Engadget

Best Buy Mac discounts hint at clearing inventory, Ivy Bridge revamp coming soon?

Daniel Cooper — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:15:00 EST

Cupertino is unsurprisingly tight-of-lip on when it plans to add Ivy Bridge to its desktop and laptop line, but we think that's not far off: we've even seen some benchmarks. Now, in a move that smacks of inventory clearing but could equally mean nothing, Best Buy has hacked between $20 and $200 from its Mac Mini, iMac, Mac Pro and MacBook Pro offerings. If you're into a bargain, then head down to your nearest big blue-and-yellow store -- and we'll let you know as soon as we see the yellow sticky-note.

Best Buy Mac discounts hint at clearing inventory, Ivy Bridge revamp coming soon? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: Best Mac Mini carrying case?

Daniel Cooper — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from is from Kevin, who's decided to abandon laptops for his Mac Mini. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Hi All. I purchased a 2011 Mac Mini with dedicated graphics for PhotoShop and InDesign. I've grown tired of my Core 2 Duo Laptop, instead I want to bring my Mac Mini to and from work (I've got display, keyboard and mouse at both places so it's not a problem). It might be a weird idea, I wanna try it. Any suggestions on what I can use to carry it, as long as its discrete as I commute quite a bit. Thanks!"

Well, we're impressed by his commitment and his plan, but has anyone else made the leap and lived to tell the tale? We've never seen a mac at a LAN party, but that doesn't mean there isn't some exquisite accessories available for the purpose. One, two, you know what to do.

(NB: If you don't know what to do, it's to give your helpful suggestions and personal experiences in the comments below)

Ask Engadget: Best Mac Mini carrying case? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple releases EFI firmware updates for 2011 Macs, crushes bugs

Dante Cesa — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:48:00 EST

If you're anything like us, your inner-geek revels in hearing rare system beeps while holding down obscure key combos that only occur while updating low-level firmware. While much of those theatrics have since disappeared in the modern era, those of you with 2011 iMacs, Mac Minis, MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs can at least relive some of that nostalgia as you update them to their latest respective EFI firmwares. There's four versions (one for each machine, naturally), yet Apple tells us they all address the same underlying problems, including improving "the reliability of booting from the network" in addition to addressing "an issue that can prevent HDCP authentication" after reboots. Finally, there's improvements pertaining to "boot device selection when a USB storage device is hot-plugged." Direct links to the respective support pages are below, or those seeking to avoid guesswork can simply go on ahead and fire up Software Update. Your call.

Apple releases EFI firmware updates for 2011 Macs, crushes bugs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Can your machine run Mountain Lion?

Terrence O'Brien — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EST

Ah, compatibility, she can be a cruel mistress, prone to leaving your favorite devices out in the cold and your wallet a few bills lighter. Apple's latest OS update, Mountain Lion, is no different. OS X 10.8 won't run on just any Mac, so, the question is, will it run on yours? Well, if you've got any machine from 2009 or newer the answer is yes. Older than that and things get a little bit shaky. iMacs are the most forgiving, with support starting on the mid-2007 models. Any Pro desktop from early 2008 on should be fine, while Xserves get cut off at early 2009 along with the Mac Mini. The original Air is already getting turned aside and you'll need a late 2008 model (or newer) for the update, while vanilla MacBooks are nearing total obsolescence as support starts with the aluminum models from 2008. Lastly, those of you rocking 15- or 17-inch MacBook Pros should be golden starting with late 2007 models. Oh, and any 13-inch Pro should be good to go.

PSA: Can your machine run Mountain Lion? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple updates EFI firmware on 2010 Macs: offers Lion internet recovery, not much else

Mat Smith — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:49:00 EST

Staring forlorn at that two-year-old MacBook, just sitting there in the corner? Well, there's good news; Apple's decided to furnish those 2010 models with a new EFI firmware update. Arriving on its MacBook Air (late 2010), iMac (mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (early 2010) models, it adds support for Lion's internet-based recovery feature -- something that's very useful for those optical drive-less MacBook Airs and Mac minis. The update also fixes a bug on Air models, where it would reset if the power button was pressed immediately after booting from deep sleep mode. You can consult your Mac's software updater for the new firmware -- it's out there now.

Apple updates EFI firmware on 2010 Macs: offers Lion internet recovery, not much else originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: desktops

Dante Cesa — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

Just because most folks have moved onto lighter and more portable playthings doesn't mean there aren't those of you that still enjoy some good old-fashioned "real computing" -- you know, of the immovable persuasion. We jest, as despite their waning sales, desktops still serve an important role in the PC market, especially for those of you serious about all-out performance or a no-frills experience. And, while the pace of innovation in a once burgeoning category has slowed to a consolidated tranquil pace, there are still some hotspots of innovation -- especially around all-in-ones and high-end gaming solutions. As you mavericks press on, so will we, so join us after the break as we suggest some of our favorite desktops for your holiday perusal.

