On the New Mac mini

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Today, Apple announced a new Mac mini.

I’m just going let us all bask in that for a moment.

The form factor seems to be the same, but now in Space Gray, which according to Apple, “pros just love”. I can’t really argue with that, I suppose, looking at my iMac Pro and MacBook Pro.

(A nice bonus is that all Mac minis are made from 100% recycled aluminum.)

Around back, there’s a new set of IO built for our modern day:

  • Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
  • Two USB 3 ports
  • HDMI 2.0 port
  • Gigabit Ethernet port (configurable to 10Gb Ethernet)
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack

Gone is the SD card slot. It only survives on the iMac and iMac Pro at this point.

Inside, the Mac mini is all new. Every model comes with at least four cores, and all of them use SSD for storage. The days of spinning drives and Fusion Drives seem to be gone, at least for the Mac mini, as the new machines come with the T2 chip for managing security and disk access.

The base model — which is now $799, a full $300 more than before — comes with a 3.6GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor without Turbo Boost, coupled to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.

The base machine, and the most expensive, which clocks in at $4,2001 comes with integrated graphics, in the form of the Intel UHD Graphics 630 chipset. For a computer that Apple says can be used by pros, this blows my mind. Yes, macOS Mojave and Thunderbolt 3 make living with an eGPU relatively easy, but having a discrete graphics option, at least in the high-end models would make me feel a lot better about the Mac mini being useful to a wider range of customers.

It just feels like Apple could have gone further, especially as it touts the Mac mini’s all-new thermal system designed to keep these 4 and 6-core CPUs nice and cool.

While the GPU situation is a little frustrating, the RAM in this new machine appears to be upgradeable, which is great. It seems that Apple really heard us on that one. Sadly, the storage is not user accessible. I assume we can blame the T2 for that.

I ordered a mid-range model2 to replace my aging home server, which also is the heart of our family entertainment center. I’m looking forward to getting it in next week, and while this new machine leaves me with some questions, I am glad it is here.

  1. For that money, you get a 3.2GHz 6‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i7, 64GB of RAM, the Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU, 2TB SSD storage and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. ↩
  2. 3.0 GHz i5, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD. And a Thunderbolt 3 to 2 dongle to use my Drobo with it. ↩

October 30th Apple Event Liveblog

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Going to try something new for this event and just update this blog post as it goes along.

08:57 AM: Cooked some turkey bacon and scrambled a couple of eggs. These morning Apple events are a nice change.

08:59 AM: I’ve gotten my original Mac mini off the shelf and have it here on my desk, as a good luck charm.

09:02 AM: I don’t do drugs, but if I did, this event intro with the morphing Apple logos would be less jarring.

09:05 AM: Oh yeah, starting with the Mac. “The first computer designed for creativity!”

09:07 AM: Apple says 51% of Mac customers are new to the Mac, with 76% in China. 100 million Macs in active use. I have roughly 3% of those here in my studio.

09:08 AM: Mojave getting a review by Tim, complete with all the Finder features. BE STILL MY HEART.

09:10 AM: Starting with the MacBook Air. “When Steve pulled it out of that envelope, nothing would ever be the same again.” Tim says it is the most beloved notebook ever, and the most popular Mac.

09:11 AM: NEW MACBOOK AIR. Two USB-C ports, with a 13.3-inch Retina display.

09:12 AM: Edge-to-edge cover glass, with much thinner black bezels. 48% more colors than before.

09:14 AM: New MacBook Air has a Touch ID sensor, but no Touch Bar. T2 chip is present for security and SSD controls.

09:17 AM: Those two ports are Thunderbolt 3 ports. Can push a 5K display and use eGPUs. Force Touch Trackpad and much better speakers also highlighted.

09:17 AM: Up to 16 GB of RAM, coupled with an 8th-gen Core i5. This is a real computer.

09:18 AM: New air is smaller and thinner than previous Air. 2.75 pounds. The MacBook is probably feeling nervous.

09:20 AM: Every new MacBook Air is made of 100% recycled aluminum, not new material extracted from the planet. That is very cool.

