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Who knew that the new movies in the iTMS would *really* be yesterday's big news?
Yesterday morning, I posted a prediction that proved incorrect. Apple didn't announce movies in the iTMS to be the big announcement of the day. Nevertheless, I feel that the Academy Award Nominated Short Films appearing in the iTMS yesterday actually ended up being the biggest news of the day. As I noted yesterday, it's the first appearance of non-Pixar/Disney shorts in the music store, so it paves the way for more great content (although all of the films are presented by the Sundance Channel, so it is kind of like another TV network releasing shows on the iTMS).As for all the other announcements from yesterday, I can sum them all up—explain why they are all dud announcements—in one simple word: overpriced. $1.99 for the new short films in the iTMS is a bargain. Everything else was overpriced. Overpriced like the $99 leather iPod cases that don't actually provide the user with any access to the controls of the iPod. Overpriced like the $349 boombox that still needs the addition of a $300 iPod to make it as cool as it can be (and even then it is not that cool; I mean "Hi-Fi" is a 70s term, and the boombox is an 80s device; how is this expensive iPod peripheral indicative of Apple's innovation?). Overpriced like the $599 and $799 Mac minis. One of the great things about Apple's Mac mini line should be its affordability, and yesterday, we saw little value added to the Mac mini line and yet the most expensive one of them runs just fourfive hundred less than the faster iMac line that lacks the need to provide your own screen, keyboard, and mouse. I mean, what was added? The expected shift from PowerPC to Intel processors? The fastest they offer in the mini is still only 1.67Ghz. The Apple Remote? If it's so much simpler than all the other remotes I own, then how come it alone is priced at more than any of those full-featured remotes? The new Bonjour-savvy Front Row? Well, that is cool, but all Macs with Front Row will be getting this feature, so I don't think it warrants the attention, especially when nothing really innovative has been done with the new mini to make it an effective media center. Sure it can work with an HDTV, but where's the built-in PVR? I mean, if you want to pipe your HDTV digital cable connection into the mini you are still going to need to spend a couple of hundred dollars on something like an EyeTV. I don't see any HDMI / DVI in on that new expensive mini.I, like Jan, am under-whelmed by yesterday's announcements, and I agree with Damien that Apple clearly dropped the ball and our disappointment is not the creation of our fanaticism, but rather Apple's failure to live up to the innovation we've come to expect from them.
Apple discontinues PowerPC Mac mini
Apple's certainly not wasting any time: They've pulled the G4-based Mac mini from their online store, hammering one more nail into the beleaguered PowerPC's rapidly-sealing coffin.So if you're still lookin' for a mini G4 before making the leap to Intel, you're gonna have to go through a third-party -- and quick.[via MacBytes]
Apple Announces New Intel-based Mac Minis
Well, it's not quite the Apple Media Center that I've been wishing for, but it's close. At today's special Apple Event, the company announced two updated models of their Mac mini.1.5GHz Intel Core Single1.5GHz Intel Core Solo processor2MB L2 Cache667MHz Frontside Bus512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)60GB Serial ATA hard driveCombo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)Price: Starts at $599.001.67 GHz Intel Core Dual1.66GHz Intel Core Duo processor2MB L2 Cache667MHz Frontside Bus512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)80GB Serial ATA hard driveDouble-layer SuperDrive (DVD R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)Price: Starts at $799.00Both models come with built-in Airport Extreme, Bluetooth, and integrated Intel GMA950 graphics processor with 64MB of shared DDR2 SDRAM. Each mini also has a Gigabit Ethernet port, four external USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 400 port, optical digital and analog audio in/out, and built-in mono speaker. Each machine also ships with new Front Row software that uses Bonjour technology to locate shared music, photo, and movies databases on your home network. This means you can store your data on any computer in the house and play it on the mini which can be connected to a standard computer monitor, or to your television.
