Feb 28th Products: Intel Mac mini and iPod Hi-Fi?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

More rumors of the February 28th Apple event are leaking out.

As previously reported (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/02/20060224073037.shtml) the Intel Mac mini and an iPod Boombox/Hi-Fi companion product are expected to be released at the Feb 28th event.

Appleinsider now claims (http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1556) that the Mac mini has already been sent to manufacturing partners to ramp up for release. Meanwhile, the Intel iBook is not expected to be released at next week's event.

The most detailed rumors of the Intel Mac mini were described in November (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/11/20051129005319.shtml):

- Front Row 2.0
- "TiVo-Killer" DVR application
- Built-In iPod Dock
- Possible move to 3.5" hard drive

Meanwhile, the iPod Boombox/Hi-Fi which was originally described in December (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/12/20051212210230.shtml) and confirmed yesterday (http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0602ipodhifi.html) by ThinkSecret is expected to be priced in at over $300. The exact functionality of the new iPod remains a mystery, but hints of "unique capabilities" and "strikingly different" have been used to describe the unit.

Both "iPod Boombox" and "iPod Hi-Fi" were recently trademarked (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/01/20060114203053.shtml) by Apple in the Hong Kong Trademark office.

[stoid]

Bring on the Mac media center. A friend has recently got a Windows Media Center, and is sucks hardcore, even though the hardware is top-notch. I'd love to have an Apple product that wipes the walls with his Win MC!

[jacobj]

So the mini and iPod boombox are a dead certainty by the looks of it... do I need a media mini? Erm... give me time to think of a reason...;)

[jinzo012]

hm looks like it's gonna be "fun" products

[mackeeper]

I'm guessing the iPod boombox will be the new video ipod/fullscreen with digital-virtual trackpad. The codename "boombox" is given because it also transmits wirelessly to speakers. But knowing how Steve Jobs is full of surprises, it will probably be the full shabang with widescreen video and much more.
Apple wouldn't be stupid enough to make an actual boombox. It has to be a codename for something much greater.

[syklee26]

what da heck is FrontRow 2.0 anyway?

and would imac users get the update?

[BlizzardBomb]

Would be very cool if it happens. Can't wait till the 28th!

[sam10685]

isn't there already a 3rd party boombox thing that u plug ur ipod in?

[Yvan256]

Here's hoping to good specs for the Intel Mac mini... And the same form factor (6.5 x 6.5", don't mind any added height). I got two miniStack already (previous and new model). :D

Please, let the high-end model have a Core Duo, a mobile X1600 with 128MB, two RAM slots and a 3.5" drive.

[goodtimes5]

isn't there already a 3rd party boombox thing that u plug ur ipod in?

Hundreds of them. The iPod accessory market is a fruitful one.

[eme jota ce]

Must have a Mini with remote for the entertainment center!

Please :eek:

[mackeeper]

isn't there already a 3rd party boombox thing that u plug ur ipod in?

Yeah. You can not call that the iPod boombox though.

[sam10685]

also, somehow i don't see Apple giving up the actual click wheel. that design has been a trade-mark design since day one. (it has improved over the years...)

[sam10685]

Hundreds of them. The iPod accessory market is a fruitful one.

why would apple be making their own if it already exists?

[mackeeper]

Ok here's what the ipod boombox will be able to do:

There'll be a menu that shows all the speakers in a range (it uses some crazy technology to detect them) and you can choose them to play your music wirelessly, however many you want.

+ the fullscreen video ipod and digital trackpad capabalities + a itunes userface.

Don't forget iTunes 7.0.

[Mechcozmo]

If Apple wants the Mini to be a DVR, then it would have to have a huge 3.5" hard disk. That is because to use your T.V. as a computer monitor, it better be High Definition. Anything less will leave you with blurry text. But High Definition video streams are huge, and thus the huge hard drive.

It would be nice to see multiple tuner support, video sharing in iTunes style, and a hardware encoder/decoder for various video formats (MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, just to name a few). It may not 'need' these things, but for it to be truly extraordinary, it would.

[MacMosher]

Meanwhile, the Intel iBook is not expected to be released at next week's event.



ARGH I was really looking forward to it

[Yvan256]

ARGH I was really looking forward to it

You could buy a Macbook Pro and paint it white... ;)

[slidingjon]

maybe the "boombox" is a TNT detonator.......with gesture interface ofcourse.......nope.....

[osustudent]

Question: Would the new mini still serve as a regular computer? I mean, do people think you could still use it as a primary computer for word processing, internet, and such?

[andrewm]

How about an iPod Shuffle with screen as a side-product? Or, perhaps, an updated iPod Nano? *sigh*

[FireArse]

Please Apple:

- Front Row 2.0 with Hardware decoding/encoding of HD H.264
- Huge 500GB SATA drive
- Gb ethernet for fast transfers
- DVD+RW DL drive
- Core Duo 1.83Ghz for realtime H.264 playback of HD material
- Same price as the PPC mini


= First 'proper' media centre for connection to HD screens

= $$$

[macorama]

Bring on the 3.5" HD! The notebook HD at present is the biggest downer on the Mini. If that's right it should kick up the performance nicely!

The Mini is the favourite pick for the 28th here (http://macpredict.com/event.php?e=69&t=Feb-28th-Apple-Event) as well...

[powerbook911]

Please Apple:

- Front Row 2.0 with Hardware decoding/encoding of HD H.264
- Huge 500GB SATA drive
- Gb ethernet for fast transfers
- DVD+RW DL drive
- Core Duo 1.83Ghz for realtime H.264 playback of HD material
- Same price as the PPC mini


= First 'proper' media centre for connection to HD screens

= $$$

I think they could do that device, for $1000. However, I doubt they'll put anything like that together. :(

[bbarnhart]

I hope there's a new AirPort Express with video streaming. I'm looking to ditch my TiVo. TiVo works so well, but could do so much, much more. I don't ever see TiVo ever making money. I might even settle for the mini with DVR and music support.

Bye bye TiVo. You could've been the greatest.

[kalisphoenix]

Please Apple:

- Front Row 2.0 with Hardware decoding/encoding of HD H.264
- Huge 500GB SATA drive
- Gb ethernet for fast transfers
- DVD+RW DL drive
- Core Duo 1.83Ghz for realtime H.264 playback of HD material
- Same price as the PPC mini


= First 'proper' media centre for connection to HD screens

= $$$

You're insane. Seriously. That's just too #$%^ing much for a $600 Mac, let alone a $500 Mac...

The wise thing, in my opinion, would be to give the Mac mini a Celeron D, remote, and possibly the DL drive (though I doubt it). Keep costs low so, you know, it might possibly @#$%ing happen.

Make TV-in and MPEG encoding an external Firewire device. Otherwise I (and a lot of other iMac users) will be pissed that we just paid $2000 for a machine that lacks a critical and easily externalizable technology.

A 3.5" HD with proper cooling could not possibly fit in the current mini case. There's just no freaking way. No way.

[monkeyandy]

Is the iPod boombox actually going to be the mythical new video iPod, tablet thing. It sounds like it in this article:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1468

Have a look at the discription of the iPod Boombox in the third column down. Could this hook up and double as a remote for a new DVR type Mac Mini media centre. Thats what i think this is leading too!

Anyone else think that this is where things are going. You could use this iPod Boombox tablet thing to control your Mac (Mini, iMac, MacBook) Via Bluetooth ? Also sync all your music, video, organiser, everything to it to take away? It could have wireless built in to stream to airport express?

What do you guys think?

:cool:

[Staffroomer]

I'd be interested in the 'Tivo Killer', but I don't think I care about the 'boombox'

[sam10685]

Please Apple:

- Front Row 2.0 with Hardware decoding/encoding of HD H.264
- Huge 500GB SATA drive
- Gb ethernet for fast transfers
- DVD+RW DL drive
- Core Duo 1.83Ghz for realtime H.264 playback of HD material
- Same price as the PPC mini


= First 'proper' media centre for connection to HD screens

= $$$

i think everything there is do-able but i think a 500 gig hard drive is a bit much to ask for in a computer that's less than 6 or 700 dollars... maybe 160 or even 240 maybe...

[jimthorn]

I'm hoping that the "iPod HiFi" is like a small portable boombox (two speakers, handle on top, radio tuner, iPod Dock) but also includes a built-in Airport Express so that you could stream audio from iTunes to it. I've often wished I could "carry" my music around the house without dragging my computer along. Especially when listening to Internet Radio stations.

[swingerofbirch]

Hmmm....maybe there was something to that eight pound, 10" screen iPod reference by Jobs afterall (or was it reversed, 10 pound, 8"?).

Anyhow, I can't wait to waste the very little money I have on Tuesday. But at least I don't feel as guilty buying Apple products as I doing buying clothes.

Apple reinvents the computer, the walkman, and now the boombox?

[MacSA]

I hope the new Mini's and iBooks have audio in ports.

[monkeyandy]

I'd be interested in the 'Tivo Killer', but I don't think I care about the 'boombox'

Wouldn't it be cool though if the Tivo Killer and Boombox linked up. The Boombox as a wicked touchscreen controller, ipod thing that controls your Mac Mini. If Apple did this pretty much everyone would buy a Mac Mini after buying a Boombox, a great tactical move to sneak Macs into peoples homes! :rolleyes:

[michaeljs]

If Apple wants the Mini to be a DVR, then it would have to have a huge 3.5" hard disk. That is because to use your T.V. as a computer monitor, it better be HD. Anything less will leave you with blurry text. But HD video streams are huge, and thus the huge hard drive.



Why? My Humax PVR records 40hrs of SD PAL to a 80gig HD - Tivo works similarly. DVcam compression is gives 3.6Mb/sec, so why couldn't a mac mini tivo killer record a tv signal to the hard drive and play out as a straight video signal to a telly - its just one extra connector. Problem is you're likely thrash the HD over time which means you'd be replacing your computers HD more regularly and thus increase the risk of data. If you want a system that does both I'd want two hard drives.

[age234]

I've been mulling getting a TiVo, and this might just be the ticket. That combined with iTunes movie rentals = Awwww Yeaaaaaah!

However, if it's a Mac Mini with DVR functionality, I probably won't buy it. I already have two computers, and to use a fully-capable computer to watch TV with seems like a waste. But if it's a standalone TiVo killer, then Awww Yeaaah.

[tjwett]

If Apple wants the Mini to be a DVR, then it would have to have a huge 3.5" hard disk. That is because to use your T.V. as a computer monitor, it better be HD. Anything less will leave you with blurry text. But HD video streams are huge, and thus the huge hard drive.

It would be nice to see multiple tuner support, video sharing in iTunes style, and a hardware encoder/decoder for various video formats (MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, just to name a few). It may not 'need' these things, but for it to be truly extraordinary, it would.

yeah i can't help but keep thinking that to really have a "media center" of any kind it's gonna need some substantial (and fast) storage, some pretty serious video hardware, and decent amount of processing power. all these things are exactly what the mini is NOT. i can't see Apple beefing up the mini enough to support all this stuff and still keep it affordable by mini standards. media center maybe, but i don't think it will be called the "mini".

[monkeyandy]

I'm guessing the iPod boombox will be the new video ipod/fullscreen with digital-virtual trackpad. The codename "boombox" is given because it also transmits wirelessly to speakers. But knowing how Steve Jobs is full of surprises, it will probably be the full shabang with widescreen video and much more.
Apple wouldn't be stupid enough to make an actual boombox. It has to be a codename for something much greater.

I think your totally spot on mate. Except for it will double as a remote for the Mac mini!

[yoda13]

I think that I am going to have purchase one of these new minis, if the following two things exist in this new realease: 1) a big enough hard drive 2)a respectable graphics card.

Another less limiting factor will be the price. If they keep price points generally where they are, then I will be ordering one, unless the fiance kills the plan, of course...:D

[ipod0324]

Is this iPod Hifi going to be the fullscreen one with the touchscreen technology and disapearing click wheel? What if they put in external speakers and bluetooth headphones? Plus is this thing going to be seperate from the boombox or are these two terms both describing the same product?

[iHeartTheApple]

Here's hoping to good specs for the Intel Mac mini... And the same form factor (6.5 x 6.5", don't mind any added height). I got two miniStack already (previous and new model). :D

Please, let the high-end model have a Core Duo, a mobile X1600 with 128MB, two RAM slots and a 3.5" drive.

Good call on the desired setup...I'd like to see a Core Duo on *at least* the highend model, even if it maxes out at 1.67 or 1.83GHz. I'd like to see it stay the same size if possible, so I'm not too worried about using a 3.5" versus 2.5" HD. But...more RAM and a better video card would be epic!!!

I am sooo excited to see what Apple's gonna give us on Tuesday! Even more so now that its almost definitely going to be a mini!!! :D I've been wanting to get a mini since I got hooked on Macs...new mini, here I come! Woohoo!

[jerelabs]

Could this new device be something like the Sonos Digital Music System (http://www.sonos.com/)?

If that thing was compatible with the iTMS I would have bought one a long time ago.

[LaMerVipere]

An Intel-based Mac mini would be greatness.

Include a remote and Front Row, and we're in business!

[theappleguy]

My concerns with an Apple DVR are would be the quality of video reproduction. If I play a DVD (made from a DivX file) in my (cheap) DVD player it looks much better on my (old) TV than it does on my iMac's screen - particularly the readability of text. Now, I haven't plugged my iMac into the TV directly to see if the quality is similar to that of the DVD player on screen (I'm guessing it would be) but it does cause me some concern. However, with Apple so involved in media related things now, I am hesitant about how realistic expectations of an Apple DVR are. If they do release one, it better have a better remote than the ones shipped with the iMac and MacBook pro though, small things like having to pause a video in FrontRow to see how many minutes are left gets annoying after a while when they could have added an onscreen display button.:rolleyes:

[aswitcher]

An Intel-based Mac mini would be greatness.

Include a remote and Front Row, and we're in business!

For me as long as it has decent multimedia connectors in and out - dual DVI (HDCP) or even HDMI...

[dongmin]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)
The most detailed rumors of the Intel Mac mini were described in November (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/11/20051129005319.shtml):

- Front Row 2.0
- "TiVo-Killer" DVR application
- Built-In iPod Dock
- Possible move to 3.5" hard drive
Remember that the "TiVo-Killer" rumor came from Thinksecret. Their record has been absolute crap the last few go-arounds. They've lost most of their credibility in my book.

Anyways, people who're wishing for a full computer with DVR functionality and large HDs in a Mini form factor are living in never-never land. Something's gotta give. Knowing Apple, they'll stick to their CD-case form factor which rules out including a beefy 3.5" HD. I also don't think Apple will go the TiVo. As many have argued, the DVR model contradicts the current iTMS video-on-demand model. At best, you'll see some interface and performance improvements to Front Row, but I wouldn't expect a whole new model of content management.

