aaronbiggs.com » apple

The Road Not Traveled #3

aaron biggs — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:02:18 +0000

Little known to most, prior to Apple’s recent foray into the gaming world with the iPod Touch/iPhone gaming platform, Apple previously attempted a partnership approach/introduction into the gaming world with the Pippin.

It was delayed until 1996, where on its release it was forced to compete against the Sony Playstation, Sega Saturn, and the Nintendo 64. If this wasn’t bad enough, it was marketed as much more than a game console but it was viewed by consumers as an overpriced console that just happened to also be a semi-functional computer/web device. It’s starting price of $599 did not help the Pippin gain any market traction either.

Pippin (front)

Pippin (rear)

The Road Not Traveled #2

aaron biggs — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:46:15 +0000

Again visiting the world of “What Could Have Been Apple” this time I bring you a product that is a bit like the white whale amongst Apple collectors/fans. The Apple Interactive Television. It was designed to be Apple’s foray into a developing market for Set-Top Boxes, featuring WebTV-style interactivity, connectivity and functionality. It’s important to remember that this was before Motorola had really taken the Set-Top market by storm and Apple saw it as a unique chance to buy themselves into every living room in the US (There was also a European prototype built and outfitted with the appropriate SCART interface).

Apple Interactive TV (Front)

Apple Interactive TV (Back)

The Road Not Traveled #1

aaron biggs — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:34:56 +0000

Thought I’d make it a habit of sharing some of the paths Apple tried to trod down and then thought better and backed out of.

First up, the digital camera market.

Apple Quicktake Digital Camera