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Posts tagged mac mini
Custom enclosure designs shove 160 Mac minis into a single rackmount tower
Dec 10th
When the Xserve joined the great server farm in the sky, Mac-minded datacenters everywhere were left without a true rackmountable computer; even the current Mac mini wasn’t designed for those kinds of tight spaces. Enter the purposefully anonymous Steve, who just filled the gap with one of the cleverer solutions we’ve seen yet. He and vendors have developed custom 1U shelving, cooling from car radiators and four-in-one power cables that, combined, fit 160 Mac minis (and a managing Xserve) into one enclosure without cooking the machines to death. With each Mac mini carrying a quad Core i7 and an SSD, Steve now has twice as many cores (640) as an equivalent Xserve cluster despite lower power consumption and a 45-second, network-controlled reboot — all big helps to his unnamed employer’s software development, even with the lack of built-in redundancy for Apple’s tiny desktop. As many gritty details as Steve can share are available at the source.
Via: Hack A Day
Source: Steve’s Blog
Tags: car radiators, rackmountable computer, mac miniMac mini review (2012)
Nov 9th
More Info
October 23rd was mostly the iPad mini’s coming out party; an event with one major headliner. But that newborn product didn’t enter Apple’s ecosystem alone. Amidst the flurry of announcements, there was one other wee hardware relative on hand ready to join in on the launch festivities: a refreshed 2012 Mac mini. Addressing criticisms of last year’s model, Apple added Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 ports, upgraded to third-generation Ivy Bridge Core processors to the mix and boosted the standard RAM allotment to 4GB (you can configure it with up to 16 gigs). Perhaps most interestingly, it’s now offering a hybrid storage option, the so-called FusionDrive, which combines flash memory with a SATA HDD.
One quirk still remains, though: the product’s demographic leanings. Just who is the Mac mini for? Is it the go-anywhere, portable desktop best integrated in yachts, airports, automobiles and living rooms? Or, with a starting price of $599, is it the perfect, low-cost migration assistant (pun intended) for consumers making the switch from a Windows desktop? Follow on to see which hat this not-quite-an-HTPC wears best.
Gallery: Mac mini review (2012)
Continue reading Mac mini review (2012)
Mac mini review (2012) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: More Info Mac, new Mac Mini, on FriiPad mini, new iMacs and more revealed at Apple event
Oct 23rd
At The California Theatre, San Jose, Apple CEO Tim Cook took to the stage to unveil the iPad Mini. The October 23 event also saw the introduction of a new 13″ MacBook Pro with Retina display, new iMacs as well as new Mac mini. There were also updates to iBooks and iBooks Author. Read on to find out everything you need to know about today’s announcement.
iPad mini
The iPad mini was revealed from behind the fourth-generation iPad. Described by Schiller as, “Not just a shrunken down iPad,” the iPad mini features a 7.9-inch display with the same resolution as the iPad 2 (1024 x 768 pixels) and a dual-core A5 processor. It’s 23% thinner at just 7.2mm thick and features a 5-megapixel iSight camera, a FaceTime Hd camera, LTE and Wi-Fi capabilities and a 10-hour battery life. Connections, as you’d expect, come via a Lightning connector.
The 16GB Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini is priced at $329 and will be available on November 2nd with pre-orders available from this Friday. Two weeks later will see the introduction of the iPad mini with Wi-Fi and cellular in sale in the US and other selected countries worldwide. There will also be a new selection of Smart Covers to go alongside the launch.
Fourth-Generation iPad
An updated 9.7-inch iPad, complete with a new A6X chip (which doubles the CPU performance), 10-hour battery life an updated camera and a new Lightning connector was also announced. Available in both black and white flavours, it’ll start at $499 for the 16GB model.
