Month: January 2005

Mac Media Center project launches:
“Everyone’s been asking the question, but no one has the definitive answer: can the Mac mini become a viable media center? We did our part with this week’s How-To, but some smart peeps in the UK have put together the Mac Media Center Project, a consortium hell-bent on coming up with the ultimate Mac mini media center solution. They already have links for audio and video connections at their site. However, the group also plans to develop applications to tie it all together. They’re looking at things like the Xbox Media Center dashboards that have been going around in hacking circles for a few years as models.”

[ Via Engadget ]

Mac mini SuperDrive BTO change a typo, says Apple:
“Yesterday it appeared that Apple’s online store was offering Mac mini buyers an 8x SuperDrive build-to-order (BTO) option for the same price as a 4x SuperDrive upgrade previously offered. That upgrade was changed back to 4x today — but the 8x upgrade was nothing more than a typographical error, according to Apple.”

[ Via MacCentral ]

So I have a couple of predictions about Apple’s near future. Based on everything I’ve been reading about Apple dealers clearing out their stock of Powerbooks, I think we’re going to see an updated version of the Powerbook announced anytime now, possibly iBooks as well. I’m not sure if the Powerbook will be sporting a G5 or not though. That may be a little optimistic

The second thing I think we may be seeing in the relatively near future is a slight redesign of the Apple look. I’ve noticed that the new iLife, and iWork suites have a distinct look to their packaging (and CD-ROM) that is unique when compared to other Apple products. Nothing radical, but they’ve introduced a little more color, and a little more whimsey into the design. I also keep my eye on the Apple job board, and they have been advertising more web jobs lately, including one position entitled “fuel the future of apple.com”. I think we may be seeing a new look for the site in the near future.

Anyway, these are just my personal predictions. We’ll see if they come true.

Target pulls Mac mini from online store:
“Days after placing Apple’s Mac mini up for sale on its web site, Target has removed the product… Read the rest of the story…“

[ Via AppleInsider ]

Apple drops BTO Mac mini prices:
“Apple has quietly cut prices on build-to-order (BTO) components for its new Mac mini. The company is now offering the Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme wireless option for US$99 (was $129), the 1GB DDR333 SDRAM upgrade for $325 (was $475), and the 80GB ultra ATA hard drive upgrade for $50 (was $80). Apple is also now listing an 8x SuperDrive option instead of the previous 4x model for the same $100 cost.”

[ Via MacMinute ]

Buy your Mac a drink: The Macintosh turns 21:
“In celebration of the 21st birthday of the Mac, a German Mac site has posted a video [mirror] from Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ public introduction of the first Macintosh on January 24, 1984. ‘Mac fans will definitely want to check this one out,’ writes CNET News.com’s Ina Fried. ‘And yes, it’s OK to get a little choked up looking at the first images of MacPaint and MacWrite popping up as the motivational theme from ‘Chariots of Fire’ plays in the background. You can hear the Mac say its first words, albeit with a heavy digital accent. In its first speech, the Mac even pokes fun at IBM, saying, ‘Never trust a computer you can’t lift,’ before handing things back to Jobs, who the Mac says has been like a father.”

[ Via MacMinute ]

If you have trouble getting through to the links above, you can click here to load the video from my site. It’s a 21MB QuickTime file.