All of today's Apple coverage

Just in case you missed some of it, here's a handy guide to all of our coverage from Apple's "fun new products" event earlier today:

• Steve Jobs keynote: pre-game coverage
• What would Steve wear?
• Live from the Steve Jobs keynote
• Apple's Intel Mac minis
• iPod Hi-Fi brings music to the masses
• Apple kills off G4 Mac mini
• Apple intros $99 leather iPod case
• Apple iPod Hi-Fi hands on
• Apple Intel Mac mini hands on

[Alasdair Allan @ Feb 28th 2006 5:14PM]

I think today's event was actually pretty disappointing, an Intel Mac mini and some iPod accessories. A leather case, come on guys, be serious...

Considering the hype surrounding the event, and the tasty rumours of the video iPod, today has been quite a let down...

[Anony Mouse @ Feb 28th 2006 5:15PM]

I really don't mean to be a dick about this, but...it seems to me that these Apple announcements were quite underwhelming, and one of engadget's defining characteristics as compared to like, Time Digital or some crap like that is pointing it out when stuff sucks. You guys seem to be using a fairly ambivalent voice w/r/t these announcements. Could this be because you felt so psyched to get the invite and don't want to sully your relationship with Apple? Maybe a little? On some level?

Or am I being crazy and really you just think these new products are pretty ok, etc.? (Dude, a $350 ipod Amp'n'Speakers? That better sound pretty goddamn incredible.)

[daschupa @ Feb 28th 2006 5:31PM]

Geez, this was like Jobs' grarage sale. "intruducing a genuine ipod Thighmaster with an apple sticker slapped on, only $288.99!"

[peytonchi @ Feb 28th 2006 5:32PM]

I second that sentiment Anony Mouse. Please, speak up Engadget editors...

[Tyler @ Feb 28th 2006 5:33PM]

Ryan, please stay in New York next time Apple has a "fun new product" event. The Engadget podcast would have been more exciting then these "fun" new products....

[Jody @ Feb 28th 2006 5:36PM]

Yeah, it wasn't what everyone was expecting.
Look, whenever an event takes place in Apple Town Hall or whatever, don't go to it because it won't be a big product announcement.

April people, April.

[khamel @ Feb 28th 2006 5:38PM]

i think its going a little far to question the objectivity of the editors because they didnt cry foul at the announcement of these products. sure they suck but they then again, what do you expect? there is a reason its called hype. i was hitting F5 just like everyone else here while listening to my ipod but someone out there was really hoping there they could buy an overpriced speaker with dock connector and thats who steve jobs is trying to reach.

give them some time for editoriailzing instead of reporting. i presume a podcast will be coming out in a few days and i have a feeling we'll get their thoughts one way or the other.

[John Hinds @ Feb 28th 2006 5:40PM]

Which one of these products was "fun"?

[Spectral Flagellum @ Feb 28th 2006 5:41PM]

Appearently it'll get loud without much power before it starts distorting, thats about it. The rest is..... not so good.It cuts 33 Hz off the low end and 4000Hz off the High-End. And thats just the sound that average Joe off the street can hear; not the wicked freqs. that only show up on meters.

[AJ @ Feb 28th 2006 5:44PM]

"Which one of these products was "fun"?"

I wish I knew. Apple's 20th aniversary is on April 1st so expect HUGE news then, I never really expected too much out of this.

[Andrew @ Feb 28th 2006 5:46PM]

Wow... All of my excitement all week long was let down. All that hype for an Intel Mini and an overpriced piece of leather.

[Dave Zatz @ Feb 28th 2006 5:57PM]

I heard Apple will be selling a $99 leather case for Microsoft's Origami... ;)

[Suprfly @ Feb 28th 2006 6:00PM]

What a underwhelming load of rubbish. Jobs you hype-monger, get on with producing things people want and find useful and let go of the fluff that you call accessories. Whatever happened to the ethos of doing few things well than loads badly. Get a grip - otherwise you'll run apple into the ground with your watered down pap!

[Scott @ Feb 28th 2006 6:04PM]

What exactly is Engadget's facination with Apple anyways? I understand 1 post about this event, but we had 9. WHY? It isn't THAT interesting.

[Spectral Flagellum @ Feb 28th 2006 6:07PM]

Just take your time and speak clearly in every single post about anything apple. Speak your mind too, cause you never know who is listening...(bill).

