iHome Photos and Video

[agentkow]

Okay I have read all the pages and really enjoyed everyone's comments, especially the people who violently defend the pics, to the ones who come on half way through and say "I think maybe it's fake".

It was interesting at first, someone has too much time on their hands but did a pretty good joke, and we'll all remember them for the next 4 days or so.

And to add one more unecessary reason why it's fake:

Who wheels around a bunch of expensive G5's and iMacs and just balances precious pre-release items and airport cards on top of them? As soon as they put a cart under the pile the stuff would all slide off...

 

[agentkow]

Oh yeah, and where's the little clear circular sticker that keeps the box closed...

 

[SiliconAddict]

apple would of taken them down by now if they were in fact real.

[Devil's Advocate Mode=1]
Well considering the time that this was posted and the weekend approaching its possible, at least initially, that it slipped under their radar. Tomorrow....er..today might be another story.
[Devil's Advocate Mode=0]


That being said. Again this is as fake as hell. Someone made a very good point on another board. The term iHome has not been trademarked by Apple. What are the chances of Apple NOT trade marking a product that is about to be released that in all likelihood is going to go through the roof in terms of sales.

 

[me_94501]

Hmm, this reeks of iWalk 2002 (only those were somewhat believable).

 

[macnews]

Why iHome could be and centre is ok

I think the photos are a fake but for those who can not imagine why steve would use iHome and why spell center "centre" let me offer up an explanation:

Steve has been quoted as saying he isn't fond of MS media center PC. Thus, to differentiate it, if Apple were to produce one, iHome would be much better than and hMac. Matter of fact, an iHome device could be a totally seperate electronic device, much like the iPod was (and is) when it was first introduced. Thus, no need to a "mac" lable to "tie it in" with the other, true computers. An iHome could be more of a Tivo like device, or Replay device designed to work with your iMac, iPod, iLife and airport.

Going along with how Steve has said he isn't fond of MS media center, by just changing the spelling to centre would be a subtle little "ours is better than yours" in your face to MS. Some marketing, heck some people in the US, will use the centre spelling to make themselves appear more sophisticated. I could see Steve doing that.

Granted, the above aren't great reasons but to dismiss this just due to the spelling is crazy in this instance. In my opinion, the give away was when he took it out of the box. No, not the paper, just being able to take it out of the box. Turn it, take a video? Sorry, Apple is just NOT going to leave a potentially hot new product sit somewhere, long enough for someone to take it out and play with it. I think only an Apple employee could get that kind of "alone time" to take the pics AND video. I really doubt an Apple employee would risk losing their job just to post some pics on a rumors website. Could be wrong but these pics are fake.

 

[gopher]

iMEDIA!!!!!!!! A MUST SEE!!!!

Found this pic floating around, looks like conclusive evidence to me!!!!!

Fake! Someone just put an Apple logo on top of a non-Apple device. Those black ports are no standard Apple has ever used.

 

[strngwys]

i miss kinkos

I could have whipped this up in about an hour at kinkos while i was in college. they got the nice shiny paper. Sweeet oversize color printers. Tons of empty apple boxs lying around. not to mention glue sticks and rubber cement. I mocked up an ipod one night to figure out how I could mount one in my car before I bought it. Maybe I'll quit my job and go back to kinkos in time for next years MWSF


PS the font mistake is just unforgivable.

 

[mproud]

erm, dont americans spell 'centre' like 'center'?

odd..?

/asif

"Centre" is kind of like "Theatre". Spelling it with 're' makes it seem more classy and of great quality. It's sometimes considered "cool" to have a French spelling, at least by American standards.

 

[tech4all]

Kind of off topic but....

Do "center" and "centre" both sound the same? What's the point of the "re" replacing the "er"? (kind of like "color" and "colour") Just a culture thing?

 

[Dahl]

Did somebody mention that the image is printing upside down ?
(if you were to carry it by the handle)

It's a hoax!
It's video is also lame, it really doesn't show anything so why bother ?

 

[SiliconAddict]

Fake! Someone just put an Apple logo on top of a non-Apple device. Those black ports are no standard Apple has ever used.

Yah think?!?!

 

[b-randomly]

So after this whole b.s. iHome incident, I was thinking: if they are going to push this on the everyday Windows consumer and make it easy for them to switch, how are they going to do that and keep standards at the same time? We all know that DVI is the standard connection for most (all?) Macs, but most everyday Windows users use VGA.

What do you think they're going to do? Would they have two ports for video outs (both DVI & VGA) or force them to use the little dongle like you would have to on a PowerBook/iBook. I would think it'd be more difficult to win over new customers when they can't just plug their old monitor in seemlessly.

Personally, though, I can't wait to see them -- the real them -- come out. Something needs to replace the 300 MHz Celeron that my family keeps using, and they're not exactly in the market for an $800 computer.

 

[Zaty]

So after this whole b.s. iHome incident, I was thinking: if they are going to push this on the everyday Windows consumer and make it easy for them to switch, how are they going to do that and keep standards at the same time? We all know that DVI is the standard connection for most (all?) Macs, but most everyday Windows users use VGA.

