Tag: Mac Mini

  • New Mac Mini Accessory Makes It Nearly Impossible to Steal

    New Mac Mini Accessory Makes It Nearly Impossible to Steal

    Third parties are slowly changing their accessories to fit Apple’s new Mac mini, which is nearly three months old now. While the previous Mac mini models updated the unibody design that Apple first brought in 2010, last year’s version got smaller, measuring 127 x 127 x 50 mm due to a full redesign.

    New Compatibility Issues

    As a result, the Mac mini with the Apple M4 chip (curr. $569 on Amazon) isn’t compatible with a lot of current accessories. To address this issue, Kensington has introduced what they call a ‘Security Mount’ specifically for the latest Mac mini. They say this mount has several key functions:

    Features of the Security Mount

    The Kensington Security Mount for Mac mini includes everything necessary to keep your Mac secure. It can function as a mounting bracket, a locking kit, or even both. This mount is custom-built to provide a tight fit while allowing easy access to the power button and ports on the Mac mini.

    The Security Mount is made entirely of steel, weighing in at 500 g and measuring 141 x 137 x 70 mm, or 141 x 161 x 70 mm when the lock bar is attached. To put it another way, Kensington’s accessory is nearly as heavy as the Mac mini itself, which weighs 670 g or 730 g depending on whether you choose the M4 or M4 Pro chip at the time of purchase.

    Pricing and Lock Features

    Moreover, the weight of the Security Mount doesn’t include its included NanoSaver lock, which features a 183 cm carbon steel cable and can be set to one of 10,000 different combinations. You can buy the Kensington Security Mount for Mac mini from Apple for $69.95 in the US, £69.95 in the UK, and €79.95 in the Eurozone. For more details, check out Apple’s product page.

    Source:
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    New Mac Mini Accessory Makes It Nearly Impossible to StealNew Mac Mini Accessory Makes It Nearly Impossible to Steal

     

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  • Stylish M4 Mac Mini Case: Scratch and Theft Protection

    Stylish M4 Mac Mini Case: Scratch and Theft Protection

    The M4-powered Mac mini is a desktop computer, but its compact Mini PC design makes it easy to take on trips. If you’re planning to travel with it, Waterfield Designs offers a great travel case. This case, known as the Shield Case for Mac mini, not only safeguards the Mac mini from scratches and dents but also helps you locate your device if it gets misplaced.

    Quality Materials and Protection

    The Waterfield Shield Case is crafted from a combination of full-grain leather and nylon or leather and canvas, varying by color choice. It features a soft fleece-like lining that protects the Mac mini (currently priced at $569 on Amazon) from scratches, while a foam layer absorbs impacts. The outer layer is made of either ballistic nylon or waxed canvas, providing water resistance. Additionally, it comes equipped with YKK waterproof zippers for extra durability.

    Handy Storage Features

    This case also includes pockets designed for cables and other small accessories. There’s a discreet pocket for placing an AirTag or similar tracker, allowing you to easily find your Mac mini if it’s lost or stolen. This thoughtful feature ensures you can keep track of your important device.

    The Waterfield Shield Case for Mac mini is available for $99 and can be ordered now. The initial batch has already sold out, with shipping scheduled for January 17. The currently available batch will ship on January 24, so you’ll want to act fast to secure yours!

    Source:
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  • M4 Mac Users Face Issues with Ultra-Wide Monitors

    M4 Mac Users Face Issues with Ultra-Wide Monitors

    The Apple M4 chip, found in devices like the new Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and iMac, allows for the connection of up to three external displays (varies by model). This includes support for two monitors with 6K resolution and one at 5K resolution. Alternatively, users can connect an 8K display at 60 Hz or a 4K monitor running at 240 Hz. Despite these capabilities, there are issues reported with specific monitors, as seen in discussions on Reddit and the Apple Community Forum.

    Issues with 5K Monitors

    Of particular concern are 5K displays with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which have a resolution of 5,120 x 2,160. While these monitors can operate at full resolution, users cannot enable the "HiDPI" mode. This mode scales a resolution of 3,840 x 1,620 to the monitor’s native resolution without losing clarity. Users affected by this problem have noted that these same monitors work perfectly when connected to older Macs equipped with either ARM or Intel chips using the same cables.

    Possible Workarounds

    Some individuals have managed to resolve this issue by utilizing third-party applications like BetterDisplay; however, doing so limits the frame rate to 60 Hz. There has been no official response from Apple regarding this situation, leaving it uncertain whether the company is addressing the problem. For those using an M4 Mac alongside a 5K x 2K display, the options available, such as BetterDisplay, SwitchRes X, and EasyRes, do provide ways to adjust resolutions, but they come with compromises in frame rate or overall image quality.