[monkeyandy]

Could this new device be something like the Sonos Digital Music System (http://www.sonos.com/)?

If that thing was compatible with the iTMS I would have bought one a long time ago.

I think so! The mini will be your storage. the boombox your remote and i
pod. And hookup to different speakers and tv via airport express!

[jonharris200]

Is the iPod boombox actually going to be the mythical new video iPod, tablet thing. It sounds like it in this article:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1468

Have a look at the discription of the iPod Boombox in the third column down. Could this hook up and double as a remote for a new DVR type Mac Mini media centre. Thats what i think this is leading too!

Anyone else think that this is where things are going. You could use this iPod Boombox tablet thing to control your Mac (Mini, iMac, MacBook) Via Bluetooth ? Also sync all your music, video, organiser, everything to it to take away? It could have wireless built in to stream to airport express?

What do you guys think?

:cool:

Yes. I'm expecting an iPod Boombox Touch-Screen Video Intel Hi-Fi Tablet Mini Media Centre Remote to debut. Also available as Pro.

:)

[cyberddot]

I'm hoping that the "iPod HiFi" is like a small portable boombox (two speakers, handle on top, radio tuner, iPod Dock) but also includes a built-in Airport Express so that you could stream audio from iTunes to it. I've often wished I could "carry" my music around the house without dragging my computer along. Especially when listening to Internet Radio stations.

I'm hoping for something along the same lines, if maybe a little larger than "small". We're admittedly shy on stereo components (basically..none) so rely mostly on powered speakers and airport for streaming from our music collection or i-Radio. I've been holding back on getting more powered speakers and another express-station because of this very rumor. I'd really like to see my iTunes choices read:

Multiple Speakers
]X[iBoombox
]X[Airport Express
]X[Computer

With whatever other music functionality they can throw in for the price. The TiVo killer has no appeal, since beyond DvD (hail Netflix) we have no television feed.

[Foxer]

also, somehow i don't see Apple giving up the actual click wheel. that design has been a trade-mark design since day one. (it has improved over the years...)

Except when they dropped the click wheel (in part at least) on the 2G iPod in favor of the row of buttons.

[aswitcher]

Multiple Speakers
]X[iBoombox
]X[Airport Express
]X[Computer




Putting an AX in the boombox would help justify the rumoured $300USD cost.

[technicolor]

Here's hoping to good specs for the Intel Mac mini... And the same form factor (6.5 x 6.5", don't mind any added height). I got two miniStack already (previous and new model). :D

Please, let the high-end model have a Core Duo, a mobile X1600 with 128MB, two RAM slots and a 3.5" drive.
Why in the world would a mini have a core duo?
:confused:

[Xenious]

No one seems to have touched on this yet. If the Mac Mini has DVR it darn well better have a cable card slot or an IR blaster controller. This lack of these is why all of the current Mac TV solutions suck. Obviously I want more than 100 analog cable channels or I wouldn't pay for 400+ channels a month on digital. My Windows XP MCE box (though lacking in HD so far) has been able to control my digitial cable box from day 1. Without HD it will have trouble geting in my front room because why diverge from a DVR/HD/Digital cable box all in one that I already have (although the interface is crap) for something that will give me less video quality.

The boom box rumors sound very cool (though I was hoping for a full screen touch screen 80+gig ipod cause my 30gig is maxxed). If it turns out to be just another boombox to plug an ipod in I will cry.

[technicolor]

Please Apple:

- Front Row 2.0 with Hardware decoding/encoding of HD H.264
- Huge 500GB SATA drive
- Gb ethernet for fast transfers
- DVD+RW DL drive
- Core Duo 1.83Ghz for realtime H.264 playback of HD material
- Same price as the PPC mini


= First 'proper' media centre for connection to HD screens

= $$$
Whatever dude no mac mini needs a dual core 1.83ghz chip....im sure that would piss off a lot new mac book pro owners as well... heck no

[aswitcher]

Why in the world would a mini have a core duo?
:confused:

Crunching H264 is pretty processor intensive. Running multiple video chats is also. I think the mini is going to get a single core to avoid canablzing the iMac line, but if they do I will be hesitant to buy one because I want something that will cope with HDTV in H264...

[technicolor]

yeah i can't help but keep thinking that to really have a "media center" of any kind it's gonna need some substantial (and fast) storage, some pretty serious video hardware, and decent amount of processing power. all these things are exactly what the mini is NOT. i can't see Apple beefing up the mini enough to support all this stuff and still keep it affordable by mini standards. media center maybe, but i don't think it will be called the "mini".
BINGO!

[technicolor]

Crunching H264 is pretty processor intensive. Running multiple video chats is also. I think the mini is going to get a single core to avoid canablzing the iMac line, but if they do I will be hesitant to buy one because I want something that will cope with HDTV in H264...
Well I know that, but that just doesnt seem like the mini model that is why I am asking why. I agree with you it will most likely be a single core chip.

[VeganBryan]

hmm, imagine the clearance prices of the G4 minis when these come out, especially combined with a student discount. think it'd be worth it to buy one of them?

[autrefois]

why would apple be making their own if it already exists?

They will not be happy until they have enough money to own the world! :D

I personally don't think there's a real need for an Apple speaker system, but I assume the idea would be that they can make it better (quality, design, and/or ease of use) than the competition. Consumers would likely be willing to pay as much or more than they pay for third-party speakers if they knew Apple made it.

[FireArse]

Crunching H264 is pretty processor intensive. Running multiple video chats is also. I think the mini is going to get a single core to avoid canablzing the iMac line, but if they do I will be hesitant to buy one because I want something that will cope with HDTV in H264...

At the end of the day - if this thing is going to be media friendly, H.264 will be on everybody's lips.

Thinking about it again, Apple could make two lines:

- Single Core desktop (replacement for PPC version)
- Dual Core Media version for H.264 and the bells and whistles

Apple may want to go in two directions roughly the same product line, headless Mac AND the new Media PVR based machine. Hopefully, they'll do it, and charge some sort of premium for customers to do it.

Hell, if this doesn't work - I wanna see if a 1.42GHz G4 (or possibly overclocked to 1.5GHz ) can play 1080p in MPEG2 - if yes, then il encode films that way and play off the network - sod H.264, too much to liscence and too computationally expensive. Id rather spend the money on a second hand mini 1.42GHz G4 and another 500GB HDD for my PowerMac.

[MacMosher]

You could buy a Macbook Pro and paint it white... ;)
now what would be the point of that :p, I can't afford a MBP and don't need all the power contained within it :p

[osustudent]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but:

Why would Apple release a product that would directly compete with sales of TV Shows in the iTunes store?

[Dagless]

would a TiVo application use EyeTV? Just that I'd be all for that :)

[barstard]

Could this new device be something like the Sonos Digital Music System (http://www.sonos.com/)?

If that thing was compatible with the iTMS I would have bought one a long time ago.

Yeah. This could be possible, but if you wanted NICE quality speakers, it could get VERY expensive REALLY fast. I'm not talking Studio monitor quality, but mid/top end HI-Fi speakers still aren't cheap, because they all have to be active, which also means using lots of power points. :D

Although, if anyone could do it right, then Apple could, but I seriously doubt they will do this.

barstard.

[weareinfinite]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but:

Why would Apple release a product that would directly compete with sales of TV Shows in the iTunes store?

Maybe they'll just charge you $1.99 every time you record a TV show :rolleyes:

Seriously, though, that's a pretty darn good point.

[MacSA]

All these features people are wanting or expecting in the new Mini would probably push its price up comparable to that of the iMac. I'd just like to see a nice cheap entry level Intel Mac - just what the Mini is designed to be.

[BornAgainMac]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but:

Why would Apple release a product that would directly compete with sales of TV Shows in the iTunes store?

It won't compete. First, iTunes will have the episode ready to download the next day if you forget to record it or you lose power. Second, the product won't be with 100% of the Apple customer base and all those Windows users. It will be a select few that will actually own one if you look at the entire market. Third, if Apple used that to bait a huge percentage of Windows users then they wouldn't mind have this compete with the low profitable iTunes sales.

[berkleeboy210]

There will be a new iPod. the 5th Gen will remain as the consumer model but this will be like the prosumer version of the iPod just like the PowerBook iBook concept.


Are there 100gb Drives available in Mass Quanities for these players yet? If so here's what I think will be the specs and pricing

iPod 5th Gen

40GB Model $299
60GB Model $399



iPod HiFi

80GB $499
100gb $599

I know Archos currently makes a media player w/ a 100gb drive so they must be out there in the market.

As for accesories: There will be some new device for streaming the music, now whether it's associated with the iPod or your Mac is the question. I'd love a Squeezebox type device, with Built in Speakers (I don't think the squeezebox has that) that will wirelessly connect you your Mac and display the music on the screen, and also stream internet radio stations as well.

Priced @ 300

I'd love to see a TiVo type mac mini, with direct to iPod copying. we'll see about that one though.

But think my iPod predictions could come true

[Templetalker]

That there wily idea gyrating bout' a larger device tablet rumors codenamed "boombox."

How do you say i-Pod Hi-Fi?

Little bit larger than your usual i-Pod, can't take it in your pocket like a boombox, and it's chalked to the brim with potential, full screen viewing, i-pod functionality and maybe a lil' more?

Hmmm...

[mozmac]

If Apple does decide to release a "TiVo Killer" box, they have a great way to appeal to current TiVo owners. With TiVo you pay around $15 a month, depending on what you have. That's $180 a year. They could tell TiVo owners to theoretically subtract $180 from the cost of the new Mac Media Center. That'd be worth it, especially with a student discount. We have a Comcast DVR right now in our apartment, and spend $10/month for it.

Can't wait for Tuesday.

[Lancetx]

My prediction for the new Mac minis...

Core Solo processors, same Front Row software with Remote as the iMac & MacBook Pro (with no DVR capabilities), no built-in iPod dock, Radeon X1300 graphics with 64MB VRAM, 8x DL SuperDrive in the top of the line model, and same price points ($499-699 US) as the current models. To expect much more (at those prices) is undoubtedly wishful thinking.

[berkleeboy210]

My prediction for the new Mac minis...

Core Solo processors, same Front Row software with Remote as the iMac & MacBook Pro (with no DVR capabilities), no built-in iPod dock, Radeon X1300 graphics with 64MB VRAM, 8x DL SuperDrive in the top of the line model, and same price points ($499-699 US) as the current models. To expect much more (at those prices) is undoubtedly wishful thinking.


I think they'll have a highend $799 model with a 1.66 core duo just my 2 cents

[paz117]

If it turns out to be just another boombox to plug an ipod in I will cry.

Yea, I'm with you on that one.
It's pretty sad if all this is acutally about an actual iPod boombox.

[mozmac]

All of you who are wondering about an Apple DVR competing with iTunes, think about this:

Apple has repeatedly stated that the iTunes Music Store is not incredibly profitable. They don't run it to make money off music. They run it to sell iPods. Now they have Video on there as well. Yes, they are using it to sell iPod Video units, but that isn't a big enough reason to go through all that R&D. The iPod video market will never grow as large as the music market. They are putting so much money into R&D for the video portion of the iTMS in order to move a new type of hardware.

Think about the hardware options they have now (iMac, iPod, MacBook)...none of them are viable candidates as your main video player. That is where the Mac Media Center comes in. Where it will be a DVR is unknown, but I think we can be dang sure that there will be some sort of video Mac that hooks up to your TV. That will be the hardware that they move with sales of videos in the iTMS.

[berkleeboy210]

Yea, I'm with you on that one.
It's pretty sad if all this is acutally about an actual iPod boombox.


The first iPod was released at this same audiitorium, so we may be in for something big. Leo Laporte was talking about it on his Radio show Today, he'll have a podcast up about the event later on Tuesday MacBreak.

[Lurch_Mojoff]

Please, let the high-end model have a Core Duo, a mobile X1600 with 128MB, two RAM slots and a 3.5" drive.

Please Apple:

- Front Row 2.0 with Hardware decoding/encoding of HD H.264
- Huge 500GB SATA drive
- Gb ethernet for fast transfers
- DVD+RW DL drive
- Core Duo 1.83Ghz for realtime H.264 playback of HD material
- Same price as the PPC mini


= First 'proper' media centre for connection to HD screens

= $$$
I don't think you really need an internal 3.5" HDD. A good 7200rpm 80GB 2.5" SATA notebook drive will give you both enough space for OS, applications, etc. and very good responsiveness. For pure storage you can always get an external USB/Firewire drive in an enclosure so harmoniously matching design with the look of the Mac mini that it makes me weep. :-P This will give you great extensibility and huge storage (http://flickr.com/photos/omdot/95455508/in/pool-tuawrigs/) (up to 16 daisy-chained Firewire drives and up to 63 in total; 5 in a row and 127 total for USB) while you wont have to give a lot of money upfront - you can buy a cheap Mac mini and probably one external drive (which will sum up to about the same price as an integrated version) and then buy more as your needs grow.

Anyway, what I'd like to see in a mini is PCMCIA or better still ExpressCard expansion slot(s). And since it's gonna be a media center maybe HDMI.

[Fireburst]

I hope they bring out a range of Mac Mini's with a top of the range model with a duel core.

[mozmac]

I would like the Media Center to be a product of its own. Making a Mini that can do all these things would make it too expensive, nullifying Apple's entire reason for making the Mini; price. They can use the similar, small, sexy design, but they need to call it a different name. That way they don't have to feel guilty about putting high end hardware in the box. Please don't cripple your Media Center with the Mini name!

[bigandy]

mmmmac mmmmini deeeeveeaaarrr :D


oh yeah!

[raster]

Here's what I am thinking...

http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=41826&stc=1&d=1140912224

[hyperpasta]

How about this? The mini does NOT become a Media Center. Instead, it gets an IR reveiver and Front Row like every other Mac. The big news is that you can "stream" Front Row to a new AirPort-enabled device that plugs into your TV. From any Mac, not just a mini. This functionality, along with many other improvements, is delivered for free as Front Row 2.

[Fuchal]

At the end of the day - if this thing is going to be media friendly, H.264 will be on everybody's lips.

Thinking about it again, Apple could make two lines:

- Single Core desktop (replacement for PPC version)
- Dual Core Media version for H.264 and the bells and whistles

Apple may want to go in two directions roughly the same product line, headless Mac AND the new Media PVR based machine. Hopefully, they'll do it, and charge some sort of premium for customers to do it.

Hell, if this doesn't work - I wanna see if a 1.42GHz G4 (or possibly overclocked to 1.5GHz ) can play 1080p in MPEG2 - if yes, then il encode films that way and play off the network - sod H.264, too much to liscence and too computationally expensive. Id rather spend the money on a second hand mini 1.42GHz G4 and another 500GB HDD for my PowerMac.

