How to Setup the Ultimate Media Player with the Mac Mini

Your computer is ten times smarter than your DVD player and five times smarter than your stereo, shouldn't it be able to do a better job than both without even lifting a finger?

Yes it should, and yes it will.

This instructable will show you how to create a great addition to your media system with the mac mini. Using Front Row we'll be able to do all the movie playing, music listening, tv show watching and movie trailer browsing.

This instructable does not condone illegal movie copying. Instead, it assumes you've gone tthrough your entire movie collection and converted them to .avi's or mpegs whatever your preference and saved the subtitles accordingly (if available). Since such a conversion takes so long, its recommended to use your dedicated server to do the processing.

This part of a compendium. Check out the other parts at:
http://www.instructables.com/id/READ-ME-FIRST-How-to-setup-the-ultimate-Mac-Mini-/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Setting-up-the-ultimate-Mac-Mini/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Different-ways-to-connect-to-your-Mac-Mini/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-access-your-music-from-anywhere-with-your-M/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-share-your-photos-from-your-mac-mini-on-the/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Setup-the-Ultimate-Media-Player-with-the-Ma/

Step 1 Computer, meet TV

If you're using a standard def TV, get this:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9267G/A?mco=NDcxOTM0NA

Otherwise if its high-def and has an HDMI input
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR843LL/A?mco=NDY4ODA4Ng

If the mac mini has a mini-dvi port, make sure you have this:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570Z/A

All these can be gotten from a local apple store, just ask at the front desk.

Also get a 1/8" to RCA female adapter and an RCA male to RCA male cable from "The Shack" or a much cheaper electronics store.

Also, if you haven't already, install Perian. This will allow you to watch any movie kind through quicktime. Absolutely needed for front row!!
http://perian.org/

Comments

[spamattakky]

I was going to replace my ancient imac with a new minimac and HDTV, but the bastard jobs took the freakn DVD drive out. Now apple bites.....

[jabudda]

Ps.... Ripbot264 is a great FREE program to convert your movies & you can embed the subtitles into the movie/tv show. Unlike many programs the aforementioned does not have audio/video sync problems.

[jabudda]

When you convert movies for the Front Row use the following size 640x360 and it will fill all the real-estate on your tv. That's why you bought the big one.....right;)

[jabudda]

There is a way to get your tv shows to show up in the front row tv show section. Use a program called identify2 and it will embed the meta-data. Then like magic the movies/tv shows are in the correct section.

[59672]

Its a mac. it cant be a "ultimate media player"

[lucidn]

You obviously haven't used Plex. Plus, there's the bonus of not crashing while you're in the middle of something.

[brawns214]

Plex looks amazing, possibly even cooler than front row. I'm going to try messing around with it tonight!

[lucidn]

Just be prepared for controls to be a little weird, well, if you're using an Apple Remote. There's no good way to change the volume. I'd just use a keyboard, as it doesn't require a mouse.