Sony Dash Review
I’ve always wanted a computer screens mounted behind my bathroom mirror, providing live information (usually with movement!) right in front of me as I brush my teeth. Long story short: I know how I’d do it if I actually wanted to cut into my bathroom wall. But short of that, I always assumed it wouldn’t be feasible.
Read MoreState of My Mac Mini HTPC
It’s been a while since I last posted and that’s actually a good thing. While I’ve had some additions to my Mac HTPC enviornment (that I’ll be posting about shortly), mostly I’ve been enjoying the most valueable asset any set-up can offer: stability. I still remember stumbling through temporary fixes like Core Audio when trying to squeeze all the functionality I wanted from my Mac Mini.
So I’m especially grateful when I enjoy rock-solid performance from my Mini. Currently, I’m still living off the Holy trinity of Plex, EyeTV, and Remote Buddy. My old Mini finally started to give up the ghost around Christmas, so I bought a new Mini (specifically, the Mac Mini MC815LL/A
This was a long time coming: I’d upgraded the processor myself on the old Mini, along with installing a new hard drive – I’d pushed it well past its limits and it had earned the life it now has surfing the internet and checking email for an elderly couple in Colorado.
And the new Mini was light years beyond the old machine in performance stats. It chews up tasks I didn’t even try on my old Mini – mainly, transcoding EyeTV live streams for my iPhone/iPad while watching other HD programming via EyeTV or Plex. I can also run iCam in the background for my home security system (again, full write-up coming soon!). Plus, I’ve saved so much money cutting the satellite/cable cord, that absorbing the cost was much easier.
After experimenting with a compact 5.1 receiver (Yamaha YMC-500BL
I also consolidated all of my external storage into one device (the ProBox 4 Bay Hard Drive Enclosure
Otherwise, everything is rock solid. I flirted with OSXBMC for a minute due to its ability to play Amazon Prime videos, smooth EyeTV library integration, and the ability to customize home screen shortcuts. But instability in every version I tried combined with difficulty replicating the remote shortcuts I’m used to in Plex sent me running back to Plex.
…and that’s Plex/Eight, incidentally. While I love lots about Plex/Nine, it has creates serious holes in my personal HTPC workflow that I’ll be detailing shortly. But Eight is still killing it for me in the area I care most about: stability.
Read MoreThe Perfect Mac Mini HTPC Remote Control
A giant part of any HTPC set-up is the remote control. People’s choices in this area span every possible option. You have some folks that use the hardware that came with their respective components, regardless of how many remotes end up cluttering their coffee table. The advantage to this is obviously little to no set-up time. The downside? The word clutter should be a tip-off.
Read MoreUsing VOIP With Your Mac
While I long for the day when I can use my iPhone as my only phone line, I’ve lamented why this can’t happen in other posts on this site.
But I’m also done with regular telephone service. My local phone company wants $30+ each month for a landline and my cable provider (TWC) wants $45 month for their digital phone service. Neither number impresses me.
Read MoreMac Mini as a Media Center
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!
Read MoreLive HDTV over a Home Network
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.
Read MoreBoost Your iPhone’s Signal
Record HDTV On Your Mac
