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

u2mr2os2 said:
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.
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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.
 
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.
 
Media Center

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.
 
You know what I would trade my balls to have them announce? CD QUALITY iTunes downloads. That's all I want.
 
Yvan256 said:
Apart from the specialized ports, that's a Mac mini you're talking about. ;)
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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?
 
Yvan256 said:
As someone else said... Who buys "boomboxes" anymore? Are we still in 1980?! :confused:
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hey, i never said i'd buy it! :)

and btw, what's wrong with 1980? my mullet is making a comeback!
 
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!
 
Yvan256 said:
As someone else said... Who buys "boomboxes" anymore? Are we still in 1980?! :confused:
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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.
 
yg17 said:
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.
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Gonna have to disagree with that. I'm typing on a boombox write now with my nose.
 
joeboy_45101 said:
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.
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Yeah, check my post on page 3 I believe, Joey.:mad: lol
 
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?
 
craig0ry said:
You know what I would trade my balls to have them announce? CD QUALITY iTunes downloads. That's all I want.
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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!
 
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.
 
Introducing the iNoise

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

and btw, what's wrong with 1980? my mullet is making a comeback!
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It sure aint gonna look like this! :D
 

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JohnK.O said:
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?
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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)
 
scotto07 said:
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.
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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.
 
NEENAHBOY said:
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.
Click to expand...

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!
 
osfjvdfspkvjsdf said:
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.
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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.
 
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.
 
2 mini lines....

BlizzardBomb said:
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.
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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?
 
All of the above

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...
 
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