What do you think they're going to do? Would they have two ports for video outs (both DVI & VGA) or force them to use the little dongle like you would have to on a PowerBook/iBook. I would think it'd be more difficult to win over new customers when they can't just plug their old monitor in seemlessly.

Personally, though, I can't wait to see them -- the real them -- come out. Something needs to replace the 300 MHz Celeron that my family keeps using, and they're not exactly in the market for an $800 computer.

First of all, you're incorrect about the video out. Only PBs (the 12" via dongle) and PMs have DVI out. All other Mac only have VGA out.

So I don't think "iHome" (it won't be called that b/c apparently Apple doesn't even own the trademark) will have DVI out. Even if it had DVI out, it wouldn't be a problem. There are two DVI standards, DVI-D which only outputs a digital signal and DVI-I which can lay an analogue signal over the digital visual interface (that's what DVI stands for, btw). Both PBs and PMs have DVI-I, which means you can connect a VGA monitor to you Mac via a DVI to VGA adapter. (The 12" PB uses two different dongles, one for DVI and one for VGA)

Generally speaking, I have to admit when I first saw the pictures, I thought the could be real. But as many have already said, there's clear evidence that is a fake. However some of the reason that have been brought are not conclusive. E. G. all those alleged packaging inconsistencies. Hasn't it occurred to anyone that apparently this headless Mac is said to not be shipping until later in the first quarter? So, let's assume that TS is right but Apple didn't plan to introduce it at MW already because they didn't want to announce a product that would attract a lot of potential switchers and other buyers but won't ship for another 2-3 months. Because of TS, they might have changed their plans in order to avoid disappointment and more importantly, falling stocks as result of wrong expectations. So, as far as the packaging inconsistency are concerned, they might have designed a mock up of the box b/c the real boxes aren't properly designed and/or produced yet.

 

[Knox]

apple would of taken them down by now if they were in fact real.

And I wouldn't be hosting them if I thought they were real - I'm not that brave/stupid

 

[ChrisH3677]

Well since all of these ports are on its back if it lays flat on the desk does the video comes out of one of the sides? That seems stupid and down right clumsy. And since it's been stated in a number of rumors that this system is suppose to be able to be placed vertically (Think PS2.) would you have the video actually coming out of the top of the box when set up vertically? I also find it strange that of all the pictures they didn’t bother to take pictures of the side which would show the video out.
Maybe its just me but if I’m going to take pictures of this thing I would take a dozen of them as fast as humanly possible at every conceivable angle. I was pretty convinced this was BS after first seeing the pictures but after spending some time looking at them its pretty damn obvious. Esp with:

The side of the damn box the thing is encased in is crumpled! In fact I'll bet cash that whoever did this took a picture of his iBook's ports, did a little Photoshoping, printed it out, taped it to a box, and viola. Instant headless iMac.

11) And this pic you've used you can clearly see the STICKY TAPE across the top edge of the unit.

12) And also... you'd expect this to be made from the same material as iPods/iMacs/iBooks which is very shiny and reflective. Yet the wrapping it is sitting on in this photo (and all the pics) looks shinier!! Even in the video the reflection is diffused which doesn't happen with the high gloss of the "i" devices.

13) And if the rumors are right that it is meant to be mounted vertically, then when you do the "iHome" and Apple logo will be sideways.

 

[ChrisH3677]

Another question.

Why is this unit on it's lonesome? Where are it's mates? It implies it's on its way to a special event where only one is required. And the iMacs and Powermac are in boxes that have been opened and re-sealed. Again implying an event. Certainly doesn't imply a bunch of new stuff headed for anywhere.

So if this really was the iHome headed for a special event, wouldn't it be in non-descript packaging? Maybe even in an iBook box?

Like... having "iHome" all over it is an invitation to snoop!

Hmm? Maybe it was a setup to flush out a rat...

 

[serge]

Fake! "massatraagheid"

Looking at the attached movie I really believe it is fake, or the iHome is completely empty....
Object with a certain weight have associated "massatraagheid" (dutch for something like "mass slowness".).

The movements of the hand with the iHome really suggest that the iHome is nothing more than an empty cardboard box....

 

[Floop]

This is fake, and all the MacRumors newbies posting on this forum in support of this product being real are fake too. I name the following users as 'FAKERS', as colluding with the person or group who created this fake to give us a joyride:

Musichris777
Black
ShiggyMiyamoto
foofan

Not that I mind in the slightest, I love this stuff before an expo, it is hilarious and I commend the people who did it for having the time and ingenuity to come up with things like this. With a dearth of new information, it's just a bit of fun.

We all say "FAKE! A third grader could have done better" but the truth is we are all so anally retarded when it comes to knowing the specifications, corporate type faces and retail packaging orientations that Apple use, that trying to create a perfect fake must be pretty difficult.

Floop

 

[jamdr]

"Centre" is kind of like "Theatre". Spelling it with 're' makes it seem more classy and of great quality. It's sometimes considered "cool" to have a French spelling, at least by American standards.

