Turning a Mac Mini into an AppleTV
So I like the simplicity of the AppleTV, but that simplicity removes some of the functionality I want -- like adhoc codec support. But as I was laying in bed trying to figure out how to simplify the hack to add codecs to the AppleTV, I realised I already have something better: a Mac Mini.
Still back to that UI... it would be nice to have that elegance... So I wrote an AppleScript that you can add to your Login Items, that makes the Mini act like an AppleTV. It even plays the beautiful start-up video, and goes straight to FrontRow, so you never have to see the OS. Now when your Mini starts up, it'll immediately begin behaving like an AppleTV!
Update: This package has been removed due to hosting issues. The different pieces can be found in this updated post.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
You’ve almost got me ready to go buy a mac mini now… Not fully, but pretty darn close.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
“with the hopes that someone else can fix the Remote Control bug.” Fixed! I just emailed you the new version now.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Check this out: http://digg.com/apple/Apple_TV_OS_available_for_download_install_on_any_mac
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Ha, so this is what you were typing during the movie…
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
I made a Front Row skin that looks a lot like AppleTV. A great addition to this package! http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3ELH3IM0
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Great job on that skin, spiderroll!!
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Love It! I just turned my mini into a media center today and this is the iceing on the cake. Hey dunno if it helps but im useing remote buddy and a wiimote to controll the mini. It works like a charm.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
How does the screen savor work? I just get a black screen? Mike – Founder: http://www.switchingtomac.com/
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
How will the FloatingPhotos.qtz work? I have tried, it does not appear to find photos.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Hey guys, the screen saver did work for me, when I hit the “Test” button in System Preferences, but thats the most time I’ve put into it… Does anyone know how to kill the horrible music during a Front Row slide show? I found the song it uses and deleted it, but it just picked another horrible country song from somewhere else on my hard drive and plays it instead — and I haven’t been able to find that one!
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Quick and perhaps naive question: Undoing the “experiment” is as easy as removing the script, I presume? Thusly my mini would return to its mini-self – no harm, no foul? Only reason I ask is because I have a triple OS mini mac and I don’t want to have to reinstall all of the OSs again should I not be happy with the TV OS. Ken
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Yes. This particular experiment makes no changes to your system — it’s just a script that calls programs that are already there… Part of the reason I did this instead of continuing to pursue some of the other hacks I found online.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
The AppleTV has component output, so if you want HD (if Apple ever provides HD content) and you don’t have HDMI, then I guess you might consider an AppleTV. Otherwise, you’re right, I can’t think of any compelling reason to purchase one… I gotta say, though, my DivX movies look fantastic. I don’t think anyone could ever sell me on a system that only supports a single codec. Glad you liked it, but keep your money! I just pulled stuff together, I didn’t make anything.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
It reminds me of MS Media Center. Though when looking at the prices that Apple wishes to charge for motion pictures, they are rather steep – particularly in the absence of something tangible. Nevertheless, an elegant interface. Ken
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Ya, at this point for movies, I’d rather purchase the legacy media (the DVD) and use Handbrake… http://handbrake.m0k.org/
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Need a mirror? I’ve got plenty o’ space and bandwidth. Email me.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Does it work with a mac mini G4, not intel?
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
+1 for the screensaver not working
Why is that?
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Bit of a newb, how do I edit the script to point to the right path??
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Mario, it will work with a G4, but you’ll need to find and download the FrontRow Enabler online, to trick Front Row into working on your Mac. Kelly, lots of people have had trouble with the screen saver. It could be architecture dependent (Intel) or it could be OS version dependent (I’m running 10.4.7, as is the AppleTV) or maybe it doesn’t work properly without BackRow. I can’t really help you figure it out, sorry. This is undiscovered country as far as Apple support is concerned! Newb, open the Apple Script editor (in the AppleScript folder inside Applications) and File/Open the script file. The line you need to edit is marked. Venera7.com… I have no clue what that means!
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
And how do you connect the mini to your tv? rgs Jochem
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
I use the DVI to HDMI cable for video, that I got online for $2, and an optical out to my receiver for audio. But if you don’t have HDMI on your TV, you can get an HDMI to Composite/S-Video adapter as well — $20 from the Apple store.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
One thing the Apple TV does better than the Mini, is the included graphics hardware (nvidia), which is superior to the intel GMA950.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Just a word of warning, the FrontRow skin posted above (and mentioned in your post) is missing a backup file. I updated the download file on my blog -> http://winnopeg.com/archives/204/make-frontrow-look-like-an-appletv/ Or, just the missing image -> http://winnopeg.com/images/PhotosSharedPreview.png
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Just change the AppleScript so that it works with any hard drive name: substitute: open file “Mac OS:Library:AppleTV:Startup.mov” to do shell script “open /library/appletv/startup.mov”
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
I guess the screensaver won’t work on an older Mac? (I own a G4 Powerbook). The rest of the hack is great. My windows-friends already look up to Front Row. It now looks better and that little intro is just so worth the time watching over and over again. It’s even better than the real thing: it has a DVD player.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Ya, I guess the screen saver is a dead end for everyone — until someone hacks it, that is. I know what you mean about the intro video. Sometimes I trigger the script manually just to watch it play ;o)
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Hmm… They have Backrow running on a Macbook. Should be one step closer to getting it running on a mini. http://www.appletvhacks.net/2007/03/27/apple-tv-running-on-a-macbook/
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Very interesting..Mac Mini is great gadgets you can do such thing..thnaks for the file..got to try.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
AppleTV is cheaper but you can use your Mini as a Linux W/S and runnding WIndows..which one should I buy?
