Advice on a prototype

[morkus64]

I'm currently developing an mp3 player in my mind, and I'd really like to build a prototype so I can show it off and try to get it produced... I think I'm ok on building the shell... hopefully... but could anyone guide me (or give me a link to somewhere that'd help) on doing the internal electronics (i'm thinking either CF or SD as the media type, and i need it to support a screen)

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: morkus64
I'm currently developing an mp3 player in my mind

If it's all in your mind, electronics are kind of a minor concern, aren't they?

 

[BigB10293]

Why would anyone buy your mp3 player? You need to be able to answer this concisely and convincingly. Otherwise we're all going to stick with iPods.

 

[morkus64]

hehe... actually, i'm almost finished modeling it in maya... just need to fine tune some textures... But i'd like to get it out of my mind and into reality

 

[Zanix]

I bet there's teams of engineers that create those professionally.

Good luck programming an interface, IO, etc...

 

[morkus64]

actually, if i can, i'd first market it to apple as the next generation of ipod nano... that was the question that i was pondering when i came up with it. What will the next generation of ipod look like

 

[morkus64]

if nothin else, i'd show the maya model around, but i'd prefer to have an actual, produced version

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: morkus64
hehe... actually, i'm almost finished modeling it in maya... just need to fine tune some textures... But i'd like to get it out of my mind and into reality

Please post a simple rendering so we can gauge just how crazy you are exactly.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: hjo3

Originally posted by: morkus64
hehe... actually, i'm almost finished modeling it in maya... just need to fine tune some textures... But i'd like to get it out of my mind and into reality

Please post a simple rendering so we can gauge just how crazy you are exactly.

hehe... not too out of my mind i hope... i'm not going to post anything yet, considering it is, as of this point, not copyrighted

 

[edmundoab]

wow thats alot of time spent,
I think u're better off trying to get into these companies and make ur dream a reality

by yourself u need alot of resources and contacts to make it even noticable in the world
good luck nevertheless

 

[BigB10293]

Originally posted by: morkus64
actually, if i can, i'd first market it to apple as the next generation of ipod nano... that was the question that i was pondering when i came up with it. What will the next generation of ipod look like

In all seriousness, they don't want/need your ideas. They have in-house design teams for the UI and buy the decoding chips from 3rd-party companies.

 

[SaturnX]

Then go patent it, you don't need any working models for patents, just an idea, and bam you're in the clear.

Also I don't think Apple would be buying another developers product to rebadge and market on their own. They've got teams of engineers that design these things, and frankly Apple's done a good job thus far and I don't think they'd be looking into designs from 3rd parties.

Also, while you may have a design down pat, would all the electronics actually fit within the casing that you've designed?

--Mark

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: BigB10293

Originally posted by: morkus64
actually, if i can, i'd first market it to apple as the next generation of ipod nano... that was the question that i was pondering when i came up with it. What will the next generation of ipod look like

In all seriousness, they don't want/need your ideas. They have in-house design teams for the UI and buy the decoding chips from 3rd-party companies.

well the plan would be to show it to apple, and if they don't want it to show it to another comany as a competitor to the ipod... it's along the same visual lines, but different enough not to infringe on anything... if nothing else, i'd like to have one for myself and maybe be able to make more for online sale... i realize that would be a whole giant other process though

 

[kyzen]

I hope you realize the cost involved in producing even a prototype.

 

[SaturnX]

Originally posted by: morkus64

Originally posted by: BigB10293

Originally posted by: morkus64
actually, if i can, i'd first market it to apple as the next generation of ipod nano... that was the question that i was pondering when i came up with it. What will the next generation of ipod look like

In all seriousness, they don't want/need your ideas. They have in-house design teams for the UI and buy the decoding chips from 3rd-party companies.

well the plan would be to show it to apple, and if they don't want it to show it to another comany as a competitor to the ipod... it's along the same visual lines, but different enough not to infringe on anything... if nothing else, i'd like to have one for myself and maybe be able to make more for online sale... i realize that would be a whole giant other process though

How sure are you of that? If it's even remotely similar I would see Apple's legal team proceeding full force.

--Mark

 

[mercanucaribe]

I hope you have a few million dollars, because there is no other way you are going to build an mp3 player. Reality check!

 

[Tu13erhead]

Originally posted by: kyzen
I hope you realize the cost involved in producing even a prototype.

QFT

 

[MisterJackson]

The next incarnation of the Ipod will be a 12" dick and big set of balls, something every Apple/Ipod owner thinks they already have but don't.

Honestly though, you may want to really research the costs here. A guy I know designed and produced a "pen caddy" to clip on your cars sun visor. It cost him $40,000 for development and making a prototype.

