Mac mini lead times increasedAround the same time that Apple decreased lead times for its MacBook Pro professional notebooks it also increased estimated wait times for its petite Mac mini desktops by several days.
Over the weekend, AppleInsider reported that lead times for the MacBook Pro were shortened from 2-3 weeks to 7-10 business days. At the time, estimated wait times for either version of the Mac mini stood at 24 hours. However, as of Monday morning, Apple's online store now lists the Mac mini as shipping in 4-6 business days.
It's currently unclear what has prompted the sudden Mac mini delay, but sources have previously reported that several components are shared between all of Apple's new Intel Macs. With Apple now pushing the more profitable MacBook Pro notebooks into the market, Mac mini production may be taking the hit.
Mac OS X 10.4.6
According to both tipsters and reports already present on several Web sites, Apple over the weekend seeded new builds of Mac OS X 10.4.6 to its Apple Developer Connection members.
The pre-release distributions of the Mac OS X 10.4 \"Tiger\" maintenance and security update were reportedly listed as Mac OS X 10.4.6 build 8I1113 (Intel) and Mac OS X 10.4.6 build 8I120 (PowerPC).
These latest builds are reported to contain very few if any know issues, depending on the developer notes accompanying various distributions of the OS update. As previously reported, Mac OS X 10.4.6 will offer bug fixes and enhancements to dozens of Mac OS X system components, including Address Book, AppleScript, Automator, Dashboard, Dictionary, Disk Utility, DVD Player, Font Book, iCal, iChat, iPhoto, Keychain, Mail, Migration Assistant, Preview, QuickTime, Safari, Software Update and Stickies.
Flash memory prices dip lower
Citing channel sources, DigiTimes on Monday said Samsung Electronics has been dumping NAND flash with its customers since late February amid competition from SanDisk, and the situation is likely to become more severe this month.
With weaker-than-expected iPod nano sales this year, Samsung has been trying to maintain control over its inventory levels by dumping excess stock with memory module makers, according to sources at downstream players,\" the overseas publication reported. \"Samsung is pushing its products hardest with companies that it has close ties with, but other firms are receiving attractive quotes from the memory maker as well.\"
MagSafe no more?
No, it's not the return of the \"Flaming PowerBook 5300,\" but Rogier Mulder -- an early MacBook Pro adopter -- recently returned home to find that the MagSafe power connector on his new MacBook Pro had apparently caught ablaze and melted.
\"When I came home today, I found that the magsafe connector was melted,\" Mulder wrote, also posting photos of the damage on his Flickr account. \"Thank god the cats disconnected the Macbook pro during the day (they were probably chasing each other and tripped over the wire).\"
Apple was reportedly quick to replace Mulder's MacBook Pro, but in doing so also asked him to remove the photos of the damaged MacBook Pro and MagSafe connector he had published online.
\"I am sorry if you do not see the image(s) you might have expected to see,\" Mulder later wrote on his Flickr account. \"The reason for this is that Apple, after dealing with this issue, kindly requested me to remove the pictures at least until their engineers had a change to investigate this issue. Since Apple support has been very helpful and already is getting me a new Macbook asap, I'm happy to answer their request.\"
For those interest in viewing the damage, Wired's Leander Kahney has reposted the images.