Filed under: Other Events, Apple
Apple 'Fun' Special Event
We have heard your pleas, and we are going to cover today's Apple event in two ways, as C.K. has already mentioned.
This post is going to be the no nonsense (well a little nonsense) version, and you can catch what the TUAW bloggers
think, as they think it, via our chatcast.Macrumors is also covering the event live, as is iLounge. Maccentral also has live coverage.
Here is the reserve chronological (all times in Pacific) breakdown we all know and love (cribbed from bloggers who were invited):
9:58am: So close to starting...
10:05am: Everyone has grabbed a seat and are rocking out to some music
10:07am: His Steveness is on stage, set to announce some 'medium scale' news. Whatever that means. He is updating people on the Mac and Intel schedule
10:13am: new Intel Mac minis. Same look, twice as fast (single and dual core chips)
10:15am: Intel Mac minis include Front Row (and a remote. Soon every Mac is going to come with a remote!)
10:17am: Using Bonjour (hello!) Mac mini's can 'find' music on your home network (I'm assuming music that is on other Macs), and you can hook it up to your TV
10:17am: You can also share your photos using FrontRow
10:19am: Also allows streaming of video (and you can stream from PC or Mac, as long as it has iTunes). Apple seems to have named the new FrontRow, 'FrontRow with BonJour.' Simple, and straightforward
10:20am: Intel Mac Mini costs $599 or $799 for the top o' the line version (with faster processor and Superdrive)
10:21am: Jobs is talking about iPod/iTunes numbers (especially the billion downloads)
10:25am: Haven't you always wanted an Apple leather iPod case? Well, now you can have one for $99
10:26am: Steve is talking about listening to your iPod at home, in a group and how much that sucks with current products
10:32am: The iPod HiFi, an iPod boombox for the home
10:33am: it has volume controls (shocking!), integrated power supply, and handles
10:34am: can be powered by six D batteries for jammin' on the go and can be controled with the Apple Remote (that is pretty sweet)
10:35am: all of that, for the price of another iPod: $349 and on sale today
10:40am: That's all she wrote. His Steveness has left the stage
Big thanks to Engadget, iLounge, MacRumors, and Maccentral for their live coverage.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brett said 2:02PM on 2-28-2006
WHO CARES? An Intel Mac Mini, a boombox and a freaking leather case calls for a special press event? Super lame.
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Adam said 2:02PM on 2-28-2006
Most disappointing Apple press conference.....ever. Who cares? Why did they need to ramp up the hype machine and do an even for this stuff. It's so minor and boring. None of the exciting stuff that was speculated about had any part of this show. BO-RING.
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Dom said 2:06PM on 2-28-2006
How dull. You have to ask - what was the point?
Get your act together, Apple.
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Randy Piovarchy said 2:06PM on 2-28-2006
I have to agree, I was quite disappointed. The HiFi thing is cool I will give them that, but it was otherwise disappointing. But I did like the little comment "We'll see you all real soon"
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penginkun said 2:08PM on 2-28-2006
Excuse me? WHO ramped up the hype machine? As I recall it was all those idiots who were clamoring for a wide-screen iPod with a touch screen and a wide-screen iBook and all sorts of other, fanciful but horribly unlikely things.
Apple announced the event. People like YOU, Adam, supplied the hype. If you're bored with what Apple announced, whose fault/problem is that? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
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Brent said 2:08PM on 2-28-2006
Man. Snoozers.
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Magnus said 2:12PM on 2-28-2006
What!? No "One more thing"? The world is coming to an end!
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Doug Adams said 2:14PM on 2-28-2006
Well, thanks to the hype, they sure got a big audience to show off some "fun new" products. Just the sort of push "medium scale" products need. Not bad for an hour of the CEO's time. OK, everybody back to work!
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Adam said 2:14PM on 2-28-2006
penginkun-
Apple is well aware of the hype machine put in place when they announce special events, and they are part of it. They wouldn't announce these events if they wanted people to just sit quiet and wait to see exactly what it will bring. Rumors are part of the Apple culture. They have never been known to have these without announcing something new and worthwhile, so don't blame ME for this. I think many other people will agree with my point.
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Jimmy said 2:15PM on 2-28-2006
i agree with both adam & peng.
in agreement with adam - i think that a boombox, mac mini & a leather case aren't really worth calling a press event for (though it was a small press event). anytime apple calls a press conference, it's usually something impressive (but maybe we've been spoiled). this wasn't very impressive
in agreement with peng - i think that part of the reason why it was a disappointment was because people were expecting a lot, so it's like going to a movie that everyone says it great, then coming out feeling a little disappointed cause it was just "good"
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Rob Erekson said 2:16PM on 2-28-2006
I wasn't disappointed with today's event. I think the most overlooked and neatest thing to come out here is 'FrontRow with Bonjour'. I'm very tempted to get a Mini to hook up to my TV so I can watch all my iTunes shows easily on my TV.
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Doug Adams said 2:18PM on 2-28-2006
Oh, and one more thing. Do you think the Windows press would have paid much attention to these product roll outs WITHOUT the hype? Lest we forget, these new gadgets are squarely aimed at switchers and Windows users.
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DrWho said 2:19PM on 2-28-2006
I agree with penginkun.
Where is that ipod video that nobody promised =))
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Jon said 2:25PM on 2-28-2006
yeah...but the fact of the matter is...with the low res iTunes shows it isn't up to quality on the TV. I was hoping for an upgraded video iPod for HD content. That way it would give me some incentive to buy video content. Without it...i'd rather watch movies via DVD, or just rent one..
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Randall said 2:39PM on 2-28-2006
What I think is interesting is the 1gb nano didn't get a press event, and instead of announcing the mac mini with the other two intel macs and saying "half our lineup is already ready, already" we get this completely underwhelming launch of a bunch of products that no one really cares about.
I find it funny that CNN totally screwed themselves by reporting on the rumors, because they look like chumps now. All throughout the day on headline news, they've been reporting "Apple is expected to announce something big, like perhaps an official movie download service or something."
Bah, the apple hype machine does indeed press forward.
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Sean Savage said 3:00PM on 2-28-2006
What I think is kind of funny is Steve Jobs, a vegan, talking up and selling an Italian leather case. Bit of a surprise...
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Chris said 3:07PM on 2-28-2006
Crappiest Apple new product event EVER! Thanks Steve, my stock is taking a nice hit today.
People speculated that Macworld in January was a bit of a letdown - that there was some product that was planned to be announced but wasn't quite ready yet. Could it have been the, ack, iPod boombox?
Weak. So very weak.
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jonnyB said 6:47PM on 2-28-2006
Honestly, you twits!
As if Apple is going to make a major product announcement in a dinky little theatre on campus. Come on! Y'all should of know it was not going to be anything too exciting when you saw the invite making the rounds.
Steve ended this morning’s presentation with “we’ll see you all real soon.” In April, Apple's birthday, there will be some new major fresh sh*t. For now quit your whining and go get moist over the Origami already.
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