Like many, the iPhone 4 was on my shopping list even before it was released.
I had convinced myself that after 2 years I deserve an upgrade to my iPhone. The feature list improvements may be only superficial, but I must have them. You know .... 5 megapixel camera, faster gaming, better screen, sexier shape ......
Now, long awaited improvements to the mac Mini have arrived. I was instantly in love!
The list of improvements to this powerful little beast includes easy access to upgrade the memory, faster graphics, faster processors and a very sleek unibody aluminum design. But the most impressive bit is the port-side of the mini.
The introduction of a HDMI port, with multi-channel sound ability, makes this machine THE media centre choice for me, par excellence. This dramatically simplifies getting sound and video from my media system to my TV and surround sound system. And I think I may need to update my current mini.
I suspect it will mean the death of the apple TV. A device which has highly restricted functionality.
Using a mac mini as a media centre allows me to access ALL my media, not just apple approved formats. Videos (AVI, Mp4, MKV, DivX, etc), Audio and Images. I use Plex as an interface and plug directly to my TV.
Because it is a full computer, not just a media box, Australian Internet TV offerings (iView, Plus 7, Ten and SBS) are also available with ease. As are global online sites such as Mubi and the Archive.
But the key point for me is this: Using a computer rather than a dedicated media player makes me future-safe.
The transition from video to DVD, from record to CD, and from film to digital camera, will seem simple compared with the transition from art-object to internet-dominated-distribution that is to come.
The chaos of formats, bandwidths, distribution networks, and marketability of digital content that will surround us for the next 5-10 years has only just begun.
For me, having the mac mini as the media centre allows me to weather the format-storm, and to spend more time enjoying my photos, TV shows, movies, etc, and less time shopping for a new device to cope with the latest media format updates.
(ps. Think I may be a little oversold on the mac mini? Just wait until the Mac Pro is updated!!! Currently using a 5 year old G5 powermac and I am desperate to upgrade)
2 hours ago
3 comments:
I don't even understand half (actually make that 90%) of what it does, and yet I still feel compelled to buy one!
Nice to see the cult of Apple still going strong!
I've delved a lot with PC-based Media Centres lately - if you want my opinion, I would say use the lovely form factor and install Windows 7 (which has inbuilt Media Centre) on it.
A USB TV-stick will then turn it into a great PVR.
You can then plug in an IR receiver for a remote control, and lie back on the couch. Trust me - you will enjoy it more if you use a remote control. Mice and keyboards are not meant for the living room!
LOL mutant .... I may not be a high priest, but I do salivate at the church door....
Volacious, I heartily agree that windows seven is a pleasure to use.
I use PLEX because it is free, is based on XBox media centre, auto loads on start up, and uses the neat mac remote to drive it.
I can also drive PLEX from my iPhone using Rowmote Pro if I lose the remote.
I like how PLEX looks up theTVDB for TV show information, and IMDB for movie information ... it means that there are no nested file structures to search blindly, although it does require the files to be named according to a specific format.
However, I don't think the evolution of media centre's has ended. I suspect there is more change coming than has yet occurred...
Thanks for your replies, Paul
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