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The iMac, in a little more color
Sunny Wu sent us this mockup of what a Product RED/U2 iMac might look like, considering that Apple has put a little black in their originally all-white iMac design (it's based on the comparison the 37Signals guys did). It's true that the new iMac shares a little more similarity with the iPhone, although not as much as it could have.What do you all think of the iMac redesign? Most of the murmuring I've heard is lukewarm, and I tend to agree-- why bother, exactly? Yes, it looks just as cool as the old iMac (which is still very cool), but does a black Apple logo and a black back really make that much of a difference? Thin is nice (and that keyboard is awesome), but this is a desktop, and I'm not worried about a little bulk on my desk.And here's the other question I have, though I think I already know the answer: Why are we still suffering that strip of metal across the bottom? Shouldn't the iMac's screen just go ahead and take over the rest of the front? I know, I know, it has to do with the insides, and all the room the ports and other guts need to function, but even if Apple made it a little thicker to fit everything in, I still think I'd rather see an iMac that was nothing but screen from the front. What do you all think?
Found Footage: copy and paste on the iPhone mockup
lonelysandwich put together this short demo of how copy-and-paste might work on the iPhone (and it's the first parody I've seen since the music was released last week). The whole thing with the guy and the lips is just freaky in the beginning (and pretty funny at the end), but in between there's a short demo of how text could be selected and pasted using the multitouch surface on the iPhone.Is it just me, or is implementing an interface like this turning out to be harder than it looks? As easy as this mockup is, I really doubt Apple would go for something this complicated (there are multiple screens to go through, and it's somewhat intuitive, but just not intuitive enough for Apple, methinks). Maybe the reason Apple hasn't put C&P on the iPhone yet is that, as good as they are at what they do, they just can't come up with a good way to do it.Thanks, ratiosans!
Keepin' it real fake, part LXVI: hand-knit iPhone edition
If you're like some and just couldn't take all that lining up business to buy an iPhone, fear "knot," a knit phone may be for you. Daddytypes posted some pics of an iPhone that his mom knitted for him (we also spotted a hand-knit Pop-Tart) and while hugely strange, it is rather crazy cool at the same time. We're particularly digging the mostly true to life button layout and color scheme on the back -- we're betting If knitting was an Olympic sport, mama Dadddytypes would definitely be a contender for gold. So if your fingers -- or a family member's -- are talented enough, check the how-to on the site to help get you on your way.[Via textually.org]
ASUS' wooden "laptop": kills trees and reason with a single swing
ASUS is showing of its design chops this morning with a trio of laptops made from wood. Of course, these aren't the first (and certainly not the last) pieces of consumer electronics kit to go au naturel. We've even seen other wood-cased laptops before including ASUS' own EcoBook. But man, is the above "laptop" design practical by any stroke of the imagination? Still, kudos to you ASUS for pushing the design envelope. If these are the gaffes required en route to your product successes then we're willing to suffer (a little). Read-on for a few viable designs which, knowing ASUS, could see limited production runs.Read -- model 1 Read -- model 2 Read -- model 3
Uh, not another bad PSP2 mock-up
When making a mock-up of a fake product, you should at least try to make it look better than its predecessor. This dual-screened PSP looks worse than either the DS Lite or PSP. It reeks of further unprofessionalism when you look closely at the logo: PS2P. Good job! (/end sarcasm)Sony has denied the existence of a redesigned PSP, most recently at GDC. However, that won't stop some people from trying to hoax others into thinking its true.[Via digg]
First Tag Heuer cellphone mockups surface
As we suspected, it looks like Tag Heuer will indeed be joining the ranks of D&G, Prada, Aston Martin, McLaren, and the host of other brands out there who are joining the cellphone craze. Dial-a-Phone is reporting that the forthcoming handset should be "a completely new design," unlike the D&G RAZR which was devoid of originality save for the branding, gold finish, and dangerously high pricetag. Additionally, the Paris-based ModeLabs will indeed be crafting the design, and if all goes as planned, should be launching in undisclosed locales "within a few months." Currently, all they know is that it should be "made of stainless steel" and closely resemble many of Tag's unmistakable timepieces, and while chances are slim that the phone will actually be in a watch, be sure to hit the read link for the first wave of mockups.[Thanks, Stokelake]
Sony Ericsson's first Bravia DVB-H phone, or bad fake?
