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I’ve been looking for some new Speakers to hook up to my Mac mini for a while now. Trouble is, finding some at the right price, that fit in with the Alu look, but also sound great, is no mean feat. In the end I was looking too hard, what I needed was right in front of my nose. My good friend Sam over at Fruit Bytes was already using these Altec Lansing Speakers, and promptly recommended them to me.

I looked at a few places online and couldn’t seem to find many retailers selling them. Then it dawned on me these models were over a year old! But after a bit more digging, I found that Play.com were selling them for £29.99, just the sort of price I was looking to fork out. Delivery was very speedy to be fair, usually Play take 3-5 days to deliver DVD’s etc, but I think because of the size and weight, the Speakers were sent by Parcelforce 24! I was happy.

Not too many pics to show but head over to my Flickr page to check out the unboxing process.

Waxing Lyrical

Once I got them unpacked I tried them out with my MacBook first. My brother was round at the time and he instantly said “They sound quality, how much did you pay for them?!” When I told him the price he asked me to order him a set to use with his portable DVD player. I then took them to their new resting place, in my bedroom. Once setup I immediately felt the difference over the old Apple Pro USB Speakers I had been using. Finally there was bass, and plenty of it! I found myself turning the Subwoofer down because I know I’d end up with complaints from the neighbours. I have a couple of Movies in my iTunes collection that are very low volume. With my old Apple Speakers, this left the film unwatchable as I just couldn’t hear the speech properly. Now with my shiny new Altec Lansings’ I can just crank them up and enjoy.

Downsides

The fact they don’t come with a remote control might be a problem for some, but not for me. I set them up so I have a good range of volume adjustment using the Apple remote, works great. Another thing that annoyed me a bit when I was first testing them out, these things don’t like standing up! They were constantly falling over as I was adjusting the wire placement. Thankfully though, once left alone, they manage to keep their composure.

Conclusion

Overall I’m very pleased with these Speakers. I bought them on a reccomendation, when historically I prefer to hear my Speakers in the flesh. Gladly though, they covered all my initial requirements. If anyone fancies a pair of Apple Pro USB Speakers then gimme an email before they go on eBay!

After over a year without a single update, the Mac mini is officially back. The last update to the Mac mini came way back in August 2007 when they received Core 2 Duo processors. They are still using Core 2 Duo processors, and not the Intel Atom as many feared. There is no change to the speed, only the processor revision, which is the same that’s used in the entry level Alu MacBook. Elswhere the graphical prowess has been boosted thanks to NVIDIA and their rather tasty 9400m Chipset/GPU combo chip, which offers up to 5 x the performance over the Intel GMA950 GPU in the existing Mac mini. Also a welcome boost is the inclusion of N-spec WiFi, the lack of which some found as a limitation when using the previous model as a Media Server, many ended up connecting it via Ethernet.

2.0GHz : 120GB

2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB DDR3 Memory
120GB Hard Drive
8 x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
£499.00

2.0GHz : 320GB

2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR3 Memory
320GB Hard Drive
8 x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
£649.00

Not much bang for your buck I’ll have to be honest. Very dissapointed to see the top end model only have a 2.0GHz CPU, what about the 2.4GHz? You can get a 2.26GHz BTO option on both models, at a whopping £120! No thank you Apple.

Latest news in the new iMac/Mac mini saga is that we could see these machines as early as tomorrow. Apple have a history of releasing product refreshes on a Tuesday so I don’t see why not. Hardmac have posted product numbers, while  OneMoreThing have supplied the apparent specs of the new models.

The new iMac models and their corresponding references:
- MB417: Entry level model
- MB418: “Mass market” model
- MB419: high-end model
- MB420: ultimate model
The entry level model should come with a 20″ display, while the three other models will feature a 24″ panel.

