Apple discontinues the PowerPC Mac mini
Posted by Lab Rat
Apple has removed the PowerPC-based Mac mini from its online store after unveiling the new Intel Mac mini earlier today. Apple has continued to offer the G5 versions of their iMac (while supplies last) alongside their Intel counterparts, but apparently Apple planned the Intel mini’s release to better coincide with existing mini inventory.
Apple announces new Intel Mac mini.. iPod Hi-Fi Boombox
True to rumors, Apple today announced an Intel version of their Mac mini, and an all new iPod accessory, the iPod Hi-Fi.
The Intel Mac mini comes in both single and dual core versions, features Front Row with remote, and sells for $599 (single) and $799 (dual). The $349 iPod Hi-Fi is a portable boombox meant to finally deliver natural, room-filling sound from your iPod.
We have already placed our order for a dual-core mini (despite the Apple store apparently being overloaded), and we’ll let you know when it arrives.
The new 6G iPod: Too much of a good thing?
Posted by iGor
As each Apple event draws near, often we Mac site are inundated with false reports and faked pics of allegedly real new products from Apple. Usually these shots are purposely blurred to mask the true nature of the object, making a definitive ID all but impossible. Some recent purported 6G shots that had been circulating the web have now been reported to be fakes.
Well, we at Macenstein have come across an exclusive photo of the new 6G iPod Apple will be announcing tomorrow, and we are positive it is in fact the real deal. While the source wishes to remain anonymous, we have no doubt as to the authenticity of this photo.
But the question arises, is this Pod too much of a good thing. You can see from the photo that this device is roughly 6 times as long as the current iPod. Contrary to reports, the standard click wheel remains intact instead of the rumored touch screen interface. The screen appears large enough to show 3 widescreen trailers simultaneously, yet it seems Apple doesn’t even know what to do with all that extra real estate. The words “This space intentionally left blank. For official use only.� appear on either side of what appears to be the HD movie trailer for Superman Returns.
So why would Apple design such a large screen? We are speculating that the space on either side of the screen will be used to show advertising. As more and more TV shows go commercial-free and become available on the iTMS, advertisers will need a way to get their product messages out there. Hopefully this supplemental advertising revenue stream will yield a slight reduction in the cost of video content.
Battery life on this new iPod is likely to range anywhere from 50-65 minutes. No word yet on pricing or availability.
So, is this new iPod a case of “Too much of a good thing?�. Judging from the current 5G iPod’s sales, people can’t seem to get enough of Apple’s media player. We think this new iPod looks to deliver more of everything iPod fans already love. We’re betting on another hit for Apple.
Microsoft: The Baskin-Robbins of OS Manufacturers
Posted by iGor
In a sign that they have once again over-estimated their customer’s understanding of computers, Microsoft has announced they will be shipping no fewer than 6 different flavors of their upcoming Windows Vista operating system. Sometime before the end of the year, PC users will be able to choose from: Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista Ultimate, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise edition, and Vista Starter edition for “emerging markets�.
Basically, these 6 flavors of Vista fall into 2 categories, Home and Business. The business versions consist of Vista Business, and Vista Enterprise. Vista Business is what most companies are supposed to buy because it has the word Business in the title. Vista Enterprise contains all the professional sounding goodness of Vista Business, but it adds the ability to allow users to spend more money on Software Assurance contracts and an Enterprise Agreement.
The home versions start out with the higher end Vista Premium, and then Microsoft offers cheaper variations with crippled features At the lowest end, the Vista Home Basic will have none of the OS X-inspired “Glass� visual effects, and will not have the music and media capabilities either. Home Basic seems to be geared towards people who want to impress visitors to their home by saying they HAVE a computer, but do not actually want to be bothered with DOING anything on it.
Vista Ultimate takes all the best from the Business and Home Premium packages, and blends them into an OS that sounds like it cannot be beaten. After all, what could be better than “Utlimate�? On the other hand, Vista Starter edition sounds like it might just contain an empty box.
For its part, Apple has never sought to offer dumbed down niche-OSes. The version of OS X you run at home is the one someone at Pixar would use (if they used OS X). Mac OS X Server is the only other flavor of OS Apple offers, and that contains specific features only IT professionals would even want to touch, sort of like Magic Shell.
So, following the ice cream analogy, is it better for an Ice Cream maker to offer just one flavor of ice cream that just about everyone likes, like say, Chocolate Chip (for $123)? Or is it better to offer 6 flavors for customers to choose from, containing such favorites as flounder pie ($310) and raspberry ketchup ($209)?
Time will tell.
Feb. 28th: Think Secret vs. AppleInsider…Cast Your vote!
Posted by Lab Rat
The past couple of years or so, there has been an intense rivalry between the “Ali and Frazier” of the Mac Rumor community, namely Think Secret and AppleInsider. Both have made predictions for Apple’s upcoming February 28th media event, but who will be right? Mac rumor bragging rights hang in the balance. Let’s see what is at stake.
Think Secret has a long career of accurately predicting Apple’s products, so much so that they have been sued by Apple for revealing trade secrets. Usually their predictions become most accurate the day before or day of an event, so while we may only learn the true nature of a product a couple hours before the world at large does, this does indicate they have legitimate sources. However, those sources fell flat 2 months ago at Macworld 2006, and Think Secret pretty much struck out completely.
AppleInsider has proven incredibly accurate recently, and was the only site to predict the Intel iMac launch. Hours before Macworld, AppleInsider also got word of the Macbook Pro. So, let’s take a look at the February 28th event, and what these two titans of gossip have predicted.
Think Secret has said a new video iPod is likely, and that a new iPod boombox is a definite. They credit AppleInsider with first delivering the news that such a boombox exists. As for anything else Apple may reveal, Think Secret says “Further product announcement details remain shrouded in secrecy.�
AppleInsider claims we will see a new Intel Mac mini at tomorrow’s event. AppleInsider agrees with Think Secret that “confirmation of other product introductions is still somewhat lacking at this time.� However, they suggest the most likely candidate is indeed the iPod Boombox it first predicted would arrive at Macworld.
So who will be right? The rumor game is a tough one, and available information appears to be either feast or famine with these sites. (Lord knows we have never been right when it comes to predicting Apple’s moves). Apple Insider will likely get a free pass if it misses the boat on this one, since it was so “on� about Macworld. Think Secret, however, really needs a win here to help it retain its “street cred� earned by predictions so accurate they got the attention of Apple’s legal team.
So, assuming both sites agree the iPod boombox is a “go�, who do you think will win this round? AppleInsider’s Intel Mac mini, or Think Secret’s video iPod?
Contest
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