Apple today has released an upgrade to its professional line desktop, the Mac Pro. Alongside redesigned interiors that make it easier to expand the machine, the new Mac Pro includes Intel “Nehalem” Xeon processors capable of running at speeds up to 2.93 GHz.

“The new Mac Pro is a significant upgrade and starts at $300 less than before,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The Mac Pro features an advanced system architecture, new faster processors and our best-ever graphics options to deliver a faster, more powerful system that our professional customers are going to love.”

“An optional ATI Radeon HD 4870 is available for even more performance. With both a Mini DisplayPort and DVI port, the new Mac Pro provides out-of-the-box support for the 24-inch Apple LED Cinema Display, the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display, or other DVI based displays. ”

iMac

Apple also released updates to its all-in-one desktop machine, the iMac. Perhaps the most impressive feature is the machine’s price. For $1,499 you can now purchase a 24-inch iMac for the same price as the previous generation 20-inch model.

“Our flagship 24-inch iMac with twice the memory and twice the storage is now available for just $1,499,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO.

“The elegant, full-featured iMac line starts with the 20-inch iMac for only $1,199 with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory, a 320GB Serial ATA hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics. The 24-inch iMac features a beautiful 1920-by-1200 pixel widescreen display that offers 30 percent more screen real estate than the 20-inch model, and starts at just $1,499. The 24-inch iMac includes up to a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory, a 640GB or 1TB Serial ATA hard drive, and a variety of graphics technology from NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 or ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics for ultimate performance.”

Mac mini

And for those fearing the end of the Mac mini, Apple rekindled some old flames by giving some much needed attention to the Mac mini in the form of sweet upgrades. The new Mac mini “features the same groundbreaking NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics introduced with the aluminum unibody MacBook family.”

“The Mac mini is not only our most affordable Mac, it’s also the world’s most energy efficient desktop computer,” said Apple COO, Tim Cook.

“Starting at $599, the Mac mini is an innovative, tiny desktop measuring only 6.5 by 6.5 by 2-inches. Available in two models, Mac mini features a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, up to 320GB Serial ATA hard drive, five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 and a SuperDrive®. The Mac mini features NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics for up to five times better graphics performance than before* and now with dual display support can drive two Apple or third-party displays with Mini DisplayPort or DVI connections. Using less than 13 watts of power at idle, up to 10 times less power than a typical desktop PC, the new Mac mini is the most energy efficient desktop in the world.”

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HardMac reports:

The new iMac models and their corresponding references:
- MB417: Entry level model
- MB418: “Mass market” model
- MB419: high-end model
- MB420: ultimate model
The entry level model should come with a 20″ display, while the three other models will feature a 24″ panel.

For the Mac mini, the references are the following:
- MB463: entry-level model
- MB464 high-end model

MacRumors explains that HardMac.com is an english sister site to MacBidouille, and can be considered “trustworthy.”

OneMoreThing.nl reports: (translated from MacRumors forums here)

Mac mini
- 5x USB
- 1x FireWire 800
- 1x mini DVI
- 1x Display poort
- Nvidia chipset (net als de nieuwe MacBooks)
- vanaf 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 1 of 2 GB DDR3 ram geheugen (max 4 GB)
- 120 GB harde schijf (max 320 GB)

iMac
- 1x 20″ model, 3x 24″ modellen
- Intel Core 2 Duo (géén quad core dus): 2.66 Ghz, 2.93 Ghz en 3.06 Ghz
- 1x Display poort
- 20″ 2 GB DDR3 ram geheugen, 24″ 4 GB DDR3 ram geheugen (max 8 GB)

Of note, March 24th has been pegged as a date for the next Apple press event

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The image consistently depicts previously circulating rumors, however the image only shows the rear-facing side of the packaging. While some believe the image to stille be a fake, the evidence is piling up.

Image via MacRumors

This also correlates with a previously leaked image and video of the rumored Mac mini. A rumored March 24th Apple press event has been pegged as well.

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The image below was the first spyshot to circulate the web, which was originally posted to the Macrumors Forums. Interestingly, some raw investigation work done by a 9to5mac reader, who confidently determined that this was all a hoax.

