Aerial Footage of Apple's North Carolina Data Center [Archive]

MacRumors

Feb 22, 2010, 12:15 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/02/22/aerial-footage-of-apples-north-carolina-data-center/)

Data Center Knowlege points (http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/02/22/first-look-apples-massive-idatacenter/) to a brief YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDXSSi1qStA) posted late last week reportedly showing aerial footage of Apple's massive new data center being constructed in the town of Maiden, North Carolina.

It's plenty big, as illustrated by this aerial video posted to YouTube (apparently taken by an area realtor) of the 500,000 square foot facility. The new $1 billion data center will be nearly five times the size of Apple's existing 109,000 square foot Newark, Calif. facility, and is seen as a key component of Apple's cloud computing strategy.

Apple agreed to locate in North Carolina (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/06/03/apple-officially-selects-north-carolina-for-new-1-billion-data-center/) in June 2009 after the state offered $46 million in tax incentives and officially announced (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/07/07/apple-to-build-1-billion-server-farm-in-nc/) the location, about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte, a month later. Apple's exact plans for the facility, among the world's largest, remain unknown, although cloud computing (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/08/18/apples-north-carolina-data-center-to-focus-on-cloud-computing/) has been seen as a possible focus.

Article Link: Aerial Footage of Apple's North Carolina Data Center (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/02/22/aerial-footage-of-apples-north-carolina-data-center/)

rdowns

Feb 22, 2010, 12:20 PM

Doesn't look like the roof supports Flash. :eek:

TheSlush

Feb 22, 2010, 12:20 PM

Somehow I was expecting a giant glass cube. :D

baryon

Feb 22, 2010, 12:21 PM

Imagine how many songs you could fit into that data centre! :)

jav6454

Feb 22, 2010, 12:22 PM

I find it odd it is missing the huge glowing Apple in the center or that there was a missing plug-in icon.

itsbarry

Feb 22, 2010, 12:31 PM

When will it be complete? I really think that Apple is going to make a search engine. Feel free to call me crazy, but that's what I think.

:apple:

SkippyThorson

Feb 22, 2010, 12:37 PM

When will it be complete? I really think that Apple is going to make a search engine. Feel free to call me crazy, but that's what I think.

:apple:

Pointless. Google's cornered the market. Between Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, etc etc, how many do we need? It's not like I need one for every day of the week. I use Google, and it gets the job done, and that's that. It can't be improved at the moment. It is what it is.

I feel like cloud computing is the most logical idea for this center. Things would be so much less of a hassle if the Operating System, applications, files, etc were all cloud based. Less weight to machines, less moving / breakable parts, more power to dedicate to the immediate system as all it's doing is manipulating files on a server... It all just makes more sense. One day, I think that's where we'll be heading.

I for one, want to work there. It looks like a great place. Then again, key words, 'looks like'.

SwiftLives

Feb 22, 2010, 12:37 PM

When will it be complete? I really think that Apple is going to make a search engine. Feel free to call me crazy, but that's what I think.

:apple:

As much as Apple likes to control their content, I'm not sure why they'd want to get into the search engine business, since Google pretty much has a significant lead. That's not usually Apple's M.O.

My guess is that it has something to do with a future attempt at application hosting. That would explain the size.

itsbarry

Feb 22, 2010, 12:49 PM

As much as Apple likes to control their content, I'm not sure why they'd want to get into the search engine business, since Google pretty much has a significant lead. That's not usually Apple's M.O.

My guess is that it has something to do with a future attempt at application hosting. That would explain the size.

Google's "size" means nothing when they can make their search engine the default search on the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Safari (Mac/PC). They'd get about 15-20% of the market. It'd have to be user friendly, useful, well designed, and still load fast. It'd fit well with their new advertising division.

I don't think they'd beat Google, but it'd probably do better than Bing.

:apple:

Doctor Q

Feb 22, 2010, 12:52 PM

Imagine the data bandwidth going into and out of that building! Probably a bit of an electricity bill too once it's in full operation.

Peace

Feb 22, 2010, 12:54 PM

Imagine the data bandwidth going into and out of that building! Probably a bit of an electricity bill too once it's in full operation.

Yup. and the area is going to have an influx of HVAC people since it must stay cool.

I'm guessing the median income of a AC/HVAC person just went up in that area.

notromeel

Feb 22, 2010, 01:11 PM

Ladies and gents... "Cloud media".

This building will host media. Which will allow cloud media.

libertyforall

Feb 22, 2010, 01:16 PM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

miketcool

Feb 22, 2010, 01:16 PM

Somehow I was expecting a giant glass cube. :D

Tip of the iceburg...

The rest is 40 stories underground. How else did you think the world's largest passively cooled data center was going to work?

rdowns

Feb 22, 2010, 01:18 PM

When will it be complete? I really think that Apple is going to make a search engine. Feel free to call me crazy, but tha:Dt's what I think.

:apple:

You're crazy. :D

Google has a larger market share in search than Apple does in MP3 players. How are all those iPod killers doing?

WildCowboy

Feb 22, 2010, 01:21 PM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare? It seems to be the cost of doing business to get Apple to spend $1 billion there. Don't think that North Carolina was the only location under consideration, but they were able to put together an incentive package that worked for Apple, and the boost to the economy will more than make up for it.

So, to offer a partial answer to your question, I have no problem with it. One down, another 9 million+ to go...

rdowns

Feb 22, 2010, 01:22 PM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

I'd say they would be as happy as pigs in **** given the facts.

Apple is committed to investing $1 billion there over the next 9 years. That spending will create about 2,000 jobs. Jobs =tax revenues.

MacFly123

Feb 22, 2010, 01:27 PM

WOW! How long has it been? That seems to have gone up REALLY FAST! :eek:

Pointless. Google's cornered the market. Between Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, etc etc, how many do we need? It's not like I need one for every day of the week. I use Google, and it gets the job done, and that's that. It can't be improved at the moment. It is what it is.

I feel like cloud computing is the most logical idea for this center. Things would be so much less of a hassle if the Operating System, applications, files, etc were all cloud based. Less weight to machines, less moving / breakable parts, more power to dedicate to the immediate system as all it's doing is manipulating files on a server... It all just makes more sense. One day, I think that's where we'll be heading.

I for one, want to work there. It looks like a great place. Then again, key words, 'looks like'.

Please don't let this happen! :mad: The LAST thing I want is for everything I do on my computer to be controlled and stored by someone else! MAJOR security and privacy risks!

