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- #Mac mini mediacenter software mac os x#
- #Mac mini mediacenter software movie#
- #Mac mini mediacenter software 720p#
- #Mac mini mediacenter software install#
Although it used to be a really nice interface for easily accessing your movies, photos and music, it really isn't up to the task of being a full-blown media center.
#Mac mini mediacenter software mac os x#
It also never hurts to make sure you have the latest version of Adobe's Flash player.įrontRow has been a part of Mac OS X since 2005. If you might be playing back the token open source audio file or two, also grab the latest Xiph plugins from. I know a lot of users dislike Silverlight on sight, just because it's Microsoft, but in truth, it's a great format for streaming high quality video, and some streaming providers (like Netflix) require it.
#Mac mini mediacenter software install#
As we've said before, this will let QuickTime play all kinds of files and formats with ease.Īlthough Perian will cover most of your bases, go ahead and grab the free Flip4Mac plugin so you can play any WMV files you might come across, and install the latest version of Microsoft Silverlight. As Robert mentioned in his guide, the "supercodec" Perian is one of the first things any Mac media user should install. Let's start with making sure you can play all of your content. The program was recently re-written in Cocoa and is Snow Leopard ready. SwithcResX is 14 euros (~$20US) and is free without limitation for 10 days. You can also configure resolution changes by invoking a keyboard shortcut or AppleScrpt.
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So if you launch a certain program, the resolution will automatically change accordingly. The really awesome feature of SwitchResX is the ability to switch resolutions based on system events.
#Mac mini mediacenter software 720p#
HDTV owners sometimes have that problem and SwitchResX will make sure that your 720p or 1080p TV will actually connect to your Mac at that resolution. There are times when OS X might not want you to use the highest (or optimal) resolution for your device. It was initially designed for computer monitors, but the program was expanded to work with LCD, Plasma and video projectors too. SwitchcResX is a really great utility that lets you take more control over the resolution of all your monitors.
#Mac mini mediacenter software movie#
That's fine for browsing the web or fiddling with settings, but when I'm watching iTunes Movie Trailers or watching content from Boxee or Plex, I want the resolution to be at 1920x1080.Ĭhanging settings manually is a total pain, and at first, I considered writing a script (or seeking out a friend to write a script for me) to change resolution based on what was being used. Changing the resolution to 1280x720 doesn't solve the problem completely, but it makes it much better. Our 40" Samsung LCD (LN40A550) looks beautiful at 1920x1080 resolution, but unfortunately, reading text and small icons from that far away is less than pleasant. One of the problems with having your computer hooked up to a large high-definition television is that at maximum resolution, it is very difficult to see icons and menus from the couch.
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To really make your Mac mini the ultimate HTPC, it helps to have all the proper codecs (so that you can play everything you need) and assorted media plugins, not to mention a tool here or there to make the experience more comfortable. Now that you have your Mac mini configured and connected to your home theater system (for a good visual "hook-up" guide check out Robert's Mac mini media center post), it's time to actually put your media powerhouse to use!