09:23 AM: New MacBook Air can be purchased in silver, space gray and gold. Starts at $1199, “the most affordable Retina Mac ever offered.” Orders go up today, will ship next week. Still $200 more than the old MacBook Air, but it is a shockingly better computer.

09:25 AM: OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI. OMG THE MAC MINI.

09:26 AM: Comes in Space Gray, and every SKU starts with 4 cores. There is also a 6-core option. Using desktop-class 8th-generation Intel chips. Up to 5x faster than the old machines. Old Mac mini went to 16 GB; new machines can handle up to 64 GB of RAM. I AM FREAKING OUT AFTER 1,475 DAYS OF FEELING NOTHING.

09:28 AM: Every Mac mini is pure SSD, with capacity up to 2 TB. Super fast with the T2 onboard.

09:29 AM: The Mac mini has gotten the iMac Pro treatment with an all-new thermal system.

09:29 AM: Gigabit Ethernet, 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports, HDMI and 2 USB A ports. Can do 10-gig Ethernet if you custom order it.

09:31 AM: New Mac mini starts at $799. I’ll be ordering at least one later today.

09:32 AM: Was cool to see my friends at MacStadium get some stage time. I waved to the Relay FM live streaming server.

09:33 AM: “Today at Apple” has never gotten the cheers it just got. Apple loaded the decks with Retail fans, I guess.

09:34 AM: He’s not wrong:

09:37 AM: Some press releases are up:

09:41 AM: Something something something Apple Retail.

09:42 AM: The MacBook Pro is about to get a big GPU bump, as noted in the MacBook Air release:

Apple also today announced new MacBook Pro graphics options that will bring powerful Radeon Pro Vega graphics to MacBook Pro for the first time. These new graphics options deliver up to 60 percent faster graphics performance for the most demanding video editing, 3D design and rendering workloads.

09:43 AM: iPad time! Tim says iPad has outsold every other PC maker’s entire lines over the last year. Wowzers.

09:43 AM: The iPad mini has been mentioned. WHAT IS HAPPENING?

09:44 AM: New iPad Pro. Squared-off edges, no home button, smaller bezels, new Pencil and more shown off in video.

09:45 AM: My iPad Pro looks ancient.

09:46 AM: New iPad Pro packs an LCD, using the tricks from the iPhone XR to round it off in the corners.

09:47 AM: New sizes! 10.5-inch iPad Pro now has an 11-inch display in the same footprint. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro keeps the same screen size, with much smaller bezels for a more compact device. That means the 12.9-inch has 25% less volume.

09:49 AM: Face ID is here, as expected. No notch; the hardware all fits into the bezel. Works in portrait and landscape, seemingly in all four orientations. iPhone X-like gestures are all here.

09:51 AM: Someone check on Federico for me, please.

09:51 AM: Powered by an A12X processor. Based on what is in the iPhone XS, but more powerful to drive all those pixels. 8 core CPU (4 fast, 4 efficient) with a 7 core CPU. Multicore workloads are up to 90% faster than before. “Faster than 92% of all portable computers sold last year, including those powered by the i7.” Ouch.

09:53 AM: Apple says the iPad has the GPU grunt of the Xbox One S.

09:54 AM: It really feels like Intel Macs are on thinner and thinner ice, performance wise.

09:54 AM: Up to 1 TB of storage, and moving to USB-C. Can use the iPad to charge your iPhone on the go, haha.

09:55 AM: No word on Files.app learning about external storage devices, which is pretty critical to how I need to work.

09:56 AM: New Apple Pencil. Pairs and charges via new magnetic mount on the iPad itself. Can tap on the Pencil to switch modes. Up to developers to customize.

09:56 AM: New Smart Keyboard folio, with two angles for typing.

09:57 AM: Talking about AR, so if you need a snack, now is the time to get one.

09:58 AM: 10 hour battery life, but it comes with an 18 watt charger in the box, which is nice.

09:59 AM: Really enjoying see so many Apple employees take the stage today. Gender diversity is better than some previous events, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.

10:00 AM: One hour in. Really giving MarsEdit a workout on my MacBook Pro today.

10:03 AM: Unrelated, but I can’t stop sneezing this morning. It’s annoying.

