Return Of The Cube? (FAKE)

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

MacDailyNews (http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/8657/) posted a blurry user-submitted photo of what appears to be an Apple-branded aluminum cube. Text that included the photo submission read as following:
I was only able to snap one quick shot of this as I was only in there for about 30 seconds. I sort of stumbled upon it - can't say more about how or why. I only got about half a sec to look around back - there are a bunch of ports (and maybe a button or two) neatly arranged on the back (?) of the cube in a line along the bottom edge. It's about 8-inches square and 8-inches tall - a perfect cube. It seems to be made out of a similar material as a Power Mac - aluminum perforated with a round hole pattern, but they're smaller holes than found on a Power Mac. The top is the same material as the sides with the addition of the Apple logo, even though it doesn't look like it in the photo - I had to snap it quick, sorry.

I don't have any real detail on exactly what it's designed to do, but I know from other things I can't mention that it's media-related. Apple "Media Cube," maybe? Anyway, thought you guys would be interested.
Rumors of the reemergence of the cube come and go over time, and this is not a substantiation of this rumor. It is simply posted her for interest's sake.

[D0ct0rteeth]

Looks like a 3DMax model. Very fake.

[Dont Hurt Me]

I hope not because if so ill have to sell this Alienware Aurora ASAP!:D Cube was so cool!

[Superdrive]

Not nearly as nice looking as the original Cube. I think they'd be better off letting it rest in peace. Also, am I the only one that is tired of the metals? There is just something about the plastics that makes them that much more versatile...

Edit: At least it will take a lot more to melt the metal than the plastic.

[Josh396]

I think another fake. When they have the mini as small as they do, why would they make something so much bigger? Also, there isn't a DVD drive. Someone could have put a little more work into it to make it more believable.

[angelwatt]

Looks fake to me, and not never very appealing.

[Gasu E.]

Hoax. You can tell without even looking at the picture, just from the tone of the cover note. Overly forced sense of drama. Look at all those dashes; nobody writes like that in real-life, unless they are trying to craft atmospheric fiction.

[dejo]

It seems to be made out of a similar material as a Power Mac - aluminum perforated with a round hole pattern, but they're smaller holes than found on a Power Mac. The top is the same material as the sides with the addition of the Apple logo, even though it doesn't look like it in the photo

Man, those must be really, really small holes cuz I don't see a one.

[zap2]

that what you said about the original Cube!!!:D

Kind looks the upgrade Mini(DVR, 3.5Hard Drive ect)

I hope its real, i want the cube back!

[amholl]

Too boxy for Apple, IMO. I say just make the current mini case taller if they want more room for storage etc.

[ezkimo]

Definitely computer generated. No question.

[Peyton]

This isn't hardware software or anything like it. Its a design award given to Delicious monster (among others) last year for different products. Sorry, I forget the actual event name, but I promise that's what it is.

When you pick it up, the apple logo lights up. It knows when its been held and that's the design feature of it. There's also a black partner to this silver version. I don't know if that's really aluminum.

[clayj]

Also, there isn't a DVD drive.That's the most damning evidence that this is a fake... you can put every other port and control on the back, but there's gotta be somewhere for DVDs and CDs to go in to the machine.

UNLESS, of course, it's designed to work completely as a dedicated media machine, like the TiVo... you could download new programs and stuff off the web and never have to use any external media.

[Marble]

If only it was as easy to fake reality in a 3D program as it is modifying photographs in Photoshop.

[1984]

Looks like an Apple Design Award to me.

http://www.codingmonkeys.de/subethaedit/images/awards/appledesignaward.png

[Rocketman]

I assume it is fake of course (note sharp corners).

BUT I do hope Apple is making a taller Mac-Mini with dual dual core chips, DVR capability, living room placement pitch, and a "smart remote" capability (touch-screen), INCLUDING password IP access :-)

Okay, it's a wish list!!

Rocketman


http://www.v-serv.com/-upload/avatar2.jpg

[Arclite]

I think Peyton is correct. It looks like an Apple Design Award. However, Peyton's description is a little off.

The ADA has a silver cube for first and a white (not black) counterpart for second.

It's been given out multiple years, not just last year.

It's handed out at the annual WWDC.

More information can be found at http://developer.apple.com/ada/.

[Ja Di ksw]

why is it these pics are always blurry? Seriously, most pictures I take (by far) aren't blurry, even if I take them in a hurry, yet most of these rumor pics are. Yet we're suppose to believe them?

[Marble]

Looks like an Apple Design Award to me.

Ha! That would be an embarrassing thing to believe was a new product if you found one lying around Apple HQ. :D

[1984]

why is it these pics are always blurry? Seriously, most pictures I take (by far) aren't blurry, even if I take them in a hurry, yet most of these rumor pics are. Yet we're suppose to believe them?

