Front Row & Mac Mini v. Apple TV ???

Hi - hope someone can help me make a decision...
My video collection is now too big to fit on my Powerbook so it needs to go on an external hard drive (USBHD) and that's fine - question is what's the best way to play it on my TV/Amp:
Option 1: Buy AppleTV & new Airport Extreme, attach USBHD to the Airport Extreme, then play the videos using iTunes on my Powerbook, which will pull the video files from the USBHD to Airport Extreme, then wirelessly to the Powerbook, then wirelessly to AppleTV and then to the TV/Amp.
[Allows me to keep using Powerbook as my main computer but just pulling video files from an external source. Downside is I'm told the videos will be slow to transfer this way because of all the wireless streaming and that the system may end up copying each video temporarily to the 40GB hard drive on AppleTV before playing it, then erasing it afterwards, which seems like an awful lot of messing and delays]
Option 2: Buy a Mac Mini, attach USBHD to the Mac Mini, then play the videos using Front Row/iTunes on the Mac Mini directly connected to the TV/Amp.
[So I use my Powerbook for all my main computer needs - email, office, internet, Itunes audio, etc and just really use the Mac Mini as a media server for video files]
Option 2 seems the better option but I don't know if I want a Powerbook and a wireless keyboard and mouse (for the macmini) cluttering up the place and will it be an awful lot of hassle using the Mac Mini to play videos? Is it possible to leave Front Row on the Mac Mini running all the time and when I want to use it just flick the TV to (PC) the use the apple remote to select the video? Also, I want to ultimately be recording TV programs to a hard drive - is the Mac Mini with EyeTV the best option for this or is it a very cumbersome way of doing it?
Sorry for lengthy post, but either option is a lot of money so I wanna be sure I'm doing it right!
Thanks
David
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8) 1.5GHz PowerPC, 768MB SDRAM
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8) 1.5GHz PowerPC, 768MB SDRAM
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8) 1.5GHz PowerPC, 768MB SDRAM

It's against the "Terms of Use" to speculate here about unannounced products. We're just users like yourself, none of us work for Apple, so we have no idea what they have planned. So, no one here can give you an informed opinion about waiting for an updated Mac mini. What if it isn't released until September? Are you willing to wait that long? It may come out on Tuesday but that wouldn't mean the Mac mini you bought today wouldn't do all the things it was advertised to do. Apple has stated the Apple TV will work with an 802.11g network and if that isn't fast enough for you, you can always use a wired network that's even faster than "n". If you have the means to buy a computer and you've found a model that fits your requirements, buy it. Otherwise, you will always be waiting around for The Next Best Thing™ forever.
-Doug

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Front Row - Mac Mini - and PowerBook G4, Mac-Mini Multi Media centre.

I will be purchasing a HDTV is the near future and would like to buy a Mac Mini to complement it. ( then sell my DVD player )
The big question are:
-Can I ( using Front Row ) stream AVI data (film) from my PB G4 to my Mac-Mini and watch the content on my new HDTV. ( over AirPort )
-Do I need to buy a new PB that also has Front Row ? ( I hope not )
-What type of video data can I stream ? (iTunes and iPhoto I already know about)
-What about HD DVD's when they come out. Is the drive in the Mac-Mini HD DVD compatible ?( I don't think so )
Please - If you have any other relevant points or question's about the Mac-Mini usage as a multi media centre, Post them here.
15" PB G4 SD 1.5 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.5)