I am fine with complimentary cloud based services like Apple does now, but NOT everything being taken from me and going to the cloud! Apple has expressed several times that they don't like that method. Steve Jobs himself has said that several times. So hopefully they will continue on that path and let ME keep my programs and data and content to MYSELF! :rolleyes:

guzhogi

Feb 22, 2010, 01:46 PM

WOW! How long has it been? That seems to have gone up REALLY FAST! :eek:

Please don't let this happen! :mad: The LAST thing I want is for everything I do on my computer to be controlled and stored by someone else! MAJOR security and privacy risks!

I am fine with complimentary cloud based services like Apple does now, but NOT everything being taken from me and going to the cloud! Apple has expressed several times that they don't like that method. Steve Jobs himself has said that several times. So hopefully they will continue on that path and let ME keep my programs and data and content to MYSELF! :rolleyes:

I feel the same way. Computers have so much power today, why not use it? I like the shared thing a bit. I use MobileMe to sync contacts between my home & work computers, but that's it.

If everything goes cloud based, what happens if your internet access goes down? You wan't be able to access your files.

Also, looking at the whole iPhone/iPad thing & Apple censorship, I don't want to get into the situation where Apple says "Sorry, you can't use that kind of program / file." Especially if it ends up in them taking away all your access & files.

The last thing I worry about if we go all cloud computing is what happens to pro apps like Final Cut & games like Crysis (I know, not a Mac game, but you get the idea). These things are pretty intensive & not able to run well if done entirely over the internet.

I don't know what this'll be used for, but I'm hoping maybe a thing for the iTunes store. I remember when the iPhone 3G came out how it crashed the system. Maybe a search engine, but as many have said, there are so many other search stations w/ Google being so big.

mrrydogg

Feb 22, 2010, 01:48 PM

dead76

Feb 22, 2010, 02:35 PM

Seems by the video this could be a multi-purpose building, possibly a shipping hub too? There are a lot of freight doors on the side which leads me to believe they will be doing a lot of shipping/receiving. I'm no expert, so I may be way off base, but I can't imagine a server farms needs that kind of freight operation.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I totally agree. Was just about to post that. Cloud-computing doesn't need this many delivery bays. This is more then just server site.

1999ncsu

Feb 22, 2010, 02:38 PM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

There is lots of unemployment in the area. While most still won't work for Apple (or Google), I hope that other companies will take notice and decide on Western NC.

I am pretty happy. Also shocked that Google and Apple are now in the area.

LeoFio

Feb 22, 2010, 02:49 PM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

$46 million is nothing compared to the $1.37 billion in incentives given to AMD-or GlobalFoundries- for a chip fab in upstate NY. Benefits outweigh the costs here, just as they will down there. It's an investment, not welfare (these companies don't need the money-the money is given to them as an incentive to come to a particular area).

DaBrain

Feb 22, 2010, 02:49 PM

Ladies and gents... "Cloud media".

This building will host media. Which will allow cloud media.

+1000

This will be the source of D/L'g Ebooks, Movies and music and anything else Apple wants to send to you. ;)

DaBrain

Feb 22, 2010, 02:51 PM

I totally agree. Was just about to post that. Cloud-computing doesn't need this many delivery bays. This is more then just server site.

Could be a lot of ebooks to scan?--)))

Also why not an east coast hardware distribution center along side all the cloud activities that will take place from here. ;)

robinp

Feb 22, 2010, 02:55 PM

I totally agree. Was just about to post that. Cloud-computing doesn't need this many delivery bays. This is more then just server site.

Maybe for delivering the kit that's going into it? With a shed of that size there will be a hell of a lot of equipment which you don't really want to unload outside and then move in. Might as well have more direct access. I would guess the costs of adding a few extra doors is nothing compared to the overall costs of the investment.

doctoree

Feb 22, 2010, 02:55 PM

That heli was lucky it wasnt shot down by Apple Security.

OllyW

Feb 22, 2010, 03:03 PM

Google's "size" means nothing when they can make their search engine the default search on the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Safari (Mac/PC). They'd get about 15-20% of the market. It'd have to be user friendly, useful, well designed, and still load fast. It'd fit well with their new advertising division.

I don't think they'd beat Google, but it'd probably do better than Bing.

:apple:

Where do you get your 15-20% from?

Safari has currently only got about 4.5% of the browser market share. How many iPads do you think they are going to sell? :eek:

http://media.boygeniusreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Browser-Share-Jan-101.jpg

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/02/01/jan-10-browser-market-share-google-chrome-at-5-ie-and-firefox-still-dominate/

Peace

Feb 22, 2010, 03:12 PM

I totally agree. Was just about to post that. Cloud-computing doesn't need this many delivery bays. This is more then just server site.

Are you talking about this part? If so that appears to just be part of the building that doesn't have a roof on it yet.

Tilpots

Feb 22, 2010, 03:14 PM

Probably a bit of an electricity bill too once it's in full operation.

Maybe they're keeping the costs down with a dozen or so of these Bloom boxes (http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/02/19/is-k-r-sridhars-magic-box-ready-for-prime-time/).;)

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

Lovin' every minute of it.:)

gibbz

Feb 22, 2010, 03:22 PM

Where do you get your 15-20% from?

Safari has currently only got about 4.5% of the browser market share. How many iPads do you think they are going to sell? :eek:

<img snip>

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/02/01/jan-10-browser-market-share-google-chrome-at-5-ie-and-firefox-still-dominate/

Yeah, but he also mentioned the mobile devices. You only show desktop.

Stridder44

Feb 22, 2010, 03:22 PM

When will it be complete? I really think that Apple is going to make a search engine. Feel free to call me crazy, but that's what I think.

:apple:

I know Apple is famous for contradicting itself later, but they've said before that they have no intention of making a search engine. And I fully agree with them. There was A LOT of search engines out there, and while only a handful of them are actually really good, that's still a lot of competition. The market is flooded with search engines; Apple knows this. Plus, they have a $100 million business deal with Google (arguably the best search engine out there) already. While $100 million is lunch money for Apple, it would cost them billions to construct, develop, and maintain their own search engine.

I wonder what they're planning on doing with this. Just "Cloud computing" (am I the only one who hates that name?) seems like a bit of a stretch unless they roll out something really big/new for MobileMe or some other new service.

OllyW

Feb 22, 2010, 03:30 PM

Yeah, but he also mentioned the mobile devices. You only show desktop.

Those figures include mobile devices.

Ca$hflow

Feb 22, 2010, 03:48 PM

Yeah, but he also mentioned the mobile devices. You only show desktop.

It's funny that Nigeria has a 0% iPhone mobile browser market Share.:rolleyes

DualShock

Feb 22, 2010, 03:54 PM

I certainly hope this helps the slow iDisk in the Finder.

itsbarry

Feb 22, 2010, 04:09 PM

You're crazy. :D

Google has a larger market share in search than Apple does in MP3 players. How are all those iPod killers doing?

