Apple's new Mac mini breathes new life into the Mac platform

Apple has listend and granted us a new Mac mini and this time what was once the most affordable Mac desktop is currently one of the most powerful computers running macOS Mojave. Encased in the same form-factor as the Mac mini devices of years past, this year's Mac mini is an impressive upgrade.

2018 Mac mini, which ship on November 7, offer 4 and 6 processor cores, up to 64GB of RAM and  8th-generation Intel Core processors with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 4.6GHz and Intel UHD graphics. Apple says that these new minis are 5 times more powerful than the models they replace. 

With a starting price of CAD $999.00, the Mac mini is highly configurable through Apple's store. Mac mini also brings Apple's T2 security processor, a bevy of ports including four Thunderbolt 3, two USB-A, HDMI video, audio, and Ethernet up to 10Gbps. 

Mac mini is now the perfect photo and video editor's desktop, provided they have their own displays and external GPUs.

Tim Cook: "Great desktops," are in the roadmap

There's been growing concern that Apple has somewhat neglected its desktops. Sure, the iMac was updated in 2015 with impressive new 5K and 4K variants, but it's been two years since the Mac mini has gotten revised and three long years since the Mac Pro was launched. Well, Apple CEO Tim Cook reassured Apple staff that desktops are very much a part of Apple's roadmap in an internal memo to employees.

Some folks in the media have raised the question about whether we’re committed to desktops. If there’s any doubt about that with our teams, let me be very clear: we have great desktops in our roadmap. Nobody should worry about that.

This is very good news for Apple desktop users who have been waiting patiently for an upgrade path from their current desktops. Like most manufacturers of the PC industry, Apple's likely been held back by Intel, who supplies the processors that power notebooks and desktops and whose latest Kaby Lake processors are trickling out. The Mac is also a shrinking part of Apple's business. Notebooks may be on the upswing but desktops are a tough sell all around. Tim Cook's reassurance that great desktops are coming will help put a lot of speculation to rest.

Source: TechCrunch

Mac mini gets updated with Haswell processors, faster WiFi and Thunderbolt

The smallest Mac of all has received a list of upgrades. Fans of the Mac mini will welcome the fourth generation Intel Core processors, new integrated graphics that are up to 90 percent faster, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Thunderbolt 2 capabilities as well as Intel Iris Graphics in the same small form factor.

“People love Mac mini. It’s a great first Mac or addition to your home network, and the new Mac mini is a nice upgrade packed into an incredibly compact design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With the latest CPU and graphics, faster Wi-Fi, two Thunderbolt 2 ports, OS X Yosemite, and starting at just $549, the new Mac mini is the best value ever.”

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iPad mini launch event is confirmed via media invites

Just as was reported a few days ago. Apple is planning a media event taking place on October 23rd at 10am PST/1pm EST at the California Center in San Jose.  Parsing the invitation, which reads "We've got a little more to show you," the 'little' pertains to the much awaited iPad mini. Also rumoured to make an appearance at the event are new Mac minis and quite possibly a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina Display. We'll know soon enough a week from today.