New 13″ MacBook Pro
The new 13″ MacBook Pro with Retina display sizes up at just 0.75″ thin and weighs just 3.5lbs – the lightest MacBook Pro ever. It features a Retina display, two USB 3.0 ports, dual Thunderbolt ports and an SD card reader. The new Retina display sports a 29% higher contrast ratio and a 75% reduction in glare thanks to its IPS technology. It comes in two flavours; either the i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge processor and ships with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
The new 13″ MacBook Pro doesn’t come cheap though, it starts $1699 for the i5 model with 8GB RAM and 128GB of flash memory and $1999 for the same model with 256GB of flash storage. Upgrades include a larger processor (i7 Ivy Bridge), more RAM and up to 768GB of flash storage and it’s available to order today.
New Mac mini
The new Mac mini features dual or quad Intel i5 or i7 processors which sees up to two times the processing performance compared to previous models and up to 65% faster graphics thanks to the Intel HD graphics 4000 chipset. It can be configured with either a 500GB – 1TB Hard Drive or a Fusion drive that combines 1TB of disk-based storage and 128GB of solid-state storage. RAM starts with 4GB by default but can be configured up to 16GB. New connectivity on the Mac mini includes four USB 3.0 ports, a single Thunderbolt port and HDMI out for displays.
The new Mac mini is available to purchase today and starts at $599 for the 2.4GHz i5 model.
All-new iMacs
The all-new iMac features an incredibly thin design – just 5mm in thickness, 80% thinner than its predecessor. The svelte form factor was created thanks to a laminated display. It comes in 21.5″ and 27″ sizes with a viewing angle of 178 degrees thanks to the IPS technology. It features a FaceTime HD camera, dual-microphones, stereo sound, four USB 3.0 ports and dual Thunderbolt drives. It can be configured with up to 3TB of storage, Core i5 or i7 processors and a new storage setup – the Apple Fusion Drive.
The Fusion Drive features 128GB of flash storage as well as 1TB or 3TB of hard disk storage that’s ‘fused’ together by software. Applications and OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion will stay on the SSD while documents and files will stay on the HDD. The result is a drive that delivers near-flash performance. Impressive to say the least.
If you’re itching to get your hands on one of these, you’ll have to wait until next month, but the good news is that pricing starts at $1299 for the 21.5″ model with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB HDD.
iBooks 3.0 and iBooks Author
iBooks 3.0 now features continuous scrolling, better iCloud integration and better sharing options – allowing users to share their favourite quotes from any book on Facebook and Twitter. iBooks 3.0 also features 40 new language options including Korean, Chinese and more – showing Apple’s commitment to its Asian market. iBooks 3.0 is available today for free from the iOS App Store. iBooks Author also saw a fairly significant update including custom fonts, mathematical expression support and improved audio support.
Tags: macbook pro, California Theatre, mac miniApple Mac Mini updated in two new flavors, at $599 and $999
Oct 23rd

Apple’s smallest desktop, the Mac Mini, is getting a spec update just one year after its last refresh. Apple’s rolling out two new Mac Minis with varying storage and processing capabilities — first a $599 model with a 2.5GHz dual-core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, 4GB of RAM and 500GB HDD, and second a $999 server model with a 2.3GHz quad-core i7 Ivy Bridge, 4GB of RAM and dual 1TB HDDs. You can of course kit that out to 16GB of RAM, and you could always add a 256GB SDD should you not get down spinning discs these days. Graphics is handled by the (rather paltry) Intel HD 4000 GPU, and Bluetooth 4.0 is handling wireless devices. When it comes to ports, four USB 3.0 slots come built-in, as well as an SD card reader and HDMI out. We didn’t catch a mention of Thunderbolt ports, but we’d be surprised if they went missing. We’ll have more as soon as Apple puts out official word on the device, but it should pop up in the Apple Store when it returns following today’s event.
For more from this event, follow along in our liveblog!
Gallery: Mac mini (2013)
Filed under: Apple
Apple Mac Mini updated in two new flavors, at $599 and $999 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: mac mini, Apple Mac Mini, The Apple store, Ivy Bridge processorApple Mac Mini specs updated in two new flavors
Oct 23rd

Apple’s smallest desktop, the Mac Mini, is getting a spec update just one year after its last refresh. Apple’s rolling out two new Mac Minis with varying storage and processing capabilities — first a $599 model with 2.5GHz spec with 4GB of RAM and 500GB HDD, and second a $999 server model with a 2.3GHz Core i7 with 4GB of RAM and dual 1TB HDDs.