    Reddit & Apple Community Forum via 9to5Mac

    Source: Link

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  • Transform Your Mac Mini into an Apple TV 4K with All-Black Mod

    Transform Your Mac Mini into an Apple TV 4K with All-Black Mod

    Apple has released the Mac mini in a range of colors throughout its history. Yet, it hasn’t provided as many color options for this mini-PC as it does for its other Mac devices. Currently, the latest Mac mini is priced at $559 on Amazon and comes only in Silver. In contrast, Apple offers the MacBook Pro in both Silver and Space Black shades.

    Conceptual Designs

    Recently, the X (previously known as Twitter) account @L0vetodream shared some concept images showing how the Mac mini might appear if it were available in the same colors as the MacBook Pro. This has led some followers to compare it to Apple TV or even a version of ‘Apple TV Plus’.

    Design Details

    The sleek all-black look seems to be the result of anodizing an existing silver shell, instead of creating a new case from the ground up. However, this modification appears to be a unique instance, as it would be challenging to market altered Mac mini cases without getting Apple’s consent. This is merely one of many new Mac mini customizations. Currently, third-party removable SSDs are being developed, along with docks that will provide extra storage and additional ports.

    Source: Link,Link,Link

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  • 2024 Apple Mac Mini: Removable SSD but Hard to Upgrade

    2024 Apple Mac Mini: Removable SSD but Hard to Upgrade

    Apple has launched the 2024 Mac mini, now equipped with improved hardware, including the powerful M4 Pro chip. This model is also the smallest mini PC that Apple offers in its range. However, to get a good amount of storage, you’ll have to spend a significant amount more.

    Upgradeability Concerns

    Recent investigations into the 2024 M4 Mac mini reveal that the SSD is not soldered onto the daughter board. This suggests that users might be able to upgrade the storage themselves, but the actual situation is more complex. The storage module is proprietary and resembles the ones previously used in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro.

    Thus, it’s not simply a matter of swapping in any third-party M.2 SSD for a cheaper storage upgrade on the Mac mini (for example, a 2 TB Samsung 990 EVO currently costs $129.99 on Amazon). Additionally, MacRumors has pointed out that the NAND controller is likely integrated into Apple’s system-on-chip (SoC). Yet, there remains some possibility for upgrades.

    Potential for Upgrades

    A user on X, @ohgkg, mentioned that repair technicians in China managed to enhance the 256 GB version of the 2024 Mac mini to 2 TB by changing the NAND chips. This process isn’t feasible for the typical user since it demands specialized soldering skills and tools. Therefore, even though upgrading is pricey, opting for the SSD modules offered by Apple may be the more convenient choice.

    Performance Insights

    Another intriguing discovery from the teardowns indicates that even the base model of the 2024 Mac mini comes equipped with an SSD module containing two NAND chips. When compared to a single chip module of 256 GB, this setup should provide enhanced transfer speeds.

    Sources include The Verge, MacRumors, and TechRadar.

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  • Apple’s New Mac Mini: A PS5 Pro Alternative with M4 Chip

    Apple’s New Mac Mini: A PS5 Pro Alternative with M4 Chip

    Macs have always been in the shadow of PCs when it comes to gaming, and there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, Intel-based models have not performed very well in games. Secondly, the variety of games available on macOS has been limited, and this issue continues even with the introduction of the Apple M series chips.

    A New Hope for Gaming on Mac

    However, things might be changing with the Mac mini (curr. $799 – 512 GB on Amazon) featuring the new Apple M4 and M4 Pro chipsets. Apple seems to be pushing this new mini-PC as a gaming machine, showcasing titles like Control, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Myst, and Layers of Fear on its website. This is a big step for Apple in the gaming world.

    Enhanced Gaming Experience

    Additionally, notable games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Death Stranding are now compatible with the M4 and M4 Pro chipsets, thanks to their upgraded integrated graphics processing units (iGPUs). The compact design of the new Mac mini makes it a great fit for most TV setups. Plus, it offers a high level of Smart TV compatibility, as it comes with a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port included.

    Advancements in Technology

    The Apple M4 series chipsets also bring support for advanced features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing, mesh shading, and MetalFX AI upscaling, among other enhancements over earlier models. Yet, we have heard similar claims from Apple in the past regarding gaming performance. Therefore, it might be wise to hold off until we see independent reviews. Still, it’s worth noting that the new Mac mini is priced lower than a PlayStation 5 Pro, even though it has a smaller and non-upgradeable storage drive.

    Bloomberg & Mark Gurman.

