Scobleizer - Latest Comments in The MacMini HDTV revolution

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Forummekan.org — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:17:45 -0000

Thankss.... ;)

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Brad Phillips — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:20:14 -0000

Bigger screens are better. Aren't Americans always concerned with bigger is better? I would have to imagine that it would have to be a heck of mp camera to stretch the image on your 60" tv!

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Dallas — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:12:34 -0000

I just orderd a USB hdtv antenna for my laptop. It is supposed to pick up , record and allow me to save and burn any local hdtv channel straight to my laptop.

I think that is exciting, nothing mac excites me anymore.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Matt — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:22:01 -0000

Recently hooked up new mac mini core 2 duo to 46" Samsung HD, it looks awesome. I used a dvi to hdmi connection and I love it. Then ripped my entire dvd collection into an .mp4 format loaded my itunes library on a 500GB external hard drive and now have my entire movie collection available through front row. Has an awesome wow factor, and very practical don't have to look through dvd collection and then load dvd. I love this, just wish the new HD rentals on itunes were available to all itunes users

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

insight — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:16:12 -0000

When AppleTV was still $299, I bought a used 1.66 CoreDuo intel mini for $320. Not even close as far as capabilities. The DVIHDMI cable was $14, and the fiber optic for audio into my DTS receiver was another $8. Really a no brainer, folks. Finally, a $15 Wiimote makes a nice long-range bluetooth remote.
I have since dropped a 2.0GHz C2D ($175 on ebay) and now I don't even have to quit Firefox or iTunes before I fire up HDTV content for smooth playback in MythFrontend.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Eduardo Kim — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:31:14 -0000

Hello. I was tryingto find a walkthrough to connect my Wi through the mac mini's airport for internet connection til i found ur content.

I have also my mac mini connected to my 42" Plasma. My configuration is:

1. Connected through VGA port (is there a difference between VGA port and DVI?)
2. Connected 500GB external hard drive for media content through USB.
3. Connected Wii through airport settings.
4. using a wireless keyboard and mouse.
5. Cable TV connected directly to the Plasma.
6. iSight connected to mac mini through Firewire. (Image is not working and I don't know why).
7. Screen resolution is 1024x640.

Now, if you allow me, I wish to make some questions:

1. How did you connect ur mac mini to ur TV set.
2. What's ur best screen resolution?
3. How the hell I put my iSight to work on my 42" plasma. Audio works but image appears just a black screen on the iChat window and also I tried changing my screen resolution and it still won't work.
4. How to connect mac mini to my home theater since mac mini doesn't have RCA or component output.

That's all. I hope u to keep goin' with the mac mini lounge idea since I also prefer it than the apple tv.

Regards.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Sean Carruthers — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:31:33 -0000

I was really hoping they would announce that they were merging the AppleTV and Mac Mini into a single product line yesterday for many of the reasons Robert mentions in the post -- the AppleTV is still too limited in its functionality but the Mac Mini isn't inherently set up to be a television companion. Dropping the price on the AppleTV is a step in the right direction but if they dropped the price on the Mac Mini and added HDMI to it, I'd probably be getting one of those, too.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Robert Scoble — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:58:08 -0000

Brian: not in the least. My MacMini still blows away the AppleTV.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Brian Mauter — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:55:42 -0000

Bet you're wishing you didn't give that Apple TV away now...

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Jason — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:21:02 -0000

Is there any advantage to this new software+maxmini over a Media Server + Game Console? I built a PC, installed TVersity + TV Tuner, and stream everything to the PS3 on a 1080p. You have to RJ45 to get the HD bandwidth but there doesn't seem to be anything you can't do with this combo. There are a number of other devices around the house which can tap this resource but the PS3 I use seems most comparable to what you describe here. Is this now a price debate? I would like a quality method of taking the HDMI from the DirecTV and running that into the Media Server as the recorder to extend the DVR features of the DirecTV unit to the many devices around the house.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Tandem Paragliding — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:02:07 -0000

I had a Shuttle PC small format vista Premium Media Center PC hooked up to my PC with wireless keyboard and Xbox HD dvd player with HD DVd software. It crashed too much and interface was very slow compared to Apple TV I was disappointed that ATI HD capable TV Tuner crashed frequently and did not work well with Comcast HD cable. Wife hated media PC experience and noise. I liked the web browsing as I could surf while giving my baby a bottle and check weather and news and blogs on 47 inch HD LCD TV. BUt playing music and videos especially HD DVD sucked. Vista kept crashing trying to access music or video on a network drive using gigabit switches gigibit ethernet and Cat 6 cable. I Replaced it with Xbox 360 and crashes freezes were worse so XBOX 360 with HDMI went back to the store.