It's been suggested that a couple Bravia-branded phones packing DVB-H tuners are in the works from the folks at Sony Ericsson, and a blurry picture floating around the 'nets the last couple days seems to back that up. After the introduction of the W44S on Sony's native soil, it seems like it'd make sense to expand the Bravia line, but hold the phones -- why does the top of the device look so heavily retouched? And don't the buttons look a little fakey? It's been suggested that this could be an official non-functional mockup of what such a handset might look like, but can't Sony Ericsson, with their fancy engineers, computers, and machinery, make something a little more realistic than this? If it's legit, we should hear more in early '07; if not, we suspect mobile TV fans of the world will be shedding a few tears.[Via gearfuse]
Worst iPhone mockup ever utilizes Apple Remote
Ok, so Apple mockups seem to surface every other week or so, and while some renditions are utterly believable, there are a few that take the cake when it comes to eliciting a grin. The latest iPhone forgery (vid after the break) is brought to us courtesy of an (unsurprisingly) anonymous individual and YouTube, where an Apple Remote is apparently (and magically, no less) transformed into a cellphone. Aside from the awfully rendered fonts, "2D" appearance, and out-of-sync "clicks," we highly doubt Apple would create a mobile based on a Front Row controller. Regardless, we thank the dear creator for giving us such a hearty laugh, but this unfortunately won't quite make the cut for FCC Fridays.[Via TUAW]
Is this Sony's Blu-ray recorder with hard disk?
Pictured above is what appears to be a new Sony Blu-ray Disc recorder which touts an internal HDD -- as in hard disk drive -- on show somewhere in Japan. Now, according to our Japanese bureau, Sony either "isn't decided yet" or there "aren't any details yet" as to whether this shadowy mockup will ever see the light of day. With all the next-gen optical format boys struggling to find blue lasers and Sony still struggling to get their own PS3 console and BDP-S1 player to market, well let's just say we're not holding our breath for this to drop anytime soon. Still, it feels good to share, right?Update: Reuters is now telling us that Sony plans to release the recorder in Japan before the end of the year. No pricing, non-Nippon launch date, or mention of any internal disk for now. Another Blu-ray device on show after the break.
Nintendo Wii mockup next to very many things
If there's a Nintendo fanboy looking over your shoulder, now might be the time to cover their eyes -- they might just not be able to handle the impending flow of pictures. Sure, they've probably spied that console size comparison chart we threw up last month, or even managed some precious minutes of face time with the Wii at E3, but nothing in their young Zelda-worshipping lives could prepare them for the sheer volume of pictures taken by DocCRP of his purtiful Wii and Wiimote mockups next to nearly every thinkable item known to man. We barely made it to "Wii with Upright Piano pedals" -- it would take a much braver soul to venture further.[Via Joystiq]
Weird Revolution Mockup #4: The Tilt 'n Squeeze
We thought it would be good for a laugh to look back at some of the Revolution controller designs that crept onto the Internet back when the system was nothing but a codename, a promise and a cheeky smile on Satoru Iwata's face. These are the Revolutions that weren't...and thankfully so.Actually, this one isn't nearly as frightening or insane as the last three we've looked at. For one thing, it looks like it could actually fit into your hands without damaging them in some way--always a plus when it comes to controllers. The large black areas on the left and right sides are gigantic grip buttons which respond to being squeezed, an odd innovation that may have your character accidentally jumping off a cliff every time you become frustrated. It's also got battery indication lights, a microphone and...what's this? A gyro sensor? What a crazy idea.Previously: Weird Revolution Mockup #1: The Identity Crisis Weird Revolution Mockup #2: The Vacuum Nun Weird Revolution Mockup #3: Ico Unfriendly
Unlikely Revolution Interface #14: der Nintendo RS
