Combining Apple TV and Mac Mini.

Question

Level 1

87 points

Combining Apple TV and Mac Mini.

Following the threads I think this is possible. If so it will be a great solution. Any comments will be appreciated.

Configuration: Set up a Mac Mini directly connected to a HD television using DVI. Set up the Apple TV connected to the same television using HDMI.

Set up the Mac Mini as one of the five PCs that talk direct to the Apple TV.

Add DivX, flac, VLC, etc to the Mac Mini.

This way I can use the Apple TV to do what it is good at, that is play content from the iTunes Store stored on the internal drive of the Apple TV and the appropriate content on the Mac Mini.

And use the Mac Mini to play all my DivX and other video content.

In other words the Mac Mini connects directly to the TV to play content such as DivX movies, and though the Apple TV for content supported by Apple TV.

Maybe the Mac Mini can play iTunes video content, but it only has DVI output, and the Apple TV has HDMI.

As this would be in the living room any thoughts on remote access to a Mac Mini without hooking up a keyboard and monitor every time the content needs updating?

Will the Mac Mini ever come with an HDMI interface. That would make life easy. Also connecting a large external drive to the Apple TV would be great.

Any comments on this configuration would be appreciated?

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on May 7, 2007 2:39 AM

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Answer 1

May 7, 2007 3:11 PM in response to Tokyo

Well, to each his own... but many of us prefer using the AppleTV for precisely the reason that we DONT have to use a keyboard or mouse or anything in the living room. Just a simple AppleTV remote. Put your contents in iTunes, and you're ready to go.

As far as additional storage - there are some 3rd parties out there who can upgrade your AppleTV hard drive (sans warranty) if you like, but I find streaming from a 750GB drive more than enough storage for now. My MacMini doesn't have to be in the living room, it just sits upstairs and delivers everything I need through iTunes. And I'm still using 11g wireless.

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Answer 2

May 7, 2007 7:32 PM in response to Tokyo

I guess I had a different reason for hooking up the Mini to my TV. I needed a good monitor. So I have the Mini hooked up to an HDMI switch using a DVI-HDMI adapter. The Apple TV is hooked up to the HDMI switch and a Toshiba PVR/DVR is also connected to the HDMI switch. The HDMI switch is outputting to the TV.

I use the Mini to churn away at creating content from my DVD collect using Handbrake hour after hour. A 200 gig firewire drive is connected to the Mini. My iTunes library resides on the firewire drive. I don't have anything encoded with DivX.

The only thing missing is a bluetooth keyboard and mouse for the Mini. Using a USB keyboard and mouse is a hassle.

If I want to use the ATV as a video iPod, I could sync movies and take the ATV to a friend's house and show movies.

David

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Answer 3

May 9, 2007 1:17 PM in response to Tokyo

Maybe the Mac Mini can play iTunes video content, but
it only has DVI output, and the Apple TV has HDMI.

So what?

Will the Mac Mini ever come with an HDMI interface.
That would make life easy.

This seems unnecessary. You can access all of your content from the Mac mini when hooked up to the HDTV. Are you under the impression that HDMI is superior to DVI? DVI and HDMI are exactly the same as one another, image-quality-wise, so I'm not sure why you don't just use the mini....

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Answer 4

May 9, 2007 5:31 PM in response to staceyeileen

Well one advantage of an HDMI connection is you don't need an additional audio connection to an amplifier, audio/video receiver or I suppose the TV for sound as you would with DVI.

You're absolutely correct as far as I know, image quality of DVI and HDMI should be or is identical.

There's all sorts of DVI-HDMI adapters or cables with mixed connectors.

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Answer 5

Tokyo Author

Level 1

87 points

May 19, 2007 6:32 PM in response to Tokyo

Thanks for all the info.

With the Mac Mini can I play DivX encoded files on the TV? And control them only using the Apple remote?

Some posts say yes this works if the file is on the internal drive, but not if it is on an external drive. Some say to play them when the DivX files are on an external drive it requires a link from the internal drive.

The key for me is to do all this from the Apple remote in the living room.

Most external drives are too loud, so I was thinking of locating external drive on my Airport in another room and have it connect to the Mac Mini over wireless, 802.11n. Is this a fast enough connection for streaming video? Or do I have to have a wired connection and put up with the noise?

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Answer 6

oodlum

Level 1

48 points

May 20, 2007 10:07 AM in response to Tokyo

With the Mac Mini can I play DivX encoded files on
the TV? And control them only using the Apple remote?

Some posts say yes this works if the file is on the
internal drive, but not if it is on an external
drive. Some say to play them when the DivX files are
on an external drive it requires a link from the
internal drive.

The key for me is to do all this from the Apple
remote in the living room.

You can simply create an alias of your movies folders on the external drive and drop it in the Mac Mini's main "Movies" folder. All your shows will then be available under Movies in Front Row using the remote.

Most external drives are too loud, so I was thinking
of locating external drive on my Airport in another
room and have it connect to the Mac Mini over
wireless, 802.11n. Is this a fast enough connection
for streaming video? Or do I have to have a wired
connection and put up with the noise?

I streamed to the Mini for a while but it became annoying. Some shows would stutter occasionally and it was very slow to navigate content in Front Row. I ended up buying the miniStack drive which has been great. Very quiet.

I also bought a Logitech wireless keyboard w/trackpad for added flexibility (accessing video_TS folders, downloading content, youtube), but it's not vital.

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Answer 7

May 23, 2007 6:14 PM in response to Tokyo

Mac mini can perfectly connect to an HDMI as an external monitor , Apple sells a cable under the accessories category allowing dvi sources to connect to HDMI panels . works like a charm. Beware though that the management of overscanning depends on your screen only . Some of us Euro users have met problems with that feature.

look for Belkin PureAV HDMI Interface-to-DVI Video Cable (4 ft./1.2 m)

Beware though that you ll need another cable to include the audio side, 2 RCAs will perfectly do the work and voila the mac Mini can play movies , run slideshows via front row etc etc... Just remember it is a Mini not a full grown terrabyte accessing xraided macpro with xsan and you will be just fine. Dont expect great color calibration either , Monitors and Tvs have 2 different color domains.

If you already have a mini you probably have little need for the Apple TV at all if you connect an external hard drive to the mini to store part of your tunes.

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Answer 8

May 7, 2007 3:44 AM in response to Tokyo

To me that sounds like a mess and a too expensive solution.

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