What was Apple's marketshare in MP3 players before the iPod?

What was Apple's marketshare before the iPhone?

Yeah, that's what I thought. Like I said, Apple doesn't have to dominate search, but they can have all their devices set to their default search. That's STILL damn good.

Stop thinking like Microsoft lol.

:apple:

I know Apple is famous for contradicting itself later, but they've said before that they have no intention of making a search engine. And I fully agree with them. There was A LOT of search engines out there, and while only a handful of them are actually really good, that's still a lot of competition. The market is flooded with search engines; Apple knows this. Plus, they have a $100 million business deal with Google (arguably the best search engine out there) already. While $100 million is lunch money for Apple, it would cost them billions to construct, develop, and maintain their own search engine.

I wonder what they're planning on doing with this. Just "Cloud computing" (am I the only one who hates that name?) seems like a bit of a stretch unless they roll out something really big/new for MobileMe or some other new service.

Just how the market was FLOODED with MP3 players and cell phones. Think outside the box.

:apple:

Terminal.app

Feb 22, 2010, 04:11 PM

Doesn't look like the roof supports Flash. :eek:

I just watched the HTML5 version of the video, it's so nice to be able to play a YouTube video without melting the paint off the walls in the room. :D

lowbatteries

Feb 22, 2010, 04:13 PM

Those figures include mobile devices.

Not to mention that mobile devices account for less than 2% of browsing, according to http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_vs_desktop-ww-monthly-200901-201002

According to StatCounter, In the US, Safari has a 32% mobile share and a 9.5% overall market share. Getting 10% of any market isn't bad, but I agree with above posters that I don't think Apple's getting into the search engine business.

itsbarry

Feb 22, 2010, 04:15 PM

Building that HUGE facility just for MobileMe? I think not. MobileMe users is a TINY market. MobileMe isn't even all that great. I use it, but I could honestly do without it.

It'd be for iTunes before MobileMe. If they need a facility to support MobileMe, a couple of jumpdrives would suffice lol.

:apple:

rdowns

Feb 22, 2010, 04:19 PM

What was Apple's marketshare in MP3 players before the iPod?

What was Apple's marketshare before the iPhone?

Yeah, that's what I thought. Like I said, Apple doesn't have to dominate search, but they can have all their devices set to their default search. That's STILL damn good.

Stop thinking like Microsoft lol.

:apple:

In both instances, Apple entered a very fragmented market with lots of players. Google has close to 70% market share in the US and even higher worldwide. Why would Apple want to do this?

And before anyone says because Jobs is pissed at Schmidt for competing with Apple after sitting on its board, that's why there is a board of directors, to keep Jobs from doing crazy ****.

elppa

Feb 22, 2010, 04:26 PM

You are all wrong.

They're building it for iWork.com

lhawkins

Feb 22, 2010, 04:52 PM

What about the Lala.com purchase. If 150 million people start streaming their music from an Apple service based off this purchase I'd bet it'd take quite a bit of storage/bandwidth. If they expand it to video then this type of facility would be necessary.

--laurence

Bob Knob

Feb 22, 2010, 05:48 PM

Seems by the video this could be a multi-purpose building, possibly a shipping hub too? There are a lot of freight doors on the side which leads me to believe they will be doing a lot of shipping/receiving. I'm no expert, so I may be way off base, but I can't imagine a server farms needs that kind of freight operation.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

It isn't uncommon for a building that size to have a large shipping bay, they may even have another on the far end. Aside from the initial equipment coming in, just supporting a massive facility (even a data center) requires a big shipping/receiving department.

Peace

Feb 22, 2010, 05:50 PM

Full of Win

Feb 22, 2010, 05:55 PM

When will it be complete? I really think that Apple is going to make a search engine. Feel free to call me crazy, but that's what I think.

:apple:

...or buy one. Many of Apples IP's were actually from purchases, e.g. multi-touch.

mattwolfmatt

Feb 22, 2010, 06:03 PM

Hmm. Sounds like Area 51 East.

Nuvi

Feb 22, 2010, 06:11 PM

To have any success in cloud computing you should have several data centers around the world. Honestly, this doesn't look cloud computing. Centralized file serving on large scale but even that is a huge stretch from one location when trying to serve world wide customer base. Compare this with Google and you know what I'm talking about.

The following is a map of Google data centers around the world. I know for a fact that these maps lack some of their newest and biggest centers.

http://royal.pingdom.com/2008/04/11/map-of-all-google-data-center-locations/

lostngone

Feb 22, 2010, 06:13 PM

I can see Steve Jobs in the board room...

As you can see, Mr. Gates, your friends have failed. Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL Data Center!

cerote

Feb 22, 2010, 06:21 PM

When will it be complete? I really think that Apple is going to make a search engine. Feel free to call me crazy, but that's what I think.

:apple:

Don't think so or else Google's Eric would have left the board of directors a while ago. This building was agreed upon before he left the chair. I am pretty sure he would have said something against it and left angry, but then again they could have told him it was a meetings on the iPhone and he would have had to sit out in the first place.

enberg

Feb 22, 2010, 06:31 PM

I can see Steve Jobs in the board room...

As you can see, Mr. Gates, your friends have failed. Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL Data Center!
Some of you guys need to stop acting like everything Apple does is the biggest, baddest, most impressive thing ever. There are larger datacentres in the world.

lostngone

Feb 22, 2010, 06:35 PM

Some of you guys need to stop acting like everything Apple does is the biggest, baddest, most impressive thing ever. There are larger datacentres in the world.

Umm, you do understand that size has little to do with capability when it comes to data centers?

enberg

Feb 22, 2010, 06:39 PM

Umm, you do understand that size has little to do with capability when it comes to data centers?
Do you understand that large doesn't neccesarily mean physical size?

jglavin

Feb 22, 2010, 06:45 PM

How big a gen set do they need to back up a 500k square foot datacenter??? 20 MW? 30? Hmmm... I wonder if that large cylinder on the right side is the fuel tank.
Actually make that redundant gen sets since they will probably be wanting good uptime.

I just did some quick calcs and this place might need 15 kilotons of cooling?? Big numbers are fun.

lostngone

Feb 22, 2010, 06:48 PM

Do you understand that large doesn't neccesarily mean physical size?

Well then, this thing isn't even finished yet and if we are not looking at the "physical size" how do you know this won't be "biggest, baddest, most impressive thing ever" when it comes to data centers? Have you seen the plans for the data, layout, power and cooling requirements?

Some of you guys need to get a sense of humor and chill out...

