The Flexible Mac mini

The new Mac Mini isn’t just cute as hell, it’s also extremely versatile. It’s only been out a few weeks and there’s already some really interesting uses. Action Retro combined it with a legacy iMac G4 to turn it into an iMac. Before watching the video, I wondered if he’d even take the Mac mini guts out of that small case. (He did.)

This doesn’t surprise me since it seems like this is Apple’s intention. Rather than buy a big iMac, they want you to get a Mac mini along with a large screen. (Like Apple’s own Studio Display!) But Action Retro brings it to a whole new level.

Alex Cheema takes a different route. He combines four separate Mac Minis into a mini AI cluster. And they’re able to run a huge model with an array of four Mac Minis. It’s only a question of time before someone makes one out of ten or twenty.

And finally, if you want Mac Mini power but like the Mac Pro’s look, there’s this cute 3D print where you can have them both.

*Tiny Mac mini inside tiny Mac Pro* *on wheels* *(Image: @humbleapple18)*

The M4 MacBook Pro

Hooray! The new M4 MacBook Pro is here. The case design is the same in both 14- and 16-inch variants, with support for the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips with increased CPU/GPU performance.

It’s nice to see Apple improving on the built-in camera, which is now 12MP, including support for Center Stage and Desk View. Like the Mac mini, announced yesterday, it includes Thunderbolt 5 support. You can get it with up to 128GB of memory. The device promises 24-hour battery life on certain models.

The MacBook Pro screens continue to be a highlight, with up to 120Hz refresh and an option for Nano-texture. When will Apple bring the tech they are using in the MacBook Pro to a stand-alone monitor?

If you’ve been waiting for a new MacBook Pro, you won’t be disappointed with this one. If you are still on the Intel architecture, this is a no-brainer. If you are on Apple silicon, it’s more of a head-scratcher. Make sure the new device will result in a noticeable performance improvement before upgrading.

The iPad Pro Teardown

I enjoyed the latest iFixit teardown for the new iPad Pro. Apple made several improvements, including the ability to remove the batteries without taking the entire thing apart.

Also, you’ll see that the CPU runs down the center of the device, which makes it a lot more stable and allows it to cool more easily. In years past, the CPU was on the side. There’s also a cover over the CPU, giving additional rigidity across the long axis but not the shorter one, explaining why the iPad is doing better in bend tests along the long axis. Overall, it looks like a solid design.