I just tried a AVI film and it work's with QT,
although a mpg film did not.
Now that I think about it, I tried a mpg plug-in for
QT and was disappointed.
Has anyone had any success with such a plug-in ?
Another Question:
Must then this AVI data reside in iTunes for
Front-Row to "see" it ? How does this work ?
I guess that when a Blue-Ray drive is added to Apple
products that a HD DVD will not play, or will it play
it but only burn Blue-Ray ?
When shopping for a HDTV I asked about the difference
in Blue-Ray and HD and he told me that the TV will
play both versions.
I hope that the drive will also play both, although
the way I know Apple it will be Blue-Ray only. (
at-least in the beginning ) Remember DVD-R
i would not worry about the blu-ray - HD-DVD thing right now. too much still in the air. once they realize consumers are too un-techie to figure it out and just continue to buy DVD's their will be a standard plus their is already other formats being developed. then if you talking about movies and such my guess is downloaded content is the way apple will go with an itunes movie store but thats my guess.
but yes, HDTV's will play either, its the player. I have a 61" samsung 720p DLP and my new mac mini looks good on it at 1280x720. front row is great. I also watched a ton of HD trailers from quicktime's website and they were amazing.
and from what i have seen from front row it only shows content that is in itunes or iphoto not random folders but i could be wrong, still palying around with it.

Mac Mini, Synology, Apple TV, iTunes - where to start

Hi Everyone,
I am new to the apple forum. To be honest I am new to the whole Apple thing, being a Windows bod I managed to resist the Apple gravy train for several years before giving in and falling inline.
Now I find myself with an iphone, ipod touch, ipad 2, mac mini and apple TV 4 although not all in use yet... This brings me to my question.
What is the best home setup for sharing?
let me set the scene.
3 years ago I modernised my house and put in cat5e structured cabling throughout, all back to a comm rack in the loft. at the time I set up a powerful quad core server. I used to run my own AD domain, Exchange server (don't ask). Now the server runs Windows 7 professional with 8 HDDs running raid 5 mainly running windows media centre and I was using my xbox 360s as extenders. The view was to use Xbox's around the house to access my media. Never quite got there and things have moved on again.
After running the big Windows beast 24x7 for about 18 months I wanted to scale down again, improve data resillience and provide a simple user interface for my other half.
So after doing some initial web trawling armed and dangerous with a very small amount of knowledge and realising that I already had an amount of Apple kit to contribute towards an iTunes based mulitroom solution. The red mist came down and with credit card in hand I did some retail therapy. Not the female handbag and shoes type but the proper male tech kind.
I already had
1 x ipod touch 64GB
1 x iphone 4 32GB
1 x ipad 2 64GB wifi
And to complement the set I now have;
1 x i5 2.7GHZ, 16GB RAM, 2TB HDD Mac mini (this is the latest version which I upgraded to 2 x 1TB internal drives)
1 x 4th gen apple TV
and non Apple kit
1 x Synology DS212+ with 8TB storage raid 0
1 x Onkyo TX-NR515 AV receiver
So now comes to the ask. How best to use all of this over my home wired network?
I'm thinking I will use iTunes, I want to have some form of data backup between the Synology and the Mac mini (I want to shut down my windows server)
I also want to be able to control it all from the ipad/ipod and push media (audio and video) around the house.
The mac mini is currently plugged into one of my TVs via the AV receiever and the thought was to use the apple TV in another room, and depending of how it goes buy another 1 or 2 for other rooms.
So I have all this kit and not sure where to start and I'm not a mac expert. I know I can't use the synology box on it's own as you need itunes for the apple TVs, I don't know whether to use the Synology or the local Mac storage for the primary itunes library and then to backup to the device is so how (time capsule thing).
I don't want itunes to organise my media as I don't like the way it shuffles files around, so thinking of keeping the media files in a folder structure I am familar with and pointing iTunes at that. I also have a large amount of video files that I will probably have to convert to be capatible with iTunes, but not sure of the best way to do this, if I need to at all.
Sorry for the long waffle. Would be interested in any views, suggestions, ideas or examples of your own set ups. In return, for what it is worth I will let you know how I get on.
many thanks for your input

