Mac Mini as a Media Center

Posted in Applications, EyeTV, Hardware, HDTV, Headline, Mac Mini | 5 comments

As a brief introduction to what this site is all about, I wanted to detail exactly how my Intel Mac Mini acts as a media hub to demonstrate what YOUR Mini can do for you!

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Live HDTV over a Home Network

Posted in Applications, EyeTV, Hardware, HDTV | 0 comments

I’ve had a couple of request lately for a chart detailing exactly how my HDTV/Mac set-up is, well, set up. So I opened up Photoshop and put this together, detailing all of the components involved in viewing and recording free(!) HD programming onto a Mac and then watching it over my home network on multiple Macs.

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Plex 8 Review

Posted in Applications, HDTV | 7 comments

BOTTOM LINE: Plex is hands-down the finest media manager/player available for the Mac HTPC enviornment. Gorgeous and exponentially more flexible than Front Row, it rules HD playback, handling 1080p material with ease.

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Play 1080p Content on Mac Mini

Posted in Applications, HDTV, Mac Mini | 25 comments

JULY 2008 UPDATE: I’ve recently begun using Plex (aka OSXMBC) and it eats up ANY 1080p material I throw at it. My full review is available here but the short version is a strong recommendation to anyone interested in playing back 1080p on their Mini. It’s amazing.

Until now, my Mac Mini’s limitations haven’t slowed down any HD material I’ve thrown at it. But, admittedly, I’ve never asked for anything beyond 720p playback. I recently began archiving HD material at 1080p however, using the .MKV file compression and I wasn’t sure if my Mac Mini could handle playing it back effectively.

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HDHomeRun Replaces EyeTV 500

Posted in EyeTV, Hardware, HDTV | 9 comments

When I read about HDHomeRun being integrated into EyeTV’s software, I immediately ordered one from El Gato. I’ve been using two EyeTV 500 units to watch and record OTA HDTV programming for a while on my Mac HTPC and have been quite satisfied with the set-up. So, why the change? A few VERY compelling reasons.

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EyeTV Hybrid Review @ MacWorld

Posted in Applications, EyeTV, HDTV | 0 comments

Macworld offers a pretty thorough review of the EyeTV Hybrid. I shied away from this model due to the USB connection and the reviewer doesn’t mention the 500 (which I use x2), so it’s not entirely complete from my POV.

Regardless, it does sound awesome for folks on the road with Intel laptops…no way I’d drag a 500 with me on a trip.

Read it all here.

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