Because if it was in focus it would be too easy to prove it's a fake. ;)

[raster]

Why waste out time with crap like this

[tk421]

I don't have any real detail on exactly what it's designed to do, but I know from other things I can't mention that it's media-related.

Why would this person be afraid to mention these so-called other things? They've already snapped a photo they shouldn't have and posted it on the internet. If you're gonna break a non-disclosure agreement, why not go all the way? I say it's fake.

[dongmin]

why is it these pics are always blurry? Seriously, most pictures I take (by far) aren't blurry, even if I take them in a hurry, yet most of these rumor pics are. Yet we're suppose to believe them?They're blurry, obviously, because the photographer took this photo from his eyeglass camera (see Mission: Impossible) on the move as he was being escorted out by Apple security. He had to check his camera phone at the door of this super duper secret Apple lab as he was delivering his pizza.

Why waste out time with crap like thisHey, lighten up! It's fuuuunny.

[dejo]

Why waste out time with crap like this

Why waste our time with responses like this


If you don't like it, ignore it.

[zapp]

Story reminds me of the one about the Mac Plasma TV. The secrecy and I would tell you more but... stuff And of course just walking around the HQ's and popping into a conference room, yeah that would happen, and look a new product sitting on the table why don't I take a blurry picture so no one will believe me.

[raster]

Why waste our time with responses like this


If you don't like it, ignore it.

I wasn't talking to you, and by the way if you don't like my comment - ignore it

[revjay]

I'm going to cast my vote for REAL!
The sound you hear on Tuesday will be me saying "I told you so!"
Everyone needs a metal box...em cube...
My 6 year old can draw with more realism than that image...

[Jerry Spoon]

Why waste our time with responses like this


If you don't like it, ignore it.

If ever there was a reason for a "Page Three" of MacRumors, this would be it. :D

[Doctor Q]

I think it's a cardboard box, not a computer.

[samh004]

Now we've established it's an Apple Design Award, does anyone have any photos of it that highlight it's ability to light up when you hold it ? Looks pretty cool :)

[reyesmac]

The story is about as pathetic as the photo.

[zebi]

I got this photo from a source, dont ask how or where, but its top secret. At the bottom is a huge apple logo if you look carefully.

http://artm-friends.at/rm/foto/flying_saucer.jpeg

[dejo]

I got this photo from a source, dont ask how or where, but its top secret. At the bottom is a huge apple logo if you look carefully.

Wow, that looks like a flying Griffin PowerMate.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/images/products/prod_powermate_a.jpg

[_bnkr612]

I think it's full of leprechauns and pixies.

[Chris Grande]

Now we've established it's an Apple Design Award, does anyone have any photos of it that highlight it's ability to light up when you hold it ? Looks pretty cool :)

This will tell you more then you ever wanted to know about Apples amazing award: http://www.mekentosj.com/goodies/cubism/index.html

[PlaceofDis]

lame attempt. come on, if you're going to fake something at least put some effort into it! jeez.

[zebi]

Wow, that looks like a flying Griffin PowerMate.



could it be a flying wireless powermate? ;)

[Dont Hurt Me]

Apple needs a all new model to spark some interests and we all know they need a new powermac. I for one hope that apple does release a super mini cube like thing, Imac is ugly with those narrow stretched screens and powermac is a gigantic beast of aluminum and all that space is just wasted when you throw in a little intel. I expect a new model from Apple be it a cube or something else. Still amazed at how far cubes have been taken with upgrades,mods and interested people.

[nagromme]

THIS is why there's a Page Nine.

[Mudbug]

As many have noted, this is a blurry photo of an Apple Design Award - I've updated the Page 2 story with a (FAKE) notation.

sorry about the confusion, but I doubted it was a real anything anyway.

[boncellis]

Too boxy for Apple, IMO. I say just make the current mini case taller if they want more room for storage etc.

I agree. I like the design of the mini, but as Yvan256 suggested, why not make it a Mini Cube with more room for a 3.5" HD and the most glaring need of all--a video card upgrade?

The Design Award is too square to pass for a real desktop/updated cube, but if it had the dimmensions of the Mac Mini with the same curvature it would have been more convincing.

[Confesssion] The Cube was the first Mac I had a jones for. [/Confession]

[syklee26]

i dont know what these lunatics are trying to accomplish by showing this kinda fake photos. their immaturity is at the level of kindergarten students...

what, you think we would find you supercool if you can get an upcoming Apple product photo? it's not like we can buy one until it comes out anyway. I don't mind imagining until premier.

[mainstreetmark]

Hmm... You mean the Apple *Design* Award is really a plain grey cube? That seems sort of anti-climatic.