Continue reading Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: desktops

Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: desktops originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonnet announces RackMac mini Xserver, makes Apple desktop IT life seem more legit

Billy Steele — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:37:00 EST

We're sure a few of you have made that recently revamped Mac mini your office server, but now you can give it the look of a grown-up server room. Thanks to Sonnet, you'll soon be able to rack mount your Thunderbolt sportin' dainty PC within a 1U shell. The company has announced that, upon the system's expected arrival in November, it'll be decked out with a PCIe 2.0 X4 slot, a 75W power supply and a Thunderbolt daisy-chain port. This Apple speed-port adapter will enable use of that massive Thunderbolt display even in server or metadata controller mode. For more use scenarios, hit the full PR below or peruse the product page via the coverage link.

Continue reading Sonnet announces RackMac mini Xserver, makes Apple desktop IT life seem more legit

Sonnet announces RackMac mini Xserver, makes Apple desktop IT life seem more legit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: Apple's officially over the optical drive, for better or worse

Darren Murph — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST

I don't like it. Not one iota. But frankly, it doesn't much matter -- Apple's officially done with the optical drive, and there's no evidence more strikingly clear than the mid 2011 refresh of its Mac mini. Last year, that bantam box arrived with a $699 price tag, pep in its step and a personality that could charm even the most hardened desktop owner. This year, a $599 model showed up on my doorstep promising the same, but instead it delivered a noticeable drop in actual functionality. Pundits have argued that you could tether a USB SuperDrive to the new mini and save $20 in the process compared to last year's rig, but does relying on a cabled accessory go hand-in-hand with beauty and simplicity? No, and I've every reason to believe that Apple would agree.

Despite the obvious -- that consumers would buy a mini to reduce the sheer burden of operating a convoluted desktop setup -- Apple's gone and yanked what has become a staple in both Macs and PCs alike. For years, ODDs have been standard fare, spinning CDs, DVDs, HD-DVDs (however briefly) and Blu-ray Discs, not to mention a few other formats that didn't do much to deserve a mention. Compared to most everything else in the technology universe, the tried-and-true optical drive has managed to hang around well beyond what it's creator likely had in mind, but it's pretty obvious that 2011 is to the ODD what 1998 was to the floppy drive. At least in the mind of one Steven P. Jobs.

Continue reading Editorial: Apple's officially over the optical drive, for better or worse

Editorial: Apple's officially over the optical drive, for better or worse originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac mini review (mid 2011)

Darren Murph — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:55:00 EST

For those familiar with last year's Mac mini, what you're peering at above isn't likely to strike you as jarring. Heck, it may even seem somewhat vanilla at this point. In truth, Apple did exceedingly little in terms of design changes with the mid 2011 Mac mini, but given the relatively recent cosmetic overhaul, it's not like we were genuinely expecting anything above a top-to-bottom spec bump. And that, friends, is exactly what we've received. The mini remains quite the curious beast in Cupertino's line -- it's the almost-HTPC that living room junkies are longing for, yet it's still a country mile from being the headless mid-tower that Apple steadfastly refuses to build. It's hardly a PC for the simpleton (given that it's on you to hunt down a mouse, keyboard and monitor), and it's actually taking a giant leap backwards on one particularly important front. Care to hear more? You'll find our full review just past the break.

Gallery: Apple Core i5 Mac mini unboxing (mid 2011)

Continue reading Mac mini review (mid 2011)

Mac mini review (mid 2011) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 249 - 07.22.2011

Trent Wolbe — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST

Here at Engadget, and here on the Engadget Podcast in particular, we're all about customer service. OK, maybe not all about customer service, but on this episode we've dedicated twenty percent of our breath to answering your questions! If you happen to enjoy a bunch of Apple news too -- which we heard you do you -- then we're at about fifty percent on-track to serving you completely. If you like Apple news, having your questions answered, and a healthy dose of other up-to-the-minute information in the spacecraft, e-reader, and digital camera realms...well, let's just say we got this.

Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Guests: Dana Wollman
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Paradise City

02:44 - Apple Mac OS X Lion available now in the App Store
06:00 - Apple refreshes MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt, and backlit keyboards
08:35 - Apple OS X Lion (10.7) review
17:32 - The MacBook drops from Apple's Store (update: confirmed)
22:37 - Apple updates Mac mini: Core i5 and i7, Thunderbolt, AMD Radeon HD, no SuperDrive
22:55 - Apple rolls out 27-inch Thunderbolt Display with FaceTime HD camera, built-in speakers
23:45 - Apple's Q3 earnings exceed estimates: $28.57 billion revenue, $7.31 billion profit, 20 million iPhones sold
25:13 - Apple outpaces Nokia in global smartphone shipments
28:00 - Nokia Q2 2011: 'clearly disappointing' results as challenges prove 'greater than expected'
32:35 - Motorola Droid 3 review
37:35 - Sony Alpha NEX-C3 review
42:55 - iRiver Story HD review
49:51 - Space Shuttle Atlantis touches down in Florida, won't be going back up again
50:44 - Google 'winding down' Labs, likely due to meddling older sister
51:40 - Listener questions

