So its handy if the odd time i have a dvd i want to watch, i pop it in and watch from the mac mini on the tv. Apple initially marketed it as byodkm bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse, pitching it to users switching from a traditional pc running operating systems such as microsoft windows. Any mac will do though the mac minis size is a nice fit for home theater. Just click to download and install on your mac or ios device. Mac mini audiophiles and purists or home theater mac mini htpc folk may prefer the optical mini toslink option built inside of the mini s dualfunction sound jack. A small overview of the features can be found on our about page.
Everything else i access through the appletv and use home sharing for it to see all the content in itunes on the mac mini. Front row allows you to stream media from other systems in a home network as long as it is in an itunes library, though moving data across. Mar 18, 2020 if you plan to use the mac mini as a home theater pc for streaming to a tv, or as a basic productivity machine that uses web apps heavily, youll be set with one of the best mini pcs on the market. For normal users we recommend installing the stable releases.
When looking at software i was new for most of the programs so i did a lot of reading. The mac mini is a perfect candidate for such a setup. When apple announced they were upgrading the mac mini 2010 to include a hdmi port, i put my older mini on ebay and sold it for 400. By downloading this software, you confirm that you accept the terms and conditions and are at least years old. Windows media center is the most known 10foot user interface, but many other media center software are compatible with windows nowadays. Media server downloads plex media server for windows. Clips is a free ios app for making and sharing fun videos with text, effects, graphics, and more. It is one of four desktop computers in the current macintosh lineup, serving as an alternative to the allinone imac, and sits below the performance range imac pro and mac pro the mac mini is apples only consumer desktop computer since 1998 to ship without a display, keyboard, or mouse.
Mac mini as a home theater system hello all, i would like to create a home theater system, that can function as a dvr, i can watch my dvd collection that i have backed up onto an external hd, and possibly stream to other computers throughout my house. Apple computer is one of the most powerful players in the world of specialty audio video even if they are known more for their macintosh operating system and computers like the imac, mac pro, mac. Loosing a bit of money in the process too, trying out different solutions. It is particularly popular as a home theater solution. Aug 24, 2017 htpc software is short for home theater pc software. Mac mini home theater making the mac mini the centerpiece. Top 4 htpc operating system comparisons media experience. These are usually smallercased computers, running some sort of media software. For each platform, we offer a stable and development releases. What i wanted to do with the mini is pretty basic i have 3x 3tb external usb 3. I have had normal pcs before as htpc and got the mini because it is small, silent and clutterfree. It sports an hdmi port, which allows you to jack the computer directly into your tv or hdmicompatible av receiver. Media software plex launches a new desktop app for mac and.
A home theater pc htpc or media center computer is a convergent device that combines some or all the capabilities of a personal computer with a software application that supports video, photo, audio playback, and sometimes video recording functionality. Indeed, the updated unibody mac mini is notable as apples first computer to include an hdmi video port to connect to a television or other display. I guess i should wait and see if not apple release a 4k mac mini that can output true 4k over hdmi in 2019 or early 2020 with the ice lake processors. Mac mini audiophiles and purists or home theater mac mini htpc folk may prefer the optical minitoslink option built inside of the minis dualfunction sound jack. Mac mini home theater the mac mini is a small form factor computer. Its extremely small, almost completely silent and it can easily blend into. If you plan to use the mac mini as a home theater pc for streaming to a tv, or as a basic productivity machine that uses web apps heavily, youll be set.
Sep 11, 2010 quick startup guide to your mac mini home theater htpc experience. I think for the price, and local video playback, the intel compute stick with windows 10 cant be beat. It appears that there is an issue with plex and the apple remote where any button presses while in plex continue on to the operating systems default behavior. The mac mini has always been the perfect form factor for a media center appliance often called a home theater pchtpc.
Sep 14, 2010 when looking at software i was new for most of the programs so i did a lot of reading. First of i set up an evernote account so that i could post links from my phoneipadmacbook and get them from my mac mini. The mac mini stylized with a lowercase mini is a desktop computer made by apple inc. I have been using a mac mini for my home theater for 3 years now. Its a great time to upgrade your home theater system with the largest selection at. Jan 25, 2005 yep, everyones talking about using the mac mini as a home media center, and theres a reason why. Others are ready to go out of the box, complete with an os, ram, and memory installed. Optimize your display, setup plex as your media center and output your sound via hdmi.
By downloading this software, you confirm that you accept the terms and conditions and are at least. Most mini pcs run either windows or linux, and a few run chrome os, but the venerable apple mac mini, running macos, also fits neatly into this category as. Mac os also includes a variety of apps for creativity and productivity, so you can get started right away without buying and installing lots of other software. Set up mac mini, migrate your data, and then get indepth help. It appears that there is an issue with plex and the apple remote where any button presses while in plex.
