What is the Apple "Brick"?

[RobbM]

Perhaps this might be better posted in "Off Topic", but since we don't know the answer yet, here may be just as good as there. Mods, do your stuff!

This is the first I've heard of this secret product:

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/22/what-is-the-brick/

To save you the clicks, basically Apple has in the works a new product (?) code named "Brick". Some have thought the name indicates shape and size but a new idea is that the brick is being thrown at "windows". I tend to like this interpretation.

So what do YOU think the Brick is?

If you consider Apple is trying to make a break into the Windows market, the idea that the Brick is a cheap cheap notebook is a possibility (perhaps a redesigned MacBook). However, if you consider Apple's interest in mobile computing and M$'s new add campaign, the Brick may be associated with the iPhone and Touch.

Now notice that Apple has basically put the dock connector on the iPhone/Touch off limits to 3rd party developers (except for chargers and the like). Why? Because that's where the Brick comes in!

My idea is that the Brick is a notebook dock for the iPhone/Touch, maybe even without processor, storage, or network features of its own. Attach (or slide in) one of these devices and the Brick gives you a standard size screen and access to iDevice apps and network. There will be a suite of apps either preloaded on the Brick or on the iDevice that gives you word processing and the like.

this would be niffy cool, methinks.

[r0k]

The brick is an iPhone that was formerly jailbroke. At least that's all Google could fine when I went looking for more info on this mythical new device.

Since it's supposed to be announced at a Mac event Oct 14, I suspect it's either a small notebook or maybe even a successor to the Mac Mini.

[questionfear]

I wonder if it's a super mini mac mini, like an entire computer with ports and all that is the size of a brick.

While it would be cool if there were a slide in dummy terminal for the iphone/ipod touch, I am skeptical they'd be able to pull it off without attracting a lot more rumors and leaks.

[berylrb]

Not unlike a... <cough> ...umm... Foleo?

right on! LOL

[RobbM]

Oh yes. I was thinking it would be very much like the Foleo but way more robust and useful.

Imagine plugging your iPhone into a device with a notebook size keyboard and answering email and even SMSs. And since its dependent on the iPhone, it has full access to your address book and music and photos and can access the cellular network in areas without wifi. Its essentially an embigened iPhone!

So your typing an email to your Aunt Patty & listening to...whatever!...when Aunt Patty calls. A little popup shows its her and you can accept or decline and it goes right to your headphones, just like the iPhone.

Remember also that Apple recently applied for a patent on a docking station for notebooks that looks like an iMac with a big slot for the notebook. It would not be hard to imagine the notebook having the slot for the iPhone.

[questionfear]

Oh yes. I was thinking it would be very much like the Foleo but way more robust and useful.

Imagine plugging your iPhone into a device with a notebook size keyboard and answering email and even SMSs. And since its dependent on the iPhone, it has full access to your address book and music and photos and can access the cellular network in areas without wifi. Its essentially an embigened iPhone!

So your typing an email to your Aunt Patty & listening to...whatever!...when Aunt Patty calls. A little popup shows its her and you can accept or decline and it goes right to your headphones, just like the iPhone.

Remember also that Apple recently applied for a patent on a docking station for notebooks that looks like an iMac with a big slot for the notebook. It would not be hard to imagine the notebook having the slot for the iPhone.

Cool ideas, but are you suggesting the iMac has a slot for the notebook that has a slot for the iPhone? It'd be like those little russian nesting dolls, but with way cooler layers!

[rkevwill]

I remember when a developer friend of mine told me about these strange handhelds he saw apple folks using (and hiding) on the Apple campus. They turned out to be iphones and touches. He also told me about some super thin laptops he saw stuck in backpacks in their cafeteria, around june or july of 07. (airs). He has NO clue what the brick is. He thinks it will be announced probably at Macworld in SF in Jan, which is where my wife and I hook up with him and his wife every year, at Tadich grill. In discussions with him today (in regard to this topic here), he is totally guessing its a replacement to the Mini. He is very hopeful they will also come out with something between the mini/brick and the current Mac Pro.

addendum: btw, he reminded me those super thin laptops he saw, looked very similar to old thin IBM laptops (pre lenovo) with no logos, and were black. Obviously camouflaged pre-release models.

[SuperGdog]

does the name "brick" refer to:

A-size of the product
B-what it does
C- A name to keep us guessing.

I would love to see a lower price on the macbook personally.

[RobbM]

@QF:

What the patent appeared to cover is an iMac-sized box with a 17 inch or so screen. There would be a big slot in the side of the box that would accommodate a notebook (or a specific type of notebook). The notebook would presumably have some kind of docking connector on the side, such that it would plug directly into the pseudo-iMac and transfer function to it. So you would change your notebook into a desktop and still have all of the files & settings that you have on the notebook.

A while back there was a product... I think it was called the PowerBook Duo, which was a Apple PowerBook that came with a dock that allowed for at least video out.

[noobette]

Like this?



This is a tablet Mac that slides into a iMac-looking docking monitor. The pictures are a guess at what it will look like based on the patent. Looks awesome to me!