Apple was considering releasing a version of the Mac mini with a built-in dock for an iPod nano, photographs of an unreleased prototype reveal, one that could have enabled synchronization of music and other content with the portable music device without relying on a separate cable or dock.
Posted to Twitter on Saturday, the images by @DongleBookPro show a first-generation Mac mini, complete with a white top, but with a cut-out section to the rear of the computing device. Located at the back and in the center line of the top casing, a gap offers a space for a user to place an iPod nano.
The dock section includes the depreciated 30-pin connector, offset to the left of the unit, designed to match up with the connectors on the iPod nano. The size of the dock space meant it was incompatible with larger hard drive-based models of iPod, suggesting the prototype was meant just for use with the iPod nano.
The poster describes the unit as being a “totally scraped [sic] project that never saw the light of day,” and possibly for good reason. The shift towards iPhone and the wide variations in physical design over time, as well as changes in connector to Lightning, would have severely dated the unit shortly after going on sale.
While Apple did not rely on building docks into Macs, it did utilize the concept in the iPod Hi-Fi, a speaker unit that worked by plugging an iPod into the dock section on the top. The device failed to make much headway, and was gone from Apple’s online store a mere 18 months after launch.
Twitter user @DongleBookPro has today shared images of a prototype first-generation Mac mini with a built-in dock for an iPod nano.
The images show a first-generation Mac mini with a 30-pin dock connector cutout on the top for an iPod nano. Otherwise, the computer appears to be virtually identical to the version that came to market in 2005. These types of docks were more commonly seen on speakers at the time, such as Apple’s iPod Hi-Fi that was released in 2006.
The 30-pin connector was never directly implemented on computers, with a cable required for syncing. It is therefore intriguing to discover that Apple was seriously considering adding an iPod dock to the Mac, starting with the Mac mini in 2005.
According to the Twitter user who shared these photos, the project was scrapped internally before it saw the “light of day.” Given that the size and shape of the iPod nano changed consistently over the years, this Mac mini would have only been compatible with the first and perhaps second generation of the music player.
@DongleBookPro regularly posts images of unreleased Apple devices and prototypes. Earlier this month, they revealed images of an unreleased first-generation iPod touch prototype with a 2013 Mac Pro-style glossy black finish.
If you’re in the market for a mini computer, the discounted Mac Mini could just be what you need.
Today, the Apple device drops to just $699.99 which equates to a whopping $100 discount via in-cart savings. It’s the lowest the Mac mini has ever been, and one you shouldn’t sleep on.
Apple Mac Mini
The term ‘mini’ is a bit misleading considering the amount of firepower it has. You get an 8th gen Intel i3 processor, 8GB of generous RAM, an Ultrafast SSD and the UHD 630 graphics chip. It also has a number of useful additions, such as USB 3, HDMI 2.0 and four Thunderbolt 3 ports.
In terms of speed and productivity the Mac mini doesn’t disappoint. Simply connect to an external display, attach a USB for wireless keyboard and mice and you have yourself a workstation. It should be able to handle everyday tasks such as emails, spreadsheets and the occasional photo editing.
Get yourself a Mac mini now while the price is still low!
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. If you buy something through one of the links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the time of publication but are subject to change.
Update 2:07pm ET: Amazon’s $100 coupon appears to have expired. We’ll update this post accordingly if it becomes available again today.
The Mac Mini remains the most affordable way to get a new macOS machine and now Amazon lets you get your foot in the door for even less. The entry-level Mac Mini is on sale for $669 at the online retailer, which is $100 off its normal price and a total of $130 off its launch price. The sale price won’t be listed on the product page — rather, you’ll see the $100 coupon automatically applied right before you check out.
The base model has an 8th-gen Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. While those specs are on the low side, we gave the Mac Mini a score of 80 when we reviewed it at its debut. It proved to be a speedy desktop that could handle many different types of workflows, but where it mostly fell short was in graphics performance due to a lack of dedicated GPU.
However, we liked it for its compact design, affordable price (compared to other Mac machines), and its variety of port options. The Mac Mini includes four Thunderbolt 3 ports, a headphone jack, an Ethernet port, an HDMI port and two USB-A ports. That’s much more than you’ll find on any Apple laptop, and the combination of Thunderbolt 3 ports and HDMI port allow you to drive up to three 4K monitors from this tiny computer.