Now the original source of the image has made this video available, and although the entire situation seems a bit strange, one can’t help but wonder why anybody would go through the trouble of making this video, only to show a fake Mac mini with five USB ports.

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Image courtesy of MacRumors

In our coverage of what to expect from Apple over the next few months, we explained that the Mac mini was rumored to be making an appearance around March.

A move to SATA for both optical and hard drives has been rumored. As well as that the Mac mini will not only have a Mini DisplayPort, but also a Mini DVI connector which is strange given CEO Steve Jobs’ statements that Apple was making the Mini DisplayPort standard across all of Apple’s computers. In regards to a chipset, the NVIDIA 9400M is what’s currently being used in the unibody macbooks, and if Apple opts for it in the Mac mini, the device may get a few more high-end features than initially expected. However, we don’t see Apple loading up professional class features on the Mac mini, especially with the desktop class needing some attention. Things like dual-display support may entirely be left for high-end machines like the Mac Pro.

The most recent information claims the Mac mini will be launched in March around the time of Cebit. The information is strange however because it claims the Mac mini will be using Intel’s Atom processor, which up until now has been targeted at low-powered netbooks. While it may turn out accurate, as of now this remains slightly cloudy.

MacRumors has specified that the original person who leaked the image claims the following specs:

• Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2GHz
• 3MB L2 cache
• 2GB RAM DDR III, 1066MHz
• Super Drive is SATA

A few questions remain as to why the machine would need five USB ports, and why Firewire 800 would be included when Apple nixed it from the Macbooks. But, in typical leaked spyshot fashion, the image leaves us a tad skeptical. If only because it aligns so correctly with rumors that seemed a bit outlandish to begin with. Still, MacRumors has done an incredible job filtering through nonsense over the years, so it would be safe to assume the legitimacy of this image.

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The report explains that Apple will most likely unveil a new Mac mini in March around the time of Cebit. They go on to explain that Apple may use Intel’s Atom processor, which as you can see from some benchmarks done by PC World, is nearly a downgrade from what Apple currently has in the Mac mini. We’ve corroborated with 9to5mac on this one, and something doesn’t add up. Either the device is something new, or Apple is planning on positioning the Mac mini as a cheap netbook class product.

An Nvidia partner confirmed to us that Apple was the first to receive samples of Nvidia’s Ion platform, which we covered extensively during CES. In fact, Apple received prototype units long before Nvidia partners who opted to work on Ion. We’re told that some partners still only have blue prints of Ion.

Additionally, they speculate that the Mac mini could be smaller in size, and will still be in the $500 to $700 price range. As the report notes, Apple’s current unibody notebooks already use Nvidia’s 9400M GPU, which is exactly what the Ion platform uses, so a transition into a Mac mini makes sense in their opinion. “The GPU is capable of full HD video decoding and also supports Nvidia’s CUDA technology for more general purpose computing.” Still, a low(er) powered Atom based Mac mini is relatively hard to get excited about.

Interestingly, they updated the post claiming to be “unsure” that Apple would be making the move to Ion, but confidently cited an Nvidia partner as being the source saying “Apple has Ion for Mac mini.”

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Given the announcements at Macworld ‘09, Apple left many wondering when a few products would get some attention. In particular, the Mac mini, long overdue Cinema Displays, Mac Pro, and a speedbumped iMac weren’t mentioned, but all are rumored to be coming “soon,” in one way or another.

“Clearly there’s quite a precedent for post-Macworld announcements, and in all likelihood this year will see a few as well. Certainly, an Apple desktop event later this month or in early February would be an elegant way for the company to dovetail the official release of iLife ’09 with some new desktop hardware, celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Macintosh and prove once and for all that it doesn’t need Macworld to publicize new product releases,” Paczkowski explains.

Apple has historically used late January and February as launch months for new products during their lifecycles, so it’s rather expected that we see something announced shortly. “Apple has on many occasions uncrated new products on the heels of Macworld,” Paczkowski explains. “In February of 2008, the company announced new iPhone & iPod touch models. In February of 2006 it debuted the Intel Mac mini and iPod Hi-Fi. In January 2005 it uncrated new PowerBooks and a month later, it announced a new iPod mini and an update to iPod photo.”

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