February 28, 2006 10:38 AM PST
Apple launches new Intel Mac Minis, iPod Hi-Fi
Last modified: February 28, 2006 2:14 PM PST
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The new Mac Mini will be available, starting immediately, in two models. The low-end model sells for $599 and comes with a 1.5GHz Intel Solo single-core chip, a 60GB hard drive and a combo drive that can play DVDs and burn CDs.
The higher-end version will sell for $799. It comes with a dual-core 1.67GHz Core Duo processor, an 80GB hard drive and a SuperDrive that burns CDs and DVDs.
Both models come with 512MB of memory, Gigabit Ethernet networking, FireWire ports and four USB ports.
"We think this is going to be a strong product for us," CEO Steve Jobs said at a special event at company headquarters here.
Apple also unveiled the "home stereo quality" iPod Hi-Fi, which Jobs said is of higher quality than the speakers available today. The large speaker system comes with an iPod dock built-in, as well as an auxiliary port to connect an iPod Shuffle or other device.
"It's really a home stereo reinvented," Jobs said. "It's home stereo reinvented for the iPod age."
Video: Apple's new Mac Mini
At Apple headquarters, CEO Steve Jobs shows off the new Intel-powered Mac Mini to a group of reporters.
The iPod Hi-Fi will sell for $349 and goes on sale on Tuesday. The device can plug directly into the wall or run with six "D" batteries.
Jobs also introduced Apple-branded leather cases for the video iPod and iPod Nano. The cases will sell for $99 and will be available in mid-March.
The new Mac Mini does move Apple a step closer to offering a living-room PC similar to a Windows Media Center. The new computer is loaded with the company's "Front Row" multimedia navigation system, which allows viewers to use a remote control to browse and play music and video files, and the company showed its capabilities connected to a flat-screen Sony TV.
But Mini still lacks built-in abilities to record video from a television, which would turn it into a natural TiVo competitor, or a simple way to hook into a cable or satellite TV system. Analysts said that neither the industry overall nor consumer expectations have settled on a mainstream blend of computer and TV functions.
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tille April 1st. Ekscuse my Englisch.
a boom box
some cases
and a bumped price mini?
thats all.....
WEAK
http://70.84.186.131/content_images/idf_images/goldengate4.jpg
I think of it this way, sometimes you are walking your dog and he takes a crap. You look in your pocket and realize that you don't have any bags. At that point, you think to yourself "oh well, I can't win them all"
but is anyone excited by it? Plus who has been dying for an Apple
stereo? Hasn't everyone already figured out how to play their iPod
on their current system.
they don't really do anything new and with no native Tivo-ness
going on, it's no media center. The inflation in price reflects
their new found power, so why not market them to people that
would need this increase in speed. Playing music and watching
photo's and videos (which they're plugging) doesn't need this
extra power and makes it look way over priced. The PC
alternative, doesn't look so attractive to me now... not until a
price drop!
New speakers...pish. If you really care about good quality sound
that much chances are you'll own or want to own a good set of
hi-fi seperates, which you can plug your iPod into and do a
whole lot more with too, rather than blast your wallet with this
purchase.
$5 piece of cow skin + Apple logo = $99 iPod case. They're
really aiming for the more money than sense crowd now then.
Your turn Microsoft.
(Though whats happening on 1st April?)
a big step backward, but I guess they had to skimp somwhere to
keep the price down.
and that's what they delivered. Anything you guys are mad at is
because you all over hype anything they call call attention to.
Apple never said they were after the Tivo market, never said they
would release a new iBook, what do you guys want!?! Seriously!
Did they rent out a convention centre? Did they Send out an
invite saying they were changing the way you view television?
No. They are new products that Apple thought needed more
explaining then just posting on the website and a PR release.
The mini looks awesome and I like the new feature in front row
(I'll be upgrading) and the HIFi sounds like it has some killer
audio reproduction. Nothing was promised, so you can't feel let
down. Stop putting so much weight behind rumors. Also, they
sent out emails. They didn't take out full page ads in the Times
or buy air time during "24", so how did apple over hype?
Who would like to buy a 100$ case for 145 $ nano? its crazy. The speakers sound interesting but price to statisfaction ratio will be a big deal.
Ipod Cases: Big **** deal, like that has not been done before, you can get a nice leather case for a lot less then 99 bucks, 10 bucks leather 89 buck apple logo
Hi-Fi system, again big **** deal, I have a Bose surround system and a high end reciever, why would I pay 3xx bucks for this? ok so its portable on batteries, so what if im outside im not expecting the greatest sound in the first place.
So would everyone quit whinning....if you think apple should come out with this product or that product...well then build it yourself if you think it is so easy.
all this over-hype about an announcement that was clearly not big news. if it were huge new products, they would have made it public and not just secretly to the media. the public wasnt even supposed to know about this announcement.
this announcement was leaked to the public by the media but apple never intended this to happen. wait until next macworld
I can only hope Ol' Jobsy's flogging the design engineers as I write this.
What makes you think groundbreaking stuff would be released
today? Especially after Steve Jobs started the event talking about
"mid-level" stuff.
And why would they possibly release groundbreaking stuff now,
half way through a quarter, especially when their 30th
anniversary is 32 days away? (April Fool's Day.)
I would expect more to be announced on their anniversary.
- Your kidding right?
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by mozart11
February 28, 2006 12:45 PM PST
- That's it?
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See all 172 Comments >>A friggin leather iPod case?
Yeah I know the mini and boom box.
That's it?
I know I enjoy the Apple mystique. But I can only imagine how
the tech press feels schlepping all the way to Apple
Headquarters via a mysterious invitation? I know as a consumer
how I feel. That's it? A friggin iPod case?!
I can only assume Jobs is giving Gates the opportunity to shine
today with whatever he's announcing. Unless it's a leather case
for carrying around your Windows install cd!
The financial markets, consumer markets, music markets and
film markets as a whole have been looking as Apple/Jobs as the
innovators and visionaries of the tech sector leader for the
future of technology innovation. They lost a lot of credibility
today in my opinion. Calling an event and summoning the press
to them for a truly non-event amazes me. And I bet everyone
else too. As the stock fell almost $3.00 so far.
I'm an Apple devotee. But a non-event is damaging to Apple and
the leadership they've earned the last two years.
Stop stroking your ego Steve with the ability to make the press
jump. You introduced nothing today. These items are a press
release at best. But in reality these products should have just
shown up in the Apple store and marketplace.
A friggin leather iPod case. I got mine on eBay for about 10
bucks each. Yes for my 40 gig, 20 gig, mini, 30 gig video, 60 gig
video and shuffle ipods. So yes I am a Mac person. Always will
be. But today is a shame. or sham?