Great thread all! I have been wrestling with this very topic for several months now. I've read every thread I could find on the topic, asked questions etc but still have not come to a final decision. But I am getting close ... I think.
First, a little background. I am starting from primarily pc household and converting to an all Apple infrastructure. From the Apple world, we already have 2 iPhones and 3 iPads. New iPhone 5 on order and ... today at last Apple has announced the new iMacs. Exactly what I have been waiting for and so my intent is to purchase one each of the smaller and larger as they come out next month and the month after. My router is beginning to show signs of age and so I would also like to move to an Airport Extreme. The PC hard drive housing my iTunes library is nearly full and so I need to move the library to a new location, preferable an external, networkable location and I've been looking at the Synology 1812 for this purpose. So, in the end I have or would like to soon have:
3 iPads
3 iPhones
2 iMacs
1 AppleTV 3 with a plan to one or two more. If they would only add the Amazon Prime app and RF remote capabilities it would be nearly perfect.
2 PS3s and 1 XBox360 but I much prefer the ATV interface for media. PS3 remains the place for the Amazon app because ATV doesn't provide.
1 Airport Extreme
House is already wired and homerunned with Cat-6
Plan to add Synology 1812 with 3 or 4 3TB drives to start and use the Synology Hybrid Raid
Open items or questions for me:
1. Will I have any issues if I purchase the Synology, move the iTunes library from my current PC to it and then remove the PC from the picture once I have an iMac in place? I understand that Apple does not utilize the same hard drive formatting structure as pc but I am not sure this would matter for an external device accessed over a network.
2. What am I going to serve with? I like iTunes and I am used to it. I would like something that works well with the ATV and it does that. Plex seems to have potential but would then make ATV useless unless hckd. All of my music is in iTunes now, including ripped, iTunes purchased and Amazon purchased. I have put many tv shows and some films into it as well, utilizing Handbrake to do so when needed.
3. Synology for storage, backup, redundancy etc but from where do I want to manage media / serve from? I realize I can do it from one or even both of the iMacs. I had been thinking that I wanted a low power, always on solution that would negate the need to have an IMac always on, something similar to the HP MediaSmart Server I've been using at home for a number of years, albeit clunkily. This is where I thought the Mac Mini might come in (once I learned that the Synology iTunes server was really not a true iTunes server). Low power, always on, can be running iTunes on it etc. But this thread and aschmid's comments have me rethinking this. Maybe I won't be shutting down my iMac all that much and maybe it isn't difficult to wake it so that it can address serving duties.
4. How would I address the storage of home videos vs films and tv shows? I don't want iTunes managing home videos ... do I? Still want them sitting on the Synology - right? Did you all create a separate folder on the Synology for home videos? I know there is a default videos folder. there. And are you serving via iPhoto, Aperture or something else?
5. How about photos? I would like my photo library housed on the Synology as well. Is that served via iPhoto or Aperture to the ATV? How are the mutiple entry points addressed? Everyone in the family is taking pictures, videos etc and all of iCloud turned on. How do I insure that a clean copy of every picture and video taken with any iPhone, iPad, digital camera, digital camcorder etc all ends up centrally located and accessible on the Synology without it becoming too manual a process?
Sorry about the long windedness of this. I got on a bit of a roll once I began typing. This has been on my mind for some time and I am happy to have come across this thread.

Hi guys. gota 2010 mac mini but want to upgrade so i can stream from mac mini to apple tv. but some herd some bad reviews about os x moutain lion. any of it true?? to mountain lion

hi guys. gota 2010 mac mini but want to upgrade so i can stream from mac mini to apple tv. but some herd some bad reviews about os x moutain lion. any of it true?

Mountain Lion is the best OS yet, IMHO.

Universal Dock, Apple Remote, non-Front Row Macs

I know it's possible, using a third-party workaround, to install Front Row on older Macs that don't have the infrared sensor built-in, that's not a problem.
What I want to know is if it's possible — by connecting the USB Universal iPod Dock with Infrared Sensor — to control these older Macs using the Apple Remote Control? Are there any third-party apps or plugins which will let you use the Universal Dock to launch Front Row on these non-infrared Macs?

One IR receiver that works with the Mac Pro is from Twisted Melon, Manta TR1. As you have discovered the Mac pro does not include any sort of IR and the iPod dock with IR does not work. The Manta TR1 works flawlessly with my Mac Pro.
Their website is http://twistedmelon.com/mira/

Mac Mini and Apple Remote

Hello,
Is there anyway I can pair my Apple Remote to my Mac Mini as I use front row quite a lot and also have a Mac Book which means if they are both on the remote accesses both of them
Any help would be really great

yes- in system preferences, in security, under the "general" tab, there is the option to pair a remote to your mac.

