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I’ve owned a Mac Mini since the first version with a Power PC G4 processor. It runs Tiger like a champ. I love it. It works, it’s fairly fast, and it’s just one of the most simple, pleasant Macs ever made. It should have been the starting point for the Apple Cube.
There have been lots of rumors over the past year that the Mac Mini may die.
Now, that may, or may not, be the case.
AppleInsider has the scoop.
According to numerous news outlets, Apple is holding a townhall meeting on Thursday, March 6th at 10 a.m. PST. The subject matter: a software roadmap, that includes the SDK and new enterprise features.
Is 3G on that roadmap? Real Microsoft Exchange support? Unlocking of phones?
I’m mostly interested in the “enterprise” features. Hopefully Apple will have information on upgrades that will satisfy the road warriors, and possibly cause Blackberry users to break their addiction to their RIM phones and switch to an iPhone.
The day before Macworld, and all through the house…nothing seemed stirring…well that’s because we can’t see what Steve Jobs is doing right now.
So what might we expect at tomorrow’s keynote? Honestly, I’m not really what I’m expecting. If you want to know what others are, here’s a short rundown:
- Macworld’s High Expectations
- MacNN – There’s Something In The Air
- MacUser: MacBook Air
- AppleInsider: AppleTV Update
- MacRumors Buyers Guide
I feel let down already. It used to be that Apple would leave product announcements such as the update to the MacPro line to MacWorld. I almost feel like…what is there to look forward to?
We already know Office 2008 is coming. No surprise there. MacPro’s are updated. With HD DVD on the fence, will Blu-Ray officially make a premiere?
The iPhone…we already know from AT&T’s CEO that a 3G version is coming in 2008? Will Steve Jobs show us that? Is that very exciting?
Leopard is out…so what could happen there?
iTunes 7.6 is slated to appear, and we already know that a few studios are looking to do possible rentals on iTunes…so again, not really much of a surprise.
What does Apple have up it’s sleeve? I hope something, because right now I’m not very excited for this year’s MacWorld.
MacNN has a story on a new patent filed by Apple. The patent describes a new type of notebook dock. The dock would allow a device, such as a MacBook, to slip into a “sleeve” on a stand. That stand would contain a larger LCD screen (a la the iMac), allow access to the laptop ports, charge the laptop, and add a “telephonic” function.
A dock like this sure makes docking a laptop more convenient, and much more space efficient. If it was priced right, it would be a novel concept that would be a great design lesson.
Source: MacNN
The Airport Extreme Base Station has mysteriously become “Not Available” for residents of Britain.
Anyone know why?
See store link here.
Don’t you love gossip? Today’s gossip is that AT&T is not happy with their iPhone partner, Apple. The announcement by AT&T’s CEO last week that the 3G iPhone is coming in 2008 seems to have caused a bit of a rift. According to MacNN, “by letting the public know a 3G iPhone was coming in 2008, says Cringely, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has deprived both Apple and AT&T of important revenue.” Shoppers withholding iPhone purchases this holiday season could be a loss of 1 million potential customers. That’s a lot of money for AT&T and Apple not to make.
Another potential beef involves rumors that Apple may be wanting to help Google with their 700Mhz spectrum bid. Why? VoIP over a data network. Apple, knowing that AT&T may not wan’t VoIP calling over their data networks (think unlimited phone calls on unlimited data plans), may be exploring using their own data network to add VoIP capabilities to the iPhone.
The possibility of VoIP on an iPhone is juicy. It would help sell more phones, but so would an open application platform, and an unlocked phone…
Source: MacNN
According to Electronista, the second-gen iPhone (3G capable), now confirmed for release in 2008, may already be delayed. According to an analyst at Friedman Billings Ramsey & Company, the next revision of the iPhone has been delayed to mid-to-late summer from an anticipated launch of March or April.
I’ll have a small hope to see the new iPhone at MacWorld with a demo of the application SDK. I can wish, right?
Source: Electronista
According to MacNN, AT&T’s head, CEO Randall Stephenson informed attendies of a meeting at the Churchill Club in Santa Clara, California, “You’ll have it next year.” The question is, when will the 3G iPhone appear, and how fast of a data speed will it support on the 3G network. In theory, you can transfer data above 3Mbps. Even so, this would mark a significant improvement in data speeds compared to EDGE equipped iPhones.
Does this mean battery life issues that were alluded to by Steve Jobs have been solved? Steve Jobs claimed that we would not see 3G iPhones until battery life could be improved. Let’s hope that issue has been fixed.
What’s my prediction? It would be fitting to see 3G iPhones at MacWorld, along with a demonstration of the iPhone SDK.
Apple’s stock has been on the rise today with the news.
Sources: MacNN, The Mac Observer
