Bites from the Apple: Cracks in the Mini Facade

It's been a slow week in the Apple-verse, typified by how much the rumored spy shot of the Mac mini has been published around the gadgetosphere. Originally sourced at AppleInsider, this purported new edition of the mini adds a USB port (adding up to a whopping 5 USB ports!!!!), replaces the FireWire 400 port with an 800, and replaces the DVI/VGA connector with both Mini DisplayPort and Mini DVI outputs. The photo was also posted at MacRumors, where the leaker claimed the new mini will have a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. However, 9to5Mac has pretty much debunked this image as a fake (as most pre-release Apple spy shots tend to be) thanks to a reader's close inspection of the image's artifacts as well as the fact that the ports don't align with the motherboard.

Now, I love my Mac mini, but I would love to see the mini get more than just an incremental boost in processor power and the switching of a couple of ports. I'm sure we'll see something along those lines at some point this year, but I'm itching to see the mini get even more streamlined with a redesigned chassis. However, Wired notes that Apple is likely to be cautious in the current economic environment, and thusly we won't see a form-factor upgrade until 2010.

UPDATE: Then again, this video that started hitting the gadgetosphere late Friday afternoon makes for compelling evidence for its veracity (via Wired's Gadget Lab).

Mac Mini 2009 Edition - video powered by Metacafe

• Speaking of the Mac mini, I got to see firsthand this week how tightly constructed its current innards are this week after opening it up for some DIY upgrades to its RAM and hard drive. A big shout-out to Soledad Penadés , who's posted a step-by-step instruction (complete with extremely helpful pics and vids) on cracking open the Mac mini--and I do mean cracking. I discovered the most important tool you'll need for any Mac mini upgrading is a putty knife.

• If you're considering upgrading the RAM in your new unibody MacBook, check out this detailed step-by-step at Wired's Gadget Lab.

• Seattle's own Presidents of the United States of America (creator of such 90s grunge/pop hits like "Lump" and "Peaches") have an interesting take on getting the group's music to its fans--streaming their entire catalog through an iPhone app. For just $3, the app gives you access to their four albums and some lost and bonus recordings when connected to Wi-Fi, 3G, or EDGE networks. Ars Technica sees the way forward for bands in today's tectonically shifting music biz:

  In a way, this method is almost the beginning of the iTunes subscription model, except controlled entirely by the bands (and not technically subscription, since the fee is not recurring). It allows users to try before they buy to their heart's content--so long as the music stays on the server--and for very little money up front. And if the music does eventually go away, they're only out a few bucks and hopefully still entertained.

  I tried it over my OG iPhone's EDGE connection and it worked as advertised. However, it doesn't currently included PUSA's ode to Obama's inauguration day (available as a free download at their web site), which is currently one of my toddler's must-listen-to-20-times-a-day songs. Here's hoping that he starts digging some "Kitty" for a little musical diversity (and save his parents from going mad).

• Speaking of musically crazed parents, I'm a little wary of the Wheels on the Bus iPhone app--though it's received some good reviews and looks to be a well designed educational app, I don't know that I could deal with that song over and over and over. This makes me wish iTunes had the ability to provide video clips of apps in addition to the sample photos. Anyhoo, it's currently available at a sale price of 99¢ from its regular price of $2.99 (via Cult of Mac)

• If you've got the latest version of iPhoto from iLife '09 and a version of the OmniGraffle diagramming software, you can now run a script (submitted by a customer) that takes iPhoto's Faces database and creates an OmniGraffle diagram showing relationships between the people who appear in those photos (via Cult of Mac).

• Rumor Watch: It looks like Apple is trying to corner the market in flash memory--buying all of Samsung's output through April--which seems about right for a new iPhone launch come June.

• As Aric noted earlier this week, Hulu pulled its service from being accessed by Boxee (and just before I was going to fiddle with my Apple TV to pimp it with Boxee--guess I've got more time on my hands this weekend). However, there's a new way to get Hulu and Netflix played through your Mac via its Front Row software using the Understudy plug-in. MacUser adds that you can integrate it with your own accounts so you can browse your Netflix Instant Queue or your Hulu subscriptions. However, there's no support for Hulu or Netflix full-screen streaming (though the latter might be a possibility).

• My pal Jeff Carlson has a tip on creating a free iChat handle that won't expire using a .mac address (unlike the iChat handle associated with the free MobileMe trial that goes away if you don't make the subscription purchase).

• And finally... I think I just found my new desktop background--Steve Wozniak's promo photo with partner Karina Smirnoff from ABC's upcoming new season of Dancing with the Stars:

  

--Agen G.N. Schmitz

Comments

[Greg Q on February 21, 2009 at 06:35 PM]

However, Wired notes that Apple is likely to be cautious in the current economic environment, and thusly we won't see a form-factor upgrade until 2010.

That's stupid. An economic slowdown is the BEST time to upgrade their low-cost, attractive to people who already own a computer, computer.

If you already own a nice monitor, you're not going to go out and buy a iMac. You might buy a Mac Mini. Especially a newly reved one.

I'd be really curious to see Apple's sales numbers for the Minis. Are they just selling so many they see no point in doing a rev?

[willy on February 23, 2009 at 12:49 AM]

hmm...nice girl !! i want to try it !!

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