Friscohoya

Feb 22, 2010, 07:04 PM

Somehow I was expecting a giant glass cube. :D

Actually I was thinking that it would be an underground bunker with Area 51 style controlled access.

iCreate

Feb 22, 2010, 07:06 PM

Maybe it's a chip fab in disguise rather than a data center and A4 CPUs and beyond may creep into more Apple products.

Jacquesass

Feb 22, 2010, 07:09 PM

I wonder if this means that a new XServe is coming...

Frazzle

Feb 22, 2010, 07:11 PM

There are a lot of freight doors on the side which leads me to believe they will be doing a lot of shipping/receiving. I'm no expert, so I may be way off base, but I can't imagine a server farms needs that kind of freight operation.

Those doors handle the controlled leaks.

charlieroberts

Feb 22, 2010, 07:13 PM

So they use OSX server for their datacenters ? How about Xserve ??

Im guessing they use much more powerful equipment, but it would rock if they had thousands of xserves

iCreate

Feb 22, 2010, 07:18 PM

I wonder if this means that a new XServe is coming...

Specially tuned by Oracle since Jobs and Ellison are buddies.

lanceh5

Feb 22, 2010, 07:18 PM

That facility could have been built here in Calif if the state was not so antibusiness, huge environmental regulations, high taxes and no tort reform. We are shooting ourselves in the foot.

Nuvi

Feb 22, 2010, 07:41 PM

That facility could have been built here in Calif if the state was not so antibusiness, huge environmental regulations, high taxes and no tort reform. We are shooting ourselves in the foot.

You want to build your data center in the middle of nowhere. Regarding effects to local business data centers have, well after completion of structures not much. Biggest Data Centers employ around hundred people (max. I've heard was 200 but it was managing etc. other centers also) if more then that its not a data center. You really don't need that many people to run one. I think normal Google data center employs around 35-50 people.

SDub90

Feb 22, 2010, 09:09 PM

I totally agree. Was just about to post that. Cloud-computing doesn't need this many delivery bays. This is more then just server site.

Some datacenters have their servers in pods - when its time for a server upgrade, just swap out racks at a time in a single move.

I'm assuming this will be for hosting media - they'll need it for iBooks and all the tv/movies they're looking to sell, in addition to the rapidly growing app store.

This is based off nothing but my own opinion, but if it were for anything other than a datacenter it would probably also be a support center.

cocky jeremy

Feb 22, 2010, 10:43 PM

I wonder if it has to do with the streaming company Apple bought? I think it was a music streaming company, maybe?

Burnsey

Feb 22, 2010, 10:59 PM

poe diddley

Feb 22, 2010, 11:16 PM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

i personally think it's awesome! the tax revenue from the employees will be great for the state, and it will mean a lot of new jobs and talent moving to the state. it can only be a plus.

batmccoy

Feb 23, 2010, 12:14 AM

rickdollar

Feb 23, 2010, 12:59 AM

Quit floatin' around in that damn helicopter and get down there and help those guys out.
C'mon, let's get this thing up and running. Chop chop!

PercyHanna

Feb 23, 2010, 01:21 AM

When will it be complete? I really think that Apple is going to make a search engine. Feel free to call me crazy, but that's what I think.

:apple:

Two more likely possibilities:

1. Apple innovates with a completely new product that would be better than a search engine, tie it into iPhone OS 4.0 or something. I have absolutely no foundation for this concept, but it seems like something Apple could do. No point in competing with Google et al., just come out with something better.

2. Apple needs new/more infrastructure to support all the iPhones/iPod touches/iPads/MobileMe.

wilhoitm

Feb 23, 2010, 02:13 AM

I bet it has 20 hidden levels below ground!

Marcus

talkingfuture

Feb 23, 2010, 02:56 AM

Wow thats a big place, they wouldn't invest this much without some big money making plans. Can't wait to see what they will do with it. Exciting times ahead.

DarthSnuggles

Feb 23, 2010, 07:20 AM

ph0rk

Feb 23, 2010, 08:30 AM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

The ones that live nearby are probably on the verge of feeling employed. The Charlotte area job market was hit pretty hard by the mortgage bubble breaking.

carlgo

Feb 23, 2010, 10:16 AM

I still don't see the advantage of "cloud computing" without first fixing the speed of the US mobile network. The more people that jump on the mobile data comm bandwagon, the more plumbing we'll need. It would seem to the best investment for Apple is to put wifi on all corners in America—then give .mac members free access.

Now this makes sense. People complain that they need the newest chip because their computers are lagging, but will accept running everything through phone lines and, really silly, stupid cell towers that aren't going to be built, ever.

And what about that data center sort of place Apple bought in, I think, southern California years ago?

I like to think Apple realizes the cell thing is a dead end and is up to something better.

OdysseyExplorer

Feb 23, 2010, 10:22 AM

I bet it has 20 hidden levels below ground!

Marcus

And a helicopter pad, and a laser security system, and a moat... :p

Erwin-Br

Feb 23, 2010, 10:54 AM

That facility could have been built here in Calif if the state was not so antibusiness, huge environmental regulations, high taxes and no tort reform. We are shooting ourselves in the foot.

California's problem is that too many people want to live there. Building more homes and businesses isn't going to solve anything, because it means that even more people from other states (like NC) will move to CA because there's no jobs in their own state.

alent1234

Feb 23, 2010, 11:35 AM

tatonka

Feb 23, 2010, 11:52 AM

Google's "size" means nothing when they can make their search engine the default search on the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Safari (Mac/PC). They'd get about 15-20% of the market. It'd have to be user friendly, useful, well designed, and still load fast. It'd fit well with their new advertising division.

I don't think they'd beat Google, but it'd probably do better than Bing.

:apple:

Lol, I think you got a little excited with the numbers there .. MS sure has more place it tries to push Bing as the default search engine and they are no where near those numbers.

Besides the only thing that really matters for a search engine is that it acutally finds stuff good. There is a bunch of search engines that have nicer interfaces or features, but people stay with google because it gets the job done.

T.

WildCowboy

Feb 23, 2010, 12:49 PM

California's problem is that too many people want to live there. Building more homes and businesses isn't going to solve anything, because it means that even more people from other states (like NC) will move to CA because there's no jobs in their own state.

Jobs are tough everywhere now. And actually, North Carolina continues to be one of the fastest-growing states while California is experiencing a net out-migration and has been continuing to grow only due to birth rates the past couple of years.

gwarth

Feb 23, 2010, 01:35 PM

HTML5 ftw!

djchuckc27

Feb 23, 2010, 11:49 PM

i hope having this cloud media server will require a mobile me subscription... that way all i need to do is install the update! :D

OdysseyExplorer

Feb 24, 2010, 11:13 AM

It's too bad that Apple charges for Mobile Me instead of having free cloud storage like Google.