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Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 249 - 07.22.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Mac mini gets iFixit teardown treatment, leaves space for 2nd hard drive

Billy Steele — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:18:00 EST

What do you do the day after an arsenal of new Apple products are announced? Why, take them apart as soon as you can get your hands on them, of course! Wouldn't ya know it, iFixit is at it again -- this time, tearing down the new Mac mini. At first glance, the only noticeable difference is the inclusion of the powerful Thunderbolt port. Once under the hood, though, a second hard drive port was spotted, along with just enough space for a second storage device. Perhaps the only thing standing the way of a dual HDD welding compact desktop is your ability to secure another SATA cable. If you want to give it a shot, the updated mini scored a solid eight out of ten in the repairability category as the machine had no proprietary screws or glue. Moreover, easy access makes a DIY RAM upgrade a piece of cake, especially when you're already in there adding that extra disk. So if you're looking to get your teardown feet wet, swan dive right in.

Update: Sure, you can get dual HDDs straight from the Apple store, but you'll pay dearly for it. As in, the base Mac mini will run you $1550 -- and that's for the only option: a 750 GB ATA and a 256 GB SSD. The other option is to splurge for the Lion Server model, where dual 500 GB or dual 750 GB options are available. Still, going this route will set you back at least $1000. Since these bad boys are so easy to work on, you'd put far less strain on your wallet by going the DIY route.

New Mac mini gets iFixit teardown treatment, leaves space for 2nd hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple updates Mac mini: Core i5 and i7, Thunderbolt, AMD Radeon HD, no SuperDrive

Zach Honig — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:45:00 EST

Need a miniature desktop to match that petite MacBook Air that Apple just refreshed? Well, there's a Mac for that. The new Mac mini packs an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, Thunderbolt, AMD Radeon HD graphics, and Mac OS X Lion. Notably absent, however, is that familiar front-facing SuperDrive slot. Starting at $599 with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5, the new models include Turbo Boost 2.0, letting you crank up the speed to 3.4GHz when using processor-intensive applications. Apple also announced a $999 server version that ships with a Core i7 processor and OS X Lion Server. As with the previous generation, the mini doesn't sacrifice on connectivity, including gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, HDMI, SDXC, audio in and out, Thunderbolt (with support for up to six devices), and four USB 2.0 ports on the rear. There's also 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. The Mac mini is available for purchase online today, and in Apple retail stores tomorrow.

Gallery: Apple Mac mini (mid-2011)

Continue reading Apple updates Mac mini: Core i5 and i7, Thunderbolt, AMD Radeon HD, no SuperDrive

Apple updates Mac mini: Core i5 and i7, Thunderbolt, AMD Radeon HD, no SuperDrive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MacBook in short supply, stirs rumors of imminent refresh, rebirth of white plastic?

Christopher Trout — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:51:00 EST

We've already seen the MacBook Pro sporting new specs, and heard rumblings of a MacBook Air refresh coming soon, and now reports of dwindling supplies of Apple's great white hope have the internets abuzz over a possible MacBook upgrade. AppleInsider did a little digging earlier today, and found that major online retailers, including Amazon, and at least one brick and mortar store were either running low or completely out of the last of the MacBooks. A similar fate has befallen stock of the Mac mini, inviting speculation that both machines will likely pop up post-Lion. We suppose there's also a possibility that Apple's ready to send the old workhorse to the glue factory, but we'd prefer a happy ending.

MacBook in short supply, stirs rumors of imminent refresh, rebirth of white plastic? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elgato and OWC hawk upgraded Mac Mini HTPC bundles: Blu-ray burner, 12TB, TV tuner

Darren Murph — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:19:00 EST

Simmer down, son -- neither Elgato nor Other World Computing are actually shoving 12TB of hard drive space within a 2010 Mac Mini, but if you order one of their new bundles, you'll definitely end up with as much. OWC is now selling pre-pimped Mac Mini machines, complete with bolstered storage options, an internal Blu-ray burner, Elgato's EyeTV Hybrid tuner (or HD DVR), more RAM than usual and an Apple Remote. The company plans to offer both the 2.4GHz and 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo systems, and it swears up and down that the machine will arrive preconfigured and ready to rock your home theater. The addition of a Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 4-bay storage solution enables you to keep even a vast library of digital content nearby, but there's no telling how much the outfit will charge for such a luxury. Hit the source link if you're scrounging for details, but don't expect pricing or an order button just yet.