Mac Mini vs Apple TV

Can a mini do all (and hopefully more)than an apple TV. I would like to store downloans on the hard drive and use my wireless network to send the recorded programs throughout my house. Is there some type of 'how to' on setting up the mini to be a apple tv on steriods....Thanks

I have been asking myself the same question. I would like to attach something to a HD TV in the living room.
My preference is definitely for the Mac Mini, as it would be great to have email, internet, etc in addition to all the Front Row stuff. With the Mini, you can also throw out your DVD player and simply put your DVDs into the Mini.
However the Apple TV has three clear advantages that I can see:
1- 802.11n over g (as described by others). However, if you read other posts in this topic, apparently a hardware solution is available to enable the Mini with wireless n capabilities.
2- iTunes syncing. With Apple TV, the syncing of files to the Apple TV is automatic, as it is with an iPod. With the Mac Mini, it looks like you need to manually take files off your main computer and move them to the Mini.
Is this correct, by the way ... can iTunes auto sync your Mini with your main computer the way that Apple TV does?
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3- HDMI connection, as opposed to the Mini's DVI.
The second point, about auto sync, is the most important for me. I currently have two Macs, and the lack of tools to properly synchronize the two machines (notably iTunes, iPhoto and my Documents folder) is a major pain.
Does anyone know if there are any new good sync tools out there?
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I sure hope the next Front Row update includes the Apple TV 2 functionality

I bought a Mac mini the day Leopard was released, and now it is my media server. It was that or an Apple TV, and I liked having more control plus a DVD player in the box.
Front Row 2.0 is nice, but I've been trying to find add-ons, like Sapphire, to give it more features. Nothing yet will play YouTube or other internet video, which is one of the things I'd really like. So, after today's cool demo of ATV 2.0 software, I'm hoping that Steve & Co will keep Front Row on parity with ATV.
After all, Mac users would like to rent HD movies & and show of our Macs too!

Vibeeen wrote:
After all, Mac users would like to rent HD movies & and show of our Macs too!
AppleTV includes HDMI and HDCP, which are not present in Apple computers. Although computers play HD movie trailers just fine, I suspect that studio demands for DRM would ensure that rental HD downloads (or HD-DVD or Blu-ray) would not appear on a computer. Unless the computer had HDMI and HDCP enforced.

Mac mini with Apple Mini Display to VGA adaptor

Hello,
I have just purchased a new i5 mac mini, and have started to use it with an HDMI TV. This is great, but I really want to go back to using just my VGA monitor, which is an LGFlatron W2243S.
So, today, with the HDMI plugged in, I put a Apple Mini Display Port to VGA adaptor into the back of the mac mini, hooked it up to the monitor and great. The monitor was recognised, and it actually appeared as a second display.
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Reading on the internet I've found talk of the power from the mini display port being a possible problem.
At the moment then, the HDMI is still plugged in. Any advice on any settings I should be using to get the mini display -> VGA adaptor to work with the monitor? It is obviously working in some form (a) because I can't believe apple would continue to sell a dud product and (b) because it did occur briefly as a second monitor.

I've got some more information which I'm hoping might enable someone somewhere to help!!
So, I've just connected up the monitor again, with success. Both the HDMI and VGA monitor as mirrorred displays.
Then, I removed the HDMI connection, and the VGA monitor stayed on. I was also able to change the resolution successfully on the VGA monitor.
Then I restarted the system. The VGA monitor went into standby and wouldn't wake up from power saving mode (therefore was not able to see the password screen).
Plugged the HDMI back in (as well as the VGA) and restarted. Password screen came up on the HDMI screen. OS started up as normal, then the VGA screen came back to life on mirrored display.
So there is some level of success occuring now, except on restart. It seems as once the OS loads, it sends the signal to the VGA to switch on, but not on the password screen. Note that I do not want the HDMI screen connected - just the VGA. It's really a TV and I want to use it elsewhere.
I also downloaded the DP to VGA firmware update, but even with everything plugged in (and ironically with the VGA on and working!) it says that it cannot find a DP to VGA adaptor!!
This all suggests to me that things work, but that there's something I'm not quite doing right somewhere. My PC connects to the VGA monitor fine, and comes on at power up.
Thanks in hope.