NIPRING

Feb 24, 2010, 11:25 AM

I'm surprised any footage of this site is even available? Given Apple's extreme secrecy.

BTW, how many secret lower levels do you think are beneath it ;)

doctor-don

Feb 24, 2010, 12:40 PM

Yup. and the area is going to have an influx of HVAC people since it must stay cool.

I'm guessing the median income of a AC/HVAC person just went up in that area.

Did Apple receive stimulus money?

doctor-don

Feb 24, 2010, 12:49 PM

+1000

This will be the source of D/L'g Ebooks, Movies and music and anything else Apple wants to send to you. ;)

KRAP, fella. Use something other than a bug. I almost sprayed insect killer on my 23-inch ACD.

RTee

Feb 24, 2010, 02:44 PM

Was hoping to see the Apple logo on the roof!

It's huge!

NIPRING

Feb 24, 2010, 03:43 PM

I'd hate to think what a target that place would be to terrorists once its up and running, with a giant apple logo on the roof :confused:

KidIcarus412

Feb 24, 2010, 07:06 PM

There won't be any logos on the building, data centers are discrete looking. There will also be no underground levels, just a bunch of foundations and utilities. I have only ever seen one data center have a basement. The openings on the near side of the building are not doors, they are louver openings. Louvers wouldn't be installed yet because they will bring equipment in through there. The giant tanks in the back are for water, fuel tanks are typically buried for obvious reasons. Most data centers are pretty similar in design.

Its probably the worst kept secret Apple has ever had. It has gotten a ton of press because of the tax breaks and its not really even hidden from the road. I assume they will put more trees in near completion.

enigmaverse

Feb 25, 2010, 09:23 AM

I actually grew up in the same county as Maiden; they were high school football rivals. As far as how the locals feel, you have to understand that this area is second only to Detroit as far as obliterated by the recession goes. They need anything they can get. Alternatively, even if it's only a relative few full time positions there, the chances of them filling it locally is slim. They will have to pay people to move there (there's truly nothing there), and they will perhaps get people from Charlotte to commit to the hour+ commute.

I'll quote yours because it closest to the original question about how this will help the area:

Outside of the real estate boom of bringing in qualified applicants to work the tech jobs, you also have a fairly large supprt staff at any facility that are not rocket scientist: Maintenance and janitorial staff, electrician, plumbers, repair personel, office managers, etc. Then there are the outside jobs created: New business to support the community (food, clothing, etc), new hires for existing companies as well as new municipal jobs.

This is huge for Maiden and goes well beyond the building itself. Dole moved into my brothers town and it completely changed the make up and wealth of the town: taxes went down, educational and municipal facilities had more money than they new what to do with. They now have all new schools and equipment and a fully funded recreation center/ Gym that any town resident can use for free.

this can do great things for Maiden and the surrounding towns.

ARF900

Feb 25, 2010, 09:32 AM

Something has to be coming from them to need this kind of server power right? They didnt build this building for mobile me users...

The thing with apple is that they could go into any industry they wanted to and be successful just because of their brand name. Who knows, we will only speculate to later find we are wrong.

yg17

Feb 25, 2010, 09:37 AM

....but does it support multitasking and will it work on Verizon? :D

sushi

Feb 25, 2010, 09:53 AM

I wonder if Apple is considering providing backup support for iTMS purchases?

For example, for only $xx per year or $x per movie/song, Apple provides the backup. So iTMS users would no longer need to worry about purchasing and setting up some sort of backup system for their large music, movie, TV show, etc. collections.

This service could be linked to iDisk accounts virtually.

Speaking of which, I hope that we see larger MobileMe storage offerings at reasonable prices in the future. Offsite storage (backup) of your personal files is important.

yg17

Feb 25, 2010, 10:14 AM

I wonder if Apple is considering providing backup support for iTMS purchases?

It doesn't even have to be backup in the sense that a copy of your file is backed up somewhere. It could just be "for $x per song you can redownload it." It wouldn't require any more storage than they already have. I guess it could be marketed to end users as a backup option, but really, it wouldn't be.

sushi

Feb 25, 2010, 10:32 AM

It doesn't even have to be backup in the sense that a copy of your file is backed up somewhere. It could just be "for $x per song you can redownload it." It wouldn't require any more storage than they already have. I guess it could be marketed to end users as a backup option, but really, it wouldn't be.
But it would still be a backup from the end users perspective. :)

And the thought of not having to purchase backup HDs, RAIDs, etc. would be nice. If reasonable cost and speed, I would much rather use the Cloud.

The reason that I mention this, is if you have a bad DL from iTMS, Apple will authorize another DL.

However, if it has been a while, and in my case it was a year, they will require you to purchase a new copy.

So if they allowed backup insurance, or whatever, then instead of the user worrying about backing up purchases they can just DL a new copy if the current one is lost or corrupted. Apple already has it on their servers so it is only a matter of DL cost.

Also, and this just dawned on me, this would support their future mobile devices like the iPad. You are out on the road and you want to watch a movie that you've purchased, but it's not on your iPad, you can just DL a copy to watch. Using the same situation, you just took 8GB of photos. You upload to the iPad, then upload to your MobileMe account.

As dark fiber is turned on, Internet capacity and functionality will be increasing. :)

Jaro65

Feb 25, 2010, 12:39 PM

Imagine the data bandwidth going into and out of that building! Probably a bit of an electricity bill too once it's in full operation.

Multiple OC-48s for sure. Or maybe even multiple OC-192s. As you most likely know, nowadays the bandwidth requirements are really a question of finances, rather than technology. With the DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) you can provide dozens of 10 Gbps connections per single strand of fiber.

It would be exciting to see the gear they have in there.

sushi

Feb 25, 2010, 04:34 PM

Multiple OC-48s for sure. Or maybe even multiple OC-192s.
I bet multiple OC-192s due to close location to the backbone. Maybe even OC-768 level.

Bring on the dark fiber! :D

bradley212

Feb 26, 2010, 02:31 PM

shouldn't they be building multiple redundant data centers so if this one goes offline, gets taken out, has a glitch -- no data will be lost.

sux2beyou

Feb 26, 2010, 02:31 PM

But it would still be a backup from the end users perspective. :)

And the thought of not having to purchase backup HDs, RAIDs, etc. would be nice. If reasonable cost and speed, I would much rather use the Cloud.

The reason that I mention this, is if you have a bad DL from iTMS, Apple will authorize another DL.

However, if it has been a while, and in my case it was a year, they will require you to purchase a new copy.

So if they allowed backup insurance, or whatever, then instead of the user worrying about backing up purchases they can just DL a new copy if the current one is lost or corrupted. Apple already has it on their servers so it is only a matter of DL cost.