[Adam @ Feb 28th 2006 6:07PM]

Jesus Engadget, you really hyped this one up didn't you.

[pcfanboy @ Feb 28th 2006 6:11PM]

Way to go Engadget editors. You always have such clever things to say about Microsoft. The iPod HiFi is maybe the biggest piece of crap have seen. No radio tuner, no cd player. Yeah, Steve said he was getting rid of his home stereo. Why do you let him get up and present crap like that and say things that obviously not true and yet you have no comment?

[Mike @ Feb 28th 2006 6:13PM]

It's official.

Endgadget has jumped the shark.

[Ben @ Feb 28th 2006 6:13PM]

1. "Considering the hype surrounding the event"

what hype ?? You guys over hyped yourself, and now you blame apple for not releasing all those imagined things for you ?

[Jason @ Feb 28th 2006 6:14PM]

Where is the video on the apple site?


They normally have them up on there straight away after the event?

[Bond @ Feb 28th 2006 6:23PM]

What hype ben? Apple makes a big deal out of these shows all the time every time they do one. The thing that kills me is apple will release something and then everyone ooos and ahhs like their product is the first one to do some new feature. It'll happen again when they do release a PMP.

HUGE LETDOWN! Apple's show was way overcovered and way underexciting. I don't know why everyone makes such a big deal about apple anyways. So freakin what they have a small computer that runs on an intel chip. Whooptey doo...go buy yourself a nano itx board and an tiny case and it'll do the exact same. People need to get over the Apple hype just becaue their products look nice.

[Peter Rojas @ Feb 28th 2006 6:24PM]

For the record:

1. Ryan was in the Bay Area anyway, if he hadn't been out there for other business, he wouldn't have covered the event.

2. We aren't impressed with what Apple announced either (I found the one in January underwhelming, too), but we do cover the news. Would you guys prefer that we didn't live blog the keynote or cover the product announcements? Didn't think so. We cover the announcements of other companies just as thoroughly. If the chairman of Sony or Panasonic or Toshiba had keynotes three or four times a year to announce new products we would be there too. Instead they only have them at CES and we live blog their events there.

3. I could care less about maintaining a relationship with Apple or any other company. I don't need to make them happy to do my job and there is a long list of companies that have blacklisted us.



Thanks!

[Gabe @ Feb 28th 2006 6:37PM]

Yea, the anouncement sucked. Sure it was hyped, what's not these day. Maybe a bit of Ad(hype)money gets thrown around, but how are the people that find out all this cool stuff for us suppose to pay the bills.

Better yet, maybe they still have a little integrity...who knows if I would do the same........

[daschupa @ Feb 28th 2006 6:38PM]

While the offerings weren't even close to being revolutionary (though if Jobs kept up his pace, the ipod would be the size of a flea), I dont think the reception on endadget's part was anywhere close to glowing or praise worthy. But yah, you guys should have totally stood up and screamed obscenities at Jobs as he left, that would have shown your journalistic objectivity. Sell outs.

[Gary @ Feb 28th 2006 6:40PM]

if you guys dont like the way engadget does things, then i suggest you go somewhere else. I believe engadget did a great job covering things, but Steve was the let down today, not Engadget.

Kudos to engadget for going out there and doing the dirty work for us consumers.

Engadget, Keep it up.

Peter Rojas said it well

[Scott @ Feb 28th 2006 6:41PM]

give Engadget a break....they worked hard to have up live coverage of the Event. And yeah they want to hype up the Event, they want traffic to to the site.

[Peter Rojas @ Feb 28th 2006 6:43PM]

Also, as far as I know, Apple is not an advertiser with us, but even if they were, that wouldn't make a difference to me. Our ad sales people have absolutely no influence over or control over the site's editorial.

[botrash @ Feb 28th 2006 6:46PM]

Peter

Common. I think the guy has a point. The great thing about blogs and sites such as Engadget (did I get it right?) is their honesty. So if you thought the Apple announcement sucked then why the hell don't your editors/writers blog about it? I question how you can say that you don't have any relationships and then not at least respectfully rip on the lameness of Apple's event?

It seems like the site is mostly just a product announcement page more and more, and less good commentary on the products.

[pcfanboy @ Feb 28th 2006 6:47PM]

"Kudos to engadget for going out there and doing the dirty work for us consumers.

