MacSwitching.com > Apple announces

As always, great rumors and many fakes.
The truth about today’s Apple announcement is: Mac mini shifts to Intel and iPod HiFi, a three-way speaker box.

The new Mac mini with Intel processors, both Core Duo running @ 1,66 GHz or Core Solo running @ 1,5 GHz.
This is the first time ever for a Intel Core Solo processor, as far as we know.

Featuring Front Row and its remote, up to 120 GB hard drive and an Intel GMA950 GPU, the new Mac mini is the second Intel-based move in less than 60 days: quite a fast shift, even for Steve’s company.

Good job!

Looking at the box, there’s almost nothing different from the previous model, apart from the back sporting different ports and connectors.

The only ‘dark’ spot is the GMA950-based graphics card and its performance, opposed to ATI and nVidia chipsets, but in the next days plenty of benchmarks will be published about this topic.
The iPod HiFi is a speaker-boombox featuring the universal dock connector and three big speakers with a design that may be so trendy and so 70’s; remote command included.

Want to read more? Here’s a list of places you may like, just a few:

Mac OS X 10.4.5 update is now available: it looks like there are some minor enhancements that require major attention and care when updating.

Read Apple’s note before installing.

Check here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303179-it

10.4.4 sports several updates in various areas: from Samba to Safari, from Bluetooth to Dashboard, from security issues to ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers.

Check here for more info on 10.4.4 and security updates: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302810-it
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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61798-it

Astonishing.
The new MacBook Pro redefines the Powerbook line and portable computing as well, the new iMac just gets the iMac even better.

Of course the MacBook Pro gets more flashlights since it’s the very star of the show.
Super CPU with dual core, super graphics with ATI Radeon X1600, built-in iSight and Front Row.

More info to write on in the next days.
More good reasons to switch.

It’s all in the air, tonight…
We’re all waiting for Steve to announce something new at MacWorld.
New Mac minis as full-fledged digital hubs and brand new iBooks are more likely to be announces.
Get ready!

As reported in some places as well as on Applenova Forum, Dashcode is expected to be released quite soon.

Has javascript debugging (breakpoints), WYSIWYG editor and more…

Just a little after 10.4.3 major update, here comes an update for Airport Extreme users.

Just did it and… nothing weird happened: my non-Apple hotspot works fine with my Airport Extreme card, as it does with my Airport Express.

Check here

When it comes to some big-name companies, Macintosh users may have a tough time landing a job.

It’s not just that the business world is dominated by Windows-based computers. It’s because, at a number of large companies, Mac users literally can’t apply.

At American Express, for example, job seekers are greeted with this warning: “At this time, the system does not support Mac environments. If you don’t have access to a PC at home or work, please check out a local public library for Internet access, local Internet cafes, or the nearest government Work Force Center.”
Read here…

S. Wildstrom reports on what is common wisdom among Mac user and just legend elsewhere…

Is Mac OS X immune from viruses? No, but it’s a lot less virus-prone, at least until now…

Thanks to its BSD roots, Apple’s support, community reporting quickly vulnerabilities?

All of them, maybe.

OS X offers inherently better security for several reasons. The most important is that it was designed with relatively little concern for compatibility with earlier versions, while Windows is full of compromises so that it works with older and less secure operating systems.

Check for full story here.

BusinessWeek Online reports on what may be more than just a rumor: Oct. 12th may be a great announcement day for Apple.

Apple Computer has summoned journalists and analysts far and wide to an unveiling of “just one more thing.” The e-mailed invitation includes a curtain that looks suspiciously like those found in movie houses, fueling speculation that the Oct. 12 event concerns a souped-up version of the iPod that can play movies.

Read more here.

Read from Apple here and watch the webcast video where Steve introduces the new products here

BusinessWeek argues whether a brand new iMac G5 is worthwhile or not.
Why not just wait the next Intel-based Macs?

Because it’s funny, that’s all.

“So what makes the iMac so cool? The software clearly sells the hardware here.”

Read more here the article.