For the Mac mini, the references are the following:
- MB463: entry-level model
- MB464 high-end model

Mac mini
- 5x USB
- 1x FireWire 800
- 1x mini DVI
- 1x Display poort
- Nvidia chipset (like the newest MacBook)
- starting at Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 Ghz
- 1 of 2 GB DDR3 memory (max 4 GB)
- 120 GB hard disk (max 320 GB)

iMac
- one 20″ model, three 24″ models
- Intel Core 2 Duo (not a quad core): 2.66 Ghz, 2.93 Ghz and 3.06 Ghz
- 1x Display port
- 20″ 2 GB DDR3 memory, 24″ 4 GB DDR3 memory (max 8 GB)

Interestingly, if true, there will now be only one 20″ model, with the other three sporting 24″ displays. The days of the 17″ seem long forgotten now. No mention of any Core 2 Quad processors either, I still fancy the top end 24″ model to have one. Anyway, we will wait and see what happens tomorrow, I know at least one person chomping at the bit to get his hands on an updated iMac, you know who you are…

[Update]

Comet have updated their website with new product numbers and place holder prices! New models tomorrow are officially IMMINENT!

Comet showing new models!

[Update x2]

I’ve just been emailed by a reliable source who tells me these are the full specs of the new machines. Not much to get exctited about then, no 2.4GHz option in the Mac mini seems a strange decision?

IMAC 20″/2.66/2GB/320/SD/MSE/KB
IMAC 24″/2.66/4GB/640/SD/MSE/KB
IMAC 24″/2.93/4GB/640/256/SD/MSE/KB
IMAC 24″/3.06/4GB/1TB/512/SD/MSE/KB

MAC MINI 2.0/1X1G/120/SD/AP/BT
MAC MINI 2.0/2X1G/320/SD/AP/BT

Rumors were rife pre Macworld that Apple were planning on releasing an updated version of their Mac mini product. This said update would include newer processors, faster bus speeds and also the GeForce 9400m GPU/Chipset combo seen in the latest MacBooks. This never materialized, the new mini was never announced, and was soon forgotten without much complaint. Well, new rumors are bound to surface, and it seems that they have, this time in the form of a video posted on metacafe, a video sharing website. The video shows what appears to be  an updated Mac mini sporting no less than 5 USB ports, a mini-DVI port, aswell as the newest standard, Mini Display Port. Now the first thing that struck me about the video was, it’s still the same design. Surely Apple would update it? Surely they would change the top to be black?

As the Macintosh celebrated it’s 25th birthday yesterday, I found myself wondering what it would’ve been like to have never used a Windows based PC. I didn’t get into computers properly till I was about sixteen. I’d always owned a Games Console but my parents could never afford to by a household PC. Once I’d finished High School I decided to go to College to do a Computers A-Level, that’s when my parents managed to buy me a Pentium 200MHz system to help me with my College work. I remember getting it delivered and my Dad said there was no other room in the house to keep it, except for my bedroom, result! Things went from there and within a week or two I signed up for an AOL Free Trial that got me online for two months, I never looked back. My A-level work actually suffered from the fact I had my own PC because I’d end up staying on it all night and either being late, or falling asleep in College. To cut a long story short I went from 1996 to 2004 owning various PC’s that I built myself.

What made me Switch? One answer, iPod…

3rd Gen iPod was a big influence

In 2003 after much dallying I decided to get myself an iPod. I had a friend who was into Apple in a big way and he kept telling me it was brilliant taking his entire music library on the go. I’d owned various portable CD players in the past and always thought it was annoying having to choose a CD quickly before leaving the house, why couldn’t I just hit shuffle like I did on my PC? I got myself a brand new 3rd Gen iPod that had 15GB of storage. I loved the way the four control buttons lit up red and still miss this even today (I was expecting the click wheel to light up on my iPod Video but sadly it didn’t). I managed persuade another one of my friends to get an iPod and we both then had Apple in our minds. If they could make a music player that works this well, syncs effortlessly with your computer, has a simple yet powerful interface, uses innovative control wheel to let you scroll through your music, then what were their computers like? What was their operating system like? That’s when we started paying attention, thats when we started researching on the internet, visiting the Apple website to check out their products, and most importantly, watching the Keynotes. By the time 2004 came there was still that little something stopping me from switching, but then on August 31st, I got pushed over the edge, big time!  It was Apple Expo in Paris, hosted by Phil Schiller (Big Phil!) and I wasn’t really expecting much. I remember my friend texting me “have you seen the new iMac!?”