10:05 AM: Adobe is on stage, showing off Photoshop for iPad, as well as its AR authoring tool, Project Arrow. The new Apple Pencil really seems like a huge improvement, with shortcuts for zooming just a tap away.

10:10 AM: I could not be more impressed with what I’ve seen from Photoshop in the two events it has been shown off. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

10:11 AM: Third party apps are great, but where are Logic and Final Cut Pro for the iPad, Apple?

10:12 AM: iPad video has a great Phil Schiller voice over. He’s so good at this.

10:14 AM: The new iPad Pro has 102 magnets in it for the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil. Wild. There’s a camera bump, too.

10:15 AM: The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 for the 64 GB version. The big one starts at $999 for the same amount of storage. Orders go up today, ship on the 7th of November. The 10.5 Pro is still for sale, as is the iPad mini 4.

10:17 AM: iOS 12.1 is out with group FaceTime, new emoji and dual SIM support for XS and XR users. iPad Pro press release is up.

10:18 AM: Tim is going over all of today’s news and talking about Apple’s belief that creativity is what “drives the human race forward.”

10:19 AM: Musical guest: Lana del Rey, who walked out to thunderous cheers.

10:22 AM: Apple’s site has been updated:

10:24 AM: No headphone jack on the iPad Pro. No USB-C to 3.5mm adaptor in the box, either.

10:25 AM: The $799 Mac mini has an i3 processor. Blerg.

10:26 AM: The old MacBook Air is still for sale at $999. Blerg.

10:30 AM: I think that’s it for the liveblog. It was like tweeting the event, but on a platform with no Nazis. Let me know what you think about it.

Kbase Article of the Week: How to Identify External Power Adapters on Mac mini Models Released Before 2010 ⇢

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Apple:

In February 2006, Apple introduced the Intel-based Mac mini (Early 2006). This model and models of Mac mini through 2009 use a different power adapter than models of Mac mini released before 2006.

The two power adapters are not interchangeable, and should only be used with the model of Mac mini they shipped with. Read on to learn how to identify which power adapter to use with each Mac mini computer.

After 2010, the Mac mini moved to an internal power supply, mercifully.

Connected #215: Live from NYC: A Nightmare Level of Itching ⇢

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We just wrapped up a very special live episode of Connected, and yes, it is nearly 1 AM here on the East Coast. Podcasting never sleeps.

Stephen and Myke are joined by Marco Arment for a live show in New York City. The three talk about the iPhone XR, the iPhones we loved the most, and what Apple could do to make us the happiest after its event next week.

I love doing live shows, and I think we will be doing many more in the future. If you made it to either this recording or the one we did in Chicago, thank you.

This episode of Connected was made possible by:

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  • Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.

On the XS Camera ⇢

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Erin Brooks, writing at The Sweet Setup:

I recently traded in my iPhone X for the XS, and it feels like a much bigger difference when it comes to the camera, than past steps up, and I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I feel a certain loyalty to iPhone, because it was kind of my first love when I picked up photography, and getting to be part of Apple’s World Gallery was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. On the other, I’m not sure I like some of the camera’s changes, or if I’m just not used to them yet. So, I come into this already wanting to love it, yet I feel a bit conflicted. Maybe it’s that I’m simply already spoiled: iPhone cameras have been excellent for so long that I take it for granted.

Reading through this, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. The XS camera does some weird things under certain circumstances, and I can’t help but think that turning off Smart HDR should make a bigger difference than it does.

All that said, I love her conclusion:

Overall, I think I like the new camera on the iPhone XS. I’m still getting used to it. I don’t love smart HDR right now, but I have a lot of fun playing with portrait mode and being able to adjust it, and I know the enhanced dynamic range will come in handy when I shoot trickier light situations. The over-blur that sometimes happens now as a result of the noise reduction can be a bit much, but I just add a little grain if I feel it goes overboard, and it’s nice that dark shadows aren’t as noisy because of it. I also like that Apple is trying to improve auto exposure, even if it misses the mark sometimes. I like that it’s in an effort to help everyone get properly-exposed shots. I like that portrait mode keeps getting better and that I can now emulate the look of a prime lens with a device that fits in my pocket. And that is why, deep down, more than for my own sentimental reasons, I will always love the iPhone: It’s a powerful, accessible, and unintimidating camera.

