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Macworld 2010: What is it? Apple Campus edition

by Mike Schramm Feb 10th 2010 at 2:00PM

While we were walking around the Apple Campus yesterday, we spotted this strange device planted in the ground. The picture above is the only one we took, but we'll give you a few hints: the two holes in the metal box are upside down trapezoids, and inside of them, you can see a metal grating just bigger than the holes themselves. The device stood right next to the Apple visitor parking lot (and in fact, that shadow on the right side is of a parked car just outside the frame -- the box itself is planted in grass, with no other wires or connections on it). Our query to you: What is this thing?

We have our own ideas -- we joked it was some kind of electric car charger, or perhaps an iPod nano dispensary. It almost seems like the leftover parts of a parking meter, but it was the only such box in the lot, and it was facing away from the cars parked there. Give us your guesses below: what is this strange box on the Apple Campus parking lot? We'll update this post with your best answers, and maybe even the right one, if you can figure it out.

Update: Well that makes sense. Commenters guessed right away that it was a cigarette bin. Interesting, considering that, as you can see in the gallery in the link above, there's no smoking on Apple's campus. Drop your butts before entering, please!


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While we were walking around the Apple Campus yesterday, we spotted this strange device planted in the ground. The picture above is the...
 

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24 Comments

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Chris W.

Yeah, like several others have said, it's for extinguishing cigarettes.

February 10 2010 at 8:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josh

You're an idiot.

Seriously? An entire blog post about the cigarette boxes in the parking lot?

...Really?

February 10 2010 at 5:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Josh's comment
alex Johnson

I have to agree here - the first post about the subject was bad enough (it's really like hicks visitin' the big city) but seriously? This blog is supposed to be about Apple News and Opinion. Wait, I might be wrong, I'm not sure you have a mission statement - but that's why I read it.

I was uncomfortable with the fawning tones (and copious pictures - shooing windows of offices? entrances to parking garages?) that the first post was written about. I understand that you love Apple. You love it so much that the signs of every building you see needs to be photographed.

But as a reporter you're supposed to be somewhat unbiased. You're more than a reporter- you're an EDITOR. When you compromise your position with pieces fawning over the company or it's products, then I can't believe you when you say the iPad is worth buying, or that a Zune is not. There is a story about the Apple company store - compare it to retail stores (in some way it's way ahead, in others, it's way behind, how come we can't get shirts at the retail stores?) But you kinda just jizzed over seeing boxed software you'd heard of and posted a photo gallery (with what, 26 pictures?) of signage.

I renew my call (answered thoughtfully by Mr. Agreda previously) for a serious overhaul to this otherwise useful AOL property. TUAW is lightyears behind Engadget and Joystiq despite starting on he same footing. There is some talent there, for instance Mrs Sadun has been a frontrunner on covering the iPhone's guts - but editors need to clear this stuff before it goes live, and you're wasting lots of people's time with posts like this.

February 11 2010 at 12:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sam Williams

It's clearly an older relative of Spirit and Opportunity, perhaps powered by OS 9: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover

February 10 2010 at 5:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Arnan de Gans

It's just that , a box to wonder about what it is. So it's not really anything.

February 10 2010 at 4:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric

I had never seen one like that before but here is a similar design...http://goodhopehardware.en.alibaba.com/product/200351625-50378758/GH_C15S_cigarette_bin.html

February 10 2010 at 4:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tim Tanner

Hmm...my first guess would be cigarette disposal but why the key lock?

Maybe a charging station for segways?

February 10 2010 at 2:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bryan

It's the inspiration for the Finder icon.

February 10 2010 at 1:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sameer

It can't be a cigarette disposal device. If it is, that would be interesting, as it's the worst design ever, esp. coming from Apple!!
The guy who needs to empty it, has to unscrew the whole thing, and given its size...has to be done several times a week...not user friendly at all, contrary to Apple's ideology!!

February 10 2010 at 1:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Sameer's comment
PJ Warren

I doubt that Apple designed it.

February 10 2010 at 2:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sameer

I believe it's a vehicle counter....

February 10 2010 at 1:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joe Cabrera

Must be a West Coast thing. Never saw one of them before.

February 10 2010 at 1:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Joe Cabrera's comment
Paul Dunlop

Pretty standard in the UK as well. Really surprised not everyone knows what they are. Ah well, learn something new every day.

February 10 2010 at 1:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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