The fact that you stated that you want it to include hardware H.264 decoding and encoding means that it doesn't need a fast CPU to decode H.264 so a single core CPU could easily work in the mini with silky smooth playback.

[mustard]

This may have been brought up before - but maybe the mini will be striped down even further and be cheaper & more modular similar to home audio equipment.

Modular Mac Mini Concept - Prices came out of thin air so don't hold me to em'
$200 - CPU Unit (Processor, MoBo, Ram, & Video)
$50-$100 - HDD Unit (different capacities& speeds)
$50-$100 - Optical Unit (options)
$150-$300 - DVR Unit (adding additional video ins and outs)

All would be stackable similar to existing HDD enclosures for the mini.

I know it is far fetched but maybe.

[Mechcozmo]

Why? My Humax PVR records 40hrs of SD PAL to a 80gig HD - Tivo works similarly. DVcam compression is gives 3.6Mb/sec, so why couldn't a mac mini tivo killer record a tv signal to the hard drive and play out as a straight video signal to a telly - its just one extra connector. Problem is you're likely thrash the HD over time which means you'd be replacing your computers HD more regularly and thus increase the risk of data. If you want a system that does both I'd want two hard drives.

Sorry... HD can mean High Definition video or Hard Drive. Hard Drive should really be HDD (Hard Disk Drive) but it was my fault for using an abbreviation like that. I'll edit my post to fix that issue.
Linkety (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=2176376&postcount=16) to my edited post.

[Di9it8]

My Humax PVR records 40hrs of SD PAL to a 80gig HD - Tivo works similarly. DVcam compression is gives 3.6Mb/sec, so why couldn't a mac mini tivo killer record a tv signal to the hard drive and play out as a straight video signal to a telly - its just one extra connector. Problem is you're likely thrash the HD over time which means you'd be replacing your computers HD more regularly and thus increase the risk of data. If you want a system that does both I'd want two hard drives.[/QUOTE]


I am using Elgato EyeTV 410 and can save to HD 264. Ive been using it for over a year now and the quality is amazing

[rikers_mailbox]

I just hope we find out if it was an 8 or a B! :p

[Mechcozmo]

I am using Elgato EyeTV 410 and can save to HD 264. Ive been using it for over a year now and the quality is amazing

A few questions:
1) Is the stream coming in High-Def?
2) Does your Mac do the encoding, or does the EyeTV do it?
3) How big are the resulting H.264 files?
4) What Mac are you using?

I'm curious to see what happens on your Mac, versus what people are saying the new Mini 'should be' or 'needs to have'.
Thanks!

[foofan]

Just got word from a friend in Cali that Apple is going to announce along with boombox, that AC/DC's entire catalog will be available on itunes and they will perform two songs on feb 28th!!!!!!!!!!

[Mechcozmo]

Just got word from a friend in Cali that Apple is going to announce along with boombox, that AC/DC's entire catalog will be available on itunes and they will perform two songs on feb 28th!!!!!!!!!!

Aside from the fact that we have no idea who your friend is, what proof you have to back up this claim otherwise, and the fact that this is the Internet...

Awesome! :D

[Peace]

Folks here are saying "Why have a TIVO killer app.Wouldn't it take away from the iTunes sales?"

No..
And here's why..

Recently we have seen a few "sneak preview" of shows not yet aired on television on iTunes.These were free..

Following me ?

What if...

iTunes started selling TV shows before they were aired on TV for $1.99
D/L the show and watch it before it's shown on television..Voila!!
Apple gets it's $1.99 and users get to record a show with the DVR..

[age234]

I would like the Media Center to be a product of its own. Making a Mini that can do all these things would make it too expensive, nullifying Apple's entire reason for making the Mini; price. They can use the similar, small, sexy design, but they need to call it a different name. That way they don't have to feel guilty about putting high end hardware in the box. Please don't cripple your Media Center with the Mini name!
Agreeance.

[Spanky Deluxe]

How about this? The mini does NOT become a Media Center. Instead, it gets an IR reveiver and Front Row like every other Mac. The big news is that you can "stream" Front Row to a new AirPort-enabled device that plugs into your TV. From any Mac, not just a mini. This functionality, along with many other improvements, is delivered for free as Front Row 2.

I think you've hit the nail on the head with that one.

I really really *really* hope they don't put DVR into the mini. If they spend money on decoders and extra connections on the back then they'll have less to spend on other parts of the mini. Also DVR functionality would be useless for a huge proportion of Apple buyers.
Over in the states everyone seems to have cable. Well that's great but over here in the UK you either get normal terrestrial tv (4-5 channels), freeview (which requires a special digital decoder) (20 channels of which 6-7 are any good), cable (which requires a digital cable decoder box) (hundreds of channels) or satellite (which requires a very special decoder box) (hundreds of channels).
As with most people who want more than Freeview I get Sky (satellite). Although there are some very rare tv cards for pcs, they're very specialised and expensive. I've got tivo like functions because Sky's sold boxes with hard drives in for a few years now. When HD finally makes it over here its going to start with hard drives in anyway. So why would I want a mac with DVR functions??
The base line is that anything that records tv will either have to be the most basic analogue signals OR will have to be limited to one particular standard. This would make it useless to a huge proportion of Apple customers who would rather not have money wasted on such an expensive function that they can't even use with their service.

Being able to stream videos wirelessly to a new cool device *would* however be very cool but its really not on my hit list of important things.

What I'm looking for in a mac mini is:

Core Duo (any model, the 1.66Ghz one would be fine)
Radeon X1600 or similar (it'll probably be a X1300 though which will be fine I guess)
512MB RAM
160GB 3.5" drive (the bigger form factor because you get more bytes/buck)
Combo Drive (Superdrive CTO or more expensive model machine)
Bluetooth and Airport standard on everything but the base model
Frontrow + Remote

I don't even care if the Intel Mini is bigger, It could be up to twice as wide. I think I'd rather have one twice as wide than twice as high.
I reckon those specs are very doable.

[Mechcozmo]

I would like the Media Center to be a product of its own. Making a Mini that can do all these things would make it too expensive, nullifying Apple's entire reason for making the Mini; price. They can use the similar, small, sexy design, but they need to call it a different name. That way they don't have to feel guilty about putting high end hardware in the box. Please don't cripple your Media Center with the Mini name

How about:
"Maxintosh"
"Mac Mini Maximum"
"Mac Biggie"
"Mac Mini: Extreme Edition"
"Mini Mac, Maxi Power"
"Mac iPowerUp"
"Mac Media Center"
"Mac Super Center"

I agree, though. Mac Mini needs to stay as it is (with iNtel iNside :p), but if the media center additions will up the price a huge amount, it better be available separate OR as a BTO option OR as a high-end Mini.

[sam10685]

Except when they dropped the click wheel (in part at least) on the 2G iPod in favor of the row of buttons.

apple went to that design starting with the 3rd generation. it was still a physical circle thing that u scolled with. the 1G and 2G were still just circle scroll things with the buttons not in the actual wheel.

[TEG]

I'm not sure about what will be released on Tuesday, but I do have some ideas...

While at an Apple Store today, I noticed that they had very few iSights, Airport Extreme BS, or Airport Expresses in stock. I asked a clerk, and he said that they were expecting a new shipment on Tuesday. Coincidence? I think not.
From that I will say....

New Airport Standard, pre-N.
Video Capable Airport Express.
New Cinema Displays that have integrated iSight.

Also talking to the same clerk, he indicated that they had a low stock of 5G iPods, and iPod shuffles. Earlier I was at a Target store, and they were completely out of all iPods, and the locked case was wide open. Earlier this week, I was at Meijer (a local Grocery/Department Store) and I noticed that they only had one nano in stock, and another Meijer only had 1 5G in stock.
From that I will say...

5G iPod, with 40GB or 80GB HD
Smaller form factor iPod shuffle (2G), possibly with greater capacity
A minor rework of the nano. Most likely greater capacity, and better materials.

As for the 'fun' of the event, I think the following will occur...

intel Mac mini (name unknown, just know it will have 'Mac' in the name.)
1.67 or 1.8 GHz Core Duo
Dual Link DVI with 64MB or 128 MB Ram
Superdrive standard
Up to 250GB HD installed.
Bluetooth and Pre-N Airport standard
Gigabit Ethernet

Also...

intel Mac Book
1.3 or 1.6 Ghz. Core Solo
Fullsize DVI with 64MB Ram
Superdrive or Combo
12in 4:3 or 13in Widescreen
Bluetooth and Pre-N Airport standard
Gigabit Ethernet

Maybe...

Super Mac (Power Mac intel)
Dual Itanium 2 running at between 1.67 GHz and 2.5 Ghz
256MB Graphics Card
Dual Gigabit Ethernet
DL Superdrive
Space for a second Optical Drive.
500GB SATA drive standard.
Bluetooth and Pre-N Airport standard


TEG

[sam10685]

They will not be happy until they have enough money to own the world! :D

I personally don't think there's a real need for an Apple speaker system, but I assume the idea would be that they can make it better (quality, design, and/or ease of use) than the competition. Consumers would likely be willing to pay as much or more than they pay for third-party speakers if they knew Apple made it.

apple owning the world would not dissapoint me at all.

[TEG]

Apple will not create a TiVo killer. However, expect an announcement concerning TiVo on Tuesday. TiVo to Go should be available on Mac on Tuesday, along with the Series 3 TiVos (Capable of HDTV recording). and able to play all iTunes Content over a network on them.

TEG

[nathan2301]

My prediction for the new Mac minis...

Core Solo processors, same Front Row software with Remote as the iMac & MacBook Pro (with no DVR capabilities), no built-in iPod dock, Radeon X1300 graphics with 64MB VRAM, 8x DL SuperDrive in the top of the line model, and same price points ($499-699 US) as the current models. To expect much more (at those prices) is undoubtedly wishful thinking.

Finally someone making sense. It would be great if Apple could make the Mini a Media Centre experience like everyone is hoping for, but at the mini's price point is just isn't going to happen. If they did make it this crazy Media Centre then why would anyone bother with there iMac?

$699 (top end Mac Mini) plus
$799 for a 20 inch Cinema Display = $1498

That $200 less than an iMac equivalent, but it would be a much better machine, and to think of it most people wouldn't bother with a monitor. So $699 for a machine that is far superior to a iMac just doesnt make sense to me and I am guessing Apple to.

Having said that I could be wrong but I just get the feeling alot of you will be dissapointed when they announce a new Mac Mini.

Prove me wrong Apple, Prove me wrong (please) ;)

[dongmin]

Yea, I'm with you on that one.
It's pretty sad if all this is acutally about an actual iPod boombox.
For sure, if all this was just a portable speaker system that you could stick your ipod into, it'd be ultra lame. BUT, what I'm hoping this will be is a receiver/speaker system for iTunes that combines the wireless capabilities of Airport Express, the click wheel interface of the iPod, and some solid quality speakers.

[Spanky Deluxe]

What I'm looking for in a mac mini is:

Core Duo (any model, the 1.66Ghz one would be fine)
Radeon X1600 or similar (it'll probably be a X1300 though which will be fine I guess)
512MB RAM
160GB 3.5" drive (the bigger form factor because you get more bytes/buck)
Combo Drive (Superdrive CTO or more expensive model machine)
Bluetooth and Airport standard on everything but the base model
Frontrow + Remote


I just did a quick look into how much an Intel mini with the specs above would cost approximately:

T2300 (1.66Ghz Core Duo) + Chipset + Pro Wireless (AE) - $306
Radeon X1600 128MB - $99
Slimline Combo Drive - $37
160GB 3.5" HDD - $80
512MB RAM - $77
Apple Remote - $30

Total = $629.

But bear in mind that all of those prices apart from the cost of the T2300, chipset and wireless are all for pre existing stand alone products and are before any bulk discounts are factored in.
I would guesstimate that the Radeon X1600 would cost Apple $40. The Combo Drive would cost Apple $25, the hard drive $60, the ram $60 and the remote $5 (hell they make them and its just a bit of white plastic, a few buttons, a teeny bit of circuitry and a infra-red LED). I also reckon they get a decent discount on the Core Duos.

Using those costs the above specs would cost Apple about $500.

I reckon Apple will do away with the bottom end priced mini and they will start at $599 with Airport Express standard. They *might* go for $549 if airport isn't standard and Apple have some more savings. At $549 you'd also probably be talking core solo.
So $599 for the specs above and $699 for the same + bluetooth and superdrive.

Edit: $499 might be possible with a solo, no wireless and an X1300 64MB. I reckon none of the new minis will have dual link DVI. The iMacs don't so the minis sure aren't going to.

[dongmin]

[snip]

Having said that I could be wrong but I just get the feeling alot of you will be dissapointed when they announce a new Mac Mini.

Prove me wrong Apple, Prove me wrong (please) ;)People on this forum are ALWAYS disappointed; it's the nature of the beast. Everyone thinks Apple should make a product that pleases them and them only. Probably the biggest single disappointment on this forum that I've witnessed is the original ipod. (The last few iterations of G4 powerbooks have come close.)

for a bit of perspective:

http://www.misterbg.org/AppleProductCycle/

[xsnightclub]

I just did a quick look into how much an Intel mini with the specs above would cost approximately:

T2300 (1.66Ghz Core Duo) + Chipset + Pro Wireless (AE) - $306
Radeon X1600 128MB - $99
Slimline Combo Drive - $37
160GB 3.5" HDD - $80
512MB RAM - $77
Apple Remote - $30

Total = $629

So in true Apple standard protocol, add up the sum of the parts,
then add $1000 to it.

and we have MSRP $1629 :)

[Macmaniac]

I just did a quick look into how much an Intel mini with the specs above would cost approximately:

T2300 (1.66Ghz Core Duo) + Chipset + Pro Wireless (AE) - $306
Radeon X1600 128MB - $99
Slimline Combo Drive - $37
160GB 3.5" HDD - $80
512MB RAM - $77
Apple Remote - $30

Total = $629.

But bear in mind that all of those prices apart from the cost of the T2300, chipset and wireless are all for pre existing stand alone products and are before any bulk discounts are factored in.
I would guesstimate that the Radeon X1600 would cost Apple $40. The Combo Drive would cost Apple $25, the hard drive $60, the ram $60 and the remote $5 (hell they make them and its just a bit of white plastic, a few buttons, a teeny bit of circuitry and a infra-red LED). I also reckon they get a decent discount on the Core Duos.

Using those costs the above specs would cost Apple about $500.

I reckon Apple will do away with the bottom end priced mini and they will start at $599 with Airport Express standard. They *might* go for $549 if airport isn't standard and Apple have some more savings. At $549 you'd also probably be talking core solo.
So $599 for the specs above and $699 for the same + bluetooth and superdrive.