Apple Special Event Chatcast Extavaganza
Scott'll be posting any news we glean from today's event, nicely and neatly in a separate post for those of you who detest our chatcasts, and Engadget has Ryan Block on the scene, but for those of you who love reading us ramble on, drooling over the day's announcements and being as snarky as snark can be, here's the place where you'll find all our babblings. Enjoy.Begin chatcast:Pregame chatter...12:30 PMDamien Barrett: The Apple Store is still up...David Chartier: I don't think it usually goes down this far outside game time thoughDamien Barrett: don't knowC.K. Sample, III: yeahC.K. Sample, III: usually it goes down 15 mninutes beforeDavid Chartier: do they hold events like this on the Apple Campus often?C.K. Sample, III: not that I'm aware ofDamien Barrett: not usually on Apple Campus...noC.K. Sample, III: it's a bit out of the ordinaryC.K. Sample, III: which makes me think it is going to be movie related announcementsDamien Barrett: I agree with C.K.David Chartier: as in: it isn't a big enough deal to do it elsewhere?12:35 PMDamien Barrett: but why would Engadget be invited if Apple's not releasing or pimping a gadget?C.K. Sample, III: there's the rub...Damien Barrett: but it could also be they've finally finished the product that was supposed to be the "one more thing" product at MWSF but got bumpedDavid Chartier: Kevin Rose said something in the TWiT podcast that made me optimistic that it's at least something important: he's been able to peg it in the past when events are off campus because he has some kind of insiderDavid Chartier: but since it's on the campus, it's a lot harder to leak this stuffDamien Barrett: I'm not the only one who felt that this year's MWSF Keynote felt less solid than those in the past, as if things were changed at the last minuteDavid Chartier: I felt like the software portion got bumped and squished in order to squeeze in the MacBooksDavid Chartier: He might as well have said "eh, and iWork... yea that's neat too."Check out the rest after the break...
Apple has halted bulk orders of Mac minis
With next week's press event looming, Apple has halted bulk orders of Mac minis, according to FreeMacBlog. Blogger Brian writes:"Well, today we called to place our order for our next big batch of minis and we were told 'We’re not able to take large orders for Mac minis right now,' and that was it."Is a change in the air for the mini? We'll have to wait and see, but when it does happen, we're pretty sure it won't look like this.Thanks, Brian!
Mac mini Home Media Center Design Concept
Longtime Mac fans likely know about Applele.com, run by Isamu Sanada, a designer who regularly creates design concepts for imaginary or hypothetical Apple products. Viewing his mock-up gallery is like taking a virtual tour through the Apple rumor community for the last few years: Apple iPhones, iWatches, iTablets, and more.This time around, he's created a design concept of the rumored Apple Mac mini Media Center, complete with a drawer/tray to dock your iPod.Thanks Brian for the tip!
Dual displays with a Mac mini
Aniel wanted to use two displays with his Mac mini. After some poking around, he came across the Matrox dualHead2Go ($169US), which acts as a sort of splitter for a VGA signal. Even though the box says "Windows only," Aniel got it working under Mac OS X.He notes that the dualHead2Go works by splitting your display's horizontal lines in half, and sending those off to each of the two displays. As a result, the mini thinks it's driving a single monitor. Occasionally windows will open in the dead center between the two, but a simple drag remedies that situation. Good work, Aniel![Via 123Macmini]
TiVoToGo for Mac named in Wired's 2005 Vaporware Awards
Remember those TiVoToGo OS X screenshots we came across in early January? Wired's readers do, and they nominated it as the #10 vaporware (a much-hyped product that never appears) of 2005 in Wired's annual Vaporware Awards. TiVo has apparently been promising the software for months, amidst Apple TiVo partnership rumors and rampant speculation about a Mac mini TiVo (or TiVo-like) media center.Another mentionable 2005 vaporware item, though not necessarily Apple-related, is the perpetually forthcoming Windows Vista, clocking in at number 4. I just have to tip my hat to one reader's comment that Wired printed: "It's been put off so many times, it's been called 'Hasta la Vista.'"My favorite Apple-related piece of vaporware? The Apple Pippin.
Big network, little Macs
I often dream of getting myself a Mac mini and a copy of OS X server and setting up a fully blown network in my apartment. I then realize that I live alone in a one bedroom apartment, and that would be complete overkill. Luckily, thanks to the magic of the Internet, I can read about how Ken Collins took three Mac minis and created an industrial strength home network for himself.It is quite impressive, especially his use of IP over Firewire and his modifications to the Mac minis.Give the post a read, you won't be sorry (unless networking bores you, in which case never mind).
Mac mini --> Mac SE/30
I can't read a lick of Japanese, but I can admire this fellow's amazing photo set of cramming a Mac mini into the case of a Mac SE/30. He even got the 9" black and white display to hook up to the Mac mini and cut a slot for the optical drive. Wow!Last time I used a Mac SE/30 was to play Bolo. Ah, Bolo, how I miss driving my little tanks around maps created to mimic my University's campus.
