What will Apple Dream Up Next?

What will Apple Dream Up Next?:
Business before pleasure? Hardly. Apple has been delivering both for years now, and the way we see it, the company is perfectly positioned to continue that trend. Time and time again, Apple has proven its ability to change our lives with devices such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, often perfecting existing ideas or filling voids that nobody else realized existed. But given the secretive nature of the crew in Cupertino, Apple fans and analysts alike constantly find themselves wondering: how will they follow it up? What’s the Next Big Thing? We admit that we’re no different, and it’s all too easy to let our imaginations run wild about the type of mouth-watering tech that Apple will unveil next.

We’re not talking about an iPhone 5S, a beefier iPad Mini, or an iMac with a Retina display — that stuff is easy to predict. Instead of focusing on obvious evolutions, we looked at ways in which Apple could revolutionize how we work and how we play to come up with a handful of innovative concepts. Not just any pie-in-the-sky idea would do — while our concepts push us a little farther into the future, they’re grounded in real-world tech, and target areas in which Apple has shown interest.
Given Apple’s emphasis on cloud computing, we don’t think it’d be too much of a stretch to see the company forever change your personal workspace with the release of a “computerless computer,” and it’s not hard to envision Apple leveraging its unique blend of form and function to redefine something as traditional as the keyboard. That’s the “work” part of the equation—so what about “play”? For years, techies have speculated about how Apple could grab an even bigger slice of the gaming pie, and we’d like to think that our take could be the answer. Sure, these are just dreams, but who knows? Maybe Apple is hard at work turning them into reality.

CloudMac

Introducing the next generation of computing - sans a computer
You store your music in the cloud. You store your documents in the cloud. So why not store your entire computer in the cloud? The CloudMac would be a desktop computer — albeit without the computer physically being there. The actual computing would be handled by the latest hardware on an offsite server farm, and everything that you’ve traditionally stored locally — applications, documents, photos, music, movies, and more — would be stored in iCloud and tied to your Apple ID. It might sound a little intimidating to traditionalists, but the trick would be that you wouldn’t even realize what you’re missing — everything would be streamed to your monitor via a high-speed wireless connection without any noticeable lag.
A gorgeous, ultra-thin, transparent-glass HD display is a perfect match for the CloudMac. Almost everything, even the processing, occurs offsite. Access all your apps, files, games, movies, and music via iCloud — without any lag. 
The CloudMac would be compatible with virtually any modern screen, keyboard, or other input device, but you’d probably want new gear that glorifies the new era of computer-free computing; we’re talking a large, beautiful, credit-card-thin, transparent-glass Retina display that would come ready to sync up to your network and receive iCloud data transmissions without the need for additional adaptors or the like. (Naturally, it would come complete with a built-in iSight camera and incredibly svelte speakers.) The CloudMac would also work perfectly with Apple’s next-generation keyboard (see page 28), which could also serve as the hub for connecting any external devices you have that are still tethered by wires, such as — gasp! — optical media drives.
Since there’s minimal hardware involved, you’d never have to worry about upgrading or buying new equipment; Apple’s offsite supercomputers would stay up to date with the latest bleeding-edge technology, ensuring that your CPU and graphics card never become obsolete. Of course, the traditional purchase model would be done away with as well — instead, the CloudMac would be a fee-based service, which you could buy on a month-to-month basis or through quarterly or annual subscriptions. (Naturally, you could pay for additional storage space or extra features to suit your needs.) By eliminating most of the up-front costs, cutting-edge tech becomes more affordable for more users, ensuring that personal computing is within everyone’s reach.
Next page: How might Apple revolutionize the way we interact with our computers — or, more importantly, play with them? We've got a couple of ideas...

