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Apple Again Seeks FCC Approval for Mysterious 'Wireless Device' With Bluetooth and NFC
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My guess is...
It is a Apple Campus 2 RFID access control reader so employees can use their iPhones to enter the building. Sadly, it will never become a consumer product.
Or the commercially available RFID access control readers did not meet Jony Ive's industrial design for the new building.
Or both.
It is a Apple Campus 2 RFID access control reader so employees can use their iPhones to enter the building. Sadly, it will never become a consumer product.
Or the commercially available RFID access control readers did not meet Jony Ive's industrial design for the new building.
Or both.
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Doesn't make sense to me.
Right time for an AP terminal would have been about 2 years ago before the merchants and card networks started to invest in NFC POS terminals.
There are still many merchants, like gas stations, that still haven't upgraded but many have. And even if they upgrade to a non Apple device, if it has NFC and the merchant doesn't block it, it will accept AP.
That FCC explanation never made sense. First off, everyone knew an iPhone was coming. We even knew that Foxconn was going to make it.
Jobs did not have to announce the iPhone ahead of time in order to hide most of its details. Apple didn't even get FCC approval until May, and even then they requested secrecy until July.
The only thing the FCC had to post once approved, were the SAR reports and the location of the FCC label. So the only thing we'd have known was that it had no 3G or CDMA (which had already been leaked in Dec 2006), and that the back looked like this: (This is from the official FCC filing)
Which looked pretty much like a longer iPod from the back. There was no indication of a touchscreen, or flat front, the touch UI, or anything really important like that.
(Heck, if they had added a removable back, then we'd have known even less, because the sticker diagram would've only shown the internal battery compartment instead.)
For that matter, Apple could've also requested that the approval not take place until a week or two before sales launch. That way, nothing new would've been known beforehand.
So the whole FCC approval thing smacks of a convenient excuse to reveal it ahead of time. The only explanation that actually makes sense is that Jobs wanted to show his phone off before the other rumored touch phones at Barcelona a few weeks later. (Prada, F700, etc) I think he didn't want anyone to steal his thunder at being "first".
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An excerpt from one of the FCC documents requesting short term confidentiality lists a Users Manual, which implies it might be a consumer product. https://fccid.io/BCGA1846
Correction. Saturated markets and lower cost of information transfer/development. Jobs wasn't special, the environment was.
Well good news. Thanks to some insanely great products coming out this year, Tim will be acquitted of this most serious charge.
This will be a monster year. Remember that under Tim Cook, Apple has been rapidly increasing it's Research and Development to the point where it spends more than most companies in the world. Indeed, R and D this past year is somewhere over $11 billion dollars, and it's around 30 billion dollars in just the past few years alone, so don't worry just because Apple doesn't rush things out. There are some insanely great products coming out this year! In addition to the best yet iPhone with it's great new capabilities, you are going to see many things that Apple has been waiting on finalizing the AFS to issue. Yep, they have spent about 5 years finishing it, and it will open up some amazing integration among Apple products. For example, when you see the next gen Siri integration of the first secure and fully integrated home wireless set up coming out this year, you will be renewing your fanboy membership for life! Read up on Vocal IQ to wet your appetite.
Positive waves.
yay..fewer hints
Good lord...Kids will never have private lives again.
iBrush. Parents will be able to monitor their children brushing their teeth live via Wi-fi.
Good lord...Kids will never have private lives again.
That FCC explanation never made sense. First off, everyone knew an iPhone was coming. We even knew that Foxconn was going to make it.
Jobs did not have to announce the iPhone ahead of time in order to hide most of its details. Apple didn't even get FCC approval until May, and even then they requested secrecy until July.
The only thing the FCC had to post once approved, were the SAR reports and the location of the FCC label. So the only thing we'd have known was that it had no 3G or CDMA (which had already been leaked in Dec 2006), and that the back looked like this: (This is from the official FCC filing)
Which looked pretty much like a longer iPod from the back. There was no indication of a touchscreen, or flat front, the touch UI, or anything really important like that.
