chefgon_ign @ Jul 16th 2009 9:35AM]

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a business somewhere with 5 iPhones, either. What I would find surprising would be if stringing those five iPhones together was the most efficient way they could think of to come up with 40GB of network storage.

[Harris @ Jul 16th 2009 10:12AM]

Sorry, but in no way is this a practical solution. I could carry around an external drive thats as big as an iphone and it could have several times the storage and be far cheaper. This is merely an exercise in excess.

[swedishlightning @ Jul 15th 2009 10:07PM]

Dear Prospective Buyer,

FREE UPGRADE OFFER!

Instead of purchasing this, Send me your [iPhone(s)/iPod(s)] and I will gladly provide you with a hard drive of equal or greater capacity at no cost (hell, I'll even pay your shipping).

Sincerely,
A beneficent friend

[JohnTech @ Jul 16th 2009 12:11AM]

Seemed to be the base of the connector housing, so that you can power the iPhone mobile phone, if necessary, and use it longer than any of standby life iPhone.

[rotty @ Jul 16th 2009 12:26AM]

errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Simon N @ Jul 16th 2009 3:58AM]

Looks like the phones may be the wrong way around if there's supposed to be a dock connector for them to plug into. They're not gonna have very good uptime otherwise.

[chefgon_ign @ Jul 16th 2009 9:37AM]

I assume they're loaded in backwards for the photo shoot. The iPhone has exactly one physical distinction on the front of it and this was the only way to prove that all five objects were indeed iPhones.

[chefgon_ign @ Jul 16th 2009 9:33AM]

Almost as amusing as it is useless. At least it's one of the slicker looking server racks I've seen. Most of them have a little less chrome and significantly fewer yellow duckies.

[ProfessorKaos @ Jul 16th 2009 10:26AM]

Im sorry, but that is the most ridiculous thing ever, overpriced NAS and a half. Plus let see how much that great "NAS" actually holds. I understand he wanted to accomplish something extra ordinary and cool, but this is just a waste.