I recently bought Apple Tv on craigslist for $170 and am very happy with usefulness of Apple TV to play Itunes music , Podcasts, Scobel SHow and TED video podcasts, Youtube videos etc.

I would like flickr smugmug photo streaming and at least weather gadgets etc if not full fledged web browser.

I also bought my first MacBook Pro and am selling 3 Vista PC's because of Vista drain on my productivty. The VISTA SP1 RC helps but it is not enough to make up for all IE7 and Firefox crashes and carshes trying to process video for Canon HD camcordr and photos form Canon 40D. I am selling my HP Tablet PC running Vista Business, a 1 1/2 year old Dual Core running Vista Premium and Quad Core running Vista Ultimate that I just built 2 months ago.I may keep quad corte and install XP pro just for HD video editing.

One week with MacBook Pro has convinced me to dump the Vista PCs as my main computers and build a Media Server and Network Attached Storage .

Now I have to recode all my media files to work with MacBook and Apple TV or possible upgrade to Mac Mini. My plan is to upgrade Apple TV with 250 gig hard drive and hack it to run a browser and wireless keyboard as described on AwkwardTv.org and AppleTVhacks.net.

I am waiting for MacWorld to see what next macbook lite will look like. I wonder if Dave's app will run on a hacked Apple TV running OSX.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Todd Jones — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:01:38 -0000

I have been using my XP machine on my HDTV for a little over a year now. I was not completely satisfied with the web browser until I tried out Safari. Then I was able to customize all of my fonts and this made viewing web pages much easier. Leave it to Apple to make my Windows PC more enjoyable.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

W. Ian Blanton — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:29:34 -0000

As far as this being a "revolution" certainly that's a relative term. When I bought my PowerMac 8500, back in 1996 with the intent to hook it up to my TV, what amazed me was thsr it "just worked" when I realized I had no display to boot it from and just plugged it in and crossed my fingers. Yes, that's 11 years ago.

Now, I expect more from my MacMini hooked into a 108" projector system with surround sound while it accesses my home server (G4 loaded with 1.25tb worth of drives) under the basement hooked into the ReplayTV units on the regular TVs.

Man have we come a long way.

Me? I don't really care who makes the cool stuff as long as they can talk to each other. Apple doesn't seriously seem to be chasing this market yet, but I still find that their stuff does yeoman work at it.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

John Z — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:24:00 -0000

How many remote controls do you have to run your system? How about an elegant remote control to run not only the Mac Mini, but also the HDTV and the AV receiver? Salling Clicker is a good start, the iPod Touch has an elegant look and feel, now if these could be combined together, with IR extenders running off the Mac Mini, with the ease of programming like the Harmony remotes...

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Mark — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 10:37:45 -0000

I think that Apple should consider using its horde of cash to buy Nintendo and integrate Apple products with the Wii. Currently, the Wii offers one of the better browser solutions for an HDTV. At a reasonable cost of $300 and an additional $5 for the Wii Internet channel, you can be surfing the Web (using the Opera browser) on your HDTV without the need for a keyboard or mouse, The Wii controller is an amazingly effective device for casual Web surfing and even for filling out information and data (e.g., passwords, logins, forms, etc). Its very well done. You can also use apps like Wii Transfer to stream photos, videos and iTunes music to the Wii from your Mac. The Wii is da bomb when it comes to lowering the price and clutter threshold for suring the Web (as well as having a fully functional and amazing gaming platform) on HD.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Ben Toth — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:44:54 -0000

How about the Sony VGC LT1S?

http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view...