(Heck, if they had added a removable back, then we'd have known even less, because the sticker diagram would've only shown the internal battery compartment instead.)
For that matter, Apple could've also requested that the approval not take place until a week or two before sales launch. That way, nothing new would've been known beforehand.
So the whole FCC approval thing smacks of a convenient excuse to reveal it ahead of time. The only explanation that actually makes sense is that Jobs wanted to show his phone off before the other rumored touch phones at Barcelona a few weeks later. (Prada, F700, etc) I think he didn't want anyone to steal his thunder at being "first".
Steve's literal words
"We're shipping in June. Yeah June! We're announcing it today because with products like this, we had to get FCC approval which takes a few months and we thought it would be better if we introduced this rather than ask the FCC to introduce it for us"
at around 1:07:00 mark
According to Arstechnica, the October 2006 letter to FCC was regarding the AirPort Extreme product. The FCC certification wasn't filed until after MacWorld SF
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2007/02/6940/
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you can announce a phone without fcc approval.
they announced in January 2007 and FCC approved in May 2007
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/05/18/apple-gets-fcc-approval-for-iphone.print.html
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According to Steve Jobs' friend, Walt Mossberg, it was announced in January for the reason I said. So I wonder who is right.
I too was wondering about the purpose of the RS-485 data pins shown. Your suggestion makes a lot of sense.
Jobs said a lot of things that were not exactly true. As I noted, it was no surprise to anyone that there was an iPhone. Plus he could've still waited months longer to reveal it if the FCC was actually an issue.
But it wasn't, since even after approval all the important unknown stuff like its UI and even its front display would've stayed hidden.
+1. And IIRC, they started field testing with AT&T in April.
Side note: I've been through an FCC approval. Most people don't realize that the FCC doesn't do the testing. You pay a certified lab to do it, and you only submit to the FCC when you already know your test results will pass.
FWIW, a door unlock/mullion isn't that far off the beaten path. Let's not forget that Apple is a hardware company. To debut something like HomeKit and not really have anything for it is a little un-Apple. Instead of giving people key cards, why not let them in using their phone or watch device? That's something you usually don't forget at home. This one could be used for Apple itself or they might be in testing for home use (a la nest). Combine this with Touch ID and you have a pretty secure entry system.
Unlock different? ha.
Mine too. As apple has become the ultimate "Me Too" company that is bereft of any serious innovation or category leadership.
Disagree, plenty of reasons for it to be done. And it wouldn't be Apple, it's all the studio or artist or even the venue choice to turn those things on. Apple just supplies the option. Same with the person suing because Apple didn't put the option in the phone to turn off sections of text or calling while driving. It's not apples responsibility to turn it on, or even offer it. But at the request of a company to build it, Apple certainly could. But the backlash wouldn't be at Apple.
Come on guys. No category leadership???
1) Smart watches - Owning it with smart watches. No one's close, and most everybody else is giving up now that they've seen the Apple Watch, and just had a record setting quarter with the Apple Watch 2 series one of the top holiday products
2) Wireless headphones --Now the largest seller of wireless headphones in the world.
3) Premium headphones -- Now owns 60% of the worldwide market for premium headphones (>$100)
4) Contactless payments -- Now Apple Pay owns 75% of the contactless payments market, adding a million users a week!
5) Music streaming-- Already #2 in music streaming in just 18 months, adding a million users a month!
6) Cell phones -- Just reached nearly 100% of the profits for the ENTIRE cell phone industry
7) All in one desktops -- By far the largest and recognized leader in the all in one desktop market.
8) App stores -- Again, another record setting quarter with a new one day record of $240 million dollars! for the industry leading App store
9) Tablets -- Even with the dumping of super cheap tablets on the market and Apple having the most expensive, Apple still leads the tablet category with the lions share of the profits and last quarter had 82% of all the tablets sold that cost more than $200
I could go on, but at what point is it time to reconsider the claim of , "no category leadership????"