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  • M4 MacBook Pro Launching with 10-Core CPU; M4 Mini Versions Available

    M4 MacBook Pro Launching with 10-Core CPU; M4 Mini Versions Available

    Last week, Apple announced that it would reveal the complete M4 range, which will include new MacBook Pros, Mac Minis, and iMacs. One significant improvement is the increase to at least 16 GB of RAM across all versions, which is double the RAM available in the previous generation models. This upgrade is essential since on-device AI tasks, such as Apple Intelligence, require a lot of memory. There is also a small enhancement in the CPU area.

    MacBook Pro Enhancements

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, each MacBook Pro model will be equipped with a 10-core M4 variant. Previously, this was exclusive to the highest-spec iPad Pro models that had at least 1 TB of storage, while the lower-end versions came with a 9-core CPU. Due to the introduction of 3 GB RAM modules, various memory configurations are now possible, including some unusual options like 28 GB.

    New Mac Mini Design

    Gurman further states that the new Mac Mini will be significantly smaller than the previous generation and will come with several new I/O options. It can be purchased with the base (9-core) M4 chip or the Apple M4 Pro. On the other hand, the 24-inch iMac will have to stick with the 9-core M4 chip as well. Interestingly, this is the only reference to the M4 Pro, and there has been no mention of the M4 Max. Ideally, the upcoming MacBook Pro models should also feature Pro and Max versions, but this has not been clearly confirmed yet.

    Performance Expectations

    In terms of performance, the Apple M4 currently outperforms all other Arm-based chips, although the Snapdragon 8 Elite can surpass it in certain benchmarks. We have seen a preview of a M4-equipped MacBook Pro’s performance through Geekbench results. Apple is expected to continue leading in single-core performance, but the multi-core performance arena is more competitive.

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  • Apple Announces Unique Week-Long Mac Event Starting October 28

    Apple Announces Unique Week-Long Mac Event Starting October 28

    We knew that M4-powered MacBooks were on the horizon, and it seems that the wait is almost over. The company just announced that new Macs will be unveiled next week.

    Exciting News from Apple

    Greg Joswiak, Apple’s marketing chief, shared this information on X (previously known as Twitter). However, his announcement is a bit vague, lacking a specific date for the launch. He simply stated, “We have an exciting week of announcements ahead, starting on Monday morning. Stay tuned…”

    What to Look Forward To

    From what we can gather, the new Mac announcements will take place over the course of an entire week. While the teaser visuals don’t give away too much, they hint that the new Mac line will emphasize Apple’s AI capabilities. This aligns with the recent promotion of the iPhone 16 series and the iPad mini 7.

    What can we anticipates from the upcoming MacBook event? The M4 chip made its first appearance earlier this year in the new iPad, showcasing enhancements in AI processing and overall CPU performance.

    Early Insights

    Interestingly, a Russian YouTuber managed to unbox and run benchmark tests on the M4 MacBook Pro ahead of time. The design appears to stay consistent, boasting numerous ports, bright and fluid displays, and a responsive keyboard.

    The MacBook Pro is expected to be available in both 14-inch and 16-inch models. In addition, there are rumors of an M4 Mac Mini, a 24-inch iMac, plus accessories like the Magic Keyboard 2, Magic Mouse 2, and Magic Trackpad 2.

    Powerful Upgrades Ahead

    There’s also a chance we might see Apple’s stronger M4 chips, including the M4 Pro and M4 Max. However, it seems that other Mac models won’t be making their debut anytime soon. The M4 MacBook Air probably won’t launch until early 2025, and updates for the Mac Studio and Mac Pro may take even longer. The latter is rumored to feature the M4 Ultra chip. So, if you’re looking forward to Apple’s latest tech, the M4 MacBook Pro might be your best bet in the near future.

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  • Rumored Launch Date for MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini with M4

    Rumored Launch Date for MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini with M4

    Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, known for his accurate leaks about unreleased Apple items, has reported that Apple will host a hands-on event for its new products in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 30.

    Event Details

    This event is meant to let the media test the new devices, meaning they should be ready for this date. This suggests a launch on October 30, though an announcement could also happen the day before. Gurman mentions that Apple is likely to unveil the new Macs through a livestream while simultaneously releasing press materials. The following products are anticipated to be announced at the event:

    Product Expectations

    The MacBook Pro and iMac are not expected to undergo significant changes, except for the new processor. In contrast, the Mac mini is rumored to feature a complete redesign with a smaller case and USB-C ports at the front, completely omitting USB-A ports. New Mac accessories are also expected to come with USB-C port enhancements. Our benchmarks (included below) indicate that the cooling system of the Apple M4 in the iPad Pro is much quicker than that of the Apple M3 Pro, meaning Mac users can look forward to a meaningful upgrade.

    Mark Gurman (X)

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