Edit: $499 might be possible with a solo, no wireless and an X1300 64MB. I reckon none of the new minis will have dual link DVI. The iMacs don't so the minis sure aren't going to.
Bah your prices are way OFF!
HD for Apple since they buy in bulk will probably be around $40-$50
RAM For around $40-50
Remote $8
Remember Apple marks things way up
A mini logic board and chip will probably be around $150
Video Card $60-70
Apple's cost for a Mini is going to range more around $335 for cost of parts

[andrewheard]

If the mac mini is released on tuesday wouldn't it need to be a core duo? I thought the core solo was still a little while off. I'm hoping that the core duo 1.67GHz's that were meant for the macbook pros will go into the mac minis but I don't have high hopes. If apple releases a core duo mac mini then I will be one happy nerd and also a nerd thats in debt.

[Spanky Deluxe]

Bah your prices are way OFF!
HD for Apple since they buy in bulk will probably be around $40-$50
RAM For around $40-50
Remote $8
Remember Apple marks things way up
A mini logic board and chip will probably be around $150
Video Card $60-70
Apple's cost for a Mini is going to range more around $335 for cost of parts

Did you actually read the rest of my post? I said those initial prices were for pre existing stand alone products as in their final retail cost.
I went on to say that an X1600 would probably cost Apple about $40, the combo drive $25, the hard drive (160GB SATA) $60, the ram (DDR2 PC2-5300) $60 and the remote $5.
The cost of the Core Duo, Chipset and Airport all in one are not going to be $150ish. The cost from Intel for a bulk order of 1000 units is $306: http://www.intel.com/intel/finance/pricelist/ Apple will probably get a bit off of that but probably no more than $30-$40. Even Dell has to pay those kind of prices.

[tjwett]

I hope they bring out a range of Mac Mini's with a top of the range model with a duel core.

i'd think it would need one as a bare minimum to do any of the cool stuff we are speculating about. this is why i remain skeptical. the mini is supposed to be a budget-priced mac that "anyone" can afford. the hardware this thing would need to be recording, ripping, encoding streaming and burning all this media with any kind of convenience would place it damn near workstation class. hey maybe i'm wrong and this is the beginning of a new era for Apple and Mac users... Modern Hardware Across the Whole Line!!! wow, that would be weird.

[zpapasmurf]

It won't compete. First, iTunes will have the episode ready to download the next day if you forget to record it or you lose power. Second, the product won't be with 100% of the Apple customer base and all those Windows users. It will be a select few that will actually own one if you look at the entire market. Third, if Apple used that to bait a huge percentage of Windows users then they wouldn't mind have this compete with the low profitable iTunes sales.

(this is from a while back.... didnt bother to read the rest of the thread)

But... could it be possible that apple was using the TV shows on iTunes to test the waters for feature length HD film distribution. They've got all the technology in place now, just on a smaller scale.

Surrender TV shows to the DVR box and sell feature length films for $10 a pop or something.

Just my thoughts.

[dongmin]

I just did a quick look into how much an Intel mini with the specs above would cost approximately:

T2300 (1.66Ghz Core Duo) + Chipset + Pro Wireless (AE) - $306
Radeon X1600 128MB - $99
Slimline Combo Drive - $37
160GB 3.5" HDD - $80
512MB RAM - $77
Apple Remote - $30

Total = $629.

But bear in mind that all of those prices apart from the cost of the T2300, chipset and wireless are all for pre existing stand alone products and are before any bulk discounts are factored in.
I would guesstimate that the Radeon X1600 would cost Apple $40. The Combo Drive would cost Apple $25, the hard drive $60, the ram $60 and the remote $5 (hell they make them and its just a bit of white plastic, a few buttons, a teeny bit of circuitry and a infra-red LED). I also reckon they get a decent discount on the Core Duos.

Using those costs the above specs would cost Apple about $500.

I reckon Apple will do away with the bottom end priced mini and they will start at $599 with Airport Express standard. They *might* go for $549 if airport isn't standard and Apple have some more savings. At $549 you'd also probably be talking core solo.
So $599 for the specs above and $699 for the same + bluetooth and superdrive.

Edit: $499 might be possible with a solo, no wireless and an X1300 64MB. I reckon none of the new minis will have dual link DVI. The iMacs don't so the minis sure aren't going to.For a machine that costs$500 to manufacture, Apple will surely charge a lot more than $600. That's barely a 16.7% margin. Add in assembly, packaging, shipping, and distribution and even that 16.7% margin is gonna disappear in a hurry. For a $600 product, there is no way in hell that the processor is gonna take up $300. The G4, for all its limitations, served Apple well considering its low heat profile and low cost ($50-75). Face it folks, for an Intel Mini to exist (and I'm not 100% convinced that it will), we're talking Celeron Ms at best.

It's quite possible that Apple will introduce a real media mac with all the bells and whistles people are hoping for. But a) it will be way bigger than the current Mini and b) it'll cost a lot more too.

For reference, check out Dell's low-end nokebook (not desktop) systems. In the $700 range, you'll be lucky to get a Celeron M 1.50 ghz, 64MB Radeon Mobility 9000 video card, 40GB HDD, 512MB RAM, and maybe a DVD burner. Take off $200 for the screen, keyboard, and battery and that's what you'll be getting in a Mini.

[yac_moda]

It NOT a Mac mini !!!

Its either something to scoop the "Origami Project" ...

http://www.origamiproject.com/1/

OR Apple will buy Disney !?!?!?!?!


Probably BOTH !!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[p0intblank]

Wow! It seems like the Mac mini really is being released this upcoming Tuesday. The rumors seem really spot on, and plus I trust AppleInsider the most out of all the rumor sites. I would absolutely love a Mac mini in my room, but would also love the new iMac. Apple is such an expensive hobby! ;)

[maya]

Let's all get our hopes up in what this new product(s) can be, only to be disappointed when whatever Steven Jobs releases on 28 Feb is a reality. ;) :D

[reyesmac]

Maybe you will be able to stack the ipod boombox under the new mini and integrate the two. Thats my dream anyway. It would be easier to swallow paying over a grand for a mostly entertainment center mac if you could buy the pieces over time. Or maybe this time they will go for more features and not compete on price. I think I am ready to buy one now no matter what it is like.

[Porchland]

Three studios down (Disney/ABC, Universal/NBC, Viacom/Paramount) four to go (Sony/Columbia Pictures, CBS, Warner Brothers, Fox). I think we'll get content from one of the four holdouts on Tuesday along with a few more titles from the three that already on board. Maybe a BIG catalog title like "Seinfeld" or "Friends."

Warner/HBO sounds about right. The new season of "The Sopranos" starts in a couple of weeks.

Rupert Murdoch has been talking smack about iTunes lately, so Fox is probably out at the moment.


If there's an iPod video involved in the announcement, I think we're going to see "The Incredibles" announced as the first feature film -- and probably an exclusive iTunes-only "Cars" preview.

[progect]

with all of these inventions you guys come up with I swear...Apple engineers probably surf this site just to write down the things people come up with, only to patent it and then come out with it a couple years later. :)

I REALLY hope they come out with DVR-- that would be extra cool. I hope their boombox is designed to be like the boomboxes of the late 80's- all huge and whatnot.

[Yvan256]

Why in the world would a mini have a core duo?
:confused:

Because maybe Apple wants all its computer to be dual-core? Because the price difference between Core Solo and Core Duo isn't enough to use the Core Solo?

What about two low-end models with a 1.67GHz Core Solo, and one high-end model with a 1.67GHz Core Duo?

[Di9it8]

A few questions:
1) Is the stream coming in High-Def?
2) Does your Mac do the encoding, or does the EyeTV do it?
3) How big are the resulting H.264 files?
4) What Mac are you using?

I'm curious to see what happens on your Mac, versus what people are saying the new Mini 'should be' or 'needs to have'.
Thanks!

1) Currently we dont have Hi Def TV coming in. There is a noticable quality difference in the different channels available. You can also tell the different cameras used on films or tv programmes.
2) The encoding is done by EyeTV, it allows the choice of numerous formats, see attached.
3) For example I have just recorded a 2 hr programme and the file is 3.18gb
Re file size, I have just done a test comparing H264 HDv720p and HDv 1080i and the respective file sizes for a 1 minute clip are H264 15.7mb Hd720p 184MB and Hd 1080i 466MB.
4) I am running a 1ghz 17"PB 1gb ram 100gb harddrive, (generation one 17" but faster and bigger hard drive)

The general quality of the recordings is usually very good, and looks great projected!!

[generik]

Because maybe Apple wants all its computer to be dual-core? Because the price difference between Core Solo and Core Duo isn't enough to use the Core Solo?

What about two low-end models with a 1.67GHz Core Solo, and one high-end model with a 1.67GHz Core Duo?

There is no such thing as "not enough price difference".

If Apple can shave a single cent from each unit, and get away with it, they'd probably save millions a year. Think about it. Why would they deliver more to you out of their own pockets? No way!

[Yvan256]

I don't think you really need an internal 3.5" HDD. A good 7200rpm 80GB 2.5" SATA notebook drive will give you both enough space for OS, applications, etc. and very good responsiveness.

But the point is, you can almost get a 500GB 3.5" drive for the price of that 7200RPM 2.5" SATA drive. If the new Mac mini is supposed to double as a PVR, you need storage room more than you need a small device.

Then again, the style of the Mac mini doesn't fit with other audio/video components... You'd need to cut the height in half and make it two or three times as wide (to look like a VHS or DVD unit).

Can't wait 'till tuesday...

[mjstew33]

what da heck is FrontRow 2.0 anyway?

and would imac users get the update?
Extremely doubtful, knowing Apple. I don't think you could even buy it. :(

[Yvan256]

What if...

iTunes started selling TV shows before they were aired on TV for $1.99
D/L the show and watch it before it's shown on television..Voila!!
Apple gets it's $1.99 and users get to record a show with the DVR..

I still think 1.99$US per episode is way too expensive.

However, if Apple had subscriptions to TV shows directly, I could drop my digital cable box (still catch the local news for free), lower my overall costs and get more shows that I like, and not miss any either (VHS tapes are such a hassle, I don't even bother recording shows anymore).

Paying for only the shows I want? Downloading them and watching them when I want? All for possibly less money, with no ads on top of that? Sign me up!

[npm]

Hmmm....maybe there was something to that eight pound, 10" screen iPod reference by Jobs afterall (or was it reversed, 10 pound, 8"?).

This has been in my head also. Especially considering the spotlight demo using iMac and Paris. Then, of course, the iMac G5 was introduced at the Paris Mac Expo!! I can't imagine it really being 8 pounds(!!), but...

[Di9it8]

Has anyone thought of this movement of the brand, now that SJ is at Disney?

[mavrick422]

I'm sorry, I'm on a treo and it'll be a pain to browse through all the pages of the thread...is the ipod hifi an actual ipod or just an assessory? if the latter, wat would it look like? thanks

[nagromme]

iPod Hi-Fi sounds perfect for the 70s. (I assume it's in a massive wooden floor cabinet.)

iPod Boombox sounds perfect for the 80s. (And I can think of nothing useful it could be, that a regular iPod docked INTO a speaker set wouldn't do better. But I probably haven't though of what Apple has come up with :) )

I'm glad Apple is reaching into the past for names--"Extreme" was really getting on my nerves! (If Apple ever uses the term "Advance" without the "d" I will shriek.)

For those that prefer the 20s, I look forward to the iTunes Talking Picture Store.

[Aeolius]

Has anyone thought of this movement of the brand, now that SJ is at Disney?

And then there is Disney's movie-in-a box venture, MovieBeam (http://www.moviebeam.com/) . And when's the last time we heard anything about Asteroid?

[iriejedi]

Must have a Mini with remote for the entertainment center!

Please :eek:


I'd like to prototype the Inten in a cheap format ie the mini.

Any guesses to cost?

[Yvan256]

There is no such thing as "not enough price difference".

If Apple can shave a single cent from each unit, and get away with it, they'd probably save millions a year. Think about it. Why would they deliver more to you out of their own pockets? No way!

Because of the marketing they can get out of it? "All Apple computers have two processors" is a very strong marketing point that Dell will be hard pressed to match.

Apple could've put a Radeon 7500/16MB in the Mac mini, but they didn't (not that a Radeon 9200/32MB was good, but their other computers had GPUs that were so weak and the VRAM so low, they couldn't push the Mac mini higher).

But now that we got MacBook Pro and Core Duo iMacs with decent GPUs/VRAM, the bar is high enough for Apple to put something decent in the new Mac mini.

[reyesmac]

Wasn't there a rumor not too long ago that Apple was creating a universal remote control? Wouldn't this be the one more thing nobody was expecting? It would control the boombox, mini, and front row on any mac plus allow you to control the rest of your entertainment center. That way you could turn on the surround sound at the same time you play a movie. They could announce deals with TV companies that would allow tighter integration between the tv and the mac. That way you could control all the settings through a computer interface instead of through each component. I better stop dreaming now, they will just come out with the same products they already have just upgraded and a little better than before.

[iHeartTheApple]

I just did a quick look into how much an Intel mini with the specs above would cost approximately:

T2300 (1.66Ghz Core Duo) + Chipset + Pro Wireless (AE) - $306
Radeon X1600 128MB - $99
Slimline Combo Drive - $37
160GB 3.5" HDD - $80
512MB RAM - $77
Apple Remote - $30

Total = $629.

But bear in mind that all of those prices apart from the cost of the T2300, chipset and wireless are all for pre existing stand alone products and are before any bulk discounts are factored in.
I would guesstimate that the Radeon X1600 would cost Apple $40. The Combo Drive would cost Apple $25, the hard drive $60, the ram $60 and the remote $5 (hell they make them and its just a bit of white plastic, a few buttons, a teeny bit of circuitry and a infra-red LED). I also reckon they get a decent discount on the Core Duos.

Using those costs the above specs would cost Apple about $500.


Very nicely done, Spanky! I didn't think to price everything out like that...I was starting to think that everyone was right about not *ever* seeing a Core Duo in a mini. While I do agree that a 1.83 or 2.0 would be unlikely due to competition with the new iMac Duos, I think that a 1.67GHz would be more than adequate and fit the mac mini just fine. You're right, the model you just outlined could very well take the place as the middle of the line Mini with a Core Solo bringing up the rear ($~499ish) and a beefier model (still with a 1.67Duo) with a few more accessories (DL-SD, FW800? maybe...) for around $699.

I would be completely satisfied with that. I realize the mini is the entry level mac, but that doesn't mean we *can't* have an option to kick it up a notch. You know...nippin' at the heels of the iMacs, but still headless and down to earth.

You can do it Steve! Here's to hoping...

[barstard]

Has anyone thought of this movement of the brand, now that SJ is at Disney?