And as far as innovation, Apple is spending over $11 billion dollars a year on Research and Development of new products. If you think that's all going into emojis and dongles you are in for a pleasant surprise this year when you see some of the exciting new things coming out of the pipeline, such as the next Gen Siri device that integrates HomeKit and Apple's special wi fi. Stay tuned
could you imagine a Siri type Echo device?
"Here is what I find on Play Beatles album on wikipedia, shall I read it"
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Come on guys. No category leadership???
1) Smart watches - Owning it with smart watches. No one's close, and most everybody else is giving up now that they've seen the Apple Watch, and just had a record setting quarter with the Apple Watch 2 series one of the top holiday products
2) Wireless headphones --Now the largest seller of wireless headphones in the world
-- Data does not show this, it was just one analysts comments
3) Premium headphones -- Now owns 60% of the worldwide market for premium headphones (>$100)
4) Contactless payments -- Now Apple Pay owns 75% of the contactless payments market, adding a million users a week!
5) Music streaming-- Already #2 in music streaming in just 18 months, adding a million users a month!
6) Cell phones -- Just reached nearly 100% of the profits for the ENTIRE cell phone industry
7) All in one desktops -- By far the largest and recognized leader in the all in one desktop market.
8) App stores -- Again, another record setting quarter with a new one day record of $240 million dollars! for the industry leading App store
9) Tablets -- Even with the dumping of super cheap tablets on the market and Apple having the most expensive, Apple still leads the tablet category with the lions share of the profits and last quarter had 82% of all the tablets sold that cost more than $200
I could go on, but at what point is it time to reconsider the claim of , "no category leadership????"
And as far as innovation, Apple is spending over $11 billion dollars a year on Research and Development of new products. If you think that's all going into emojis and dongles you are in for a pleasant surprise this year when you see some of the exciting new things coming out of the pipeline, such as the next Gen Siri device that integrates HomeKit and Apple's special wi fi. Stay tuned
1) Smart watch leader? Apple is now marketing it as a health and fitness device as their luxury strategy died PRETTY HARD. Just look at all the latest marketing, all new ads are geared towards health and fitness. And in the health and fitness wearables, APPLE DOES NOT LEAD! Fitbit does. I got a fitbit because the Apple watch just isn't worth the value for me. oo, did I just get a notification on my fitbit while I fall asleep
2)wireless headphone - I thought their lead wasn't validated, it was just one analysts projections.. I could be wrong.. I don't care to look it up. I love my bose wireless (except Apple ear phones are quite interesting - I give you that!) I definitely give Apple credit as they didn't do a bad job on them!
6) Phones - They only achieved that statistic because Samsung fell on their face with an amazing burning hot phone. Apple got lucky this year, especially in the year that their phone has a 3 year old form factor!!
7) Desk Top - Apple is boring, surface studio looks sweet! Come on, you have to give Nadella credit
8) Tables? Those media pads? yuck
You forgot to mentions those awesome new macbook pros that are over prices and only have USB-Cs. I wouldn't touch those dongle driving devices for another 3 years
Mac Pros - Does Apple even make those still?
Siri enabled device? I would want it if I could install google now. Personally, I wish I could fire Siri and install google now on an iphone. Just being realistic, Siri doesn't compare.
You paint a really optimistic picture of Apple's product lines. While it's not doom and gloom, it's not like everything is perfect. Personally I am quite disappointed and having been talking with my wallet lately. It's not as bad as some people claim, but wow you really are looking at the bright side of things to say the least!
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Yep, it looks very much like it could be a HomeKit Home Hub to me. Maybe this is where the Airport team have been re-deployed to.
I expect it's a doll-sized model of Tim Cook, with built-in Siri to answer your questions:
"When's the new iMac coming out?"
"We’ve got great innovation in the pipeline"
"Why do you put MLK on your homepage when you are responsible for child slave labor in mines in the Congo?"
"We’ve got great innovation in the pipeline"
"When's the new iMac coming out?"
"We’ve got great innovation in the pipeline"
"Why do you put MLK on your homepage when you are responsible for child slave labor in mines in the Congo?"
"We’ve got great innovation in the pipeline"