Update: So, it seems that OWC isn't actually selling new Mac Minis itself, but will upgrade your own if you send it in. We'd like to take this opportunity to now recommend that OWC actually sell upgraded Mac Minis itself.

Continue reading Elgato and OWC hawk upgraded Mac Mini HTPC bundles: Blu-ray burner, 12TB, TV tuner

Elgato and OWC hawk upgraded Mac Mini HTPC bundles: Blu-ray burner, 12TB, TV tuner originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Desktops

Paul Miller — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:53:00 EST

Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

Desktops don't get much love these days, what with newfangled "laptops" hogging all the spotlight, but it's still an incredibly vibrant category, full of cutthroat competition, insanely powerful computers, and superfluous LED lighting. The result is tons of hot deals, particularly if you don't mind bringing your own monitor, wrangling wires behind an entertainment center, or being chained to a desk. In return you'll get performance that simply isn't possible on a laptop, expandability should you choose take advantage of it, and so many hot deals. Follow along after the break as we show you some of our favorites.

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Desktops

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Desktops originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple quietly cuts Mac mini prices in non-US markets

Vlad Savov — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 07:26:00 EST

If your answer to the question "how would you change Apple's Mac mini" was to give it a lower price, rejoice, for Apple has listened to your sage advice. Unamerican markets around the world are waking up to the news that the mini desktop computer has shrunken in price -- by €100 in Europe and by £50 in the UK -- but the same can't be said about Apple's home turf, with the US starting price remaining stagnant at $699. This is probably in response to the dollar's continuing decline relative to other currencies, and the quiet nature of this pricing alteration leads us to suspect that it won't, sadly, be jumping to the good old USA any time soon. C'est la vie.

[Thanks, Andre]

Apple quietly cuts Mac mini prices in non-US markets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brabus iBusiness luxury sedan puts an iPad at every seat, a Magic Mouse at every hide-covered armrest

Tim Stevens — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:11:00 EST

When it comes to being ushered along to your destination at a high rate of speed within a cocoon of luxury, it's hard to go wrong with the Mercedes S Class. However, if this $90,000 (and way, way up) sedan isn't special enough for you, teutonic tuner Brabus is happy to make some... improvements. The company bumps the power up to 750hp, good for a top speed of 211mph whilst also providing a wealth of iDevices to those being coddled inside. There's an iPad (with keyboard) at each of the rear seats, an entertainment system built into the back of both headrests powered by a 64GB iPod Touch, and a 15.2-inch display that swivels down from the ceiling to expose the output from a tunk-mounted Mac Mini. Even for the most ardent of Mac lovers it's a bit too much, but if it weren't it wouldn't be a Brabus. The cost? Nobody's saying, but don't expect this very special kind of excess to come cheap.

Continue reading Brabus iBusiness luxury sedan puts an iPad at every seat, a Magic Mouse at every hide-covered armrest

Brabus iBusiness luxury sedan puts an iPad at every seat, a Magic Mouse at every hide-covered armrest originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Apple's HDMI-equipped Mac mini?

Darren Murph — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST

Apple's newest Mac mini is a distinct and welcome departure from the comparatively bulky white Mac mini of yesteryear, and while we appreciate the unibody construction, inbuilt SD card reader and HDMI port, asking $700 and up for a headless PC without tons of oomph is still asking a lot. We're curious to know if your new Mac mini has been treating you well (as an HTPC or otherwise), and moreover, we want to know how you'd change things even further if given the key to Cupertino's design labs. Would you have added a Blu-ray option? Maybe an OTA TV tuner? Thrown any other ports on the rear? Beefed up the GPU a little? Trimmed things down for a cheaper entry-level model? Go on and vent in comments below -- hugs are free and limitless.

How would you change Apple's HDMI-equipped Mac mini? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac Mini suffers chromatic maltreatment at hands of Colorware

Vlad Savov — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:21:00 EST

You didn't seriously think the Mac Mini would be spared, did you? The maniacal customizers over at Colorware have added Apple's latest bit of desktop furniture to their stable of "have it your way" electronics, with a $250 price tag for the paintjob by itself and a $1,000 levy if you want them to procure the hardware as well. Hey, we know that's expensive, but somebody's got to be buying all these crazy-hued gadgets for the company to keep going, right? Anyone willing to own up to it?

Mac Mini suffers chromatic maltreatment at hands of Colorware originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: New Mac mini a mixed Apple TV alternative

Ross Rubin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:07:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

As TVs and Blu-ray players increasingly feature internet connections, content partnerships, and now even open operating systems, they're turning up the pressure on of standalone devices such as Apple TV and the Roku player. Indeed, Steve Jobs has said the demanding existence between the rock of the connected television and the hard place of the closed cable system is what's relegated Apple TV to "hobby" status.