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Magic Keyboard

This innovative input device casts a spell that leaves all others behind
For as long as we’ve been using computers, we’ve been typing on keyboards. From the ancient Apple I to the razor-sharp Retina MacBooks, we’ve been tied to the same layout of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, all anchored by the standard space bar.
The components around it have changed with the times, but the QWERTY layout remains; even the virtual ones we use mimic the models that sit on our desks: unimaginative, rigid devices that twist our fingers into pretzels to get things done quickly.
Back in 2008, we wrote about an Apple keyboard patent we wished would be made, a device that “looks like a standard keyboard with glassy keys...capable of displaying any image, thereby giving the keyboard nearly infinite options for customization.” The market might not have been ready for it — the somewhat similar Optimus Maximus was selling for more than a grand — but we think that now might finally be the right time for Apple’s Magic Keyboard: a slim, sleek, ergonomic touchscreen. It kind of looks like an elongated iOS device, but when summoned to action, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.
It’s actually a big touchscreen — but one that provides haptic feedback so you can feel the keys as you type. This also makes Magic Keyboard completely customizable; change the appearance, colors, functions, and arrangement of the entire keyboard at will. An iSight camera on the side reads your hand motions in lieu of a mouse or trackpad, and multiple ports on the rear allow you to use the keyboard as a hub for your iPhone, iPad, iPod, or other devices.
We all know how difficult it can be to type on a touchscreen, so Magic Keyboard utilizes haptic technology to simulate the sensation of chiclet keys. When you tap against the smooth glass, coordinated sensors and vibrations will let your fingers “feel” the keys beneath them; unlike the iPad, where the keypad is essentially a picture, when you type on Magic Keyboard, the texture of the keys and the space around them are apparent. The only thing you’ll miss is the dust. A friendly, familiar layout will greet you out of the box, but what’s the point of a touchscreen keyboard if it’s not customizable? Magic Keyboard can be configured in any number of ways, and we’re not just talking letter placement. Launching Photoshop, for instance, brings up a complete set of tools, but as you delve into your project, Magic Keyboard adapts. When you draw a text box, for example, the regular keyboard (or your configured one) reappears, but if you select the brush tool, you’ll see a sizing slider along with a selection of shapes.
Once you find the right brush, you won’t have to fumble for your Magic Mouse to start painting. With a tiny iSight camera built into the side of Magic Keyboard, your desktop is essentially turned into a large trackpad, as hand movements and gestures are interpreted into onscreen actions.
Magic Keyboard is obviously wireless when used with a Mac or iPad, but if you don’t mind a bunch of unsightly cables coming out of the back of the most beautiful keyboard ever made, you can use it as a docking station, too. A bevy of ports are at your disposal — including Lightning (to charge the built-in battery), USB 3, HDMI, and Thunderbolt — making Magic Keyboard the perfect companion to the CloudMac.

iMmersion Game System

Virtual reality finally becomes a reality when Apple enters the video game arena
Apple has made video gaming easily accessible to millions of iOS device owners around the world, but you have to admit, the company could be doing a whole lot more with the medium. Enter the iMmersion Game System. Of course, iMmersion would have top-of-the-line specs—bleeding-edge visuals, crystal-clear audio, and superior processing power. Of course, it would rely on digital distribution and an App Store interface that would allow you to effortlessly purchase all manner of games, from the latest full-fledged blockbusters like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto to budget-priced apps for a quick gaming fix. And, of course, it would use the cloud for data storage and all the under-the-hood computation. There would be no console to speak of (aside from a small receiver/control unit), no hard drive in your living room; the games themselves would be streamed directly to you via Apple’s lightning-fast servers.
The headset features built-in speakers, a microphone, and gyroscopes to aid in head tracking. Games can be played using a pair of grip-style controllers (one for each hand), camera-tracked gesture controls, or a combination of both.
But the game-changer — if you’ll excuse the phrase — would be the iMmersion’s headset. For years, virtual reality has been the holy grail of interactive entertainment, seemingly out of reach, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Apple. Externally, the headset looks as stylish and unassuming as a pair of designer shades — albeit shades that encompass your entire field of vision. Internally, the headset boasts an ultrathin LCD screen with higher pixel density and better resolution than what we’re accustomed to even with current Retina displays — high enough to maintain the magic 53 PPD even at incredibly close range.
The headset would also feature an inconspicuous built-in microphone for issuing voice commands or talking with pals during multiplayer sessions. Even better, by using a combination of headset-based gyroscopes and an external motion-tracking camera (built into the receiver/control unit), iMmersion will be able to perfectly interpret every movement of your head, letting you adjust your perspective and viewpoint simply by moving your noggin, allowing you to feel completely at one with the game world.
iMmersion supports an optional, familiar game pad controller, too.
To further complete the virtual-reality package, the camera would permit you to interact with games via gesture controls, similar to the technology used in the Xbox 360’s Kinect accessory. Swing your arm to simulate wielding a sword; point to aim a virtual weapon; tilt your hands from side to side to steer a race car; reach out to grab and interact with in-game objects; “tap” at virtual buttons to call up maps and menus. iMmersion would put you in the game like never before. Naturally, anyone who’s used motion controls knows that they aren’t the answer to everything, which is why Apple’s machine would come with a pair of wireless grip-style controllers—one for each hand—featuring analog thumbsticks plus buttons positioned behind each finger. The controllers could be operated together to provide a traditional dual-analog experience or you could use them in conjunction with gesture controls.
Last but not least, you’ll have the software-dependent option of outputting iMmersion’s visuals to any HDTV. While the long-awaited arrival of virtual reality is going to be cool and all, you don’t necessarily want your games to be in your face all the time, especially when you’re playing, say, Angry Birds 2: Blood Vengeance or New Super Mario Bros. 3. (Because by the time iMmersion comes out, Apple will have purchased a stake in Nintendo and convinced them to make iOS games.)
Next page: Not all hardware speculation has to be this fancy. See what Mac|Life's editors came up with when given a notebook page and a short deadline.

