It’s been a while, but here is another update on my non-Apple TV.  The set up has remain largely unchanged, though the usage has evolved with changes in the available video sources.

First up, hardware.  The system is currently based on a Mac Mini 1.66 GHz Core Du0 with 2GB RAM, and a 500GB internal HDD– the old Mac Mini G4 became someone else’s audio server.  Anyway, the display is a Dell 2209WA 22″ IPS LCD, and the EyeTV 250 is still hanging on.  Input devices are split between a standard keyboard and mouse, which are used infrequently, an Apple remote, an iPod Touch and an iPad.  I’m still using the Air Mouse Mobile Mouse Pro iPod/iPad app, and have added Apple’s Remote app for controlling iTunes.

The EyeTV doesn’t get used a lot these days.  We don’t have cable or satellite, but instead get most non-locally-stored video from online sources.  The EyeTV is attached to an antenna/areal, but broadcast TV isn’t convenient and the quality leaves a lot to be desired.  The digital broadcast available in our area would be nice, but the EyeTV doesn’t have a digital tuner, and I’m not convinced the available content is worth the cost of a new tuner.  Instead, most of the networks here offer their TV programs as streaming video from their websites.  These streaming videos don’t fit into Front Row, but using a full-screen web browser plus Air Mouse is acceptable for the few TV shows that are watched.

The  audio and video stored locally is in iTunes and is accessible via Front Row.  Stored media include our family videos, music, podcasts and a few movies and TV shows.  Front Row is by far the most convenient way to access the “TV”, and is almost solely controlled with an Apple remote.   My only complaint would be the lack of Front Row support for the Apple Remote app for the iPod/iPad, but it is rare that I’d prefer to use this application instead of the physical remote, though I’d still like to have the option.

Aside from the media functions, the Mac Mini also hosts a virtual Microsoft Home Server running under VMware Fusion.  The Home Server has essentially replaced Trash Server, and has the added benefit of saving energy as the Mac Mini is more efficient than the old P4, and would be running anyway.

Tags: Air Mouse, EyeTV, Front Row, iPad, iPod, Mac Mini, Remote, TV

This story was posted on Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 at 9:35 and is filed under Computing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.