As others said it's exactly what they'd expect. Why not harmonise the styling across the range. Brings it closer to the iphone generation and begins to look like a nice next purchase after a iphone if you are syncing to it and using it as a home av, both would look better together now.
Continuing to reduce the input material by using less aluminum I would imagine be a motivation for cost savings and also by virtue less weight and space from a shipping point of view being another point of cost saving.
So the stylistic affectations have trickled down to the mac mini, nothing surprising there which make it all the more plausible.
Very possible a quick snap shot from the web dev team putting the finishing touches to the upcoming launch/release page.
Leaks are as much part of the beginning of the advertising/marketing process. The idea apple tries to lock them down is one thing but don't be surprised if they do it in a manner which means they actually control the leaks to maximize benefit because they'll happen anyway.
It keeps you market talking and focused on the brand, coveting the what might be's and id only's and it simple media manipulation 101.
The entire political world works this way, constant leaks and spin to prepare to keep people off the trail or to prepare ground for something different or to accustom the population to accept a new change they would not normally accept if it was surprised on them.
Whose to say marketing are not amending their strategy based on comments to this leak.
If it went eh airport housing route I'd be highly displeased.
PLUS from a cables point of view, one flat bar or single row at the back on a flatter model would be far easier to hide and access that at the back of a mini tower especially if you want it to sit stylishly beside you grand home entertainment suite. So I dont' think the airport extreme tower desing is going ot cut it. You leave those in palce eslwhere and hardly ever need to access the device in it;s life time. Sit it on a shelf or unit and that's it's lot.
Well nothing more cheesy like a guerilla snap off a screen no one knows from wear, very ZOO TV if you ask me and if you didn't get the reference, U2 pulled in my guess at least 2/3 fake leaks of seperate upcoming album tracks over the last decade or two and blamed it on "Hackers" ... yea sure and their fanzine is called PROPOGANDA.