iMac G5 20" 1.8GHz

I hadn’t, but scurried online to check it out. The love affair began here. For days after the Keynote all I did was check the specs, watch the advert over and over, and think of a way I could afford one. I sorted out a deal with another friend, he was after a new system and bought my PC for a good price. I scrimped together the rest of the money to finally order this twenty inch beauty. When it arrived I got home from work and was so excited I couldn’t even open the box. When I did I couldn’t believe how big the screen looked. I remember my Dad waxing lyrical about the screen quality and he knew nothing about computers. It was unlike any computer I’d ever owned, it was a work of art. Now was the real test, could I use it, would I like using it, and would I miss Windows? I have to admit, for the first week I did miss Windows. I suppose if you use anything for the best part of 7 years then a change will feel weird. I was lucky to have a friend who had owned Macs for years though, and he helped me along the way. If ever I couldn’t do something I’d done in Windows, I learned that on a Mac it could be done, just differently and usually better. Programs I used in Windows always seemed to have a Mac equivalent. I started playing with iLife ’04 and realised this is what I’d been missing. Everything just worked, everything seemed integrated, even 3rd party apps all shared the same look, they all fit together, it started feeling right.

So from there my love for everything Apple began, and it still lives on to this day. I have owned many Apple products since 2003, and I still own a fair few now! I am a very nostalgic person, and just wish I got into Apple sooner. I wish I was there from 1996, I wish I was there when Steve Jobs came back. But all I can do now is feed my  thirst for the past, and eBay is a very good place to do that. iMac G3′s, iMac G4′s, maybe a Classic Mac, I don’t know what is next, but I know I’ll never stop buying Apple.

My Apple Timeline

2003 – iPod 3rd Gen 15GB (Sold)
2004 – iMac 20″ 1.8GHz (Sold)
2005 – iMac 20″ 2.1GHz with iSight camera (Sold)
2006 – iPod 5th Gen 30GB (iPod Video)
2006 – iMac G3 Graphite 600MHz
2006 – iMac 20″ 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Sold)
2007 – Apple iPhone 8GB (Sold)
2007 – iPod Nano 2GB Black (Gave to my Brother)
2008 – Mac Mini 1.83GHz with 20″ Apple Cinema Display
2008 – AppleTV 160GB
2008 – Apple iPhone 3G 8GB
2008 – Time Capsule 1TB
2008 – MacBook 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo (Sold)
2008 – Unibody MacBook  2.4GHZ with Backlit Keyboard

As Macworld quickly approaches the rumor mill is running wild on possible new Apple products and updates. Here’s a run down of what we’ve been hearing the most.

• Mac Mini – new update to include faster processors, N-spec WiFi, the same GeForce 9400m used in the new MacBook’s. The other rumors suggest Apple will be including a removable SATA optical drive in the new Mini, this can then supposedly be swapped for another SATA hard drive for those wishing to use their Mini as a Media Hub. Aesthetically the new Mini is said to swap the white top of the current model with black to bring it in line with the new Apple look.
• iPhone nano – case manufacturers around the globe are slipping up with listings for a new iPhone nano model. Usually when you start finding this happening from multiple sources you know something is going on. But how can Apple dumb down the existing iPhone? By making it smaller but with the same features, it would surely just attract everyone to the nano? My guess, no GPS, no Camera and less Memory.
• Mac Media Centre – probably my most wanted Apple product ever. If, like me, you have a big media library on your main Mac at home, what happens when you have a multiple Macs in the household? Most of us have laptops these days, what happens then? Do you keep a totally separate library on your laptop? What about playlists, ratings, play counts and iTunes purchases? All this needs to resolved and quickly. I bought a Time Capsule and had limited success turning into a truly useable Media Hub.
• Netbook or Mac Tablet – I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll see either of these products at Macworld. I’m guessing these will make an appearance towards to mid part of 2009, maybe even in the fall, depending on market conditions.

Apple released 10.5.5 on the 15th of September. According to Apple the update included the following improvements..

• Improves Spotlight indexing performance.
• Improves iPhone sync reliability with iCal and Address Book
• In MobileMe: improves overall sync and Back to My Mac reliability.
• Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.
• Addresses stability issues with video playback, processor core idling, and remote disc sharing for MacBook Air.

I was hoping this update would fix the long standing problem in Leopard of shared libraries not showing album artwork on the remote source. I have a Mac mini setup in my bedroom with a 20″ ACD and it is very frustrating seeing a placeholder instead of actual album art when scrolling through not just Music, but also Movies and TV Shows. Please Apple, fix this problem, as “gorgeous artwork” is what you love doing!