"What a great design you have here! Let's commemorate that with this generic, featureless cube"

[Yvan256]

I think it's a cardboard box, not a computer.

Hey, it can be both (http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20030426/ccpcbox.html)!

[yg17]

Its not real...it wasn't taken in an elevator!

[Yvan256]

Wow, that looks like a flying Griffin PowerMate.

LOL, dejo! :D

[Electro Funk]

I got this photo from a source, dont ask how or where, but its top secret. At the bottom is a huge apple logo if you look carefully.

http://artm-friends.at/rm/foto/flying_saucer.jpeg

where did you find my giant flying tophat?

[kungfu]

As many have noted, this is a blurry photo of an Apple Design Award - I've updated the Page 2 story with a (FAKE) notation.

sorry about the confusion, but I doubted it was a real anything anyway.

while I'm not sure if this is real or not, I'm pretty certain it's not an apple design award. proportionally, the apple logo on top would be bigger, and there aren't perforations on the award.

[Chundles]

Um, that's not an Apple design award. No one with an Apple design award would have a table that looks like that.

This is a new product using Apple's new surfacing technique. Even to the unaided eye it will appear blurry. Apple call it iFuzzy. It's designed to keep the eye from having to focus on the lines of the product - especially useful on the new cinema displays to keep artists from going "ooo that's a nice looking display."

[eXan]

Looks awful. Even it was real

[shrimpdesign]

As many have noted, this is a blurry photo of an Apple Design Award - I've updated the Page 2 story with a (FAKE) notation.

sorry about the confusion, but I doubted it was a real anything anyway.
A lot of people think it's an ADA, but the logo is bigger on an ADA. I'm not saying it's real, just not an ADA.

[zebi]

Apple call it iFuzzy....

Part of the ibullsh#t suite! ;)

[Will Cheyney]

It's has to be an 'Apple Design Award'.

http://panic.com/extras/designawards/images/picture-6.jpg

[Squire]

As many have noted, this is a blurry photo of an Apple Design Award - I've updated the Page 2 story with a (FAKE) notation.

sorry about the confusion, but I doubted it was a real anything anyway.

No need to apologize. These page 2 items are always good for a laugh. As others have mentioned, it looks like it could be a box for a new product. That, apparently, is not the case.

I remember a few years ago when everyone was complaining about things being placed on page 2, Arn decided to post a note on every page 2 item stating: Note: This is a Page 2 News Item. People are still complaining. Shouldn't those people just ignore this part of the site altogether? I mean, people who hate discussing politics don't post in the political forum, do they?

Okay. Sorry about the rant.

-Squire

[ezekielrage_99]

Looks like a 3D render probably using Mental Ray or Renderman, looks like someone had some fun with the gobal illumination features and soft shadows as well. ;)

The box looks too CG Box to be a "Apple Design Award" plus it looks like it's using the standard 3D Studio MAX or Maya Brushed Aluminium Map (with the relfect maps turned right down), the standard wood and matte maps also look like they have been used for the floor and walls. The reflections from the Apple box itself looks too inconsist to be an "Apple Design Award" but would be more consistant with a CG model.

Looks as though it was rendered in full focus and digitally enhanced in photoshop (guassian blur and therefore very skewed depth of field), that's why the perpective/size seems to be way off.

The light sources and shadows are also way off for how big the item is supposed to be, the shadows are too hard for it to be an 8"x8"box giving it the standard 3 point lighting shadows amature 3D feel (ala light and shadows tutoral for 3D Studio MAX).

It's not an "Apple Design Award" but a very poorly produced bit of CG.

[Gasu E.]

M--

Bulls are hot on trail so have to make this quick. Inside man managed to smuggle out this shot from Grapefruit. Don't know what it means yet but boys in the lab can figure this out. Know it's a bit blurry but lost contact and fear worst. Need to go silent now.

--Z

[gkarris]

Maybe Apple took the design for their award and it's the new power adapter for the new Powerbook G5 so many have been waiting for... ;)

[FireArse]

Would you buy a box like that with a Dual Core G5 at 2.0GHz and a NVidia 7800 and use it as your media centre? I know I would. Apple, I have money waiting on a nice Media Mac to hook up to a HD screen or Projector.....howabout you make one of these and take my money already?!

The picture's definately fake though.

[kntgsp]

Yea, I never saw how this was credible.....

[vitruvius]

Heres a MockUp i made some days ago based on reborn cube speculations, i hope you like it:

http://www.c4des.com/c4desforo/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1166.0;id=697;image

i made also a Video Ipod concept:
http://www.c4des.com/c4desforo/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=986.0;id=644;image

You all can my other mockUps at my web:
http://homepage.mac.com/agell

cheers,

Carlos