With an hdmi cable, you can connect to your hdtv as an extralarge monitor, or even use your mac mini as a dedicated home theater server for streaming your itunes music and movie collection. Owc wants to turn your mac mini into a supercharged htpc. If there are any mac mini htpc owners out there, id love to hear from you and what youve learned, any suggestions. Media server downloads plex media server for windows, mac. There is a driver for windows, from seagate i think, that allows you to read and write to mac formatted drives. Kodi is available as a native application for android, linux, mac os x, ios and windows operating systems, running on most common processor architectures. Set up your keyboard, mouse, and trackpad and learn about other mac accessories. Because of these features and the mini s small form factor, consumers began using the mini as a mac based home theater pc. If it is going to be plugged primarily into the mac, format it in the mac format. A few people i know suggested mac mini s running plex. A special mini tostandard tos link adapter or cable with a mini end is needed. Its a great tool for media streaming and provides a. A special minitostandard tos link adapter or cable with a mini end is needed.
I have tried many different home theater solutions without being completely satisfied. Not all of them are free you know many years ago i had the original. Am wondering if they are any good as htpcs anymore because they are only using intel graphics chips now. Rew is free room acoustics analysis software for measuring and analysing room and loudspeaker responses. It uses many laptop components to achieve its compact size.
Sony bdve370 the sony bdve370 is not a bad piece of kit if you can get it for closer to. Aug 21, 2009 the mac mini has always been the perfect form factor for a media center appliance often called a home theater pchtpc. Most mini pcs run either windows or linux, and a few run chrome os, but the venerable apple mac mini, running macos, also fits neatly into this category as well. Part one of how to turn a mac mini into a home theater pc with a few easy steps. This is an important distinction to make, as the vast majority of applications made for pc usage are meant to be used on a desktop with mouse and keyboard and the user sitting close to the screen. May 24, 2012 im looking for some input and have some questions on choosing a mac mini to run a home theatre. Turning your mac into an htpc home theater pc is a great project. Apr 23, 2020 if you really need the portability of a mini pc, or your available space is really limited, then mini pcs are available to fit just about any need. Todays mac mini offers other advantages as a media server. Utilities to really make your mac mini the ultimate htpc, it helps to. After reading this post on reddit i decided to install the following software. Ready to upgrade your mac mini home theater to latest operating system offering from apple. Home theater pcstyle configurations are today a bit of a holdover from an earlier era where there were fewer resources to stream personal.
The audio measurement and analysis features of rew help you optimise the acoustics of your listening room, studio or home theater and find the best locations for your speakers, subwoofers and listening position. I had to install the driver a few weeks ago when a friend came by with a mac formatted external. It supports a range of devices, including mac os and windows, and offers a host of features that go beyond the living room. Called the media center solution, the service works by just shipping any new mac mini to owc, who then go about upgrading the ram to 4gb, installing a bundle of. You cannot get this type of return on any other computer brand except apple. Oct 23, 2010 windows media center is the most known 10foot user interface, but many other media center software are compatible with windows nowadays. A few people i know suggested mac minis running plex. Only i got my mac mini when they still had an optical drive. Htpc software is short for home theater pc software. Feb 10, 2010 part one of how to turn a mac mini into a home theater pc with a few easy steps. I recently sold my jailbroken apple tv because i decided to use my mac mini as a htpc just wasnt using it. Home theater media center guide apple mac upgrades. These offer a wider range of file types that can be played, along with the ability to stream many types of content. Using a mac mini mediacenter is one of the smartest move i have made.
In recent years, other types of consumer electronics, including gaming systems and dedicated media devices, have crossed over to manage. I bought the mac mini only because i needed to edit a video in fcp x in order to make use of certain apple codec footage. Guide to using your mac as an htpc home theater pc lifewire. You can install the plex server software on a variety of devices. The mac mini is apples only consumer desktop computer since 1998 to ship without a display, keyboard, or mouse. Top 10 best htpc software for your tv media experience. If you really need the portability of a mini pc, or your available space is really limited, then mini pcs are available to fit just about any need. In midjune, my fiance and i bought a 2009 mac mini the 1gb 2. I recently sold my jailbroken apple tv because i decided to use my mac mini as a htpc just wasnt using it as a computer, use my laptop all the time. Quick startup guide to your mac mini home theater htpc experience. Dec 28, 2011 i bought the mac mini only because i needed to edit a video in fcp x in order to make use of certain apple codec footage. Mac mini features the apple t2 security chip secondgeneration custom mac silicon designed by apple to make mac mini even more secure. If you plan to use the mac mini as a home theater pc for streaming to a tv, or as a basic productivity machine that uses web apps heavily, youll be set with one of the best mini pcs on the market. Yep, everyones talking about using the mac mini as a home media center, and theres a reason why.
The mac mini home theater blog how to use a mac mini as. Part two of how to turn a mac mini into a home theater pc with a few. Fcp x ran great on the 4gb version with the ati graphics card. In the allow access for window, you can specify which users can. Jason snell breaks down the reasons why you should. Why do so many people hate windows i have always been a proud windows user, but i am currently writing on a mac mini, own an ipad, ipod touch and iphone, and use linux based home theater pc. With four thunderbolt 3 ports builtin, mac mini supports an hdmi display along with two 4k displays or one 5k display.
Turn a mac mini into a media server with plex macworld. The t2 security chip consolidates several controllers into one, and includes a secure enclave coprocessor that provides the foundation for encrypted storage and secure boot capabilities. The idea with the egpu is not bad, but also defies the idea of using a mac mini for htpc. Lets outline the feature set of the mac mini as it pertains to home theater pcs.