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Over the last two pages, you’ve seen our top three ideas for where we’d like to see Apple go next, but there’s practically no end to the concepts the company could implement to usher in new ways to work and play. Sure, some might not be especially practical or realistic, but that didn’t stop our imaginations from running out of control.

NAG

By Chris Slate, Editor in Chief
Even as Apple continues to polish Siri, she’ll always have a significant setback: she can only do what she’s told. Real flesh-and-blood assistants proactively point out things you hadn’t considered, offer unsolicited advice, and pressure you to get things done. Unfortunately, they also require a salary and benefits. Enter NAG.

NAG not only manages your schedule, it learns your behavior so that it can predict what you might need to do, then nags you until you get it done. It might pester you to call Mom on Mother’s Day, point out how many calories are in a Big Mac when you Google McDonalds, or blast out a radio station that you hate until you heed your morning alarm. You’ll grow to hate NAG with a burning passion, but it will keep you on track and help you reach your goals.

Apple iJet
By Susie Ochs, Executive Editor

I was told to write about 150 words about this Apple jetpack. Not sure I’ll need that many: It’s a jetpack. It’s made by Apple. What more do you need to know? OK, (more) seriously. This completely infeasible quad-core rocket pack has a solar coating to power speakers that play “Eye of the Tiger” by default. Navigation is handled by twin multi-touch trackpads near your hands, and Siri integration in the heads-up display can help you identify landmarks and slack-jawed gawkers as you careen through the sky. Most hydrogen-peroxide-powered jetpacks can fly for only 30 seconds or so because of limits of the fuel, but Apple’s iJet can actually distill it from water vapor in the air using technology that’s probably being tested in Cupertino right now. Watch for a product announcement in 2037, which will take place on the moon.

MacFormers

By Chris Hoffman, Managing Editor

What’s better than an Apple product? An Apple product that transforms into a robot! Aimed at children of all ages, MacFormers are fully functional Apple devices that transform into highly articulated robotic action figures. There would initially be two models: the heroic iPad (which would feature a new type of LCD screen that could be separated and reconnected without any visible seams) and the evil Mac 512K, who is threatening to drag technology 30 years into the past. The evil Mac 512K includes a shoulder-mounted 3.5” 800 kB external disk drive (that can launch floppy disks at adversaries if you push a paperclip into the hole) and a corded mouse that turns into a spiked flail. Parental supervision is advised.

iMind

By Mikel Reparaz, Online Editor

Somewhere between my brain and keyboard — and even between my brain and my mouth — thoughts can change. Somehow, words that sounded brilliant in my head become trite and idiotic when I see them onscreen or say them aloud. The solution? Eliminate the middleman with the iMind, which lets users instantly beam whatever thoughts pop into their heads into Word, Photoshop, or other compatible programs. Epic poetry can be composed in seconds. Writing novels will be painless. That cool image you see in your head won’t be destroyed by ineptitude with a pen or stylus. With simpler “mind control” headsets for controlling games or big fake cat ears already a reality, there’s no reason to think this isn’t in our future — or in Apple’s.