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

[MacRumors]

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

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.

Appleinsider now claims 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:

- 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 and confirmed yesterday 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 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).

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

 

[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]

Mini Media centre

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 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.