Admittedly, those who work in creative fields or use programs that rely heavily on GPU power will require more power than the Mac Mini can provide. The Mac Mini is also not designed for gaming, so it won’t be the best all-purpose device if gaming is part of your regular routine. But this is a good sale because, not only is this the lowest price we’ve seen on the Mac Mini, but it gives back-to-school shoppers an even more affordable way to upgrade their computer before the new semester starts.
Follow@EngadgetDealson Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
The hidden Apple deal features a $30 discount that stacks with $100 bonus in-cart savings at Amazon, bringing the Mac mini price down to $669.99 and total savings to $130 off MSRP.
New lowest Mac mini price
The lowest Mac mini price is courtesy of Amazon this weekend, with the e-commerce giant knocking $130 off the standard 2020 model with a 3.6GHz Core i3 processor, 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage.
To snap up the deal, look for a green $100 bonus savings message on the Amazon product page and verify the $669.99 price in your shopping cart. It’s unclear how long the promotion will last, so don’t delay if you’re looking for a stellar Mac deal on a budget.
Apple hardware deals
AppleInsider and Apple authorized resellers are also running additional exclusive discounts on Mac hardware that will not only deliver the best Apple prices on many of the items, but also throw in bonus savings on AppleCare, Office 365 and more. These offers are as follows:
The latest Mac mini sports an eighth-generation quad-core Intel Core i3 processor, along with speedy SSD storage and a wide range of I/O including four Thunderbolt 3 ports. You’ll also find Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI output, and USB 3.0 connectivity here.
Put your Mac mini out of sight with this nifty VESA mount for under $16. It uses the existing patterns on your monitor to easily hide your Mac, delivering a streamlined look in the process. You can also use it as a traditional wall mount if needed. Head over to our step-by-step guide for more.
Make sure you also jump over to our Apple guide for all of the best deals on iPads, Macs, Apple Watch, and more.
Apple Mac mini features:
Apple has re-engineered the Mac mini (Early 2020) with 8th Generation Intel Core processors, giving it even more power for industrial-grade tasks, such as home automation, giant render farms, running a live concert sound engine, or testing your latest iOS or iPadOS app. Along with improved system and graphics performance, an all-new thermal architecture includes all-flash storage, a bigger fan, expanded vents, and a redesigned power supply, and Apple’s T2 security chip. This Mac mini is powered by 3.6 GHz Intel Core i3 Quad-Core processor, while 8GB of 2666 MHz DDR4 RAM helps to ensure smooth multitasking and also allows the computer to quickly access frequently used files and programs.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
With bonus savings available at checkout, Amazon is offering shoppers the best Mac mini deal on the 2020 model with a 6-core processor and 512GB of storage. Pick it up for just $926.25.
The $926.25 price at Amazon is valid on the higher end 2020 Mac mini with a 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and 512GB SSD. According to our Apple Price Guide, which compiles the lowest Mac mini prices across top resellers, this is the steepest discount available on the 2020 line, with other retailers selling the same configuration for over $100 more.
To snap up the bonus savings, look for the green message in the screenshot below on this Amazon page and check for the discount in your shopping cart.
And if you’re looking for the cheapest Mac mini period, there are plenty of additional deals available 24/7 in our Mac Price Guide, including this 2018 model with 128GB of storage for $719.99 at Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama.
Save on accessories too
Accessories are also marked down substantially during MacSales’ Garage Sale, from wireless keyboards to USB-C cables and parts galore. The discounts reach up to 99% off, so it’s worth checking out the bargains if you want to save money on upgrades and peripherals.
Additional Apple deals
AppleInsider and Apple authorized resellers are also running additional exclusive discounts on Mac hardware that will not only deliver the best Apple prices on many of the items, but also throw in bonus savings on AppleCare protection plans, Office 365 and more. These offers are as follows:
Fresh benchmarks have leaked for Apple’s Mac mini Developer Transition Kit based on Apple’s own ARM-based chips, hinting at the performance to come.
The new Geekbench 5 benchmarks were discovered by 9to5Mac and show an A12Z Bionic chip, which powers the Developer Transition Kit, deliver a multi-core score of 4,555 and a single-core score of 1,098.
Unsurprisingly that’s on par with the iPad Pro 2020, which also uses the same chip. And Geekbench 5 even records the result as one from an iPad Pro. But the mention of 16GB of memory show us that it’s actually a result for the Mac mini test kit; the latest iPad Pro has 6GB of memory.