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

William Tildesley — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:56:42 -0000

Robert has anyone ever told you that you talk utter rubbish, how is it now just a "revolution" when you hook up your mac mini to your HDTV.

Seriously. This is not a revolution, i know it makes for a good headline but it's not.

Laser TV's 100+ inches at only $400 is a revolution. A computer hooked up to your tv is not.

But wait it only becomes a revolution once *you* can afford it...

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Jerry Ballard — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:44:56 -0000

self correction (blog doesn't accept brackets... doh.)
The -insert apple product here- doesn't do anything that my -insert MS-cellphone product here- doesn't already do.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Jerry Ballard — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:43:39 -0000

Over and over so much that it gets absolutely hilarious.
"The doesn't do anything that my doesn't already do."

1) Apple isn't worried about self-important geeks. They're going after the 90% market of regular users who have a life and don't want to spend there time building systems that require a CS degree to turn on.
2) Apple is winning by making the features actually work easily and elegantly.

Oh and...
"Yes - I work for Microsoft and the day we become a hardware company and start producing the machines along with the software I am sure you will see some prettier machines. Until that day comes along, try to restrain your self."

Apple is shaking in their boots about that one. The brilliance of MS hardware design would be found it perhaps the crap-brown Zune with its interface-from-hell and exploding 3-day content?

MS can't even do software well, and can't market anything that isn't forced on the customer. People don't choose MS software, they submit to it.

I welcome MS entries to the hardware market for comedy relief.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

myamiphil — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:35:49 -0000

Im thinking about it myself....

http://www.123macmini.com/g...

Its been going on for a while.....

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Chris Avis — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:19:42 -0000

@josh - this is my last comment seeing as how Scoble has clearly given up on this post.

I get what you are saying. A MacMini is easy to set up and it is pretty. It is also the exact same pretty as every other MacMini out there.

My point about IR cables only applies if you have Tuners in the box which the MacMini does not have. So take the tuners out of a Windows Media Center PC (which by the accounts for the bulk of MCE machines sold today) and it matches the MacMini in simplicity of configuration.

As for the pretty cases....just do a query in your fave search engine for "htpc cases" and you will find some beautiful cases. If you are aghast to moving the hardware yourself I understand that. Don't fault Microsoft for that though. We don't make the PC's. PC users enjoy a freedom to create a machine that looks anyway they want it to look. We get to show our individual style and taste through the plentiful options presented to us by the wide variety of case manufacturers that are out there. With the MacMini you get the exact same looking box that every other MacMini owner has.

Cheers....

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

baudattitude — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:26:16 -0000

The best thing about the Mac Mini as a HTPC - it passes the "Wife test" that any piece of living-room electronics has to pass. It's small, it's quiet, and it's not covered with too many blinking lights.

It's a stealthy way to get a full computer into the living room, and once it's there, the possibilities are open. :)

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Joseph — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:57:15 -0000

Hi,
I was reviewing exchange of words between you and Chris from Microsoft and I have to say that Chris is right. The revolution you speak about has been around for awhile, it is not something new and MS has had it for many years with the Media Center editions. If you remove the 'look of the computer' you will notice that all the features you are talking about were already in MS Media Center. If you were talking about the external look and feel of the computer then Apple would win hands down, but you are mentioning the features more than the look in which case it is not revolutionary.

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

wannalearnjapanese — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:59:55 -0000

Currently I use my Wii to surf the web on my old school tube TV and it's very good except for one thing....Flash Video. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. This is where a MacMini would come in handy, but I wont make this upgrade until I have a nice new TV to go with it.

I messed with Dave's new app and it's pretty darn good. I have been thinking of RSS to big screen TV for years but don't have the coding ability to even know where to start. iPhoto can take care of it locally but the fun in Dave's app is that I can get pictures from everyone (this is good or bad depending on the source..LOL).

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Gidget — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:45:01 -0000

I've been using my Tivo to do this with my own photos for a couple years, right off my network, and in maybe the last year or so other people's photos as well. No additional hardware, easy as pie, everybody in our extended family does it. Hardly need a new piece of equipment to look at photos.