With Win 10 eliminating Windows Media Center, I am considering an alternative to replace my impending home media management void. Thought a Mac mini might offer accessories or apps to replace my reliable, but aging ole Win 7 PC and Windows Media Center. Never owned an Apple, except for iPodnanos. Does Mac mini or other Apple product offer the capability to seamlessly integrate a computer, TV tuner, DVR, DVD player, etc., like Windows Media Center?
http://www.equinux.com/us/products/mediacentral/index.html
https://www.elgato.com/en/eyetv
Older versions of Mac OS X supported Front Row, which AppleTV has basically been updated to be a comparable tool. Combined with http://www.airsquirrels.com/airparrot/ you can get a lot through an AppleTV.
Eyetv would enable use of a Mac mini (with USB TV tuner?) to act as a DVR? Mediacentral would offer the rest of Windows Media Center features on a Mac mini? Would both programs work on a Mac mini with one USB or other TV tuner peripheral device? Don't quite understand how an Apple TV would fit in, seamlessly. May have missed it, but does Apple TV allow for recording of over-the-air TV like a DVR on say a Mac mini or would that capability require a program such as Eyetv?
Presently, I have a Win 7 PC with Windows Media Center connected to a Smart TV with an HDMI cable and couldn't be more content. However, Microsoft eliminated Windows Media Center in Windows 10. I'm hoping Apple offers something as good as or better when Windows 7 is no longer supported in 2020 and my ole Win 7 PC effectively becomes obsolete, unless it dies sooner. My ole PC is too old for even a Win 8.1 upgrade. Always heard how Apple offered the best media recording and playback capabilities. Figured Apple would be the way to go when Windows Media Center dies in 2020 (or in 2023 for Win 8.1 users).
Eyetv, Mediacentral with appropriate TV tuner attached to a Mac mini sounds like the way to go, unless something better becomes available by 2020. Am I on the right track, here? TIA.
See what Plex or an AppleTV can do for you in the Media Playback department.
As far as watching liveTV, the elgato is the way to go.
You may also want to check out Kodi (formerly XBMC) as a home
media center. It is available for a wide variety of OSes.
I found it a little more flexible than Plex and has a very large selection of plug ins
and extensions.
I have personally been using this for many years now in my home theater set up.
I would suggest Kodi TV as well, however I personally am sticking with Windows 7 and Windows Media Centre running on a Mac mini. I will not be registering for the free Windows 10 downgrade.
There are ways to incorporate live and recorded TV in to Kodi TV.
Seeking Windows Media Center alternative