Good mock up. But if Apple brings out ANYTHING branded like that with Disney, then I will have to buy a windows PC!:D ... Shudder... OK maybe not, but no co-branding PLEASE. Just like when the U2 iPod came out. I really liked the black, but didn't want the signature engraving or the songs (or premium price) so I didn't buy one. All of those, the engraving and songs, should have been an EXTRA upgrade at purchase time if wanted.

Sorry. Very off topic.;)

barstard.

[Yvan256]

[...] I realize the mini is the entry level mac, but that doesn't mean we can have an option to kick it up a notch. [...]

Well, Apple didn't really cut on the features for the first Mac mini (GPU/VRAM aside). I mean, a 2.5" drive isn't exactly cheap, nor is a slot-load drive. Not exactly sure if the DVI output is more expensive than standard VGA, but the Mac mini has both.

[age234]

I guess I just don't see a Mac Mini / DVR all-in-one. I don't think many people are to the point of watching their TV and movies at their desks or computing from their couch. They're still very different things. If you have one system that does both things, people will use one aspect more than the other, wasting the cost and innovation of the other. Basically, it'll cost way too much for what people end up using it for.

So, what could it be? Here's what I think:

A) New Airport Express with Video (Streaming content to your TV via Airport, probably with a FrontRow UI showing up on the TV. Call it read-only TiVo. Stuff plays on your TV, but is streamed from your Mac. Maybe with the ability to buy stuff from ITMS from your TV as well, via your Mac.) #2 choice in my book.

B) Standalone DVR appliance (Records TV shows and everything TiVo can do, maybe with a fee, maybe not. FrontRow UI. Buy stuff from ITMS from your TV, but behind-the-scenes it's going thru your Mac, saves a copy on your Mac and your DVR. This gives you a full DVR and keeps the Mini at the price point it's designed for.) #1 choice in my book.

C) Mac Mini with DVR functionality (An updated Mac Mini crossed with a DVR. I think it's pointless, because most people would only use it for the DVR, and all the computing stuff would just make it more expensive. Doesn't seem like something Apple would do.)

D) Unrelated, iPod with PDA functionality, starting a new line, not replacing the current iPod (for the same reasons as in C above). This is what I personally really want.

[DrNeroCF]

What if Apple and ATI get hardware h.264 encoding working perfectly? Hello HD with decent filesizes... would be perfect on a media center mini :cool:

[oober_freak]

All these features people are wanting or expecting in the new Mini would probably push its price up comparable to that of the iMac. I'd just like to see a nice cheap entry level Intel Mac - just what the Mini is designed to be.

The most sensible post I've seen so far. The mini was designed to be a low-end computer for the consumer. Let it stay that way. Simple and Cheap

[osfjvdfspkvjsdf]

does anyone use boomboxs anymore? and ya im really gonna carry around this big huge thing just to be able to listen to music. ive heard some really bizare things but this has to be the craziest thing i have ever heard of are you people for real? and just b/c some stupid website says the new ibooks are not going to be released this tuseday doesn't mean they aren't and where did this site get this info anyway? and ya im really gonna believe something is true just b/c thinksecret said so. you people have lost your minds.

[Yvan256]

[...] Here's what I think:

A) New Airport Express with Video (Streaming content to your TV via Airport, probably with a FrontRow UI showing up on the TV. Call it read-only TiVo. Stuff plays on your TV, but is streamed from your Mac. Maybe with the ability to buy stuff from ITMS from your TV as well, via your Mac.) #2 choice in my book.

B) Standalone DVR appliance (Records TV shows and everything TiVo can do, maybe with a fee, maybe not. FrontRow UI. Buy stuff from ITMS from your TV, but behind-the-scenes it's going thru your Mac, saves a copy on your Mac and your DVR.) #1 choice in my book.

C) Mac Mini with DVR functionality (An updated Mac Mini crossed with a DVR. I think it's pointless, because most people would only use it for the DVR, and all the computing stuff would just make it more expensive. Doesn't seem like something Apple would do.)

D) Unrelated, iPod with PDA functionality, starting a new line, not replacing the current iPod (for the same reasons as in C above). This is what I personally really want.

A. Replace "from your Mac" with "from your computer" (let's face it, Macs are only about 5% of the market). Apple needs to be able to sell a "Video Airport Xpress" to everyone that can run iTunes, OS X or Windows.

B. Same thing as above, i.e. works with "a computer" + iTunes.

C. It makes sense if it can all be run from a television. Perhaps two resolutions (standard and high definition) and two video modes (4:3 and 16:9). Email and the web, from your living room? Imagine the new marketshare with Macs in the living room... It also makes sense as a desktop computer, because you can watch television in a window while doing other things.

D. I'm hoping for that too ("Palm LifeDrive" killer). Or "The PDA, done right. From Apple." :cool:

[Bosunsfate]

Here's the thing,

We sit 6 to 12 feet from our TV, yet we sit 2 feet in front of our computer.

Front Row in the iMac and notebooks is great for the college student and the road warrior (like me), but I don't see those products as very usuable for home. Especially since I have a very nice 40" HiDef TV.

Now, give me a MacMini with Front Row so I can watch my vBlogs, videos, you name it on my TV. Yeah, yeah, some won't look that great based on the resolution, but hey, that's only for some things, not all.

Problem, that's all the MacMini would be, just used for FrontRow. I can't email with it, etc, etc. So, just a MacMini is not where its at, even if was only $500.

Second problem, I only want one iTunes with one set of subscriptions. Right now having different computers (work/home) is enough, having more than one at home, that's not cool.:(

Anyway, I think Apple is aware of these kinds of problems and I expect Tuesday to bring me one step closer to a seriously better time at home.:cool:

[Bosunsfate]

A. Remplace "from your Mac" with "from your computer" (let's face it, Macs are only about 5% of the market, Apple needs to be able to sell a "Video Airport Xpress" to everyone that can run iTunes, OS X or Windows.

B. Same thing as above, i.e. works with "a computer" + iTunes.

C. It makes sense if it can all be run from a television. Perhaps two resolutions (standard and high definition) and two video modes (4:3 and 16:9). Email and the web, from your living room? Imagine the new marketshare with Macs in the living room.

Hadn't seen this before my post, but this is right in line with what I'm thinking. The end is not a "Mac" as we know it.

[age234]

A. Remplace "from your Mac" with "from your computer" (let's face it, Macs are only about 5% of the market). Apple needs to be able to sell a "Video Airport Xpress" to everyone that can run iTunes, OS X or Windows.
Good point. I agree.

[u2mr2os2]

Based on how the Intel Mac rollout is going, I fully expect the Intel Mac mini to be pretty much the same. but with an Intel chip, an improved video card, and Front Row capability (sans camera).

Given that the mini is about low-cost, a Core Solo is highly likely. Even with that, it should be twice as fast as the previous model, which will be quite capable. If the video card provides H.264 hardware assist, then it will be very nice. Plug it into an HD screen and enjoy.

As for the name, I don't expect it to change. It already has "Mac" in it just like "iMac" did.

[Neb154]

.Mac rumors of massive storage...
+
Wireless streaming of video in new airport
+
DVR to record shows...

Sounds like some good addition to me...

[dicklacara]

B) ...Buy stuff from ITMS from your TV, but behind-the-scenes it's going thru your Mac, saves a copy on your Mac and your DVR....


This is the Trojan Horse: Buy [all kinds of] stuff on TV thru the iTMS!

Dick

[beatle888]

The most sensible post I've seen so far. The mini was designed to be a low-end computer for the consumer. Let it stay that way. Simple and Cheap


but we are talking about a special event with invite only. i doubt its for a low end intel mini.

[u2mr2os2]

I have been thinking that Apple might be able to sell an "iTunes box" that takes the place of a computer to use the iPod with. It has the iTunes interface, connects to the music store and your iPod. It is for those without a computer or those whose Windows computer is in such a mess that using their iPod with it is impossible or a terrible experience.

Of course, this "box" would be pretty much a Mac mini inside, but not selling it as a "Mac" skirts the compatibility worries that many people would have if it were sold as a computer. It's just sold as an iTunes appliance, which it is perfect for. Because of network ability, you music is not trapped in it forever either. Later, of course, they can discover that it can do their e-mail, photos and other things just fine if they like.

[zap2]

chip in the Mac Mini? if its Core Duo, sign me up!

[colinmack]

It NOT a Mac mini !!!

Its either something to scoop the "Origami Project" ...

http://www.origamiproject.com/1/

OR Apple will buy Disney !?!?!?!?!


Probably BOTH !!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

(first-time poster, but long-time reader)

Agree 100%...this is interesting evidence that the timing next week may not be a coincidence - the Origami website is registered by Microsoft, and they're trying to be secretive about what it is (it's being launched next Thursday)...someone at a blog site tracked down the marketing firm that was doing promo work for the project: http://www.d-kitchen.com/main.html (enter, Work, Brand Theatre, Microsoft Origami, play: origami).

From the video, Origami appears to be a small wireless tablet-ish device from Microsoft that seems like...well, like a 'fun new product'...could the timing of Apple's announcement Tuesday be intended to preempt Microsoft coming out with something similar? With all the tablet patents, it would make the idea of a wireless part-tablet, part-PDA, part-iPod device more plausible.

Food for thought, anyway.

[ChrisBoven]

All I know is that I just got a suprise check for $1125 in the mail today from overpayed scholarships, so im ready

[beatle888]

I have been thinking that Apple might be able to sell an "iTunes box" that takes the place of a computer to use the iPod with. It has the iTunes interface, connects to the music store and your iPod. It is for those without a computer or those whose Windows computer is in such a mess that using their iPod with it is impossible or a terrible experience.

Of course, this "box" would be pretty much a Mac mini inside, but not selling it as a "Mac" skirts the compatibility worries that many people would have if it were sold as a computer. It's just sold as an iTunes appliance, which it is perfect for. Because of network ability, you music is not trapped in it forever either. Later, of course, they can discover that it can do their e-mail, photos and other things just fine if they like.


hehe, i almost didnt read your post because i thought your user name didnt make any sense and i couldnt be bothered :eek: :confused: :)

but i DID read it and thought it very interesting and original. nice post.

[bevo]

Very nicely done, Spanky! I didn't think to price everything out like that...I was starting to think that everyone was right about not *ever* seeing a Core Duo in a mini. While I do agree that a 1.83 or 2.0 would be unlikely due to competition with the new iMac Duos, I think that a 1.67GHz would be more than adequate and fit the mac mini just fine. You're right, the model you just outlined could very well take the place as the middle of the line Mini with a Core Solo bringing up the rear ($~499ish) and a beefier model (still with a 1.67Duo) with a few more accessories (DL-SD, FW800? maybe...) for around $699.

I would be completely satisfied with that. I realize the mini is the entry level mac, but that doesn't mean we *can't* have an option to kick it up a notch. You know...nippin' at the heels of the iMacs, but still headless and down to earth.

You can do it Steve! Here's to hoping...


I think the cost for the duo is too high.

I can't remember where I read it, but Intel just released a new intel chip Pentium D 805 (dont know speed). Around the price point of $150. I think newegg has it at 145 or so. ( Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 533MHz FSB 2 x 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual Core,EM64T Processor - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116001)

I can't imagine the mb + wireless going over $100. so I think ~250 for chip and mb is prob the price point for those parts.

I think at this point it gets teh cost of the mini down into the area of where the mini would sell.

[whee900]

Wasn't the Mac mini supposed to be low-end? If they revise the Mac mini and make it an entertainment center, then there'll be a hole in Apple's product line: the low-end, basic Mac. If Apple's going to change the Mac mini, they have to have some sort of a replacement product to complete the line of Apple products.

I expect the new Mac mini to be the same as before, but with Intel chips and a better video card.

[xterm]

Remember Steve's fake podcast at macworld? He said the next ipod would be 6pounds, and have a 10" screen.

Its possible he was eluding to the "ipod boombox", it fits perfectly, a standalone ipod, with a big screen, airport extreme, and a interface to itunes and the itunes music store.

They could even go one step further and make this product the media center that everyone has been pining after.

Steve also said "apple is working with other companies to get ipods everywhere"

not sure what to make of that one...

[sam10685]

Remember Steve's fake podcast at macworld? He said the next ipod would be 6pounds, and have a 10" screen.

Its possible he was eluding to the "ipod boombox", it fits perfectly, a standalone ipod, with a big screen, airport extreme, and a interface to itunes and the itunes music store.

They could even go one step further and make this product the media center that everyone has been pining after.

Steve also said "apple is working with other companies to get ipods everywhere"

not sure what to make of that one...

he said "an 8-pounder..."

[joeboy_45101]

Regarding the iPod "Hi-Fi" Boombox has anybody even thought that this might not be an accessory, but instead be an actual iPod . I believe the boombox will be a stationary iPod; with built-in harddrive, speakers, and screen.

Instead of thinking of it as a boombox for the iPod think of it as a boombox that is an iPod. I believe Steve Jobs may have given us a clue with the 8-pound iPod joke at Macworld.

[joeboy_45101]

Remember Steve's fake podcast at macworld? He said the next ipod would be 6pounds, and have a 10" screen.

Its possible he was eluding to the "ipod boombox", it fits perfectly, a standalone ipod, with a big screen, airport extreme, and a interface to itunes and the itunes music store.

They could even go one step further and make this product the media center that everyone has been pining after.

Steve also said "apple is working with other companies to get ipods everywhere"

not sure what to make of that one...

Oh, well. I guess you beat me to it. This is going to be an awesome product.

[Bosunsfate]

Wasn't the Mac mini supposed to be low-end? If they revise the Mac mini and make it an entertainment center, then there'll be a hole in Apple's product line: the low-end, basic Mac. If Apple's going to change the Mac mini, they have to have some sort of a replacement product to complete the line of Apple products.

I expect the new Mac mini to be the same as before, but with Intel chips and a better video card.

I don't see the Mac Mini being replaced. We are seeing a new product here.

[Yvan256]

Regarding the iPod "Hi-Fi" Boombox has anybody even thought that this might not be an accessory, but instead be an actual iPod . I believe the boombox will be a stationary iPod; with built-in harddrive, speakers, and screen.

Instead of thinking of it as a boombox for the iPod think of it as a boombox that is an iPod. I believe Steve Jobs may have given us a clue with the 8-pound iPod joke at Macworld.

Simple audio box to replace your AM/FM/tape/CD player that also doubles as a (big) iPod with integrated iTunes + ripping with Wi-Fi for CDDB, iTMS and Airport Express compatibility... a 10" screen would actually be enough to browse the iTMS and use iTunes, too.

Did Steve really give us all the details? Did we just fill the gap to explain what the product was? :cool:

[Bosunsfate]

Regarding the iPod "Hi-Fi" Boombox has anybody even thought that this might not be an accessory, but instead be an actual iPod . I believe the boombox will be a stationary iPod; with built-in harddrive, speakers, and screen.

Instead of thinking of it as a boombox for the iPod think of it as a boombox that is an iPod. I believe Steve Jobs may have given us a clue with the 8-pound iPod joke at Macworld.