Mac Mini and Apple TV.

I have a Mac Mini bought about 10 months ago. It is WiFi enabled. I would like to use Apple TV. Will I need anything other than an Apple TV unit to connect with the Mac Mini?

Just what do you want to do?
Using AirPlay
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About AirPlay Mirroring in OS X Mountain Lion

Mac mini and Apple TV Question?

Hey,
     I want to make "The ultimate entertainment center" and need to know what display i should look for.
the items i need to hook up to it are:
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     -Apple TV
     -PS3
     -PS2
     -Over the air antenna
I don't think a Apple Display works for this but I don't know what display I should get. Also, I'm looking for a cheaper display, with a 15-27" screen.
Thanks!!

Also, they don't all have to be connected at once.

New Mac Mini and Apple Cinema Display

I have just upgraded my Mac (G5 PowerMac) to a new Mac Mini. I am still using my Apple Cinema display - but I cannot not play all the purchased movies that I have on iTunes now...????

Greg,
Are these movies HD? If they are, you might be having a problem with HDCP which is copy protection that won't let you view movies if all of your equipment is not HDCP compliant, which probably is your Cinema display. I also have a late 2012 Mac mini with an older Apple 20" Cinema display and cannot watch HD itunes movies. You will have to watch in standard definition. Of course you might have a different problem, but your question seemed similar with my situation. What is strange is that you were able to watch from your G5 Powermac. Maybe the power PC chip allowed viewing as opposed to intel chips, which I think intel created HDCP. Somebody on these boards probably has better answers then me ;-)
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When i stream from mac mini to apple tv the video jerks

I have a Mac Mini and a 2ed gen Apple TV , when I stream from the mac to the Apple TV the video jerks and some time frezes, I have checked the WiFi and the Internet all are strong, streaming from my Iphone and Ipad are great. what am i doing wrong

...or it could be caused by Apple crap. I'm having the same problem. On a WIRED connection from my MacMini to an Apple TV. The network runs fine with my Windows laptop and iPad. Video streams nicely from my iPad on WiFi, but lots of jerkiness when I watch a movie from my MacMini via Apple TV, regardless of whether I'm on WiFi or wired.
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New Mac Mini / DVI / Apple 17" Studio Display

Greetings all.
I am contemplating purchasing new Mac Mini.
Currently using Mac mini / DVI adapter/ older Apple 17" studio display.
I do not intend monitor change at present.
Question is, which display adapter would allow me to use older DVI adapter/Apple 17" studio display?
Thanks for you time, looking forward to your response.
Regards,
TrevorB

Further exploration, Apple store recommends;
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I'm a long time Apple user and Apple developer. So I just bought a new Mac Mini (Macmini3,1) assuming, perhaps foolishly, it would simply plug into my Apple 30" display and I'd be able to get native resolution.
Unfortunately, 10.6.1 on the Mini only lists 1280x800 as the highest available resolution and it's not clear I have any options. Searching this forum only leads to hundreds of hits of every kind of display problem imaginable, and I frankly am pretty disappointed from using two relatively brand new Apple products together, only to get what feels like a PC experience.
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Thanks for the assistance guys. Yes, upon closer inspection of the info of a DVI dual link adapter is there, but then again I wasn't expecting a DVI device that plugs into a DVI socket to NOT work for two Apple products. What also threw me is that since my main machine is a MBP from two years ago (with the built-in dual link), I wasn't thinking about that stuff. Also, after reading the reviews for the DVI dual link adapter, I'm not sure I even want to go that route--there's some BAD stories there, ugh.
Sigh, I guess "it just works" is reserved for their ad campaigns these days.
Anyway, thanks again guys.
Andy

Front Row & Mac Mini v. Apple TV ???

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