In the Windows world, several companies in the netbook space such as Asus, Acer and Lenovo have popped Atom processors into slim desktop enclosures, dubbing them nettops. Dell has gone a somewhat different route, opting for more powerful desktop components in its chunky Inspiron Zino HD desktop/home theater hybrid. And now, the Mac mini has taken a step toward this role as Apple, which has been a strong backer of DisplayPort, has adorned its only display-free Mac with an HDMI port.

Continue reading Switched On: New Mac mini a mixed Apple TV alternative

Switched On: New Mac mini a mixed Apple TV alternative originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac mini (mid 2010) review

Nilay Patel — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST

The Mac mini has long been the oddball child of the Mac family: it's the only consumer-level machine from Apple that isn't a fully-integrated experience, and it's the only Mac to have had a sub-$1,000 sticker price in some time. But people love this little weirdo, and they love to do weirdly awesome things with it -- we've seen Mac minis stuffed into everything from old G4 Cube shells to volleyball-playing robots to pianos to... DeLoreans. Yes, DeLoreans. And, of course, people have longed been connecting Mac minis to HDTVs and using 'em as a media players -- it's small, quiet, relatively powerful, and it's a real computer, so it can play virtually any video file you throw at it. And now it's gotten even more attractive as a home theater PC, since Apple's given the newest Mac mini a striking unibody makeover, NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics, and -- a first for any Mac -- an HDMI port, making it a dead-simple addition to your HDTV. On the flip side, the base price of the only stock consumer configuration has gone up to $699, and to be blunt, much cheaper PCs have had HDMI ports forever. So is the mini worth the premium? Is it the ultimate small PC for the living room -- and beyond? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Mac mini (unibody) unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Mac mini (mid 2010) review

Mac mini (mid 2010) review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unibody Mac mini meets iFixit, gets a delicate teardown exposé

Richard Lai — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:13:00 EST

Been wondering how Apple's managed to cram all that goodness into the new (and flatter) unibody Mac mini? Well, look no further, as our friends over at iFixit took no time to acquire said machine for another scrupulous teardown treatment. Just as we saw ourselves, it all begins with a simple twist on the bottom round plate, and with a bit of fiddling the guts can then easily slide out -- you'll see a wondrously dense logic board along with its now-internal power supply and the usual components. We've thrown in iFixit's list of highlights after the break, but as always, hit the source link for the finely detailed disassembly guide.

Continue reading Unibody Mac mini meets iFixit, gets a delicate teardown exposé

Unibody Mac mini meets iFixit, gets a delicate teardown exposé originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac mini (unibody) unboxing and hands-on

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:53:00 EST

Well you've seen the press photos, but now you can focus on something a little more personal. Yep, we've got the new Mac mini over at Engadget HQ all primed and ready for a full review, but first we thought we'd give you a little taste of what the box actually looks like. We'll admit, while we like the unibody construction of other Apple products, there's something especially serious about this design that speaks to us. We've been expecting the company would move the mini line to the machined aluminum housing, and it's a welcome change for sure. The new iteration also does away with that bulky power supply (it's now built in), and surprisingly allows easy access to the memory via a crazy new twist off rubber base. Like we said, we'll see if this thing is really worth the extra $100 in our review, but for now, feast your eyes on the images below.

Gallery: Mac mini (unibody) unboxing and hands-on

Mac mini (unibody) unboxing and hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac mini updated with HDMI, aluminum unibody, and SD card reader

Vlad Savov — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:01:00 EST

Would you look at that, some love for the seemingly abandoned desktop crowd. Apple has today unveiled a freshly redesigned Mac mini, which benefits from a unibody aluminum exterior and more grunt under the hood. Prices start rolling at $699, where you'll get a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. HDMI-out is finally included, along with an SD card reader, 802.11n wireless, a Mini DisplayPort jack, and what Apple claims is a doubling of graphics performance thanks to an NVIDIA GeForce 320M chip inside. Then again, when you double a little, you still end up with not much. The newly polished nettop is a minimalist 1.4 inches tall, but manages to fit all the power circuitry inside, which means (yay!) there'll be no power brick to spoil your hipster desk space.

Don't fret if you were looking to drop the optical drive, Apple retains the config option that allows you to add in a second HDD in lieu of its DVD burner. You can grab two 500GB plate spinners, Snow Leopard Server (we thought Apple only had one OS version?), 4GB of RAM, and a 2.66GHz Intel chip for $999. Finally, the new enclosures will come with user-accessible memory slots courtesy of a removable panel at the bottom of the case. Neat that the designers didn't take the unibody idea too literally.

Gallery: Apple Mac mini update

Continue reading Mac mini updated with HDMI, aluminum unibody, and SD card reader

Mac mini updated with HDMI, aluminum unibody, and SD card reader originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac mini supply said to be dwindling, world wonders 'why?'