Engadget, Keep it up."

What a croc, What dirty work? Apple puts out a turd and wants us to believe it's gold and Engadget doesn't have any comments?

Give me a break. I almost deleted this bookmark a couple on month ago because of the blinded Apple kiss-ass. I think it's time to reconsider.

[CR Hamilton @ Feb 28th 2006 6:59PM]

Christ people,
It is not Engadgets fault Apple layed a turd today. And really Apple never stated they were going to release anything that "changes everything". "Fun New Products". thats all.

[Peter Rojas @ Feb 28th 2006 7:04PM]

I take great pride in my professional reputation and I find it incredibly insulting to be accused of being on the take.

Besides, I think it's pretty clear that none of us were impressed with what Apple announced, we didn't say anything particularly nice about the iPod Hi-Fi, that rip-off leather case, or even the new Mac mini, which is basically the same as the old one, just with a faster Intel processor. We covered the product announcements, how much more would you prefer us to dwell on it?

There is a certain class of Apple-haters that can't stand to see ANY Apple news on any site anywhere. I know it's hard to believe, but tomorrow there will be another 30 posts and they'll be all about companies that aren't Apple.

[bv @ Feb 28th 2006 7:13PM]

2 weeks later....

Steve Jobs: "Now introducing the plastic leather case cover protector. Keep that fine italian leather looking oh so rico suave with our new plastic cover solution. At only 25.99 it's impossibly ridiculous."

[Jeremy @ Feb 28th 2006 7:15PM]

Good grief, they post on topics that have huge responses from readers only to have those readers that think they are "owed more" from Apple and take it out on the editors. Seriously, all you geniuses out there, what happens in 31 days? Yes, you who have so much invested in Apple so as to have a right to be pissed, why would the "insanely great" products be announced now and not 31 days from now? If this had been all you whiners had hoped for the speculation for their 30th anniversary would have been more Looney than it's going to be now.

[Rex @ Feb 28th 2006 7:15PM]

There was an underground Apple announcement that only a few people were invited to and they're releasing the I.Tab which is totally awesome like yay!....

Bah, I was hoping for them to release a tablet of some sort =....maybe Microsoft's unveiling of Origami will make my week! :)

[Damage @ Feb 28th 2006 7:16PM]

We got played for fools by both Mr. Jobs and the Apple Cultboys. Me, I'm putting the blame right on the Cultboys of Apple.

However, Engadget did hype it up a bit (and everyone else) with the fake video pod pics and such. It didn't help matters with the whole ridiculous What Would Jobs Debut contest thingy either.

[Kurt @ Feb 28th 2006 7:16PM]

who cares what a select few that post think. I am a huge Apple person and the Mac Mini has caused me to go the way of the Maxxuss. I don't believe Engadget has expressed any opinion as of yet and for the life of me can't figure out why they feel the need to get on here and defend themselves to posters. If you are happy with their coverage leave and Engadget if you aren't happy with the people posting on your site just ignore it (don't delete it though that woudl be bad).

[Chris Robinson @ Feb 28th 2006 7:21PM]

Today has killed my notion that Apple fanboys will buy anything with an Apple logo.

Thanks for reaffirming my belief in humanity :)

[Malatesta @ Feb 28th 2006 7:27PM]

Good lord people...lay off Engadget. I mean if you know/think that the "new" Apple stuff is junk, why do you need Engadget to say it? To make you "feel better"?

Pansies.

If you don't like their coverage then don't pay attention to it. Or go start your own blog...

How do people feel so passionate about such trival things?

[Ryan Block @ Feb 28th 2006 8:31PM]

I'm missing how we're being dishonest by not bagging on this stuff in real time -- have any of you ever liveblogged and photographed a keynote before? There's not a lot of room for editorializing until after the fact, and I think I made it pretty clear that I felt these were some relatively boring announcements. As for the hype? Well, you call it hype, I think we were just having fun with our jobs. I don't expect most people to understand what it's like writing for Engadget all day every day, but when a convincing "leaked" iPod photo comes in, you run it. And when the Internet's abuzz about this event, you have fun with it -- like we did with WWJD3. People like to think we're pandering to Apple or some such nonsense, but we really follow the twists and turns of so many big companies (like RIM, Sony, and Samsung, to name a few) it's pretty silly to take that stance.