The Mac Mini desktop, whose design had not changed since it was first launched in 2005, received a striking makeover with a slimmer aluminum unibody. (Photo courtesy of Apple.com)

Apple announced on its website a new version of its lowest-priced computer, the Mac Mini. The Mac Mini desktop computer received a striking makeover with a slimmer aluminum unibody. The design of the Mac Mini had not changed significantly since it was first launched in 2005.

The redesigned Mac Mini quietly appeared on the Apple website Wednesday morning (Philippine time). An updated Snow Leopard operating system, now on version 10.6.4, also made its first, and equally quiet, appearance on the Apple website at the same time.

The possibilities of a Mac Mini update have been feeding rumor-hungry technology blogs but official announcements were in short supply. The absence of hype involved in the Mac Mini and Snow Leopard announcements (as well as the Safari 5 browser release last June 7) are in stark contrast to the sound and the fury that surrounded the launch of the iPhone 4G.

The Mac Mini also adds an HDMI port, to connect to an HDTV, and an SD card reader built-in, connection options that the Mini-users had long been missing. The new ports make the Mac Mini a formidable media center.

Apple's website says the Mac Mini consumes less than 10 watts when idle and claims to be the "world's most energy-efficient desktop computer."

The Mini is equipped wih an Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics processor and improved processor speeds and storage capacity: a minimum 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 320GB of disk space. The Snow Leopard operating system comes pre-loaded on the Mini. The Mac Mini also includes a DVD superdrive for playing or burning DVDs and CDs, a Mini Display port, FireWire 800, and four USB ports. It is both wi-fi and Bluetooth capable.

The new Mac Mini is only slightly wider and deeper than its predecessor, while its weight is essentially the same. But its height has been reduced from 5.08 cm to 3.6 cm.