A friend of mine who works in Apple Marketing (and who has obviously asked to remain anonymous as he likes his job) has sent me pictures of what appears to be an Apple branded Windows Home Server. Although not the best quality, the photographs look very authentic (he sent 3 photos). On one picture you can even clearly see the Microsoft Windows Home Server logo, the words Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 and specs that match WHS (automatic backup, remote access, etc). I had heard rumors of such a product for a few months now, and I'm excited to see this hit the shelves! I was told to look for this sometime in the next few months.
Although I can't tell for sure, it appears as though it is based on the Apple TV chassis, making this a low profile and small WHS. I've been told that specs for the unit are as follows:
- Windows Home Server with Power Pack 3 (which adds support for Mac compatibility)
- Low power Atom based main board with 2GB memory
- 2TB hard green drive standard (cool!)
- 2 eSATA ports (to hook up the rumored Apple dual drive expansion chassis)
- 2 USB ports
Before this leak, Power Pack 3 was a top secret project from within Microsoft. MVPs were told about it (and I even have a copy) but we were forbidden from even mentioning it. But, as the AHS (Apple Home Server as it is called) is being talked about all over the Internet, I'm free to talk about it now.
Power Pack 3 contains code that will give the WHS the ability to emulate a USB drive so that Mac OS X Leopard can back up via it's Time Machine feature and provides a Mac WHS Console. Previous versions (and even HP's Mac support) require that you administer the Windows Home Server from a PC. It also has Apple TV support, allowing you to view movies and listen to your music from an Apple TV.
The release of the AHS marks the first time that an Apple product has released with a Microsoft Operating System since the Apple II and Applesoft BASIC back in 1977 (the replacement for Steve Wozniak's Integer BASIC).
I've already sent an email to my Microsoft and Apple contacts and hope to have an evaluation unit with even more pictures soon.
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10 comments:
No April Fools?
yeah, you could have ssid "April Fools" at the end of the article!
I have also been running my AHS for a while. It is the best of two worlds. Only bad thing is that it does ship with Conficker worm infected content on the drive. All Apples need a good worm.
@RAMII - sorry. APRIL FOOLS!
Good picture though!
@Traci - thx. Got to love the Photoshops!
I love the attention to detail. The minimalist design looks right up Apple's alley. I like it.
As April Fools Day jokes go, this is one of my better liked ones.
My favorite quote: "But, as the AHS is being talked about all over the Internet, I'm free to talk about it now."
It's like: Well, my NDA expires as soon as the rumors start. =)
Nicely done!
does it come with an iPhone app?
Why, OH WHY did you have to post this on April fools? :(
This is what I have been trying to build for the past 6 months. But I never find a sleek enough chassis for it, and the Shuttle K48 doesn't support Atoms... *whine*
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