Giveaway Offers Mac Mini for AI Agent Control
MacRumors has partnered with Astropad to give away a 16GB Mac Mini with a 512GB SSD, designed to be used with Astropad's new Workbench remote desktop app. The contest aims to highlight the growing use of Mac Minis as local servers for agentic AI. Winners will gain a powerful tool for managing AI agents remotely from an iPhone or iPad.
“The Mac mini has become the essential platform for running local agentic AI,” said Astropad CEO Matt Ronge. “Workbench is the perfect companion, turning the Mac mini into a remote-controlled AI powerhouse.” The app leverages Astropad's LIQUID engine, previously used in Luna Display and Astropad Studio, to deliver low-latency, high-fidelity streaming.
Workbench: Full Desktop Access for AI Monitoring
Workbench is a remote desktop app that provides full Mac access, not just terminal commands. Users can check logs, verify agent work, restart tasks, and reconnect to long-running jobs. This is more versatile than tools like Remote Control for Claude Code, which only offers terminal access.
The app supports voice dictation, gestures, keyboard input, mouse, and Apple Pencil control. A mini-map helps navigate large desktops, and a unified virtual display handles multiple monitors. End-to-end encryption ensures security, and no display recordings are saved.
Easy Setup and Cross-Platform Reach
Workbench requires macOS 15 or later, iPadOS 26 or later, and iOS 26 or later. It runs best on Apple Silicon Macs, with limited support for Intel models. A global relay network across 11 regions simplifies setup—no network configuration needed. The app is free for 20 minutes daily, with unlimited use at $10/month or $50/year.
Background
Astropad is known for Luna Display (turns iPad into a secondary Mac display) and Astropad Studio (iPad as drawing tablet). Workbench extends this concept to remote desktop for AI agents. The Mac Mini giveaway underscores Astropad's commitment to the AI ecosystem.
What This Means
For AI developers and enthusiasts, this giveaway offers a chance to build a dedicated AI agent server at no cost. Workbench eliminates the need to sit at a desk, enabling anywhere monitoring via iPhone. As local AI agents become more common, tools like Workbench are critical for maintenance and troubleshooting.
Enter the giveaway now for a chance to win a fully configured Mac Mini. Extra entries are available by subscribing to MacRumors' newsletter, YouTube channel, or following on social media.
Due to international laws, only U.S. residents are eligible to enter.