Just an FYI, Apple will allow you to redownload all of your purchases as a one time exception (as in once in the lifetime of your iTunes Store Account)

Go to http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ to ask for it.

KidIcarus412

Feb 26, 2010, 06:44 PM

shouldn't they be building multiple redundant data centers so if this one goes offline, gets taken out, has a glitch -- no data will be lost.

Its possible that one half of the data center is redundant of the other. Each side would have backup generators and possibly power coming from two different grids depending on location.

Or its the first of multiple data centers.

rjohnstone

Feb 28, 2010, 12:42 AM

Its possible that one half of the data center is redundant of the other. Each side would have backup generators and possibly power coming from two different grids depending on location.

Or its the first of multiple data centers.

Every data canter I've ever worked in, and I've worked in more than a few, has off-site back.
You never split your building.
You split locations and you do it with a lot of distance between them. Typically 2 or more locations for disaster recovery and redundancy purposes.

I currently work at one of the largest privately owned data centers in North America (1,000,000 + sq ft of raised floor) and our disaster recovery site is not even in the same state.
They are synced in real time via multiple OC-48 and OC-192 connections from different carriers.
All backups that are on tape are stored at least 10 miles away from our site.

Our new data center is scheduled to open by 2013 and will be twice the size of our current one, which will then become another back up/disaster recovery site.

The site Apple is building is sizable, but if they intend for this to hold anything "mission critical", they will be building or buying a smaller secondary site for fail over.

Like the old saying goes... "never put all your eggs in one basket."

sushi

Feb 28, 2010, 01:49 AM

Just an FYI, Apple will allow you to redownload all of your purchases as a one time exception (as in once in the lifetime of your iTunes Store Account)

Go to http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ to ask for it.
Yes, Apple will do that.

However, what I am trying to describe is a new business area that Apple could enter. That is providing a backup service for iTMS customers for a small monthly/annual fee or on a per movie/song basis. The cost to Apple is network use (bandwidth to transfer the files) and small management overhead.

Jaro65

Feb 28, 2010, 02:20 AM

Its possible that one half of the data center is redundant of the other. Each side would have backup generators and possibly power coming from two different grids depending on location.

Or its the first of multiple data centers.

Though this is not what is typically done. Also, the telco data centers I worked at are connected to a single grid. They also have large battery banks and in fact the entire facilities run on batteries at all times. The grid continually charges the batteries, so any power fluctuations get filtered at the battery level and do not propagate to the equipment. If the grid goes down, the generators automatically kick-in and start charging the battery bank (which typically has at least 24-hour capacity). There is an adequate generator fuel supply at each facility for 7 days. Beyond that, you expect for the grid to be repaired or you need to resupply the fuel. There are likely differences among the individual carriers and ISPs, but in general this is how our communications infrastructure used to function when I was in field eng'g a few years ago. :)

Becordial

Feb 28, 2010, 07:09 AM

I'd say they would be as happy as pigs in **** given the facts.

Apple is committed to investing $1 billion there over the next 9 years. That spending will create about 2,000 jobs. Jobs =tax revenues.

So that works out to about $23,000 per job that they're subsidising, assuming most of the jobs are in the construction process and thus temporary. In all seriousness the purchase of these jobs is a bargain compared to the car companies subsidies really!

Zab the Fab

Feb 28, 2010, 05:09 PM

Pointless. Google's cornered the market. Between Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, etc etc, how many do we need? It's not like I need one for every day of the week. I use Google, and it gets the job done, and that's that. It can't be improved at the moment. It is what it is.

I feel like cloud computing is the most logical idea for this center. Things would be so much less of a hassle if the Operating System, applications, files, etc were all cloud based. Less weight to machines, less moving / breakable parts, more power to dedicate to the immediate system as all it's doing is manipulating files on a server... It all just makes more sense. One day, I think that's where we'll be heading.

I for one, want to work there. It looks like a great place. Then again, key words, 'looks like'.

"Pointless"
Pointless to do iPhone, Nokia already cornered the market
Pointless to do Macs, MS already cornered the market

"How many do we need?"
How many phones do we need?
How many computers do we need?
How many mp3 players, eBook readers, TV boxes do we need?

"Get's the job done"
Nokia gets the job done, no need for iPhone
MS gets the job done, no need for Macs
..you get the idea by now

I don't know if Apple is doing a search engine, but every one of your arguments could be used against every and any of Apple products already on the market and is therefore not valid to counter the suggestion that Apple might in fact be planning a search engine ...Spotlight for the web anyone?

zarusoba

Feb 28, 2010, 08:09 PM

There have been some comments about power, but I'm interested to know if Apple is going to to sign up to "Green Power", if such a scheme is available in the area, and/or use other forms of renewable energy and how all this fits in with their environmental policy.

Dagless

Feb 28, 2010, 08:47 PM

If I were Steve Jobs I'd just paddle around in that little pond all day in a dinghy.

Dagless

Feb 28, 2010, 08:49 PM

...Spotlight for the web anyone?

Isn't that just Bing?

KidIcarus412

Mar 1, 2010, 06:39 PM

Detrius

Mar 1, 2010, 09:20 PM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

Considering that Charlotte was the hometown of one of those massive banks that went under, I'm sure they're thrilled to have business coming *into* Charlotte instead of leaving. From what I hear from locals, Charlotte has been an economic disaster since Wachovia went under.

striatedglutes

Mar 1, 2010, 09:56 PM

From what I hear from locals, Charlotte has been an economic disaster since Wachovia went under.

You mean was bought by Wells Fargo?

In its announcement, the FDIC stressed that Wachovia did not fail and was not placed into receivership. In addition, the FDIC said that the agency would absorb Citigroup's losses above $42 billion; Wachovia's loan portfolio is valued at $312 billion. In exchange for assuming this risk, the FDIC will receive $12 billion in preferred stock and warrants from Citigroup.
...
Though Citigroup was providing the liquidity that allowed Wachovia to continue to operate, Wells Fargo and Wachovia announced on October 3, 2008 they had agreed to merge in an all-stock transaction requiring no FDIC involvement, apparently nullifying the Citigroup deal.

Detrius

Mar 2, 2010, 09:53 AM

Sure. Tell that to all the people who lost their jobs.