I wouldn't call it an iPod, this is more about the true "media" hub in the living room. Albiet portable enough to travel.

[Bosunsfate]

Simple audio box to replace your AM/FM/tape/CD player that also doubles as a (big) iPod with integrated iTunes + ripping with Wi-Fi for CDDB, iTMS and Airport Express compatibility... a 10" screen would actually be enough to browse the iTMS and use iTunes, too.

Did Steve really give us all the details? Did we just fill the gap to explain what the product was? :cool:

Throw in "gestures" and you've got it. You'd need a touch screen, not a keyboard and mouse......oh yea, I'm buying one.:cool:

[aswitcher]

Regarding the iPod "Hi-Fi" Boombox has anybody even thought that this might not be an accessory, but instead be an actual iPod . I believe the boombox will be a stationary iPod; with built-in harddrive, speakers, and screen.

Instead of thinking of it as a boombox for the iPod think of it as a boombox that is an iPod. I believe Steve Jobs may have given us a clue with the 8-pound iPod joke at Macworld.

Nice reasoning...

[jordanste]

If the new ibook has core solo processors, I'll have to make myself buy a macbook pro!! I'de like to save my money...

And too bad there wont be a 12" model.

[ethen]

i seriously itching to see what they will be, i'm still waiting to see if i should just grab powermac or wait for the next thing lol

[muffinman]

so is the boombox a completly new ipod, or something u plug your ipod into?:confused:

[MacMosher]

I don't see the Mac Mini being replaced. We are seeing a new product here.
I completly disagree, unless you consider the switch from a powerbook to MBP a new product ahah, its still going to be a mac mini just new specs :rolleyes:

[moesker007]

Props to you guys who made the connection with the 8lb ipod joke. I remember wathcing the keynote and saying "That's not gonna be a joke in a few months" it makes total sense what you guys and gals came up with. I'm super excited for Tuesday, we have't had any good rumors for a while!

[Bosunsfate]

so is the boombox a completly new ipod, or something u plug your ipod into?:confused:

I'm sure there would be a few options for how this would work with iTunes or an iPod. In the end I think an iPod could dock with it, but the boombox would be the storehouse, not the iPod, much like your Mac is now.

[nataku]

Hmmm... we have to remember that the Mac Mini was built to lure Windows users to try a Mac. It just so happened that Mac users loved a small/compact computer. I'd say Apple will introduce a Mac Mini with an Intel Core-Solo processor inside and another Mac Mini with all the bells and whistles of the "living room" computer. But it wouldnt be right to put a Core-Solo inside those media center-like macs. Then again, Apple might intro an entirely new product (It says so in the invitation: "Fun NEW Products")

So yeah, my guess would be Updated Mac Minis with Core-Solo processors (this will be for luring Windoze users) and a completely new product (or a Mac Mini-like media center computer).

[thebrain74]

I am a fairly recent switcher (imac g5 17'', with EyeTV, so I don't need a DVR)
I think it should be important to remember that the invitation specifically said fun "new" products. So I think if anything that is updated (mac mini, ipod, etc) it will come under a new name, to make it new. This is one of the reasons I have holding out for a new ibook (macbook=new name=new product).

The mini will not have built in DVR. It will probably get a nice little update, but nothing spectacular. IF (big if, as it goes agaisnt iTunes) Apple goes DVR it will be an external/add on unit. It would be Abolutely Re-dic-u-lus to have a mac mini (or whatever the name it) to have DVR but to leave their true spenders (imac, macbook, macbook pro, and power mac buyers) out in the cold. I also think it would REALLy piss off all the the TV studios who made this giant leap and put their stuff on itunes, just to have apple go and release a DVR to negate the other stuff.

Don't be two sure apple won't make a me-too speaker system (they already entered the ipod access. business-ipod shuffle/nano cases, specialized earphones, etc.)

It is a VERY good chance something ipod related will be intro'd, as iLounge was invited.


Me, all I've hoping for is an ibook with a backlit keyboard.

thebrain

[thebrain74]

P.S.

I think there is a good chance of dual core minis.
I agree that the "dual cores in every mac" is a very compelling ad line. it could also be something like "twice the bang for the buck" or "twice as much/fast as PC's" (not really true, but ya know, its Apple, they exaggerate)

[Bosunsfate]

This has been said before but Apple will not get into the DVR business. It totally undermines the ITMS.

[Yvan256]

As an added note...

If the "8 lbs, 10-inch screen iPod" joke refers to an "iPod stereo" that replaces your tape/CD player unit, can read/rip CDs (for people without computers or computers too old for iTunes), has an iPod dock and has iTunes + Wi-Fi for the iTMS...

There's not much more hardware needed to have a TV out to get Mail, Safari and iChat in the living room. That's where FrontRow and the remote fits into the picture! (with a bluetooth keyboard to use the other programs).

I'd also bet this unit will use a G4 to keep it low-cost. If it has an ATI GPU that can do real-time H.264 hardware decoding, the G4 could even be 1.25 or even 1GHz. I also remember a low-power, real-time H.264 decoder/encoder chip in the news a few months ago. And remember that long-term Freescale contract?

Of course, it's gonna be a complete Mac, you'll be able to install software, play WoW on your TV and all, but Apple won't market it as a "Mac" (or perhaps they will... to re-enforce the Mac image/platform).

"Introducing... The EntertainMac".... ;)

Ok, so I hope Apple's marketing department will have a better name for it.

Now, who can "photoshop" a nice mock-up of such a device? Remember, it has to have the look of an iPod/iMac, 10" touchscreen, CD/DVD player (slot-load, of course), IR port... possibly with optional speakers. Just as the Mac mini was only supposed to replace your beige tower, so will this product only to replace your tape/CD player, your DVD player and your VHS recorder (with iTMS subscriptions to shows, a-la-carte).

[kugino]

wishful thinkers here...but no, there will NOT be macbooks or video ipods or souped-up mac minis...if anything, it will be a mac mini with intel and maybe a couple of new multimedia apps, but nothing totally major.

for sure: boom box thing
maybe: online video store w/updated itunes

[powerbook911]

Remember Steve's fake podcast at macworld? He said the next ipod would be 6pounds, and have a 10" screen.



Nice. :) I mean, it could always be possible. Who knows. Fun to think about!

[xterm]

As someone else pointed about in another post, Steve has put hints like this into previous keynotes, he was demontrating spotlight(i think?) and his search terms were "imac" and "paris". Later that year at Macworld Paris, the new iMac was announced.

[Yvan256]

wishful thinkers here...but no, there will NOT be macbooks or video ipods or souped-up mac minis...if anything, it will be a mac mini with intel and maybe a couple of new multimedia apps, but nothing totally major.

for sure: boom box thing
maybe: online video store w/updated itunes

As someone else said... Who buys "boomboxes" anymore? Are we still in 1980?! :confused:


As someone else pointed about in another post, Steve has put hints like this into previous keynotes, he was demontrating spotlight(i think?) and his search terms were "imac" and "paris". Later that year at Macworld Paris, the new iMac was announced.

And this year, he told us about a "8 lbs, 10-inch LCD iPod". Sounds like a "hi-fi stereo component" to me! And it's "fun" since it gives acces to audio CD ripping, music library playback (iTunes) and iPod syncing to people who don't have a computer. If you got Wi-Fi access (say, someone in your household as a computer but you don't use it because "computers are too complicated"), you got iTMS as an added bonus. Oh, and shared music libraries too. And since it's Airport Express compatible, you can stream music anywhere in your house with a single unit.

Now, that is a "fun" product. Especially if it has all the other features I've mentionned previously! (Mail, Safari, iChat, FrontRow, etc)

[C00rDiNaT0r]

I've been thinking, what if Apple comes out with something like... iMac without the screen and iSight, but adds an iPod dock and more ports (USB, dual link DVI, HDMI, optical out, etc.)? I would say to go with some slightly lower specs than the iMac to cut down cost.

[Yvan256]

I've been thinking, what if Apple comes out with something like... iMac without the screen and iSight, but adds an iPod dock and more ports (USB, dual link DVI, HDMI, optical out, etc.)? I would say to go with some slightly lower specs than the iMac to cut down cost.

Apart from the specialized ports, that's a Mac mini you're talking about. ;)

[yg17]

I have been thinking that Apple might be able to sell an "iTunes box" that takes the place of a computer to use the iPod with. It has the iTunes interface, connects to the music store and your iPod. It is for those without a computer or those whose Windows computer is in such a mess that using their iPod with it is impossible or a terrible experience.

Of course, this "box" would be pretty much a Mac mini inside, but not selling it as a "Mac" skirts the compatibility worries that many people would have if it were sold as a computer. It's just sold as an iTunes appliance, which it is perfect for. Because of network ability, you music is not trapped in it forever either. Later, of course, they can discover that it can do their e-mail, photos and other things just fine if they like.

I doubt it, because someone who doesn't have a computer in 2006 likely has no interest in an iPod if they've even heard of one or knows what one is.

[NEENAHBOY]

It's threads like this that lead to a good portion of the forum cussing out the "boring media event" for days afterward. It should be noted that the media events have never approached the product depth that has been present in keynotes, and it seems to me like that's what is expected from all of you.

I predict we'll see a mini tablet/iPod, iTunes Video Store and MAYBE the Mini switching to Intel, but nothing more. All the other major products in the pipeline will be saved for a special anniversary event, IMO.

[scotto07]

Ok this is my first post, here it goes....

As said before it would be totally awesome to have an Apple version of the Sonos Player, but went further to include Video, Tivo, and most of all in a 1U 17-inch form factor that fits with other A/V Equipment.

It should also be able to easily be used as a multi-room system.

[craig0ry]

You know what I would trade my balls to have them announce? CD QUALITY iTunes downloads. That's all I want.

[C00rDiNaT0r]

Apart from the specialized ports, that's a Mac mini you're talking about. ;)
Actually I meant to ask what would the price be if they made it like that. And... if they actually made it in that size, it would be a mac mini without being mini, an iMac without a screen and iSight. So it would just be called a... Mac?

[kugino]

As someone else said... Who buys "boomboxes" anymore? Are we still in 1980?! :confused:

hey, i never said i'd buy it! :)

and btw, what's wrong with 1980? my mullet is making a comeback!

[lvnmacs]

I was am soooooo ready to buy a new Mini, thanks to this site and other rumor sites, I will be waiting until next week to see what's up:D Thank you MacRumors!:cool: I was hoping that the new Mac Mini would have an iPod dock, that will be the ultimate media center!

[Agathon]

As someone else said... Who buys "boomboxes" anymore? Are we still in 1980?! :confused:

Shuddup n00b!!! I'm looking forward to the traditional Apple musical number at the end of the presentation. I can't wait to see the sweat-banded urban youth break-dancing demonstration.

[Templetalker]

I doubt it, because someone who doesn't have a computer in 2006 likely has no interest in an iPod if they've even heard of one or knows what one is.

Gonna have to disagree with that. I'm typing on a boombox write now with my nose.

[Templetalker]

Regarding the iPod "Hi-Fi" Boombox has anybody even thought that this might not be an accessory, but instead be an actual iPod . I believe the boombox will be a stationary iPod; with built-in harddrive, speakers, and screen.

Instead of thinking of it as a boombox for the iPod think of it as a boombox that is an iPod. I believe Steve Jobs may have given us a clue with the 8-pound iPod joke at Macworld.

Yeah, check my post on page 3 I believe, Joey.:mad: lol

[JohnK.O]

this ipod dock built in with the mini... i don't see that much benefit from it and where would it go without breaking the slick design?

[Templetalker]

You know what I would trade my balls to have them announce? CD QUALITY iTunes downloads. That's all I want.

Too late, Apple took mine and Steve-o wears them around his neck.

PS: Did anyone notice that huge audience on the Apple.com website? Not a person of color in the crowd, all white males, must be an Insane Clown Posse concert!

[Joe2000]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I WANT A MACBOOK, ON TUESDAY!!! :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

[ppnkg]

No new ibook for now. I am really looking forward to that. I'm curious to see how it's going to look like too - if all these rumours are true apple have been working to finalise it for about six months.

[lorien]

hey, i never said i'd buy it! :)

and btw, what's wrong with 1980? my mullet is making a comeback!

It sure aint gonna look like this! :D

[lvnmacs]

this ipod dock built in with the mini... i don't see that much benefit from it and where would it go without breaking the slick design?

I'm sure that Steve's design team can make it look really good ;) (If they did dicede to add an iPod dock in the Mac Mini)

[Goldfinger]

Ok this is my first post, here it goes....

As said before it would be totally awesome to have an Apple version of the Sonos Player, but went further to include Video, Tivo, and most of all in a 1U 17-inch form factor that fits with other A/V Equipment.

It should also be able to easily be used as a multi-room system.
Yeah.

Imagine a full size Hi-Fi component. Big hard drives (sizes BTO). The same decoding hardware as in the iPod. Optical/Coaxial output + analogue audio output. Gigabit Ethernet port, WiFi, USB2 (and FireWire) port.
A remote with an OLED screeen and ipod scrollwheel. A remote that looks just like an iPod. You can control this device with the remote or with a special version of iTunes on your computer (that controls the device via AirPort or Ethernet). You can plug your iPod into it and manage playlists/syncing through the new iTunes. Music is stored on the device.

It could cost $300-400. It's basically an iPod mated with an AirPort Express + a big harddrive. And it simply connects to your amp or receiver.

If they add video decoding it gets more complicated. It would need a dedicated H.264 decoding chip. HDMI out, S-Video out, Component out, RGB SCART out and yes even composite out. And maybe the addition of analogue 5.1 output.

There is no need whatsoever to equip this with full fledged Intel Core CPUs.

I'd sell a kidney if they released a device like this.

[tomesi]

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/8923/ipodv27tf.jpg

mmh..nice

[Platform]

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/8923/ipodv27tf.jpg

mmh..nice

Why is the menu and the click wheel not both vertical or horizontal.....fake ;)

[monkeyandy]

It's threads like this that lead to a good portion of the forum cussing out the "boring media event" for days afterward. It should be noted that the media events have never approached the product depth that has been present in keynotes, and it seems to me like that's what is expected from all of you.

I predict we'll see a mini tablet/iPod, iTunes Video Store and MAYBE the Mini switching to Intel, but nothing more. All the other major products in the pipeline will be saved for a special anniversary event, IMO.

You predict a mini Tablet/iPod but nothing more!!!! What a boring media event that would be...is that all! Just a boring old iPod Tablet!!! ;)

Nothing major!

[rdowns]

does anyone use boomboxs anymore? and ya im really gonna carry around this big huge thing just to be able to listen to music. ive heard some really bizare things but this has to be the craziest thing i have ever heard of are you people for real? and just b/c some stupid website says the new ibooks are not going to be released this tuseday doesn't mean they aren't and where did this site get this info anyway? and ya im really gonna believe something is true just b/c thinksecret said so. you people have lost your minds.