Donald Melanson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:37:00 EST

Need a bit more evidence that Apple has some new Mac minis on the way? Then look no further than Apple Insider, which says that it has "verified four times over" that current Mac mini supplies are running dry, and that new models are all but a certainty. Adding further weight to the story is the fact that these aren't simply reports of delays here and there, but reports from large buyers like educational institutions who say that they've either been advised not to place bulk orders for Mac minis or had their orders pushed back -- in one case to an exact date of June 14th. Needless to say, that all seems to line up nicely, and sounds more than a little familiar. Maybe too familiar?

Mac mini supply said to be dwindling, world wonders 'why?' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 7, Mac OS X, and Ubuntu 10.04 meet up for an OpenGL benchmarking session

Vlad Savov — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:09:00 EST

So these three operating systems walk into a bar one night ... alright, we'll behave. With all the Steamy conversation about gaming on non-Windows desktop platforms going on, we thought you might care to peek at a little OpenGL performance comparison review. As the chief cross-platform API, it's the only way we're going to be seeing the latest games running natively on Mac OS and Linux, but how will that experience compare to the market leader? As it turned out, Windows maintains superiority in this field, with frame rates that were habitually above those on the latest Ubuntu and well ahead of what you might get on Mac OS 10.6.3. It's still early days -- after all, Steam's non-DirectX cupboard is pretty bare right now -- but at this point in time, OpenGL gaming is a crown that Microsoft retains with relative ease. Hit the source for all the line graph evidence, and let's hope things improve for the rest of us in rapid fashion.

Windows 7, Mac OS X, and Ubuntu 10.04 meet up for an OpenGL benchmarking session originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 May 2010 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple rumored to be readying Mac mini with HDMI

Donald Melanson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:17:00 EST

A Mac mini with HDMI. Makes sense, right? Well, it hasn't to Apple so far, but it looks like it just might be ready to change its tune. That's according to AppleInsider, at least, which has it from "two people familiar with the matter" that prototypes of a Mac mini with an HDMI port have been seen making the rounds in the usual inner circles. At least one of those prototypes was also said to be based on NVIDIA's MCP89 chipset, which means that any forthcoming Mac mini revision would pass over the latest Core i3, i5 and i7 processors in favor of older Core 2 Duos if it is indeed the chipset used in the final product. Unfortunately, there's nothing more specific than "this year" in terms of a rumored release date, and this is still just one rumor about what would be a fairly big shift in Apple's strategy -- so, you know, keep that in mind before you start ripping apart your current HTPC setup.

Apple rumored to be readying Mac mini with HDMI originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barista-approved mod shoves a coffeemaker, Mac mini and subwoofer into an iMac DV case

Darren Murph — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 01:19:00 EST

Do you have even the slightest clue what you get when you shove a perfectly operational Mac mini, JBL Spot subwoofer and WMF1 coffeemaker into a perfectly defunct iMac DV case? The iMac CS, that's what. In one of the most bizarre and aspirational mods we've seen in quite some time, one Klaus Diebel has managed to combine three devices that wouldn't typically be shoved within the same enclosure... into the same enclosure. The result is a coffee-making media server that just so happens to boast its own inbuilt sound system, or in other words, exactly what you need to start a street corner java shop. The bad news is that a customized version will set you back at least €300 ($431), but the good news is that you can probably build your own for less. Just make sure you know exactly what you're getting yourself into before embarking -- we've got a vague idea that this won't enhance the lives of many.

Barista-approved mod shoves a coffeemaker, Mac mini and subwoofer into an iMac DV case originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 01:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST

A Blu-ray "upgrade kit" for Apple's revamped Mac mini... sounds like the ultimate for home theater buffs right? After all, such a device holds the promise of adding Blu-ray playback to a relatively powerful, off-the-shelf micro computer starting at $599 that'll run any of the amazing media center apps available for either Windows 7 (with some extra legwork) or OS X. Not so fast bub, remember, OS X still doesn't support native playback of Blu-ray discs pressed by Hollywood's media fairies. As such, Blu-ray films purchased on disc can only be played by booting into Windows -- under OS X you are limited to reading and writing data assuming you already have software like Adobe's Premiere Pro CS3 with Encore or Roxio's Toast with Blu-ray plug-in. Unfortunately, AMEX Digital is purposely unclear on this point by suggesting that the kit will simply "play Hollywood Blu-ray Disc movies on a properly configured PC or MAC." For the extra $199 required to take the BD-UG1 home, we'd suggest a native PC solution, cheapo standalone Blu-ray player or PS3 and avoid these headaches altogether. Image of the drive laid bare after the break.

