prototypes
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Frog Design outs the Apple tablet that could have been... in 1983
We don't know about you, but back in 1983 we were still playing in the mud with sticks and learning how to read. Frog Design, on the other hand, well, they were busy creating zany gadget prototypes. The company -- which helped create such august products as the Apple IIc (which was unleashed in 1984) -- also worked on a tablet pc for Apple around that same time, and its recently let slip some photos of what might have been. The tablet you see in the photos (there's another after the break) was called Bashful, and it's a pretty slim character considering its birth date, boasting a full physical keyboard and stylus to boot. Several prototypes of this little lover were made, including one with a disk drive and even one with a phone. So that means, by our count, Apple's been mulling this whole tablet deal for... twenty-six years. Hit the source link for even more photos.
See early prototypes of the PlayStation Motion Controller
The PlayStation Motion Controller has been in development for a long, long time. While many make fun of its unique ball and stick shape, the controller has clearly come a long way from the earliest prototypes, seen here in the hands of SCEA software engineer Anton Mikhailov. According to Mikhailov, the first controller designs were constructed from gear purchased at a Home Depot.A new video from the PlayStation.Blog doesn't reveal new details about the controller. You can watch it after the break, and see Sony's Wii-competitor in action.[Thanks, jeremy23j!]
Lenovo's nixed ThinkPad Secure hard drive prototypes caught hanging out together
Just a few days back we got our first look at Lenovo's ThinkPad USB Portable Secure Hard Drive, the one that boasts a physical pass-coded keypad. And this? This is the graveyard of Lenovo's discarded ideas, dreams, and prototypes. We're super fond of the sketch to the far right which shows how a button is pressed by a finger (or is that a toe!?) That's all -- we just really like this photo.
Back-typing keyboard prototype doesn't need a desk, your attitude
We've seen plenty of out-of-the-ordinary, so-called ergonomic keyboards concepts, including some that are configured so that the user types on the "back." This prototype, from Israeli startup Grippity, is especially odd looking, as it appears to be a full-sized QWERTY keyboard with gamepad buttons that's completely handheld -- "no desk needed" as the developer says. We don't have a ton of detail about the apparently patented design, other than the fact that it's not yet in production, but the makers expect it to cost about $1,000 once available. That's an expensive keyboard, but if it frees us up from the necessity of hunching over our desks for 12 hours a day, we just might give it a try. Check out two more photos of the device after the break.
A trip down Helio's memory lane
Back before there was Helio, there was Earthlink, South Korea's SKT, and a dream. Heliocity managed to score some shots of just what that dream looked like in the early days, a similar -- yet decidedly different -- vision than what the MVNO ended up bringing to market. Not only are the prerelease versions of Helio's first two models to market (the Kickflip and Hero) "SK Earthlink" branded, but check out that super trippy Kickflip proto, complete with aerial antenna and secondary LCD for self-portraits. The Ocean obviously came along further down the road, and while we like the all-black finish Helio decided on, we think the two-tone action here would've made for an interesting second choice. Read on for all the visuals.
No joke: Qualcomm's Snapdragon prototypes don't use Snapdragon
We seriously have no idea what Qualcomm was thinking here, but it turns out that those two so-called "Snapdragon prototypes" being shown at CES this year... wait for it... don't use the Snapdragon platform. Now, that would've been just fine with us had Qualcomm made it clear that they were built using its existing chipsets, but they didn't. Here's the best part: Qualcomm actually contacted us with a minor correction on our original story (they wanted us to point out that their ARM-based cores are highly customized) without bothering to mention that our "Snapdragon-powered" statement was not accurate. Anyway, it turns out that the Anchorage and Fairbanks prototypes are merely meant to demonstrate "examples of what Snapdragon-enabled devices will feature," which begs the question: if the current MSM series chipsets are capable of the same functionality, aren't those probably the wrong features to be demonstrating? That behavior walks a fine line between poorly executed PR and outright deception, Qualcomm, and we'd ask that you not let it happen again.[Thanks, Sascha]
Quanta builds the first ten XO-1 prototypes
Just as we'd previously heard, Quanta has indeed built the OLPC's first ten prototype machines (now called the XO-1), according to a report on DesktopLinux. These first machines were hand-assembled in order to make sure that the next round of 900 is up to snuff. We're not sure if 50 of those 900 will be the first order of test machines that have been slated to head to Brazil, nor if Thailand is getting any as an enticement to lure it back into the fold. In related matters, OLPC News has estimated the true five-year cost of a single laptop, including training, maintenance and Internet access to be in the neighborhood of $1,000 -- which, if correct, means that mythical $100-ish per laptop target price makes these green lappies a bit more unattractive to their prospective buyers. [Via Slashdot]Read - DesktopLinuxRead - OLPC News
HP's shiny new concept devices
Looks like Fujitsu's not the only company showing off products that you're not likely to get your mitts on anytime soon, with HP recently unveiling its vision of personal computing in the year 2016. The centerpiece of the lineup is this wouldn't-be-caught-dead-wearing watch seen here which, if HP has its way, could someday come loaded with a holographic display and Ultra Wide Band (UWB) connectivity. That'll let the watch communicate with the array of other equally shiny devices HP's showing off -- including laptops and tablet PCs -- that rely entirely on network storage, as well a so-called "smart shelf" which can be used to recharge the watch and display information on a huge screen atop it. Other non-working prototypes include a smart coffee table with built-in interactive displays and slots for a tablet PC, rollable multi-purpose display mats, and a digital wallet that'll keep track of your online transactions. Of course, HP then went on to show off some of its current products at the same event, successfully dampening whatever enthusiasm there might have been for Pocket PC phones and GPS devices. More pics after the break.[Via Slashgear]
Fujitsu shows off concept phones in Milan
We thought all of the hot new cellphone action would be at CTIA in Las Vegas this week, but it looks like we were wrong. Fujitsu turned up at the Milan Triennale to show off some concept phones, including the large-screen-and-QWERTY slider and clamshell-like "multi-slider" pictured above. We doubt either will ever make it to the market anytime soon, which might explain why Fujitsu chose to show them at a design show instead of at CTIA. Then, again, maybe they just wanted a really good cup of coffee.