I can only imagine that your initial investment would be more on an electronic device.

 

[UpGrD]

I actually build prototypes for a living. Mostly consumer electronics , cell phones, computers, MP3 players, ect......
Your cost to make a visual prototype the size a MP3 player. Assuming its of a high quality from your provided data and the data is usable (which is unlikely if you are doing it in Maya). Your looking at between 5-8K. If new data needs to be made you can double that.
If you need engineering done 5-10 times that amount. The data needs to be made in either a solids format (Solidworks, Pro-E, ect..) or in a NURBs surface format. Maya dose a great job for rendering but not so good making it into a hard model. The big companies spend tens of millions of dollars each year on models alone. And trust me absolute perfection is what they require. If you put something in front of them that looks as if you made it yourself, they will hand it back to you as they show you the door. Believe me when I tell you that. Not that they will talk to you anyway. For liability reasons they will most likely have nothing to do with you.
If you really feel strongly about this, put your money where your mouth is. Max out your CC if need be and get skilled people to make your idea into a reality.
After you have completed the prototype (working or non-working) take it to a local design firm along with a NDA (Non Disclosure) form for them to sign and hope for the best. Don't mess with the patent stuff yet the NDA will suffice for the short term.

 

[edro]

You can't compete with Philips, Sony, Apple, Dell... don't even try.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: morkus64
actually, if i can, i'd first market it to apple as the next generation of ipod nano... that was the question that i was pondering when i came up with it. What will the next generation of ipod look like

To continue to rain on your parade , Apple probably has several in-house designs already for the next nano. The current nano's design was finished a long time ago and Apple's people have not spent that time on vacation.

As UpGrD noted, many/most companies will refuse to even look at your design for liability reasons.

Getting a designer job at a company is the realistic way to see your designs turned into shipping products.

 

[J0hnny]

Originally posted by: SaturnX
Then go patent it, you don't need any working models for patents, just an idea, and bam you're in the clear.

Also I don't think Apple would be buying another developers product to rebadge and market on their own. They've got teams of engineers that design these things, and frankly Apple's done a good job thus far and I don't think they'd be looking into designs from 3rd parties.

Also, while you may have a design down pat, would all the electronics actually fit within the casing that you've designed?

--Mark

Since when can a graphic design be patented? That's like patenting a picture. Trademark yes, patent no.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

All the major companies are probably already well on their way to making nano type players.

Just look as the CES coverage http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2666&p=9

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: UpGrD
I actually build prototypes for a living. Mostly consumer electronics , cell phones, computers, MP3 players, ect......
Your cost to make a visual prototype the size a MP3 player. Assuming its of a high quality from your provided data and the data is usable (which is unlikely if you are doing it in Maya). Your looking at between 5-8K. If new data needs to be made you can double that.
If you need engineering done 5-10 times that amount. The data needs to be made in either a solids format (Solidworks, Pro-E, ect..) or in a NURBs surface format. Maya dose a great job for rendering but not so good making it into a hard model. The big companies spend tens of millions of dollars each year on models alone. And trust me absolute perfection is what they require. If you put something in front of them that looks as if you made it yourself, they will hand it back to you as they show you the door. Believe me when I tell you that. Not that they will talk to you anyway. For liability reasons they will most likely have nothing to do with you.
If you really feel strongly about this, put your money where your mouth is. Max out your CC if need be and get skilled people to make your idea into a reality.
After you have completed the prototype (working or non-working) take it to a local design firm along with a NDA (Non Disclosure) form for them to sign and hope for the best. Don't mess with the pattent stuff yet the NDA will suffice for the short term.

thanks for the first useful reply to my questions... I called up Apple, and they told me to send them a description and picture, and if they are interested in it they'll get back to me. worth a shot. I've decided that an actual physical model is too expensive for me, but my digital model is good, so i'll try to show that off... my sister might know someone who has an "in" too... i'll try to keep everyone posted on how it goes.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: J0hnny

Originally posted by: SaturnX
Then go patent it, you don't need any working models for patents, just an idea, and bam you're in the clear.

Also I don't think Apple would be buying another developers product to rebadge and market on their own. They've got teams of engineers that design these things, and frankly Apple's done a good job thus far and I don't think they'd be looking into designs from 3rd parties.

Also, while you may have a design down pat, would all the electronics actually fit within the casing that you've designed?

--Mark

Since when can a graphic design be patented? That's like patenting a picture. Trademark yes, patent no.

actually, i was wondering about that as well... i called the us patent office and they told me that a patent would be most appropriate