[Via I4U]

Continue reading AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, Apple

AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST

Continue reading AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems

AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple gives Mac mini a spec bump, adds dual-HDD Mac mini server

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST

Apple's high-noon extravaganza is touching just about every aspect of the company's consumer lineup today, and considering just how long it's been (okay, so maybe not that long) since the Mac mini saw any love, we're thrilled that it's amongst the crowd seeing updates today. The new $599 Mac mini configuration gets fitted with a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo CPU (up from 2GHz), 2GB of RAM (up from 1GB) and a 160GB hard drive (up from 120GB). The $799 build features a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB of memory (up from 2GB) and a 320GB hard drive (same as before), and both machines sport the same GeForce 9400M GPU and 8x SuperDrive as they did in March. The most intriguing news on the mini front, however, has nothing to do with the standard rigs.

Apple is today introducing an all new machine in the Mac mini server, a system that's formed in the exact same enclosure as the standard mini but without an optical drive of any kind. Instead, there's room for an additional hard drive, and the $999 model ships with two 500GB HDDs. It also includes Snow Leopard Server (unlimited clients), a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, a GeForce 9400M GPU and the same port assortment (meaning no mini-DisplayPort) as found on the other guys. It's hard to say just how well something like this will do, but we're guessing Apple doesn't much mind if it remains a niche product. Catch Apple's official blurb after the break.

Gallery: Apple gives Mac mini a spec bump, adds dual-HDD Mac mini server

Continue reading Apple gives Mac mini a spec bump, adds dual-HDD Mac mini server

Filed under: Desktops

Apple gives Mac mini a spec bump, adds dual-HDD Mac mini server originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Store down for updates, new iMac and more on the way? Update: part numbers!

Nilay Patel — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:44:00 EST

And here we go: the Apple Store is down, presumably to update it with all the new gear we're expecting today. New iMacs, plastic MacBooks, multitouch input peripherals, maybe a new Airport Express -- we could get everything, we could get nothing. You'll know as soon as we do.

Update: Kasper from AppleInsider just hit us up with some last-minute leaked part numbers, which reveal a new iMac with a 21.5-inch display, some new mini configs including a server with two hard drives and no optical drive, new AirPort gear, and yes, a new 60W MacBook power supply. See? Dreams do come true. Oh, and that's apparently just part of the list, so we'll see what else happens when all this stuff actually hits.

MC207LL/A - K84 BEST BTR- USA
MC238LL/A - MAC MINI 2.26/2x1GB/160/SD/AP/BT-USA
MC239LL/A- MAC MINI 2.53/2x2GB/320GB/SD/AP/BT-USA
MC340LL/A - AIRPORT EXTREME (SIM DUALBAND) - USA
MC343LL/A - TIME CAPSULE 1TB (SIM DUALBAND) -USA
MC344LL/A - TIME CAPSULE 2TB (SIM DUALBAND) - USA
MC408LL/A - MAC MINI 2.53/2x2GB/1TB/NO ODD/AP-BT-USA
MC413LL/A - IMAC 21.5"/3.06/2x2GB/1TB/4670-256MB-USA
MC434LL/A - APPLE VESA MOUNT ADAPTER
MC461LL/A - MACBOOK 60W MAGSAFE POWER ADAPTER - USA

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Peripherals, Software

Apple Store down for updates, new iMac and more on the way? Update: part numbers! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple to introduce host of new machines, new multitouch input devices tomorrow?

Nilay Patel — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:51:00 EST

We're not sure why John Gruber and Dan Lyons are having some sort of megalomaniacal Apple super-pundit standoff, but we'll sit here and take the spoils: Gruber's just one-upped Lyons's earlier vague tease of new Apple gear tomorrow with a pretty specific list of things he's apparently heard we'll see, including new iMacs and plastic MacBooks, revved Mac Minis (including one that runs OS X Server), a new multitouch "Magic Mouse" (ha!) and some sort of multitouch desktop trackpad accessory. That pretty much covers every rumor and vague whisper we've heard over the past few months, so it's actually a fairly conservative set of predictions, outside of that trackpad -- which itself may or may not be related to this multitouch input device patent from a couple weeks ago. We'll see what happens tomorrow morning -- at this point we're half expecting a tablet, a pony, and some sort of multitouch waffle maker as well.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Peripherals

Apple to introduce host of new machines, new multitouch input devices tomorrow? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MorphOS for Amiga adds Mac mini support, someone in Europe is delighted

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:07:00 EST

Amiga owners are a loyal bunch. And they have to be -- stuck with a machine frozen in time (even if OS 5 was claimed to be "better than OS X") and little in the way of support, the manner in which they've stubbornly stuck with the platform over the years can only be described as a labor of love. If you've been wondering what all the fuss is about but no longer have a PowerPC-based Amiga system handy, the MorphOS Dev Team has just announced that its latest -- MorphOS 2.4 -- now supports Mac mini G4 machines. Available now, you can either hit the read link to download for yourself, or wait until the upcoming Amiga user group meeting in Bad Bramstedt, Germany. You know, whatever you find more convenient. As for us, we're going to go play a game of Ooops Up! for old time's sake.

