News for Tuesday, 28 February 2006

The new Mac mini looks quite impressive on paper, eventhough it would have been even more competitive with unchanged prices.
But there is something weird: the GPU. It is an Intel GMA950 GPU integrated to the computer chipset and running on 64MB of shared memory. Far to be a killer GPU... far away...
If you consider a test published by AnandTech, it could even be considered as the worst GPU currently available. But the Mac mini x86 is based on a 667MHz FSB, so the performance should be a bit higher than the tested model that run on a 533MHz FSB.
But, in any cases, do not try to play 3D games with this machine, it is not meant to be used for such purpose. For all other purpose, the Mac mini will be the perfect computer, for all tasks when intensive GPU processes are not the limiting factor.

The Apple Store is opened again with both new products being advertised.
The Mac mini x86


The entry model with a Core Solo 1.5 GHz, 512 MB, 60 GB Combo AP/BT2.0 for 649 euros.
the high-end model with a Core Duo 1.67 GHz, 512 MB, 80 GB SD 8x AP/BT2.0 for 879 Euros TTC
Pay attention that both models are using a Intel GPU GMA950 using 64MB of DDR2 shared memory.

The iPod Hi-Fi is available for 379 Euros.
It is a really impressive device, let's wait for music specialist reviews.

We will do our best to cover the Apple Special Event keynote that will start at 10h00 Pacific Time , 13h00 East Coast Time or 19h00 Central Europe Time.
We should expect to see new products on the AppleStore; the main question remaining: iPods? Intel-based Mac mini? both? A new device?
All our questions will be answered within a couple of hours. See you there.
Here we go!!
As expected the AppleStore is featuring the usual yellow post-it.
Steve Jobs is on the stage and presenting a new Mac mini based on both Intel Core Duo and Solo processors. The speed improvement is claimed to be 2.5x to 3.2x faster.
The new Mac mini looks exactly as the previous model, but features of course Front Row as well as the remote control known by iMac owners. Steve Jobs demonstrates a new function of Front Row: the ability to share music libraries from other machines running iTunes on the same network. The same applies for photo and video contents.
Price: $599 for entry level model (Core Solo)
all models feature : Tiger + iLife '06, Apple Remote + Front Row, Airport Extreme + Bluetooth, DVI Video Out, USB, FireWire, Gigabit Ethernet Dolby Digital 5.1 (a new featue for Macs!) and analog audio in and out. More details : 1.5GHz Core Solo or 1.67GHz Core Duo-based Mac mini models.
both models are based on the Intel GPU GMA950 with 64MB of shared memory (DDR2). It is the first product based on shared-memory GPU in Apple catalog for a long time.
A new product! iPod Hifi , aka the rumored Boombox!
This device is compatible with all ipod generations via adaptors, and features 3 speakers:
-Two 80mm mid-range drivers in sealed acoustic suspension.
-In center is 130mm dual voice coil woofer.
the price of this new device "Made for iPod"? $349
A bit expensive for a 2.1 audio device? maybe not because the iPod Hifi can be controlled with the Apple Remote! It can also accept audio input via a jack and SPDIF optical audio input! in addition to its integrated power unit, the iPod Hifi can also run on TypeD-batteries, so you can litterally take it with you on the road!
After summarizing today's new products, Steve Jobs leaves the Stage, the keynote is over;
but as he did it couple of month ago, before leaving he stated "and we'll see you all really soon."

The web was very active yesterday following the release of an article in the British business newspaper Barron's. Indeed, an analyst was speculating about Disney taking over by Apple!?
First, the article was mostly speculating around 2 points : Steve Jobs owns 7% of Disney shares (he is the main individual shareholder) and the currently low price of Disney shares.
So, it is difficult not to give of point of view regarding this topic, even though, we are amateurs in this field:
- Steve Jobs is not Apple, even though both names are strongly linked.
- If Steve jobs wanted to acquire Disney, he should have not sold Pixar to Disney couple of weeks ago. Indeed, Pixar's future was brighter than Disney's one. So a merger between apple and Pixar might have speed up Disney acquisition.
- Apple has always saved a large amount of cash flow, mostly to prevent any shareholders unfriendly maneuvers and also to keep control of its future.
- In the past such large mergers have been synonyms of bad deals (AOL-Time Warner or Vivendi-Universal).
We think that Apple and Disney can work really closely together benefit mutually of a strong collaboration; but it does not necessarily imply a merger or a take-over.
Do you really want to have a "Bambi Edition" iMac?

First a report from Olivier.

I have just learned that the IGN (French National Geographic Institute) will release online next summer a Google Earth-like system with a details resolution as high as 50cm (covering France first).
But the system might worked only with Windows-based computers. Nothing is clearly stated on the IGN website, but the current services are only supported for Wintel platform, nothing is available for Mac or Linux platforms.

If they release an internet-based service that is platform dependent, it would be a serious mistake to our point of view. Maybe Apple should offer a Core Duo-based Mac to the IGN director to convince to consider other OS apart from Windows?

AOpen has been the first PC manufacturer to release a Mac mini-like PC model couple of months after Apple introduced the Mac mini. As shown below, it really looked like a Mac mini:


But this time before Apple, AOpen will propose a new model compatible with Intel Core duo processor.

It will support 7.1 audio and SATA HD and will feature an infra-red remote control.
So if AOpen can release such model, Apple can certainly do it too, or even bring something better.
[Update] Shuttle, another renowned PC manufacturer, is also proposing a Yonah-based mini PC.

Competition starts to be tough, Apple will have to come up with a strong offer, or introduce a Mac nano?

No way you can miss it. Apple's commercial for MacIntel is flooding French channels - as it probably does worldwide. This is all pretty cool, considering how long ago Mac hadn't been on TV - indeed last time was when the G5 came out and the commercial was quite controversial.
The current one is controversial too and has shocked quite a few people, especially Intel & Co... After "Intel Inside", here's "Apple around". Here's the actual message of this commercial: Mac didn't move to Intel, indeed Intel moved to Mac!