Intel Mac mini media center coming soon?

I'd be the first to get one if it comes out. I have a video ipod and believe me, getting content onto it is somewhat of a pain. I use a Dvd-recorder to record my media. Then I have to rip my dvd to my harddrive and encode it to Mpeg4 H.264. If my Mac Mini did it for me I'd be one happy monkey. BTW the iPod video is truely amazing.

My guess is that Apple wont provide the DVR folks are looking for. I can't imagine the hassle of tuners. Do you get your signal from OTA, Cable, or Sat. Is Apple going to mess with IR dongles, etc. However the HTPC, with FrontRow that is probably coming. I cant wait (or I guess I don't have to, I should get started) to start ripping my DVD collection into nice compact mp4s for eventual access & playback on my TV via a Mac Mini attached to my TV.

Give it a 160GB HDD, airport, and bluetooth for $500 and I'm in.

Assuming it would output at 1080i and or 720p natively (hell or even if they sold me a DVI to Component convert for like $100-$200) I would order one of these on announcement day. It'd be great for TVs with DVI in or HDMI in, but what options are there for those of us who have TVs with only Component in? That being said I would ideally like to have a front row dedicated machine running hooked up to a projector, like I did a few days ago: http://www.asthmaticavenger.com/?q=node/view/231 So Much Fun...

"Maybe I should start my own rumors site" "Furthermore, the Mac mini has always been positioned as a possible AV device" You guys are being obtuse. ThinkSecret has insider information and they are predicting specific features and the exact DAY the product will be launched. They're not saying, "someday the Mini will be an AV device."

Apple is not a game company, and I don't imagine they'll ever be. Too far away from their core. Freeverse is great, but the wrong direction. Apple's made a few half-hearted attempts to pitch Macs as gaming machines. Too much to conquer in media applications right now, and Apple's holding too many trump cards, to take off in different directions. I've got a mini and EyeTV myself, would have no complaints about Apple pushing out their own unit. Add hardware decoding of HD and I'll buy one in a moment. I don't see much use of a iPod dock, but I wouldn't complain. Except, this doesn't sound like a Mac mini. It's becoming a pretty specialized machine, and that costs money. And it's a functionality that other Mac users--people who need more than a mini--would want to have. Maybe this will be a Front Row-type test case. Whatever it is, bring it on out.

Dinesh, I like your gaming idea. they could sell Bluetooth controllers separately. I helped a friend set up their new HP media center PC and it can bundled with about a dozen games from HP and another half-dozen from M$. Games don't have to have bleeding edge graphics to be good. Apple should buy Freeverse http://www.freeverse.com/ and bundle some of their games with every Mac mini. Use dotMac for finding other gamers.

OOOOOOOOH. I'm drooling already!!! Yes yes yes! gimmee.

I'm with #2, that's the reason I haven't anything but a highly proprietary DVR so far...but...the company that makes a useable device that supports TWO DVB-S tuners wins my $s. btw: Tried Myth...too damn complicated...not gonna try MSMC...too damn Microsoft.

This is nothing new. Leo Bodnar posted about a mysterious connector on the CD/HDD riser board in February '05. http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/macmini/macmini_ipod.html Hmmm...is that what the universal dock adapter shipping with the nano and iPod w/video is for?????