Why do I have to buy a firestick so that I can stream video and audio as the original content intended? This is for everyone who instead of buying an aTV bought an Mac Mini for their content.
Mac mini, macOS 12.6
Post a fresh discussion minus rant with technical details on what you’re streaming, the equipment (receiver + display), cables etc. and maybe someone will sort it out.
Not everything, the mini doesn’t come with a remote for instance. It won’t run TV Apps. The comparison makes no sense to most, especially since 2007 is a pre-historic era by today’s standards. I wouldn’t even recommend Feedback - Feedback - Mac mini - Apple but go ahead if it makes you feel better. Otherwise, get the ATV, works perfectly. All the best!
I am not saying that it can't stream. It can't pass through Audio from my M1 mac mini to my receiver that can decode Dolby Atmos. My speed through my totally wired system is 800 megabytes per second. As you know cable TV cannot send 4k or Dolby Atmos but when you stream cable TV it can. As well as premium streaming channels like Apple TV+, Netflix, and HBOmax. All the stick does is pass through the signal to let my receiver do all the decoding. Visually, Mac Mini does great with 4K and Dolby but audio is a train wreck. I Know its equally Dolby's fault but its simple to fix the problem and allow people to receive Dolby Atmos by allowing the passthrough in a software update.
Why not use Apple TV4K? That’s what it’s for, that’s what most (happily) use. Costs nuthin’, can even plunk it next to the mini if you prefer.
Well I spent around $1000 for my Mac mini which does everything an Apple TV 4K can do and more.
Do you think I want to spend another $179 for an Apple TV or $29 for a firestick . I never had an Apple TV but I have had Mac Mini's serving my media since 2007. Apple is just greedy in this instance. Never had a problem until Dolby made some advances and Apple made the error of not supporting a pass through. If I was making a movie there is software that will run on my Mac mini that will allow me to do Dolby properly. I am just watching it with devices already set up to receive and decode the signal. Its really a problem that should not exist.
Not exactly, Dolby Atmos does not support M1
chip. It has not been ported yet. Yet, I can buy an appliance from
Amazon or Apple that will pass the signal to my Receiver. Thats just a software solution that
should be part of the MacMini op system. I have been driving home
theatre with MacMini's since 2007. I have been able to workaround all
problems. But I find it ironic I can't play Apple TV+ content on my
Mac Mini with Dolby atmos, yet they figured out how to do a work around
for Apple Music. So why is Dolby atmos working in Music and not when I play a movie on a streaming service like Apple+?
Mac Mini doesn’t support Dolby Atmos.
Who is your Internet Service Provider and how fast is that service?
Most ISP’s provide some type of Streaming service. Some are free with the service and some charge an extra fee.
For example: we have Xfinity internet with cable TV and I can stream Xfinity Live TV on my Mac’s.
Like I said. It does everything. It always ran TV apps. It even ran content before TV apps. Since all the TV apps first work on a browser before they become TV Apps . Yeah, like Netflix or HBOmax. Every single one. And your not answering the question. I said nothing about problems streaming. I said I had problems streaming Dolby Atmos to my Dolby atmos Receiver. I don't need an appliance like aTV I need a software fix. Instead I have to use alternate methods which are fortunately are less expensive then an aTV. And yes 2007 was not prehistoric 1080p which is still done and sound was not an issue. I was already streaming content back then. So now I have a 4k computer and it can't handle audio properly.
No get off this thread since you don't have a Mac Mini nor a high end Theater room.
If you don't have anything constructive to say then maybe just observe
Happy to, good luck! 👋
Mac Mini can't stream content properly