Mac mini with integrated iTrip
No, you haven't missed a joint announcement from Apple and Griffin. However, you might have missed this post on Make which links to ZapWizard's Flickr set detailing how he put a Mac mini, with accompanying LCD screen and mouse/keyboard, into his car.I know, there have been tons of stories like this, but this is the first one that includes a little product cross mating. Since he didn't have enough money to get a new car stereo the Wiz decided that he would just integrate an iTrip directly into the Mac mini.That's talent.[Via Make.]
Mac mini Lunchbox
Who needs a MacBook Pro when you've got a Mac mini. Am I right people? What's that you say? The Mac mini isn't easily portable? Well, that's not what the good folks of STM think.They've whipped up the Mac mini Lunchbox which for $48, or so, is the ideal place to stow your Mac mini and power supply when you're on the go.I never go anywhere that doesn't have several keyboards and mouse combos laying around, so this is the ideal solution for me.[Via Uncrate.]
Hands on: Belkin Flip for Mac mini
Belkin has a huge booth here at Macworld (and I'll post an Engadget style booth tour later).%uFFFD I asked Burk Murray, director of Belkin product management, what I should look at since I am way too important to just wander around with the rest of the Macworld attendees and he said, without hesitation, 'The Flip for Mac mini,' which is a fancy pants KVM switcher designed for the Mac mini. Laurie has been covering the Flip for awhile, and she will be writing up a review of it shortly, but let me tell you I was impressed with this thing. It has touch sensitive buttons on the front that let you access features like CD ejecting, volume, and switching video/audio. Thanks to some software you can also switch just the video, so if you are working on your Mac mini listening to some tunes and you want to use the Windows box that you have hooked up to the Flip you can do so without having to miss out on the song.
For Me, A Disappointing Stevenote
Color me a bit disappointed in this year's Stevenote. It's not a surprise that I was hoping for a Mac mini media center, and I know I'm certainly not alone. The new MacBooks (meh...still getting used to the name) and iMacs are interesting and are a nice step for Apple into the Intel world, but neither machine fits my particular needs right now. What I want and need are two things, neither of which were released today by Apple:1) a tiny, lightweight, subcompact notebook capable of running Mac OS X. Something like the Sony Vaio U3, or one of the Toshiba Libretto models. Or better yet, a tablet PC that'll run something other than Windows Tablet Edition, or whatever they're calling it. The 12" iBook and PowerBooks are too big and too heavy and are the smallest things currently available from Apple. Go ahead and ditch the optical drive but include firewire, USB 2.0, Bluetooth, and Airport. I'm certain there's a market for these. Until Apple ships one, I'll be watching the hackers to see if anyone gets Mac OS X running on an ultralight. It might be a legal grey area, but I'm willing to buy an extra copy of Mac OS X and then install the modified version on the ultralight or tablet that Apple seems destined never to release.2) a media center computer that doesn't suck. Have you tried to use Windows Media Center? For lack of better language, it sucks. And I refuse to put at the center of my media center a virus and malware magnet. I've looked at MythTV, but don't have the time or Linux knowledge to build one. The Tivo Series 3 is looking promising, but it won't be out until mid-year. A Mac mini with an El Gato EyeTV device running hacked Front Row? That's another legal grey area, but I may find myself going that route.I suppose, as far as Stevenotes go, it wasn't too bad, but for me it certainly delivered less than I had hoped for. Current LiveJournal mood is disappointed.
How-To: stream photos and music to a Mac
After reading here about TwonkyVision's MediaServer software to stream photos and music to the Mac, the mini Blog decided to write up a How-To on getting the not very straightforward software to play nice with the 360. It's a great step by step, complete with pictures; the only major downside is that the software ain't free, but with a little Automator script you can set it to restart every thirty minutes. Any other enterprising fanboys care to take on the task of writing up a script for the rest of us?
Jeepintosh
This is the best Mac-mini-in-a-car setup I've seen, and we've seen quite a few of them here at TUAW. This guy went all out in his setup, putting the following into his 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.- Mac mini- Xenarc 700 TSV- Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse- BU-353 USB GPS- Carnetix P1900 and P5V adapter- RadioShark USB- PowerMate- 2 Hubs- GPS mapping via Route 66 and RoadNav...- Salling Clicker on Treo 650 for controlling Mac through phone...- Bluetooth DUN over Treo for Internet access.The pictures are amazing. I don't even own a car and I'm excited at how awesome this is. Well done!
Iomega MiniMax
File this under, 'Iomega is still in business?' They have recently released the Iomega MiniMax which is a USB 2.0/Firewire hard drive that comes in either 160 (which goes for $200) or 250 gig (for $250) models. The drives are meant as companions to your Mac mini, just rest the mini on top and you're ready to go.[via NY Times]
