'iWatch in 60 Days or Bust' Analyst Claims Apple Developing a 3D Printer

[bobringer]

Forget this moron's words for a moment.

I hadn't thought about Apple as a 3D printer company. And Chowdry is an idiot. But so what?

I think most of us would agree that within the next decade, the "consumiratization" of 3D printing will be a thing. A good chance... a big thing.

Who better to create the consumer market for this than Apple? Who else could figure out how to fuse the software to create and distribute 3D printings than Apple? And the could do it just like they do Logic and Garage Band. High end, pro CAD **** for the people that need it? And the consumer line for the rest of us?

I love this idea. And I don't know who else could pull it off better than Apple. (Google couldn't even dream of *EXECUTION* on something like this compared to Apple. It's not what they do. It's what Apple does though)

 

[AppleScruff1]

At least it's not another thread for a 3rd party mockup of a rumored future device.

Or about Beats or Angela.

 

[RobertMartens]

Slow news day.

MR is dependent on clicks, still.

You don't say! Oh of course, you did say.


Thanks

 

[cocacolakid]

Or about Beats or Angela.

Oh, but wait, this will be a Beats 3-D printer so you can see music. lol.

 

[the8thark]

"Chowdhry has a history of making grandiose claims."

So why give him the attention?

Because all claims that don't come direct from Apple employees are just speculation. This guy is no different to every other Apple rumour site and analyst who makes guesses about Apple every day.

 

[BigBeast]

Slow news day.

MR is dependent on clicks, still.

True, but I don't mind supporting my favorite Mac rumor site with a couple of clicks of my mouse.

 

[mtneer]

This guy is on some "trip".

 

[icerabbit]

I will not believe it is true unless I see a mockup.

/s

 

[puckhead193]

I hope they call it the Stylewriter-3D

 

[Chazz08]

"Chowdhry has a history of making grandiose claims."

So why give him the attention?

Because it's a rumors website.

 

[BvizioN]

Still don't know what a 3D printer is.

It would blow your mind if you knew the potential!
If I told you that some 3D printers can actually print human organs (nose,ears,fingers, or even kidneys) with a living cells that then can be used for transplant, you would probably think I am kidding. I am dead serious! Expect amazing things from 3D printers in a decade or so.

 

[soupisgoodfood4]

For who?

Seems intentionally vague. That Apple are looking into developing 3D printer tech sounds highly plausible. That they plan to make a 3D printer to sell to consumers, not so much.

 

[dreadnort]

Still don't know what a 3D printer is.

Think of it as a inkjet printer, instead of printing page after page of paper it prints using plastic in layers to build up your 3D model.
Or prints using inks and a binder to print on a powder layer after layer to build the model.

 

[haravikk]

I could see Google doing a 3D printer. Apple? No.

I couldn't see either of them doing it; as much as 3d printing has improved, it's still hardly a consumer product. I know plenty of people who simply can't think of ways that a 3d printer would really benefit them, and I'm inclined to agree. I could make more use of one because I like making things, and occasionally find computer build issues where I end up making some awful home-made solution, where a 3d printer could do something more elegant, but for the majority of consumers? I just don't see it.

For Apple in particular I'm not sure why they would pursue it either; I could understand them investing in 3d printing for their own use, as they make a lot of sense in manufacturing, but to release one? I just don't think it'd make them much money.

 

[Supermule]

Business model wise its an interesting fit. They could sell the "design-data" for each item in the Itunes Store.

 

[Arndroid]

Anyone who thinks that a watch would be innovating should be forcibly removed from the Internet.

 

[Reason077]

I couldn't see either of them doing it; as much as 3d printing has improved, it's still hardly a consumer product.

True, I agree. Although Google have in the past released products that don't really have mass consumer appeal, but are rather experimental in nature and pushing the boundaries of technology. Eg: Glass, Project Tango...

 

[MacBH928]

I wish Apple would just create plain printers.

I hope they do to the printers what they did to the desktop/laptop/cellphone. I really find printers suck big time...

 

[fratey]

"Chowdhry has a history of making grandiose claims."

So why give him the attention?

You clicked, didn't you?

 

[Yvan256]

Well yeah. I just can't comprehend 3D ink and I've yet to be bothered looking it up.

There's currently five kinds of Additive_manufacturing, a.k.a. "3D printing":

• Extrusion deposition (a.k.a. "Fused Deposition Modeling"), this is the most popular type right now, especially with the RepRap open-source 3D printer and all the variants
• Granular materials binding
• Lamination
• Photopolymerization
• Mask-image-projection-based stereolithography

Then there's also what's called Subtractive manufacturing, the most popular modern ones being CNC mills (from three axis to five axis) and CNC lathes.

----------

I wish Apple would just create plain printers.

I hope they do to the printers what they did to the desktop/laptop/cellphone. I really find printers suck big time...

Most Inkjet printers just suck, period. Get yourself a monochrome laser printer for your daily needs and use one of your local commercial photo printing service for your photos.

 

[happydude]

nope, i know apple likes to release something that you didn't know you wanted until they made it...but a 3D printer is a bit of a stretch even for this guy. there's almost no compelling reason for apple to do so. they aren't a tech company for the purpose of making tech...

eh, whatevs, they've got enough on their plate trying to redefine the wearables and television markets. 3D printing isn't ready for mainstream anything.

 

[Mousse]

Apple did popularize the laser printer in the 80's.

So, why not?

So they'll rebrand another manufacturer's machine like they did in the 80's? The Apple Laserwriter II was a rebrand HP. I guess the Apple 3D printer will be a rebranded MakerBot.

First thing I'm gonna do with my new Apple 3D printer is print myself another 3D printer.

 

[justinthesommer]

No Way! Apple would never bother with this area. Besides you know an i3D Printer would be like $500,000.

 

[TrentS]

yup

One of the big drawbacks of 3D printers of today is the cost to print an object. Let's say you wanted to print out plastic coffee mugs. The material to do so may cost you $7.50 of plastic per each mug, when you could just go to Walmart and buy the same mug for $1.50. The cost of the materials used for 3D printing needs to drastically drop in order for it to become cost effective for most users out there.

 

[Tech198]

3D printer - making 3d dimensional shapes, instead of just 2D.

If Apple did this, they'd make it perfect, so i would expect delays already...

and probably, while you could print these yourself, its probably better made if you just payed the $1.50 at the store too.

There has to be a catch, otherwise if everyone started printing when these become more affordable, then guess who would be out of business ? There has to be something to keep you in a store.