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Can Somebody please send me the actual file that was on the winnopeg website for making front row look like the apple tv? I need the backup folder and the new icon folder. I had it and deleted it, went back to get it and apple made them shut it down. Please send it to my email address-mclaren1444@yahoo.com
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
The site looks great ! Thanks for all your help ( past, present and future !)
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
I just re-did the wallpaper for better quality and clarity for the 17″ iMac Intel, the easiest way to do this is open the video in QT dont play it, scroll until you see the black & white AppleTV logo and press Command + Shift + 3 (the three that acts as a #)
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Fixed the link — again!
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
For a Mac newbie, what else will I need to install on my in-the-mail new Mac mini so I can play multiple video formats using your AppleTV front end? VLC? Separate codecs? Any pointers appreciated.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
You’re going to want to first install DivX, which you can download from their site. Once that’s in and you’ve rebooted, you’ll want the AC52 Codec (don’t get the AC3 one you find online, AC52 is much better) and the XViD delegate component — both are for QuickTime and can be found on Google. Optionally, you might want to install Flip4Mac, to play Windows Media in QuickTime.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
The link to the apple.zip does not appear to work. This there an alternative download? Thanks, Will.
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
OK, so Jonathan this works like a charm! Thanks much. Now the, perhaps obvious, question that remains is: Why would anyone purchase AppleTV if they already possess a Mac? Am I just dense or is this the stupidest idea yet? Make no mistake, I use my Mini as an appliance and think it is really cool. But given this addition, I couldn’t for the life of me see buying more gear. Am I missing something, or do we send our check your way!
Ken
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
“The AppleTV has component output, so if you want HD (if Apple ever provides HD content) and you don’t have HDMI, then I guess you might consider an AppleTV. Otherwise, you’re right, I can’t think of any compelling reason to purchase one??”
There are cables that go DVI to component so that really isn’t a reason. Mind you there is the underscan/overscan issue when going from dvi to hdmi on a Mini, but it’s minor and can be minimized depending on the TV. AppleTV is neat but the Mini far more appealing to me at least. Apple is probably trying to figure out how to deal with the rapid change in TV screens. My feeling is that a Mini type system linked to a detachable LCD is what the iMac should be. That way you’d get the best of both worlds. It’s hard for me to imagine buying a computer wit an attached small screen. I have a neat remote keyboard with a small built in trackball controlling the Mini hooked to a 55″ screen. Why would I ever go back! I just don’t see a future for the AppleTV but that seems to be what Apple wants and not the Mini. The current rumours of the Mini’s demise are quite distressing. A lineup of iMac, laptops and AppleTV just doesn’t sound exciting. My 2cents…or less since I have 2 Apple Cubes and 2 Minis… philip
March 18th, 2010 - 17:20
Hi, I’ve just finished writing my own version of the AppleTV screen saver called QTV. After lots of searching I couldn’t find anybody that had a working version that actually did the same stuff the real AppleTV version did. QTV will work on both Tiger and Leopard (10.4 & 10.5) and has a random array of photos that you specify floating vertically across your screen at varying 3D depths and moving at varying speeds while periodically rotating as a group. My version also allows you to optionally have a glimmering sun cast it’s glow across the entire scene. You control everything thru various settings including: speed of front, middle and rear photo scrolling, the folder to search for images in, spin to the left or right, cast shadows from front and middle photos, the rotation interval speed, and wether to show the glowing sun or not.
You can read about it and download it at my website: http://www.scottquillen.com/The_Quillen_Files/Blog/Entries/2008/10/25_QTV_-_An_AppleTV-Like_Screen_Saver_for_Mac_OS_X%2C_finally..html
December 30th, 2008 - 03:14
The AppleTV.zip link times out. Is there a copy still floating around somewhere?
December 30th, 2008 - 14:12
Try it during the day. That server is just a Mac Mini that shuts itself off from 1am to 8am every day.
October 9th, 2009 - 11:54
Is there any reason you couldn’t do this with an old eMac and a peripheral 1TB drive? I only ask because if you want to make this even cheaper, you could get an eMac on eBay for like $20. There are hundreds on there with no bids.
October 30th, 2009 - 16:02
Umm, ATV has HDMI output and fully supports 1080p -
November 15th, 2009 - 23:46
can i use a mac mini g4 and do the same?
how can i get around not using a remote since the g4 doesnt have IR?
thnaks
December 30th, 2009 - 12:45
I think its Belkin that made a little remote with a USB IR Receiver that will do the trick. I had one working on a G4 Cube for awhile and it worked fine. You should be able to find one on eBay for less than $20, I’d think!
December 30th, 2009 - 12:49
In fact, I did this exact thing with a G4 Cube and it worked, so no, there’s no reason an eMac wouldn’t work!