While the benchmarks are on-par with the iPad Pro, they are the first out of the blocks to show what performance can be delivered when Geekbench 5 is applied natively to the Developer Transition Kit. Previous leaked results were delivered using virtualization via Apple’s Rosetta 2 emulator, which can damage overall performance results.
Running Geekbench 5 natively on Apple’s ARM-based chips delivers more impressive results and give us an idea of the type of performance we can expect from macOS running on Apple Silicon — the initiative used by Cupertino to transition its Mac machines over from Intel processors to its own custom chips.
Compared to a 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i5 chip, which puts in a Geekbench 5 score of 4,296 in the multi-core test and 1,107 in the single-core results, the ARM-based Mac mini achieves a competitive result.
And it’s worth noting that the Developer Transition Kit is merely a tool to help developers port their apps over from x86 architecture to ARM’s RISC architecture, which is why it’s using a standard A12Z Bionic system-on-a-chip. When Mac machines with the first true Apple Silicon chips arrive, we’re expecting to see more powerful chips that can make use of the greater power draw and space of a MacBok Pro, for example.
The first Mac machines with Apple Silicon are expected to have 12 cores, eight of which will be for performance while four take care of powering less demanding apps, as well as a custom GPU on the chip. If developers can ensure their apps will run effectively on ARM architecture, then we could be looking at powerful MacBooks and iMacs that no longer rely on Intel chips to deliver impressive performance.
The first Apple Silicon machines are expected this year, likely in the form of a new MacBook Pro. And a lot more are expected in 2021. Apple’s iPhone 12 might be an exciting phone, but Apple Silicon could prove to be the biggest thing to come out of Cupertino this year.
New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes/Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.
The latest from Apple delivers 10th generation Intel processors, plus a True Tone Retina display, Touch Bar, and Intel Iris graphics. You’ll get up to 10-hours of battery life alongside the popular redesigned Magic Keyboard. There’s also four Thunderbolt 3 ports available, too.
Mac mini with 512GB of storage offers expansive I/O
B&H offers Apple’s latest Mac mini 3GHz/8GB/512GB for $999. That’s a $100 savings from the regular going rate and a match of our previous mention. The latest Mac mini sports an eighth-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, along with speedy SSD storage offering 512GB capacity, and a wide range of I/O including four Thunderbolt 3 ports. You’ll also find Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI output, and USB 3.0 connectivity here.
Outfit your Apple Watch with this stainless steel band
Amazon offers its 42/44mm Stainless Steel Apple Watch Band for $13 in space gray. As a comparison, this model typically goes for around $18, with today’s deal delivering nearly 30% off the regular going rate. Ditch the pricey official Apple Watch bands and go with this third-party alternative, which brings a sleek space gray design to the mix at an affordable price. It comes with extra links, so you can size it to just the right fit, as well.
Belkin Valet Charging Dock hits $60
Daily Steals is currently offering the Belkin Valet iPhone and Apple Watch Charging Dock for $60. Down from its $100 going rate at Amazon, today’s offer saves you 40%, beats the all-time low there by $32, and marks the best we’ve seen this year. Whether you’re looking to simplify the nightstand or add a designated charging stop to your desk, Belkin’s Valet is a notable option. Not only will you be able to dock an iPhone on the built-in Lightning connector, but an integrated Apple Watch puck makes it easy to refuel the wearable, as well. The entire package is complemented by a stylish design with stainless steel accents.
Save $200 on Kenwood’s 6.8-inch CarPlay Receiver
Best Buy’s official eBay storefront is currently offering the Kenwood 6.8-inch CarPlay and Android Auto Receiver for $600. Saving you $200 from its $800 going rate, today’s offer marks the second-best we’ve seen to date and is the lowest in months. Featuring a 7-inch touchscreen display, Kenwood’s CarPlay and Android Auto receiver is a must-have upgrade to your ride regardless of which smartphone ecosystem you’re in. It makes keeping an eye on directions, music playback, and more a breeze while on-the-road.
Best trade-in deals
9to5Mac also keeps tabs on all the best trade-in deals on iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch, and more every month. Be sure to check out this month’s best trade-in deals when you decide it’s time to upgrade your device. Or simply head over to our trade-in partner directly if you want to recycle, trade, or sell your used devices for cash and support 9to5Mac along the way!