And I believe photography is for everyone.

Liftoff #83: Apollo 7 ⇢

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On Liftoff, Jason and I are marking the 50th anniversary of each crewed Apollo mission. Up first, Apollo 7:

In October 1968, Wally Schirra, Donn Eisele and Walter Cunningham spent 11 days in space working the bugs out of the Apollo spacecraft on its first crewed mission. The vehicle performed perfectly; the crew did not.

This is a mission that would have faded into history apart from the mutiny.

My thanks to our sponsors:

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Phil Schiller, on the iPhone XR ⇢

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Chris Velazco at Engadget spoke to Phil Schiller about the upcoming iPhone:

Apple just released its flagship XS and XS Max to a chorus of positive reviews, and now here it is, a month later, preparing to launch another smartphone that packs many of the same features found in those really expensive ones. For Apple, this is all a little unheard of.

To add to the curiosity of it all, the R doesn’t mean much either. Phil Schiller, gingerly gripping a cup of coffee across from me, said the letters Apple uses never stand for something specific. But then his voice softened a little as he started to tell me about what the letters mean to him.

“I love cars and things that go fast, and R and S are both letters used to denote sport cars that are really extra special,” he said with a smile. That’s not exactly the answer I was hoping for, but I’m not sure what I should’ve expected from a) Apple’s SVP of global marketing and b) a longtime fan of Porsches and Audis.

Popping Into a Google Pop-up Shop

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Myke and I are in Chicago, where we are doing a live episode of Upgrade with Jason tonight. We both wanted to check out the Pixel 3 and Google’s other new hardware, so Myke and I dropped by Google’s pop-up store here yesterday.

The store is temporary one, and will only be open to the end of the year, but Google did an incredible job with it. As you walk in, you are greeted with a wooden bookcase, populated with products and paint cans showing off the subtle colors the company is using on its hardware.

Once in, the shop is really nicely put together. All of the interior, from the paint colors to the shelves and other fixtures are cohesive, and resonate with the design of Google’s hardware.

Downstairs, we checked out the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, in addition to the Pixel Slate and Home Hub. All of these products are displayed neatly, as you would see in an Apple Store.

The phones seem terrific. A few test shots next to my iPhone XS Max left me impressed, but that notch on the XL isn’t great. When I pick one up, I will do the smaller Pixel 3.

The Pixel Slate, Google’s new ChromeOS tablet, is pretty buggy still. Scrolling was janky, and even opening the app drawer made the device stutter and pause. It was pretty shocking to see it next to the year-old Pixelbook, which took everything I could throw at it.

The Home Hub is much, much smaller than I expected. The 7-inch screen is mounted on a tiny base, making the whole thing hunkered down near the countertop. It looks nice, and I’m sure it would be cool to have my photos float by as we spend time in the kitchen, but I left feeling a little underwhelmed by my time with it.

What was not underwhelming was the rest of the space. Upstairs, Google has built several different experiences. There’s a swing to show how the Pixel 3 can focus on a moving target with ease, and a treehouse outfitted with loads of smart home stuff. Walk in, shut the door, and you could talk to the Home Hub to turn on light, raise blinds, play music and more.

There was also a tiny kitchen for some reason. It made me look like a giant, and I think it was there just to be a Instagramable spot.

The only real downside to the shop was the knowledge of the staff. Myke purchased an unlocked Pixel, and they were confused about what that meant, and how to ring it up. The salespeople eventually worked it out, but it was surprising to me to see. I’m sure it is difficult to staff something what will be open just a few months, but there needs to be some more training on that front.

All in all, I left impressed. Google is making really interesting hardware, and they are starting to branch out into retail in a way that is markedly different from where Apple is now. In the early 2000s, the Apple Store was a destination for learning and exploring, and some of that has been lost, despite the company’s ever-changing roster of programs and talks at Apple Stores. Google may just be starting down this road, but it is on a good path.