center posts

Filed under: Multimedia, Tips and tricks, Mac mini

Behold! My Mac mini media center

by Robert Palmer (RSS feed) on Jul 24th, 2009

For those of you that haven't heard me tell the beginning of this story on the TUAW talkcast, you might recall that my dad the switcher upgraded his Mac mini to a sweet new Mac Pro. So what could I do with an extra Mac mini? Maybe a server? Maybe a doorstop?

I know! A media center!

I had cable service, a DVD player, and a TiVo Series 2. My goal was to combine all of those things into one set-top-box -- the Mac mini -- and maybe even unsubscribe from some of the monthly services.

After I bought the Mac mini from my dad (the switcher), I hooked it up to my old, standard-definition TV. The Mac mini Media Center -- M³C for short -- was born.

The video experience was sub-optimal, owing mostly to my 10-year-old CRT that occasionally turned black-and-white (or lost video altogether). I knew it was time for a new TV. I promised myself that as a reward for finishing a series of challenging home improvement projects (replacing a bathroom sink and installing new floors, to name two) I would get myself the high-definition TV I always wanted.

That TV arrived on Wednesday. Now, I can share with you how to set up the easiest, most awesome M³C of your own -- for less money than you think.

Continue reading “Behold! My Mac mini media center”

Tags: audio, center, dvd, features, hdmi, hdtv, m3c, mac mini, MacMini, media, tv, video

Filed under: Rumors, Mac OS X Server

Rumors abound, Apple working on media server?

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Dec 29th, 2008

Just when we thought we were done with rumors for the day, another one pops up. 9to5 Mac is reporting that Apple could be working on a media server that might rival HP's MediaSmart Server. They suggest the server will be similar to a Time Capsule, only with more functionality.

According to 9to5, the new product will include a Dynamic DNS system to tie in with MobileMe; this will provide username.me.com domains for easier access across the Internet. In addition, the device will include AFP filesharing and Time Machine backup stores. The device will not run off of Mac OS X Server, as you might suspect; rather, it would run the same system and processor that the Time Capsule does.

You can read more about this rumor, and read more details about the rumor on the 9to5 Mac website. Do you think Apple is about to jump further into the NAS market with a supercharged Time Capsule?

[via MacRumors]

Tags: 9to5 Mac, 9to5Mac, Center, HP Media Server, HpMediaServer, Media, Media Server, MediaServer, Rumors, Server

Filed under: WWDC, Developer, iPhone

iPhone Dev Center goes offline

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Jun 9th, 2008

With the WWDC Keynote in less than 2.54983712 hours, the iPhone Dev Center has gone offline.

"We'll be right back" is the temporary message that graces the front page of the iPhone Dev Center. This isn't a total surprise, since this portal is Apple's one stop shop for all iPhone devolper information which will no doubt be changing in the coming hours.

Our WWDC coverage continues here on TUAW. Be sure to check our WWDC 08 page and send us tips if you notice anything on Apple's site.

Thanks, Drew!

Tags: center, developer, down, iPhone, tweet-this

Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Freeware, Open Source, Universal Binary

Back/Center Stage 0.6 released

by Dan Lurie (RSS feed) on Jul 31st, 2006

CenterStage and BackStage make up a dynamic duo which gives FrontRow a run for its money. The free software suite reached version 0.6 today, bringing with it some exciting new features and Intel support. Media management app BackStage got madeover with a new unified UI, while FrontRow-esque component CenterStage now features support for the Apple remote, Elgato eyeTV, and Griffin RadioShark, as well as a new UI for photo browsing. While the programs might not be as polished and feature rich as MediaCentral, the price can't be beat, and new features are being added rapidly.

Via HardMac

Tags: back, backstage, center, centerstage, centra, elgato, eyetv, front, frontrow, griffin, intel, media, mediacentral, radio, radioshark, row, shark, software, stage, universal, update

Filed under: Audio, Software, Video, Internet Tools

MediaCentral 2

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jul 9th, 2006

We blogged MediaCentral back in November when it was just a fledgling beta, offering but a glimpse of what was to come. Now, it's all growed up into version 2, which is (typically) the age when an app begins to show maturity and solidifies into its true form, and mature it has - MediaCentral has added a serious batch of new features that are simply too lengthy to cover in their entirety. Highlights include: IP TV, Google Video and YouTube integration, DVB-T support (a wireless TV standard in Europe, Asia and Africa), Windows Media codec support (with Flip4Mac installed), bookmarking in media files for easy resuming, interactive classic arcade games that support the Apple Remote and ATI Remote Wonder, network streaming/storage support and much more.

MedialCentral 2 requires Mac OS X 10.4, and a demo is available. A single licenses costs $29.95, with a 3-pack selling for $39.95, and a 5-pack for $59.95.

Tags: app, center, feature, features, mac, media, mediacentral, os x, OsX, software, update, upgrade

Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Productivity

Omni Group introduces OmniDazzle - "mesmerizing mouse movements"

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jun 2nd, 2006

After weeks of ambiguous hints and torturous teasing, The Omni Group has unveiled their newest product, and it definitely isn't a Sweedish meatball maker. Introducing: OmniDazzle, a "set of fun and useful enhancements that help you track the location of your mouse pointer and provide options for highlighting certain areas of your screen". Basically, it's like one of those mouse-trailing ~~toys~~ tools with some actually useful goodness baked in. For example, OmniDazzle can place a spotlight on your mouse, dimming the background and helping you or your audience focus on what's important. It offers other interesting tools for pinpointing your mouse and even drawing on screen for those times when crayons just won't do. In fact, there's a lot of quirky (and handy) stuff OmniDazzle is capable of, so why not check it out while it's in beta?

Tags: center, dazzle, draw, find, flashlight, lost, mouse, omni group, omnidazzle, OmniGroup, pinpoint, presentation, scribble, spotlight, tool, track, trail

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