KidIcarus412

Mar 2, 2010, 05:30 PM

Though this is not what is typically done. Also, the telco data centers I worked at are connected to a single grid. They also have large battery banks and in fact the entire facilities run on batteries at all times. The grid continually charges the batteries, so any power fluctuations get filtered at the battery level and do not propagate to the equipment. If the grid goes down, the generators automatically kick-in and start charging the battery bank (which typically has at least 24-hour capacity). There is an adequate generator fuel supply at each facility for 7 days. Beyond that, you expect for the grid to be repaired or you need to resupply the fuel. There are likely differences among the individual carriers and ISPs, but in general this is how our communications infrastructure used to function when I was in field eng'g a few years ago. :)

I think your telco facilities are more the abnormality. Typically the battery banks are there to temporarily power the facility, as in closer to 15 minutes, until the generators have time to kick on and get up to speed. All of these factors can vary because of cost, space, the Tier they are going for etc.

I have actually been to this facility.

jdylan

Mar 2, 2010, 06:00 PM

Looks like the nearest "city" is Gastonia, widely regarded as the "Armpit of the South", with nothing but miles and miles of fast-food joints, ugly strip malls of which half the shops are cellular or nail care shops, Wal-Marts, etc. They'd have to pay me a lot to have to live there, and the commute from Charlotte looks kind of long. I live in Wilmington and I hate to drive in this area, feeling I might get stuck in Gastonia like the roach trap it is.

elppa

Mar 2, 2010, 06:23 PM

imamazed

Mar 12, 2010, 12:11 PM

They have some up-close photos of the Apple Data Center here:

http://www.datacenterfix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=45&start=10

Although I admit the aerial footage is pretty cool. Are they going to make it a no-fly zone?

WhizGeezer

Mar 13, 2010, 03:13 PM

This is a DATA CENTER? Why would a data center need that many loading bays? Are the servers expected to be that unreliable or is the data being delivered on 3.5 inch floppies?

KidIcarus412

Mar 20, 2010, 10:34 PM

This is a DATA CENTER? Why would a data center need that many loading bays? Are the servers expected to be that unreliable or is the data being delivered on 3.5 inch floppies?

Once again, not loading bays. Louver openings.

gapfilmvideo

Mar 22, 2010, 08:52 AM

No big deal, they'll all be too busy working.

Steve

Sent from my iPad

got an ipad already?

Friscohoya

Mar 22, 2010, 06:03 PM

The building is going for LEED accreditation.

People get accredited and buildings get certified.

KidIcarus412

Mar 22, 2010, 07:06 PM

Semantics

jeremyblevins

Mar 22, 2010, 07:59 PM

moracity

Mar 26, 2010, 10:01 AM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

Ironic comment given your screen name. Tax incentives for generating income in a state is the opposite of corporate welfare.

Welfare is giving money to a non-contributor. That's the opposite of liberty.

I'd rather give $1000 to a corporation that employs people and generates wealth for the economy than to an able-minded/able-bodied loser who doesn't feel like working.

deconstruct60

Mar 27, 2010, 12:39 AM

shouldn't they be building multiple redundant data centers so if this one goes offline, gets taken out, has a glitch -- no data will be lost.

Did you skip over the initial article description that said that Apple already has a 100,000 sq ft. facility in Newark, CA? This is the back up. At least part of it likely is. More than 1/5 of it could be used to "duplicate' the current primary since lots of the data because farmed out by Apple is replicated to do load balancing. ( e.g., same iTunes content on multiple servers so that lots of concurrent downloads each get a slice of a computer. Easy to segregate people by country and other factors, but it is mostly the same content. )

The other issue is that Apple extremely unlikely to fill the whole place up right away. You build a larger data center so you don't have to build/buy another one for 4-5 years. Computers 2-3 years from now will be substantially better so why fill up the whole place in year 1 with tech you will have to throw away in a couple of years. It could be years before they get to the point that have data that is only located here and not replicated in the CA facility. (espeically if it is just compressed data backups and willing to run a "much slower, but good enough" level for extended period of time. )

They could also use part of the center for customer purchasing and advertising analytics. That may/may not want to back up it entirety.
Similarly, if have development and test-to-scale configurations those don't need to be backed up if data is pulled off the production servers.

However, when fully populate the place might have parts that are running without a disaster failover/recovery .... just like they are doing now.

deconstruct60

Mar 27, 2010, 01:24 AM

You want to build your data center in the middle of nowhere.

Microsoft's new mega centers are in Chicago (just outside) and San Antonio (not densest part though). You want to build your data center where there is affordable space, access to a nexus of redundant high speed data lines (if want to be a top tier center can't have a single internet provider) , and cheap power. Often it is a trade-off among the three. The four, somewhat secondary, feature often looking for is to a place less prone to disasters.... but just about everywhere has something... aways trading floods for tornadoes for earthquakes for hurricanes for volcano for etc. etc.

Oracle's largest one is in Austin.

IBM has several among a large one in Boulder.

Google had taken to going off into the economically depressed areas where power grid was there, but the industry collapsed (so gobs of excess capacity). That strategy tends to take you out into the middle of nowhere.

The NSA appears to want to but a big center out in the boonies but they have different issues and sure there is some "pork" in there somewhere.... there almost always is.

Once go to multiple large centers want them spread out and/or closer to hotspots in your data traffic. It makes lots of sense for Apple to put this center on the opposite side of the country so that the CA one can serve one hemisphere and the NC one the other hemisphere. Until Apple commits to building an center outside the US distributing them around the edges where relatively closer to major data lines come in from the ocean will work better to distribute worldwide load.

This placement has diddly to do with some CA poltico agenda. The primary data center already is in CA. Apple is not going to shutdown the Newark facility. Apple could also go "tick tock" with expansions so next round CA would be a more likely site (than something East Coast). If there is another "deep discount" sale on a bigger facility in Silicon Valley in next couple of years they may pick it up and largely move elements of the same personnel over to the bigger building.

deconstruct60

Mar 27, 2010, 02:37 AM

Seems by the video this could be a multi-purpose building, possibly a shipping hub too?

The loading dock door are toward the front of the building. As another poster mentions those larger "cutouts" seem likely for air intakes ( as well as most of the section of the building being devoted to a large centrailized HVAC operations. (it isn't 500,000 sq ft of just sever racks. ) You spend about as much energy ( it not cold enough to just blow chilled air in from outside) cooling the place as you do doing the "computing".

The relatively smaller doors on the side of that front section of the building seem more likely loading docks. Kind of hard to tell from the blurring youtube video though, but are about the same size as a truck coming up the ramp on the same side of building at 0:30. If those ports are large enough for:

http://www.sgi.com/products/data_center/ice_cube/
http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/02/11/active-power-hp-team-on-powered-containers/

those kind of containers you can just slide in/out computational power as need more. May need to ship in lots of containers if trying to recover from some major problem ( fire, disaster, etc. ), so just don't want to have one or two intake "ports" for these containers.
Even if going with the relatively "old school" rack style (dubious but maybe have already committed to it) will periodically get just as much stuff hitting the doors on ramp up/down of equipment.