[Thanks, Antti Jarvinen]

Filed under: Desktops

MorphOS for Amiga adds Mac mini support, someone in Europe is delighted originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town

Tim Stevens — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST

Your Mac mini cranks out its video via DisplayPort and audio via a mini Toslink. Chances are your home entertainment system doesn't like either of those. It will, however, like the Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter, which can turn a DisplayPort video signal into a 1080p signal over HDMI, and will even integrate either digital or analog audio into the mix. It's USB powered, so there's no need for a clunky power adapter, and while $70 isn't particularly cheap for a chubby cable ($50 for the USB analog audio model), it's about the cleanest way to get your Mini pumping tunes and vids through your system.

[Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog]

Filed under: Misc, Cables, Media PCs

Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town

Tim Stevens — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Desktops, Home Entertainment

Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google AdSense leaks Apple's refreshed iMac, Mac mini, Macbook?

Joseph L. Flatley — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST

This one is for all you online tea leaf readers and Apple SKU / crystal ball aficionados: Further confirming our suspicion that something more affordable may be on the horizon, Google AdSense this weekend started serving users in the Netherlands with ads for new iMacs, MacBooks, and Mac minis. Pointing to a dead link at the country's Apple Store, the ads read (via Google Translate): "Apple's Newest MacBook. Thinner, lighter and faster! Free delivery. Order today," "The Brand new iMac. Ultra Thin 20 & 24 inch models. From only €1099 (roughly $1,603). Apple Store," and "Apple's New Mac mini. Faster and more affordable than ever. From only € 499 ($723). Order immediately." (For a little perspective, that's €100 ($145) less than the cheapest Mac mini currently on the Netherlands online store.) Granted, whenever peeping purported translations from foreign tipsters we're always half-afraid that we're actually reading Celine Dion lyrics or dialogue from Caddyshack, but this one seems to be the real deal -- for whatever that's worth.

Update: Apple's "New Mighty Mouse" advertised as well.

[Thanks, Ronald V.]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Google AdSense leaks Apple's refreshed iMac, Mac mini, Macbook? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iMac, Mac mini supplies growing thin, refresh expected soon

Nilay Patel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:44:00 EST

Rumors of updated iMacs have been flying fast and furious lately, and now it seems like they're getting a bit of credibility -- AppleInsider says retailers, including Apple's own stores, have been told supplies of iMacs and Mac minis are "constrained" and that future orders will go unfulfilled. You heard that right -- the Mac mini, the red-headed stepchild of the Mac line, is now also officially on Refresh Watch. Combined with the rumors of revised and potentially cheaper plastic MacBooks and we're hoping Apple's about to get aggressive with its low-end pricing, but that's probably just wishful thinking.

P.S.- Doesn't that seem like a lot of updates to dish out at once? The savvy rumor connoisseur would be expecting a couple random analysts to mouth off at this point, followed by whispers of an impending event and its cancellation due to "last minute issues." Gene Munster swirls his glass and predicts the MacBook will feature CableCARD slots and function as a DVR. Spring follows winter, winter follows fall.

Filed under: Desktops

iMac, Mac mini supplies growing thin, refresh expected soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lucky Mac mini buyer got Snow Leopard disc in the box?

Paul Miller — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST

If his story is to be believed (and it seems pretty believable), an anonymous tipster to Engadget Japanese got a nice surprise with his recent Mac mini purchase: a Snow Leopard install disc. It's one of those vanilla hardware-specific install discs, dubbing itself Mac OS version 10.6, and clearly packing the goods if the screenshots don't lie. This only adds confusion to the ship date, which has been listed as August 28th on Apple's online store, dubbed as "September" elsewhere, and obviously been totally disregarded in this specific case. No matter what, it looks like we won't have long to wait. Hit up the read link for a couple of Japanese-infused screencaps.

Filed under: Software

Lucky Mac mini buyer got Snow Leopard disc in the box? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volleyball-playing robot has Mac mini brain, heart of a champion

Donald Melanson — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:24:00 EST

Volleyball-playing robots may only come around every ten years or so, but they at least bring along some fairly big improvements when they do show up -- like actual mobility, in this case. Of course, "volleyball-playing" is still a bit of a stretch. The bot is actually designed to be more of a training aid, with it making use of a range of sensors, built-in GPS, a compass, and an iSight camera (all linked to a Mac mini) to track down balls and set them up for spiking drills. As you can see in the unfortunately short video after the break, all of that more or less works as advertised, although it seems that we'll still have to wait quite a while for the inevitable robot vs. robot match.

Continue reading Volleyball-playing robot has Mac mini brain, heart of a champion

Filed under: Robots

Volleyball-playing robot has Mac mini brain, heart of a champion originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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