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iPhone Display Powered by Laptop

September 21st, 2008

The current Apple retail store window display promotes the iPhone 3G and its supporting App Store, using an oversized handset whose display is powered by a hidden Macbook Pro laptop. The display iPhone sits on a black rod, attached to a black box on the floor. Inside that box is a Macbook Pro running software that operates the display. Check photos after the break.

 

This window display promotes the iPhone 3G and the App Store

This window display promotes the iPhone 3G and the App Store

 

 

Beneath the supporting box is a Macbook Pro laptop running software that drives the iPhone display

Beneath the supporting box is a Macbook Pro laptop running software that drives the iPhone display


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The “software” running the display is nothing more than a looped QuickTime video — not to make it sound unimpressive, but the giant iPhone isn’t actually running any software. On top of that, the giant iPhone is, at heart, a partially disassembled Apple Cinema Display.

Whomever’s window that is needs some work. The open side of the base of that unit should have a grate, the poorly managed cables are hanging out, and there some sort of stack of optical discs in there (?!). Poor showing.

Specialist September 21, 2008 at 7:59 pm

yeah but the more intresting part is that the laptop is close… so has to be something intresting that the computer dosen’t go to sleep or as well stops playing the demo… or else has to be something like a second display.

can be a 30 inch or so display in a wired position…

adrian September 21, 2008 at 8:31 pm

So it looks like Apple is running with the lid closed. There’s software for it but I still find it interesting.

Adam Jackson September 21, 2008 at 9:03 pm

Yeah, that’s a pretty messy setup. How about dusting it? I guess this isn’t in the Fifth Avenue Apple Store.

A MacBook Pro runs fine with the lid closed.

I don’t know what they’re using, but I found a great little freeware utility, Jiggler, that tricks a Mac into thinking that the mouse is being used, so the display and the Mac, stay awake.

I use it when running certain pieces of software or even playing DVDs.

http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/Jiggler.html

Mr. Reeee September 21, 2008 at 9:53 pm

I don’t believe it’s a cinema that they’re using. Last i knew, when they had the 1st gen iphone displays, they were using another brand (may have been lg) encased in an iphone facade.

Sahdow September 21, 2008 at 10:27 pm

All the iphone displays I have seen are Mac mini’s and have a black Logitech mouse and keyboard attached because I saw a guy in the shop window setting it up. But in another shop they gave up on setting it up and now it just shows the flurry screensaver.

alex September 22, 2008 at 12:51 am

Last year’s giant iPhone window units were indeed running 3rd-party displays — and they failed at a relatively high rate (they also had to be run by MacPros, for some reason). This year, the display shows up in System Preferences > Displays as an Apple Cinema Display; if you peek in the facade, there is no case whatsoever, just naked display parts. The MBPros in this year’s version are indeed running in clamshell mode, which is supported on all Mac notebooks. I’ve never seen an iPhone display at an Apple Retail store run by Mac minis. Maybe that’s at AT&T stores? Apple Retail stores would never just leave it showing the flurry screensaver, nor would they use black logitech mice/keyboards.

Specialist September 22, 2008 at 5:53 am

The display being used is indeed the guts of a 30″ Apple Cinema (hence the MacBook Pro – Dual Link DVI is needed). Also the MacBook Pro is running an app called “InsomniaX” it is a great little freeware app that keeps a laptop from ever going to sleep – open or closed. I agree though that that store needs to clean up their set-up.

Genius September 22, 2008 at 8:44 am

Isn’t this the Apple Store that was recently opened in canada? Fairview Mall (Toronto, ON) I was @ the grand opening of the store and I recall seeing the store go “blue” for a few minutes.

Joseph Chang October 4, 2008 at 10:46 pm

No, this is not a cinema display, and it is not running any kind of software. It is just a secondary display looping a video through quicktime. With a macbook pro, all you have to to is have a monitor, mouse and keyboard hooked up to the laptop and when you close the lid (sleep) and press a button on the keyboard to wake the computer from sleep, you start the video in loop, and then unplug the keyboard and mouse… trust me I had to set the damn thing up

Me October 5, 2008 at 12:16 am

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L’iPhone géant juste avant le Macbook Touch October 6, 2008 at 1:22 am

not a bad idea but as people have said it needs tidying up a bit.

Jimmy October 6, 2008 at 4:49 am

That round thing is not a disk, it is the cover for the outlet in the floor.

amw October 6, 2008 at 10:45 am
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