Of course nobody is going to carry around a big (or small) boom box, that's what your iPod is for. An Apple boom box would compete with desktop speaker offerings from Bose and others. Would likely add additional functionality like radio, built in Airport Express to stream to your stereo system and who knows what else.

Apple would be negligent to leave the iPod accessory market to others.

[BlizzardBomb]

Give the Mini a third USB port, an X1300, Front Row, a 7200rpm HD and a Core Solo (maybe Duo on high-end) and Apple will have the best compact machine on the market.

[aafuss1]

I just hope this iPod boombox is better than a Sony speaker dock:
http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=SRS-NWM10&site=odw_en_GB&pageType=Compatibles&category=ACC+Speakers

Sort of looks like for the iPod to me (but for Sony walkmans).

[FireArse]

Give the Mini a third USB port, an X1300, Front Row, a 7200rpm HD and a Core Solo (maybe Duo on high-end) and Apple will have the best compact machine on the market.

I'm still sticking to my two Mac Mini lines theory (well, more like a guess actually)

- A PPC replacement Core solo with average hardware (same price as current)
- A top of the line Mini which'll be 'the best compact machine on the market'. It'll be powerful enough to do HD (High Definition, not Hard Disk Drive!!) and be able to burn DL-DVD's.

It so needs to be done. Anyone with a CoreDuo MacBook Pro? Can you turn off one of your cores and see if you can play HD 1080p H.264?

[colinmack]

If you haven't seen the Microsoft Origami video at http://www.d-kitchen.com/main.html (enter, Work, Brand Theatre, Microsoft Origami, play: origami), it's worth having a look to see how useful and hip a wireless tablet/entertainment/media device could be.

If Apple came out with one Tuesday (bit of a timing coincidence that Microsoft is supposed to be announcing theirs on Thursday), it would be a tablet, it would be a new kind of iPod, it would be a media center, and it would certainly be fun. So everyone could be right.

And it would almost certainly be better than Microsoft's...

[joeboy_45101]

Yeah, check my post on page 3 I believe, Joey.:mad: lol

Sorry Templetalker, I didn't read the whole forum.

[MarcelV]

it's worth having a look to see how useful and hip a wireless tablet/entertainment/media device could be.So, where ever I go, I will need to carry a bag with me to carry that thing? It's a cool gadget, true, and I may want one, but that's what it is. A gadget. I just don't see mainstream people walk with one. Just like the PSP, too big to carry around in the pocket. If it would have some combined functionality, like 'iPhoto Everywhere', 'iChat everywhere', 'iCal everywhere', 'Mail everywhere', and 'iTMS everywhere' in iPod format, i think it would work. Just not in a clucky package. Besides, how many times would I loose my stylus. I lost that thing all the time, when I was still using my Palm III and V thingies.

I predict we'll see a mini tablet/iPod, iTunes Video Store and MAYBE the Mini switching to Intel, but nothing more.That's a lot of new stuff. 'We' indeed just forget sometimes that SJ only has an hour or so for his presentation. Much more products would not be feasible to ensure it is getting enough press attention. And if your prediction is correct, which I think is close to what we'll see Tuesday, my wallet will hurt already enough. :)
One item I think we can add to this is, if the mini tablet is true, Apple will launch their phone service, for the 'Everywhere' aspect of it.

[sunfast]

Let's have Front Row and Apple Remotes for ALL macs!

[sunfast]

You know what I would trade my balls to have them announce? CD QUALITY iTunes downloads. That's all I want.

Damn straight. I refuse to buy music from iTunes when you frankly don't get what you pay for.

[mutantteenager]

I love the speculation! Just because someone says they are going to release the mac mini as a media centre doesn't mean it's going to happen!

It probably is a stereo or an iPod sock colour change! I would really be happy if they released more computers with Intel, to stop the speculation, but again, it's probably going to be an iPod holster for cowboys (patent pending).

:(

****
iPod 1TB
xServe Pentium 7
My address is : Berverly Hill 90210, please rob me, I'm out mostly in the daytime.

[MarcelV]

I love the speculation!How do you mean 'Speculation'? It's all true. I just read it on the Internet!:D

[(L)]

The rumor we're discussing is this:

"As previously reported the Intel Mac mini and an iPod Boombox/Hi-Fi companion product are expected to be released at the Feb 28th event."


Which, the way I interpret, does not include other hardware like iPods, though it may include related nicknacks like Front Row 2.0 (mentioned in the original rumor) or maybe accessory products. iPod Boombox does not equate to an iPod, but to a boombox or speaker system of some sort, probably. Still, we might be able to deduce the nature of the next iPod from the new Apple hardware, say, if it supports wireless connectivity or has interchangeable/expandable docking or something (indicative of a change in iPod size).

Yet, this doesn't sound very exciting to me. I hope we get some teasers or something.

[polythene pam]

WHAAAAT?! iTunes doesn't sell CD quality music???? I thought that was the whole idea! What a ripoff!

Then again, I am no audiophile and probably couldn't even tell a difference, but still, it's not right.

[jouster]

That's a lot of new stuff. 'We' indeed just forget sometimes that SJ only has an hour or so for his presentation. Much more products would not be feasible to ensure it is getting enough press attention.


As a press conference attendee in quite a few areas over the years, I can say with some confidence that this is more to do with journalists' attention spans and deadlines than the products themselves.

They need quick sound/word bites with the requisite details, especially now that wifi/interweb/irc etc ensures that traditional media outlets are among the last to actually publicize press conferences.

WHAAAAT?! iTunes doesn't sell CD quality music???? I thought that was the whole idea! What a ripoff!

Then again, I am no audiophile and probably couldn't even tell a difference, but still, it's not right.

I dunno. I ripped one in Apple lossless just to see if there was much of a difference. At times I could convince myself there was, but it didn't come close - at least for me - to beating the convenience of iTMS.

[skibob1027]

I've been mulling getting a TiVo, and this might just be the ticket. That combined with iTunes movie rentals = Awwww Yeaaaaaah!

Looks like we have a Glenn Beck listener in the crowd! :D

[cxny]

Does anyone think Apple is releasing something like this?


http://www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/SoundbridgeRadio/index.php

I've had this thing on order for 3 months and it's still not shipped. It's basically a bedside radio with a wi-fi connection to any internet stream you want. If Apple did this it would be way cooler (and I could cancel my lame order)

[BenRoethig]

would a TiVo application use EyeTV? Just that I'd be all for that :)

I'll say this, flat out buying Elgato would be a good move. They already have the hardware and software Apple would need.

[jasper77]

Yeah.

Imagine a full size Hi-Fi component. Big hard drives (sizes BTO). The same decoding hardware as in the iPod. Optical/Coaxial output + analogue audio output. Gigabit Ethernet port, WiFi, USB2 (and FireWire) port.
A remote with an OLED screeen and ipod scrollwheel. A remote that looks just like an iPod. You can control this device with the remote or with a special version of iTunes on your computer (that controls the device via AirPort or Ethernet). You can plug your iPod into it and manage playlists/syncing through the new iTunes. Music is stored on the device.

It could cost $300-400. It's basically an iPod mated with an AirPort Express + a big harddrive. And it simply connects to your amp or receiver.

If they add video decoding it gets more complicated. It would need a dedicated H.264 decoding chip. HDMI out, S-Video out, Component out, RGB SCART out and yes even composite out. And maybe the addition of analogue 5.1 output.

There is no need whatsoever to equip this with full fledged Intel Core CPUs.

I'd sell a kidney if they released a device like this.

this is exactly what i am hoping for, but i also hope they will add a blue-ray drive…

that way i can watch the latest blue-ray HD movies (when they become available somewhere in the near future), and i can also watch movies and iphoto slideshows from my imac on my 50" plasma tv :cool:

i don't need the DVR stuff because cable tv s***s here in belgium :p

so just a very cool apple designed full size Hi-Fi component with a blu-ray drive and the ability to connect to my imac (via airport) and browse all my movies/photo's/music (front row 2)… use a new ipod with infrared as remote and connect the hi-fi component via HDMI to the plasma tv :cool:

[scotto07]

WHAAAAT?! iTunes doesn't sell CD quality music???? I thought that was the whole idea! What a ripoff!

Then again, I am no audiophile and probably couldn't even tell a difference, but still, it's not right.

It could never be the quality of a CD with it encoded, for it to be CD quality it would have to be AIFF which currently has not DMR. Let alone probably 95% of humans cant even tell the difference any way....:)

[200paul]

It won't compete. First, iTunes will have the episode ready to download the next day if you forget to record it or you lose power. Second, the product won't be with 100% of the Apple customer base and all those Windows users. It will be a select few that will actually own one if you look at the entire market. Third, if Apple used that to bait a huge percentage of Windows users then they wouldn't mind have this compete with the low profitable iTunes sales.


The will never canabalize - I gurantee it!

Don't you see how this is going??!?!?

TV is dead - that stupid cable that bring "real time" TV is just a poorly used data connection. He doesn't want your small time TiVO fees when he can become your full cable company.

Get it? In the future you don't have cable you have the Media Store and channel or show subscriptions. You browse, or channel surf your subscriptions (watch previews) over your internet connection on your Apple media center or Mac ( all of which are slowly putting in remotes). "On Demand" is basically already doing this transparently and has been doing so for a long time in hotel rooms. Its just feeding your cable box a huge data stream. What if you really really could control that data stream?

The one thing this needs is bandwidth and they will grow this slowly and create such a demand for bandwidth that the way we get data and the prices will change. They have the power and the momentum now to create markets because of the worldwide success of the iPod.

Think of it - direct sales of television shows, movies, games, content!!! Instant gratification!!! This is innovation!! A DVR is a glorified BetaMax with a timer!!!

A camera/mic and a remote built into all new macs. Its staring you in the face !!! Mac will be your new phone and TV in the next 5-10 years. Screw skype - all you need is an internet connection and a MAC! Screw which cable company is in your area. All you need is broadband and a MAC. And don't think that they aren't looking at PS and XBOX next! All from your MAC!

One thing about Apple is they never just jump into a crowded baby pool of innovation. They dig out their own pool and skateboard in it and change the whole paradigm.

[stolfi1]

After looking at the intel price list for cpu's I am going to give my opinion on the specs. If they keep the 499 price point they cant do the core duo or solo the machine wouldnt be able to make a profit. So I think they will go with a pentium M with with 950 chipset, intel hd audio, and a standard rca or svideo out on the standard model. Then they will offer a mid grade unit that has all that plus a source for video in. Then finally the high end model with a core solo cpu, Ati all in wonder graphics for hd in and out, and a smart universal remote that can control everything from your ipod dock to your stereo and tv.

[Mr Ikasu]

this is exactly what i am hoping for, but i also hope they will add a blue-ray drive…

I can pretty much guarantee you we will not see Blu-Ray in this new Mac Mini. I'm expecting it to debut with the new PowerMacs (MacPros?) this autumn.

I would love a Mac Media Center thing but the whole iTunes TV Shows make me thing its not going to happen. If they did I think it would have to be a different product line from the mini. Even if it is built on almost the same platform.

I could do with a new iPod as well. I'm still stuck with a 4G Photo and a full screen video thing would be incredible. I don't think it will happen yet tho.

I'll just wait and see.

[ipod0324]

If this new ipod has a bigger screen, what will happen to the videos that have been previously downloaded on iTunes?

[cxny]

It sure aint gonna look like this! :D

you don't quite have Apple's art direction down but very funny!

[firebox]

The will never canabalize - I gurantee it!

Don't you see how this is going??!?!?

TV is dead - that stupid cable that bring "real time" TV is just a poorly used data connection. He doesn't want your small time TiVO fees when he can become your full cable company.

Get it? In the future you don't have cable you have the Media Store and channel or show subscriptions. You browse, or channel surf your subscriptions (watch previews) over your internet connection on your Apple media center or Mac ( all of which are slowly putting in remotes). "On Demand" is basically already doing this transparently and has been doing so for a long time in hotel rooms. Its just feeding your cable box a huge data stream. What if you really really could control that data stream?

The one thing this needs is bandwidth and they will grow this slowly and create such a demand for bandwidth that the way we get data and the prices will change. They have the power and the momentum now to create markets because of the worldwide success of the iPod.

Think of it - direct sales of television shows, movies, games, content!!! Instant gratification!!! This is innovation!! A DVR is a glorified BetaMax with a timer!!!

A camera/mic and a remote built into all new macs. Its staring you in the face !!! Mac will be your new phone and TV in the next 5-10 years. Screw skype - all you need is an internet connection and a MAC! Screw which cable company is in your area. All you need is broadband and a MAC. And don't think that they aren't looking at PS and XBOX next! All from your MAC!

One thing about Apple is they never just jump into a crowded baby pool of innovation. They dig out their own pool and skateboard in it and change the whole paradigm.

I could not agree more! This would be some propper innovation, television took the back seat to the internet a few years ago for me, i can watch whatever i want, whenever i want to on the internet, maybe not entirely legally but surely this makes the power of the internet for mainstream television distribution a massivley un-tapped resourse.

I can see a few possible issues with this right now.

Who gets paid? How much? And how many people would loose their jobs and businesses?

If people can download files/shows/movies, who is going to watch the adverts? most channels rely on this as a source of income.

(would it get rid of some of the crap on Sky!?)

If internet distribution became the standard, how much cheaper would it be, and what effect would it have on quantity, quality and variety of viewing?

Are Telecom companies realisticly able to keep up? will this open up new opportunities for broadband connection providers?

...I guess there are many unanswered questions on this topic...

[Di9it8]

I'll say this, flat out buying Elgato would be a good move. They already have the hardware and software Apple would need.

Elgato, with their EyeTV software is being continuously developed and updated, I have just upgraded to EyeTV 2 (paid for u/g) and it is now click and record recording, couldn't be simpler:)

[labrats5]

I am concerned that the mac mini is too inexpensively priced to support even the core solo. That chip costs more than $200 dollars in stacks of 1000, so in order for apple to enjot their high profit margins on the $500 model they will have to build the rest of the computer for around $100. I think that if a mini is announced it will be an upgrade to the chip only; no dvr. A dvr would sell better in the 4th quarter, would be a long enough time gap from now to justify a meaningful upgrade, and would coincide with their OS10.5 launch, so that they could update their other computers with media center technology. As many have commented, if a $500 computer can do what my recently purchased $2000 one cannot, I will be pissed.