You actually do not want lots of people roaming around inside the data center building. A shipping hub would have all kinds of warehouse workers and truck traffic tramping through the datacenter complex. That is a bad thing.

MorphingDragon

Mar 27, 2010, 03:34 AM

That place is HUGE. :eek:

I think it could put a lot of tertiary institutes to shame!

KidIcarus412

Mar 28, 2010, 04:54 PM

The loading dock is on the left side of the building (if you are facing it). Of the 500k sqft of space only 120k sqft is data floor.

Peace

Mar 28, 2010, 04:55 PM

The loading dock is on the left side of the building (if you are facing it). Of the 500k sqft of space only 120k sqft is data floor.

And you know this how?

KidIcarus412

Mar 28, 2010, 08:04 PM

I've been in it.

SockRolid

May 7, 2010, 01:15 PM

I find it odd it is missing the huge glowing Apple in the center or that there was a missing plug-in icon.

That's the last step. A helicopter lowers it into place, they flip the switch, and POW - free MobileMe!

SockRolid

May 7, 2010, 01:30 PM

The loading dock is on the left side of the building (if you are facing it). Of the 500k sqft of space only 120k sqft is data floor.

For now, that is. I have read rumors on this site that claim Apple's plan is to spend a few hundred million a year as they ramp up capacity. So over time the space would be filled up with servers.

jhip20

May 7, 2010, 01:52 PM

I have one theory about the future of apple and the possible use of that building...

Apple's own cell phone service.

H00513R

May 7, 2010, 02:40 PM

Pretty impressive.

cantthinkofone

May 9, 2010, 08:35 PM

45k an acre!!!!? :eek: holy fu*k....

Krafty

May 9, 2010, 09:47 PM

I've been in it.
Did they have soda machines as well?

calsci

May 9, 2010, 10:21 PM

That thing is huge! Something cool must be coming.

TheAppleGeek

May 9, 2010, 10:49 PM

Holy crap, that's huge.

KidIcarus412

May 12, 2010, 05:36 PM

For now, that is. I have read rumors on this site that claim Apple's plan is to spend a few hundred million a year as they ramp up capacity. So over time the space would be filled up with servers.

No thats the actual data floor space it has. They will probably start by using part of that, and adding from there, but its not getting bigger than 500k sqft. The rest of the space is used by equipment to keep the data floor running and office space. Expansion would come in the form of a second building.

No soda machines in the building as of then :)

inkswamp

May 15, 2010, 03:46 PM

So how do North Carolinians feeling about that $46 Million Apple corporate welfare?

http://gigaom.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/debbie_downer.jpg

"I hear Apple employs blind orphans in their overseas factories and makes them work 18 hour days without food and bathroom breaks."

penter

May 21, 2010, 08:34 PM

Free Mobile Me Anyone???

Robin4

May 22, 2010, 02:56 PM

Since Google is looking for a test city to try out their high speed internet project, I wonder if they'll pick Durham, NC? They seem to be trying to bug SJ. That might do it.

moneyman118

Sep 17, 2010, 07:12 PM

penter

Sep 17, 2010, 07:19 PM

where is this info coming from?

moneyman118

Sep 17, 2010, 07:26 PM

where is this info coming from?

Its what I think will happen. It all makes sense. Apple will do it right just like iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad.

carlgo

Sep 22, 2010, 08:05 PM

Apple will be a media distributor much like Comcast and AT&T. I believe the lines have to be licensed out per government legislation. Most of it will be wireless like clear. Apple will install all of the cell towers themselves making sure they cover good portions of the us. This will be followed by the rest of the world. He loves the U.S. This is why we haven't seen the iPhone for any other carrier. They're saving the exclusivity for themselves. Think big, think different, create it yourself. History making in 2011.

I have railed for years about the whole cell tower thing. There can never be enough of them, nobody wants them near them, they cost too much and the whole thing is a house of cards anyway.

So, maybe they have figured out something better. Drones would be an answer, circling overhead and beaming down, covering huge areas without obstructions or any huge antennas to upset people. Certainly drone technology is very mature now.

I have to think an unarmed drone costs less than a bunch of cell towers these days. And they can link back to Apple HQ without even needing physical cables.

Oh, well, it is probably just iTunes or something...

Satellites could do it but I think the distances involved make for annoying lag.

RossMc

Sep 23, 2010, 09:08 AM

Haha one of the best Youtube comments I have seen.

"wait, you mean cloud computing doesn't actually mean all the data is flying around in the clouds? Its still in computers?! Way to ruin my plan to take an airplane and steal tons of music, movies and photos from unsuspecting users!"

Meldar

Sep 23, 2010, 02:48 PM

I have one theory about the future of apple and the possible use of that building...

Apple's own cell phone service.

For some reason, I'm under the impression Apple's not out to downright alienate any companies with whom they've formerly done business (see: Adobe)...The real dick move, in this case, would be allowing limited perks to iPhone users whilst charging marginally more than AT+T and including fine print you won't read til it's too late.

Though the idea is interesting...it's just, this is ONE data center, and they'd need some kind of service distrobution method (ie drones, as I saw mentioned) that fits with their whole futuristic mindset.

-

So...if those are all loading docks, and this is a data center, then it could (probably?) be for servers - servers for what? I don't like the idea of Big-Brother Cloud. Even Final Fantasy Cloud creeps me out a bit...the whole concept is just a bit too mysterious to the general public at this stage for Apple to be ambitious enough to unleash it upon the world.

Or is it?

EarthDawn

Sep 24, 2010, 01:17 PM

I wonder if there are any updated pics ,,,......

Dhelsdon

Sep 24, 2010, 01:48 PM

I want a job there! :eek:

VZGuy

Sep 24, 2010, 08:44 PM

45k an acre!!!!? :eek: holy fu*k....

Thats peanuts.. When you think of lots 50ft x100ft go for about 50k-200k depending on where its located in the US.... It takes almost 9 50x100 lots to equal an acre....

SlamJam12

Sep 29, 2010, 08:31 PM

I don't understand the space for this facility. What purpose is this building going to serve for Apple other than the rumored cloud-based iTunes? I don't have much knowledge on this subject. I just find it different for Apple with the location and the size of the area.

eah2119

Oct 23, 2010, 05:38 PM

I was thinking about this and possibly, this could be for online backup. Time Machine doesn't have any capabilities for backing up your data to the cloud. I would like this a lot. You wouldn't have to take your backup drive with you while traveling and you wouldn't have to plug it in every time you want to back up. Although, this isn't ideal for backing up say 100 GB for people with low bandwidths you could choose to back up you music and documents only. What do you think?