Upgradeable storage for new Mac mini?

Yes, Virginia, if Apple doesn't sue the pants off the company that makes it.

Author

Leander Kahney
December 05, 2024

When I bought the original Mac Studio back in 2022, I wrestled with a critical decision: how much storage to buy.

Given that Apple charges outrageous markups for extra storage, I cheaped out and got the bare minimum.

I’m starting to deeply regret that decision.

My skimpy 256BG SSD is almost full and I have to contort myself into pretzels finding ways to free up space.

But hope is on the horizon.

A French company found a way to reverse-engineer Apple’s custom storage modules, and launched a Kickstarter campaign for off-the-shelf storage upgrades for the Mac Studio.

It raises the possibility of storage upgrades for the fabulous new Mac mini, too — if Apple doesn’t sue the company off the face of the planet!

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • 🚨🚨🚨 Red alert: The Release Candidate of iOS 18.2 is out, meaning the final version — with a lot of Apple Intelligence goodies — is not far away.

  • The Cult of Mac team continues to wonder why I’m “obsessed” with Humane, the AI startup launched by high-profile Apple alums. It’s partly because the company is starting to resemble General Magic and NeXT — two Apple alum companies that struggled, pivoted and flamed out. Humane just reached the pivot stage.

  • Back in the 1980s, Hartmut Esslinger’s company, frog design, catapulted Apple into the design stratosphere. Now, a clever tinkerer has brought a frog design proto-iPad concept to glorious life: Behold the FlatMac.

  • A lot of Apple’s growth over the last decade or so came from China. Now that China’s matured, Tim Cook is eyeing a new hot growth market: India. So far, his plan is working.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Upgrading your Mac Studio storage becomes possible

Unlocking greater storage capacity for the Mac Studio will soon be possible with affordable SSD upgrades from Polysoft.

iOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 take huge step toward release

With the much-anticipated iOS 18.2 Release Candidate finally available, the actual release date is likely just a week away.

After Ai Pin flops, Humane wants to put its CosmOS everywhere

After the disastrously poor reception of its Ai Pin wearable, Humane’s CosmOS software arrives to spread AI across devices.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Price drop: Stay secure anywhere with this portable VPN router for 31% off

Whether you’re a frequent traveler or a remote worker, the Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router could be a helpful privacy solution.

Feature-packed mobile game controller cools your iPhone while you play

The newly launched GameSir X3 Pro Mobile Gaming Controller packs plenty of features, including built-in cooling.

Soccer fans can watch MLS Cup final for free on Apple TV app

This year, soccer fans can watch the MLS Cup final for free via MLS Season Pass on a variety of Apple TV platforms.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Price drop: Lock in lifetime access to Babbel language learning for just $129.97

Gain lifetime access to all 14 of the languages offered in the Babbel app with this great limited-time deal.

Apple outshines Samsung in India with surging iPhone shipments

Apple's plan to grow big in India is starting to take off: Cupertino shipped more than 4 million iPhones in Q3 2024 and is on track to ship more than 12 million this year.

Apple's iCloud Passwords extension arrives for Firefox fans

This will make accessing your saved passwords in the Mozilla web browser easier.

Tinkerer brings a retro-futuristic Mac concept to life

A designer's remake of the 1984 Apple FlatMac concept looks and works just like the real thing. And his video shows every step he took.

Apple Card Savings interest rate drops again, now at 3.9%

The interest rate earned by cash in Apple Card Savings accounts just decreased. But the rate is still higher than most rival accounts.

Today in Apple history: Apple Store celebrates its millionth online customer

On December 5, 2002, Apple said it had served its millionth customer in the Apple Store online, five years after launching the service.

Tweets of the day

Wallpaper of the day

One more thing ...

❝

I would rather compete with Sony than compete in another product category with Microsoft. That's because Sony has to rely on other companies to make its software. We're the only company that owns the whole widget — the hardware, the software and the operating system. We can take full responsibility for the user experience. We can do things that the other guy can't do.

— Steve Jobs, 2002.

Today’s poll

Will Apple successfully sue the French storage upgraders?

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Results from yesterday’s poll: Would you buy a HomePod with a screen?

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