[age234]

Looks like we have a Glenn Beck listener in the crowd! :D
Of course, I mean, I get it. Sitting behind my cardboard iMac...;)

TV is dead - that stupid cable that bring "real time" TV is just a poorly used data connection. He doesn't want your small time TiVO fees when he can become your full cable company.
Then it'll probably be more like the "A" option I posted a few pages back. It'll probably be an AirPort Express-like item that displays a FrontRow UI on your TV, and all the media streams from your computer, and it'll work just like FrontRow, playing stuff in your movie folder and iTunes. It might have a DVD drive as well, then it can compete with the DVD player market. In this scenario, I don't think it would do anything with your cable/satellite connection (DVR), nor would it burn DVDs. I would think it would have an ITMS interface as well.

I could see it having the form factor of a Mini, or even smaller (because all it really does is run the FrontRow UI and stream stuff wirelessly to the TV, no HD to speak of).

I'm coming around. That's something I could see buying. I just hope it has all the speaker connections so I can hook up my 5.1 system.

[monke]

I suspect a 23" iMac, 2.16 GHz.

The only reason being, Apple hasn't put the 2.16 in the iMac yet.

[Yvan256]

[...] Who gets paid? How much? And how many people would loose their jobs and businesses?

If people can download files/shows/movies, who is going to watch the adverts? most channels rely on this as a source of income.

That's the whole idea. There's no "channels" anymore... just shows that you subscribe to. Just like the RIAA isn't needed anymore with the iTMS, channels aren't needed anymore with a media store with subscriptions.

"Channels" become "networks", i.e. "The Discovery Network" (American Chopper, Daily Planet, How it's Made, etc). Just like you can pick any tune from an album/label, you pick shows from a network.

...

Are we tuesday yet? <g>

[Spanky Deluxe]

I suspect a 23" iMac, 2.16 GHz.

The only reason being, Apple hasn't put the 2.16 in the iMac yet.

Since a 23" ACD costs $500 more than a 20" ACD so a 23" iMac would probably cost at least $2199 which is a very attractive price. A 2.13Ghz Core Duo 23" screen could be very popular. Although you are begining to get into PowerMac prices there.

[psendeavor]

i don't need the DVR stuff because cable tv s***s here in belgium :p



Having lived in both Belgium and the US: yes, cable TV's bad in B, but definitely not as bad as in the US. Less commercials, y'know. Bring on the DVR stuff here too!

[kugino]

It could never be the quality of a CD with it encoded, for it to be CD quality it would have to be AIFF which currently has not DMR. Let alone probably 95% of humans cant even tell the difference any way....:)
part of the reason people can't tell the difference between AIFF/AL and 128 AAC is because people listen with crappy headphones. the ipod is a rather capable source, given a proper headphone amp and headphones. armed with some good equipment, i'd say a lot of people would be able to tell the difference between compressed and uncompressed music.

[TaKashMoney]

Am I missing critical details here? For all those who say a macmini is way too underpowered for DVR and would have to be much more expensive to function properly, the current 80 gb TiVo costs $220 (without the discount, apparently you can get it for 60 bucks now). How is a full-functioning mac-mini not powerful enough to do what a $200 machine has been doing for years?
High-Def may be an issue but its certainly not a large enough deterrant from such a large market space. I feel this rumor is definitely plausible.

[Bosunsfate]

If people can download files/shows/movies, who is going to watch the adverts? most channels rely on this as a source of income

30 second adverts are going the way of the dodo bird. The real future of advertising is in direct product placement within the show/movie itself. This is nothing new and has been going on for quite some time.

The difference is that it is now showing better results than direct advertising. Hell, you are already seeing it in podcasting!

[skibob1027]

Of course, I mean, I get it. Sitting behind my cardboard iMac...;)


Also a Dave Glover listener (if not from STL, then you can hear him filling in for Glenn pretty often)? They're both great!

[timswim78]

It could never be the quality of a CD with it encoded, for it to be CD quality it would have to be AIFF which currently has not DMR. Let alone probably 95% of humans cant even tell the difference any way....:)

When listening on a high-end stereo, most people will be able to notice the difference.

[johnpaul191]

I still think 1.99$US per episode is way too expensive.

However, if Apple had subscriptions to TV shows directly, I could drop my digital cable box (still catch the local news for free), lower my overall costs and get more shows that I like, and not miss any either (VHS tapes are such a hassle, I don't even bother recording shows anymore).

Paying for only the shows I want? Downloading them and watching them when I want? All for possibly less money, with no ads on top of that? Sign me up!


i agree that it seems odd to buy a show for $1.99, but a lot of people do buy shows, and keep doing it. in all fairness i live in a house with cable and have a dumb TiVo (no service, works like a VCR). i know a few people that live in the city and get almost no TV reception and do not subscribe to cable. they don't have cable partly on principle and partly because, at least here, you can not get cable for less than $40/month. you get a lot of channels but that's still $40/month just to get a TV feed. compare that to $8 or $16 per month to watch 2 TV shows they want to watch as they air as opposed to waiting for the DVDs in the late summer.

though when you add in the a la cart cable TV thing it makes the iTMS TV offerings seem a little different. Apple has not been into the subscription model, but i would not be surprised if somebody else does jump on that. i think the TV networks demand the $1.99 because they are offering shows with no commercials. is it confirmed that Apple still gets the same $ from TV shows as from songs? not same percentage, but same amount of cash? i know that was the rumor at some point.

[TaKashMoney]

timswim78 that simply isnt true for many good encodings. One way digital encoding works is by cutting out the frequencies present on cd that are either too high or too low for a human's hearing threshold. (So they can shrink the file to a more manageable size) You could play a well-encoded file with speakers made by God and it would be impossible for ANYone to hear a difference simply because our ears do not detect the frequencies.
However, I will admit that some encodings with extremely low bit rates obviously cut down on information we CAN hear, in which case people will be able to hear the difference.

[carve]

if your going to be able to downlaod music on your ipod and ONLY your ipod what will happen if u drop your ipod and you lose all of your music and videos, photos etc...i think i have a very good point here.:cool:

[johnpaul191]

I think you've hit the nail on the head with that one.

I really really *really* hope they don't put DVR into the mini. If they spend money on decoders and extra connections on the back then they'll have less to spend on other parts of the mini. Also DVR functionality would be useless for a huge proportion of Apple buyers.
-SNIP-


remember that the name Mac Mini DVR is a product of the rumor mills. *IF* the device is real, that could be how it was described, or roughly the form factor it was based on. completely off the top of my head they could make the Mini into a more cube-like shape to allow for the extra space, or make it wider. think a device in the rough form factor of a DVD player. that way it would stack up with other devices (though what else would you need?). anyway if you take the mini, make it a little shorter and wider it could have the full sized HDD, as well as all the components and room for cooling. if something like this comes, i hope it supports cablecard2.0. TiVo Series 3 with dual CableCard2 (HiDef) slots was shown off already and will be out this year.

i do agree that it seems odd to offer a DVR just as they are trying to sell TV shows. it could happen, but seems odd. they would have to ensure they can provide the TV schedules, which means launching their own service or a partnership with somebody else. even without DVR, there could be a market for a media center Mac. FrontRow plus DVD player, and maybe can talk to other Macs on the network to stream content (like iTunes does). i do not know if video can be streamed over the network like iTunes does. iTunes sharing stalls sometimes, and it would be really annoying for video.

[dicklacara]

That's the whole idea. There's no "channels" anymore... just shows that you subscribe to. Just like the RIAA isn't needed anymore with the iTMS, channels aren't needed anymore with a media store with subscriptions.

"Channels" become "networks", i.e. "The Discovery Network" (American Chopper, Daily Planet, How it's Made, etc). Just like you can pick any tune from an album/label, you pick shows from a network.

...

Are we tuesday yet? <g>
To go 1 step further, the individual becomes the network--

--Sam Smith's media

or

--Here's Don Williams' stuff

or

The Rhona Rodgers Show

or, just

--Look at (listen to) me!

[MarcelV]

High-Def may be an issue but its certainly not a large enough deterrant from such a large market space. I feel this rumor is definitely plausible.I agree with you, it's sufficient. Not for HD, but most people are still watching SD, even if they have an HDTV. (Multiple reasons for that, like insufficient availability of channels, cable and satelite not providing all local feeds, most people not having an OTA box plus ignorance of the general public not realizing HD-TV's need a different feed for HD). But I don't feel Apple will go the DVR route. One simple reaosn, it will alienate the networks that they need for iTMS. There isn't sufficient material yet on iTMS for the TV shows to be a good a-la-carte alternative for cable or satellite. They will need much more shows to make that happen. Tivo and NBC, even that NBC is a Tivo partner, fighting as the network doesn't like the TivoToGo solution as it doesn't benefit NBC. And because NBC is becoming a very good partner for Apple, I highly doubt they will go the DVR route already.

To go 1 step further, the individual becomes the network--In theory and concept this looks very nice, but it is flawed for a few reasons. One of the reasons is that people not necessarily want to look for TV, TV just 'finds them' (turn it on, it's there). Most people are tired in the evenings because all day long they have made decisions. And that's why TV became big at night. It was a their ability to move away from a pressure, away from the daily tasks. It will take a genration or 2 to change that. Second argument against this, is that there will be much less commercial incentives to create a show. If you currently create a show and sign up with the network you're guaranteed viewers. Now you're asking companies to create shows that will have much less viewers. This may not be economic feasible at all. Third, a whole new compensation model will need to be developed for actors. It will be much harder for actors to score a hit series, because there will be much more shows available to choose from and therefore less viwers per episode. Therefore much harder for actors to negotiate an income.
Not that it will not go that direction, but now is not the time, IMHO

[u2mr2os2]

Regardless of what's coming Tuesday, all I really want is a headless Intel iMac to hook up to an HDTV since I want both an iMac and an HDTV but cannot afford both. A high-end Mac mini might just fit the bill.

[Shasta]

timswim78 that simply isnt true for many good encodings. One way digital encoding works is by cutting out the frequencies present on cd that are either too high or too low for a human's hearing threshold. (So they can shrink the file to a more manageable size) You could play a well-encoded file with speakers made by God and it would be impossible for ANYone to hear a difference simply because our ears do not detect the frequencies.
However, I will admit that some encodings with extremely low bit rates obviously cut down on information we CAN hear, in which case people will be able to hear the difference.

there are very few frequencies on a CD that we cannot hear. A CD is sampled 44100 times a second with a bit resolution of 16 bits.

SO the max frequency recorded is 22.05 kHz at 65,535 discrete volume steps
humans can hear up to around 20 kHz, though we can sense and feel frequencies outside of that limit (psycho-acoustics)

when you encode a song the algorithm cuts some frequencies and boosts others to replace them with harmonic distortion. Our brain will also fill in some of the gaps

many people cannot hear the difference, but even on my iPod, I can tell the difference between a Loss-less format (a form of compression that when decoded *usually* has the same digital make up as the original file) and a lossy format like AAC and MP3... but I use my ears for a living

Shasta

[Aeolius]

How is a full-functioning mac-mini not powerful enough to do what a $200 machine has been doing for years?

You need to factor in the price of TiVo service, as well; $12.95 per unit per month or $299 for the life of each unit.

[Grasbak]

I am hoping for something that doesnt require getting a new mac!

Something like an video airport express that has already been mentioned. Get Front Row to everyone (I suppose there would be a minimum spec) with remote then some hardware which lets your mac run the media in the house. Send audio to any stereo / movies / programs to any TV.

Possible?

[adamberti]

If people can download files/shows/movies, who is going to watch the adverts? most channels rely on this as a source of income.

Some companies are already changing their style. Bosunsfate mentioned direct advertising, but they're also adapting to the technology. I recently read an article about some new KFC ads. There are one or two frames within the commercial you can only see if you catch it with a DVR - you have to pause. These frames tell you how to get a free KFC sandwich coupon. So now if enough companies start doing this, you're going to have consumers taking more than 30 seconds to watch the ad. But then comes the internet, one guys finds it, posts it on 'tvads.com' and no one else has to watch it.

I think it's a neat idea, but if I was to start checking every ad, it would take a bloody long time.

[moosecat]

Sorry if I missed discussion and/or explanation of this (http://www.2ndedison.com/serv_prodinnov_port3.htm) upthread.

http://www.2ndedison.com/ipod_boombox.jpg

[cyberddot]

THAT is not what I was hoping for...:eek:

That looks like a pretty limiting product...no chance to fit a nano in that baby. Ugly, tippable, no visible output/input? How did that 'pod make any connection to the pod-plastic-expansion unit?

Ummm...no, thank you.

PS: Can I see a video of the making of this image?

[mackeeper]

Sorry if I missed discussion and/or explanation of this (http://www.2ndedison.com/serv_prodinnov_port3.htm) upthread.

http://www.2ndedison.com/ipod_boombox.jpg


NO NO NO NO NO! If that is seriously what the Boombox is, or even remotely like I will be MAD MAD MAD! What a stupid peice of junk!

[age234]

It seems the picture's gone. Does that mean Apple found it?

[edit] Never mind, it's back.

[ScubaDuc]

Having lived in both Belgium and the US: yes, cable TV's bad in B, but definitely not as bad as in the US. Less commercials, y'know. Bring on the DVR stuff here too!

As a "guest" I can say that yes, cable TV is the pits here in Belgium. I resorted to satellite so I can get something different but still, TV either here in EU or in the US , in my modest opinion, has taken a turn for the worse with all those reality shows :rolleyes: It really doesn't matter what channel you watch, the game show is the same, only the language differs! :mad:

[Peace]

Sorry if I missed discussion and/or explanation of this (http://www.2ndedison.com/serv_prodinnov_port3.htm) upthread.

http://www.2ndedison.com/ipod_boombox.jpg

Unless Apple has fired Jonathan Ives I'd say this pic is a concept done by 2ndEdison..

more on this product.. The picture shows " nxt speaker technology".This technology came out in 2001 and has been updated and is now called Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML) technology now commonly referred to as ‘flat panel’ loudspeakers. see http://www.nxtsound.com/index.php?id=372

The above product is an OLD concept from 2001.

[ScubaDuc]

After looking at the intel price list for cpu's I am going to give my opinion on the specs. If they keep the 499 price point they cant do the core duo or solo the machine wouldnt be able to make a profit. So I think they will go with a pentium M with with 950 chipset, intel hd audio, and a standard rca or svideo out on the standard model. Then they will offer a mid grade unit that has all that plus a source for video in. Then finally the high end model with a core solo cpu, Ati all in wonder graphics for hd in and out, and a smart universal remote that can control everything from your ipod dock to your stereo and tv.


What about the new "old" Intel Pentium D, (805) that seems to run pretty cool? Newegg sells it for less than $150....Seems better than a Pentium M and surely Apple could get it for a lot less. Power per-se is not so important in a plugged in machine as heat is and if they re-design the enclosure to fit a 3.5" drive, there might be room for some additional cooling. However, the D805 is 64 bit... :confused: I guess we'll all have to wait, CC at the ready :rolleyes: but I really hope Apple is not going to cripple the video card this time around!