Amid all the excitement over Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ announcement of a new Mac mini and the iPod Hi-Fi, many missed one bit of news about Apple’s transition to Intel processors.
Apple does buzz like no one else. News of an Apple special event brings forth the excited Mac faithful and near-continual posts from websites and blogs. Rampant speculation focused on many potential products, with a possible new video iPod with a larger screen getting lots of attention.
The steak failed to match the sizzle, to coin a phrase. Jobs announced a new Mac mini, featuring Intel’s Core Duo processor. He followed that up with the iPod Hi-Fi, a speaker system for the iPod that makes the same sort of room-filling sound claims that people see from Bose every Sunday along with coupons for Bisquick.
Mmm, pancakes.
Lost in the hype and subsequent disappointment expressed by those covering the event was a statement from an Apple executive included in a press release. He noted how quickly Apple has shifted half of its product line away from the PowerPC platform:
“With the new Mac mini, Apple has now moved 50 percent of its entire product line to Intel within 60 days-a record transition,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The new Mac mini is now up to four times faster with the Intel Core Duo, includes even greater expansion in the same incredibly compact design, and is the most affordable way to enjoy Front Row and iLife 06.”
Apple starts pricing for the Mac mini at $599, while the iPod Hi-Fi lists for $349. One humorous comment about the Hi-Fi working with power from either a wall outlet or six D-cell batteries appeared on Valleywag from Six Apart’s Anil Dash:
———————- 11:06 am ———————-
Anil Dash: D batteries?!
Anil Dash: what is this, 1986?
Anil Dash: i’ll go tell radio raheim his ipod has arrived
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David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