Due to popular demand, we've changed the title of this ongoing series from "Possible" to "Unlikely" Revolution Interfaces. Let's face it, like the revmote mockups before this, nobody's gotten close. The latest entrant comes from Deutschland, home of weißwurst, bier, and Nintendo interface leaks. You see, this guy's got this friend who translates stuff for Nintendo, and he sent this picture off... same old story, shiny new interface: the bottom says "Super Smash Bros: Ultimate Fight Play now"; the Virtual Console lists an assortment of classic Ninty games, and the title is the mockup artist's preferred choice, Nintendo RS. Why don't we rate these attempts using a scale of 1 to 10 for believability, and compare the scores to the final product. I'd say this one has a bit more polish than many of its predecessors, but still lacks the fit and finish, not to mention usability (why are the system settings displayed on the main screen), of a professional attempt: 4/10. [Thanks, Someone]
Weird Revolution Mockup #3: Ico Unfriendly
We thought it would be good for a laugh to look back at some of the Revolution controller designs that crept onto the Internet back when the system was nothing but a codename, a promise and a cheeky smile on Satoru Iwata's face. These are the Revolutions that weren't...and thankfully so.A sort of uneasy feeling of indecision settles over us when viewing this particular controller design, as if our body and mind can't come to an agreement over how to respond to it. At first, we're quite inclined to profusely vomit, as if this disastrous experiment in 3D modelling triggers some sort of bodily defense mechanism, urging us to stare at the intimacies of toilet bowl as opposed to the purple manifestation of pure unwieldiness. The other conflicting action we find ourselves compelled to perform is to start up a Viking-themed rock band and play hardcore remixes from the Ico soundtrack. At least that way we'd constantly be on a globetrotting tour and never have to worry about being impaled during a heated videogame session. [Image from Gear Live.]Previously: Weird Revolution Mockup #1: The Identity Crisis Weird Revolution Mockup #2: The Vacuum Nun
Possible Revolution Interface #8: the humorous approach
Geoff hits the perfect note with his Revolution mockup, revealing, "...my sister's husband's friend's dog's vet's brother's aunt's grandmother's niece's husband works for a game developer (I can't say witch [sic], obviously) and he sent me these screen shots of the Revolution interface, even though he signed an NDA and probably could never get a camera in there, but he did!!1"From incorrectly calling the DVD discs CDs, to the gaming-forum grammar, to spelling games with a Z, it's a perfect sendup of certain gaming cliques. One suggestion though: shouldn't that be micro$oft.com?Possible Revolution Interface #7: they're not even tryingPossible Revolution Interface #6: the hits just keep on coming Possible Revolution interface #5: leaked by mother's sister's son... Another Revolution interface mockupRumored Revolution interface photoPossible Revolution menu screenNintendo conducts "Virtual Console" service survey
Possible Revolution Interface #7: they're not even trying
This video has the following caption attached to it: "Could this be the REAL GUI?" The answer to that question is an unequivocal NO! It's clearly made using Apple's Keynote presentation software; the rotating cube completely gives it away. Sure, it's boring and ugly, but it marks yet another use of the increasingly popular name: Nintendo RS. Not sure why the Nintendo mockup community has so thoroughly adopted that name... "Revolution" has a certain je ne sais quoi, don'tcha think?Google video is below the fold. Possible Revolution Interface #6: the hits just keep on coming Possible Revolution Interface #5: leaked by mother's sister's son... Another Revolution interface mockupRumored Revolution interface photoPossible Revolution menu screenNintendo conducts "Virtual Console" service survey[Thanks, Roybertito]
Possible Revolution Interface #5: leaked by mother's sister's son...
We have another Revolution interface screen! Revolution_Gamer_0069 has posted on behalf of Zeromaru, "My cousin (first cousin, my mother's sister's son) works as a software engineer at an independant developer (I can't say the name of the developer for obvious reasons)... this developer recieved a Revolution alpha kit a few weeks ago. My cousin couldn't say what was in it (in terms of specs), but he did give a good description of how the main interface works." And this picture!Compared to some earlier mockups, this one at least attempts to duplicate the look of a Nintendo console, the Nintendo DS.For those of you keeping score at home, here is our ongoing list of possible Revolution interface screens:Another Revolution interface mockupRumored Revolution interface photoPossible Revolution menu screenNintendo conducts "Virtual Console" service survey(Note: The keystoning on the image has been adjusted to make it clearer.)[Via Go Nintendo]