Okay, we all know it's fake now. It's not even a very good fake. But I have to say this comment is pretty ignorant. Americans don't give a crap how the French and British spell their words; it is inconsequential. All that matters is how we spell them here. A U.S. company would never use a British spelling to brand one of their products. Why would Apple cater to a British market? It would hurt sales.

And no, centre is nothing like theatre. Theatre is an acceptable variation of theater in the U.S. In fact, as far as I know, all American theater companies spell it "theatre". Usually, in my experience, movie theaters will use the "er" ending while real theater uses the "re" ending. On the other hand, no one in America would ever spell center with the "re" ending. Apple is not British, and neither is any other major tech company for that matter.

And while I'm on the topic of British people, why the heck do you people insist on treating mathematics as a plural noun? For that matter, why do many of you treat Apple as a plural noun? The sentence "Apple are cool" makes my head explode.

 

[Gee]

Okay, we all know it's fake now. It's not even a very good fake. But I have to say this comment is pretty ignorant. Americans don't give a crap how the French and British spell their words; it is inconsequential. All that matters is how we spell them here. A U.S. company would never use a British spelling to brand one of their products. Why would Apple cater to a British market? It would hurt sales.

And no, centre is nothing like theatre. Theatre is an acceptable variation of theater in the U.S. In fact, as far as I know, all American theater companies spell it "theatre". Usually, in my experience, movie theaters will use the "er" ending while real theater uses the "re" ending. On the other hand, no one in America would ever spell center with the "re" ending. Apple is not British, and neither is any other major tech company for that matter.

And while I'm on the topic of British people, why the heck do you people insist on treating mathematics as a plural noun? For that matter, why do many of you treat Apple as a plural noun? The sentence "Apple are cool" makes my head explode.

Let's not get started on a transatlantic slanging match, hey? The original poster of the centre vs center comment, mproud, could be one of you guys with a valid point....

 

[Floop]

And while I'm on the topic of British people, why the heck do you people insist on treating mathematics as a plural noun? For that matter, why do many of you treat Apple as a plural noun? The sentence "Apple are cool" makes my head explode.

Maths, because Mathematics is a plural word and when abbreviating it, it should not become a singular. Maths is short for Mathematics, not for Mathematic.

"Apple are cool" is used when people perceive Apple to be a team of people, rather than a non-human entity.

As for making your head explode, Mr. Brit-Basher, don't get me started on the way Americans pronounce the word 'herbs' without the 'h'. WHY, dammit! AluminIUM people!!!

Floop

 

[evil_santa]

And while I'm on the topic of British people, why the heck do you people insist on treating mathematics as a plural noun?

I have always wondered about this, so I just looked it up in the dictionary.

From "Fowlers Modern English Usage"

math
The AmE abbreviation of MATHEMATICS; in BrE always maths.

 

[Nermal]

Look "The dot" over your iPod or iBook or iMac, is rounded, vs "The Squared Dot" at iHome box.

The dot on the letter i is called a tittle.

 

[surfsessn]

Darn good fake, but a fake indeed. Biggest two clues is the box with off center (centre?) logos, and the strap location.

However, several years ago, just prior to Apple's big move to their iLife marketing promo, I had contacted an Apple insider suggesting that Apple should consider designing a "box" that would fit along side (stacked on top of) standard home audio equipment, blending a multimedia Mac with the family's current stereo system, TV and general home living room setup. I went as far as also suggesting to design a photo quality printer that could be stacked along with this type of "new" Mac design. Case all this stuff with a Titanium (aluminum?) finish. At that point in electronic history, Plasma and DLP were just in development and Titanium Powerbooks had DVI outputs. My consideration for a New Mac design would have incorporated this DVI output for utilizing the digital and HDTV sets that would soon be sitting in most living rooms. And to interface all this with wireless keyboard with a built in trackpad using the PowerBook design minus the screen....(simple). Also, a cable modem, and/or a digital tuner, and/or TIVO type abilities as part of this system. WOW!!! Who wouldn't dump a Dell for something like that......???????

An all in one appliance that links to your audio system and digital tv and sitting in your living room........ Hell, now with the ipod and ipod mini leading the way for Apple, why not include a slot on the front of this "new Mac" that would allow for sliding in your ipod, looking something like the old 8 track players from back in the 70's.... Damn, that would be cool as hell... Split screen Plasma running the Mac desktop, watching a game, recording a movie, updating and charging your iPod, listening to internet radio broadcast, and also printing out your photos......all at the same time, at the same location..... Come on Apple... They could burn the PC guys if only......
Later....Surfsessn

 

[J@ffa]

Here's a thought; most people seem to think it's fake because of the box being made up out of bits of paper and cardboard, but isn't it possible that that's just a mockup design? I have no idea in this area so if someone could fill me in that'd be great, but here goes - what if those pictures (and video) were taken maybe a month or so ago, and that was one of the few existing iHomes? If it was, then surely apple wouldn't have bothered to comission full packaging for something that wasn't ready for production yet, and just made up their own box instead?

Like I said, just a thought.