Developing …
For more from this event, follow along in our liveblog!
Gallery: Mac mini (2013)
Filed under: Apple
Apple Mac Mini specs updated in two new flavors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: server model, Mac Minis, Apple Mac Mini, mac miniAsk Engadget: Best Mac Mini carrying case?
Mar 17th
“Hi All. I purchased a 2011 Mac Mini with dedicated graphics for PhotoShop and InDesign. I’ve grown tired of my Core 2 Duo Laptop, instead I want to bring my Mac Mini to and from work (I’ve got display, keyboard and mouse at both places so it’s not a problem). It might be a weird idea, I wanna try it. Any suggestions on what I can use to carry it, as long as its discrete as I commute quite a bit. Thanks!”
Well, we’re impressed by his commitment and his plan, but has anyone else made the leap and lived to tell the tale? We’ve never seen a mac at a LAN party, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some exquisite accessories available for the purpose. One, two, you know what to do.
(NB: If you don’t know what to do, it’s to give your helpful suggestions and personal experiences in the comments below)
Ask Engadget: Best Mac Mini carrying case? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: mac miniNew Apple TV expected alongside iPad 3 (Digital Trends)
Feb 28th
Digital Trends – A revamped iPad may not be the only thing Apple fans have to look forward to at the company’s March 7th event in San Francisco: 9to5mac cites sources close to Apple in anticipating a new Apple TV model will also be announced. The new device, codenamed J33, is expected to include a faster A5 processor with improved graphics capability, along with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, which has also been included in the iPhone 4S and latest Macbook Air and Mac Mini computers — perhaps heralding a new era of Apple device interconnectivity.
Tags: apple tv, digital trends, mac mini, MacBook AirTwelve South BassJump 2 USB Subwoofer now available, further bumps your Mac’s thump
Oct 25th
Continue reading Twelve South BassJump 2 USB Subwoofer now available, further bumps your Mac’s thump
Twelve South BassJump 2 USB Subwoofer now available, further bumps your Mac’s thump originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Frankfurt: Bentley Mulsanne Executive Interior Concept is how to roll like a real boss
Sep 15th
Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Bentley, Luxury
If you have to to work while being shuttled in the back seat of a car, it’s hard to find a more comfortable mobile office than a Bentley Mulsanne. Still, all of that luxury won’t aid you in spell-checking TPS reports as you’re more likely to be lulled to sleep. Bentley has a new interior concept that will keep you alert, awake, connected and running the show like the boss you truly are.
It’s called the Mulsanne Executive Interior Concept, and it’s way nicer than your office. No, not the office of the person who can afford the car, specifically your office. The British builder of luxuriously exotic automobiles has put together an interior fit for a constantly connected king, which comes complete with a list of items to make sure whatever task at hand is finished before leaving the coddling confines of the Mulsanne.
Rear passengers will enjoy the power-folding wood veneer picnic tables that drop from the backs of the front seats. The tables are home to separate iPad work stations, each of which includes a Bluetooth wireless keyboard. Keeping that iPad and keyboard combo in check is a Mac Mini mounted in the trunk. The Apple product brigade is joined by an iPod that can play music but also serves as the remote control for the rear seat information and entertainment devices. A telephone is nestled into the armrest alongside a Tibaldi pen. If you’re not familiar with the Tibaldi brand of writing instruments, just know that prices range from way-too-much-for-a-pen to worth-more-than-the-car-you-drive. Regardless, we’re sure it takes beautiful notes that pertain to the morning meeting, which you attended from the back of your super luxury sedan.
Once the work is done, you can kick back and relax while watching your company’s stock rise on the ticker rolling across the drop-down 15.6-inch high-definition LCD. It’s mounted on the ceiling and is the perfect tool to stop the driver from sneaking glances at you and your secretary.
Continue reading Bentley Mulsanne Executive Interior Concept is how to roll like a real boss
Bentley Mulsanne Executive Interior Concept is how to roll like a real boss originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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