Beo-Mac

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

francis — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:33:27 GMT

I'm using for a while a dinovo mini to control my Mac Mini mediacenter in the living room.

Works great

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

gk31ax — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:00:59 GMT

I'm curious to see what they do with the mini...... Reading all the rumour sites, it seems its a product which won't die away slowly. I'm hoping they update it in September....

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/07/28/apples_next_gen_macs_to_have_something_special_under_the_hood.html

Would also love to see Apple update the wireless keyboard to include a trackpad/mouse.....

My father in-law has a logitech diNovo edge which I'm sure Apple could improve on...

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

jk1002 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:05:51 GMT

Yes, I switched on Airtunes. That feature I actually liked. I have a 1 bedroom loft. My Imac is actually in my kitchen which is maybe 15 feet from my TV. I don't want to leave all these things on. I think hacking the ATV will get me to what I need for now.

I just don't see much of a point in it anymore.

I liked how they integrated the Itunes Store, but for me is pushing it too far. It's just about content delivery from their store which IMHo is overpriced compared to services like netflix.

Cheers

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

soundproof — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:29:04 GMT

Have you switched on Airtunes, in settings, in your ATV?

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

soundproof — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:43:16 GMT

One option would be to tie your server to one of your Macs, and then have the ATV paired with that Mac.

You can then access whatever is on the ATV, as well as get access to what's on the server through the Mac.

It's still possible to control the ATV or Mac with a Touch or iPhone.

The ATV is good for what it does, but it is definitely created to lock people in. The fact that it doesn't let you browse the internet is just an example. They make it attractive through the access to HD movies and simple YouTube playback. Apart from that, you can use a Mac mini instead.

I'm very pleased with my combined Mac mini/ATV setup and feel it gives me all the options I want.

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

jk1002 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:49:24 GMT

jk1002:

I have the Duo with 1TB mirrored. It houses the Itunes Library file and the content. Video and Music.
What I was hoping for is that I could stream at least music from the NAS to the ATV but that doesnt seem possible due to the 5 digit code protection. Also, even though I have one library I can only sync from one computer. I was hoping I could do it from both the imac and air. So the ATV is tying itself to a computer, not a library.
I think to sum it up, a Mini Mac is a much better choice in an environment with a NAS. I guess I am off to hack my ATV next week to enable access to the NAS from there. I also need to upgrade my wireless to N I think. G is just too slow.
Overall I am not too impressed with the ATV anymore. It is just too restricted and they push selling content way too much for what one pays for it. I am off hacking it I think. Nito TV seems to be adding what I like
JK

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

jk1002 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:40:20 GMT

I have the Duo with 1TB mirrored. It houses the Itunes Library file and the content. Video and Music.

What I was hoping for is that I could stream at least music from the NAS to the ATV but that doesnt seem possible due to the 5 digit code protection. Also, even though I have one library I can only sync from one computer. I was hoping I could do it from both the imac and air. So the ATV is tying itself to a computer, not a library.

I think to sum it up, a Mini Mac is a much better choice in an environment with a NAS. I guess I am off to hack my ATV next week to enable access to the NAS from there. I also need to upgrade my wireless to N I think. G is just too slow.

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

soundproof — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:21:41 GMT

jk1002:
Still happy with the Air. However running Itunes from the Readynas wasn't the best idea I ever had.
I was hoping I can store the Itunes Library on it, not just the music files and videos but the library database itself. So that i can share it between Air and my Imac.
It's bit slow for that, I guess I have to upgrade my wireless to N.
What bugs me a bit is, that I can't link the A TV to the NAS yet. I can stream from the Nas straight to Itunes via Firefly, however to teh ATV they won't let me. I guess this is to protect the rental movies, to avoid a bunch of college kids in the dorm sharing the same movie through wireless.

Hmmmmm. There are better solutions out there Mr Jobs. Somehow they are becoming a bit a pain in the B*&(.

If I understand correctly, you want to run sources stored on the NAS to different computers in your house, as well as possibly to Airport Express units.

I'll start by describing what I have set up, and then you can tell me what's different in yours.

I have a ReadyNAS+ server, with 2TB of data.

It is connected via Ethernet to an Airport Extreme base station (not TimeCapsule.)

I have one Mac mini set up as the main playback unit for the ReadyNAS+ (I do all my configuration, ripping of CDs, etc., from this unit).
The Mac mini is connected to an audio system (optical toslink) and to a flatscreen (DVI-HDMI).

An ATV has been paired with the Mac mini, and uses its sources for playback, through My Music, My Movies, etc.

An iMac is paired with the ATV, and is the default back-up unit that the ATV sends movies, music, and tv-shows I have purchased to.

I have various Airport Express units connected to other audiomasters (Beolab 5000) and a BeoVision 8/Beossystem 6500 combo.

I have not experienced any difficulties in accessing the Mac mini from the ATV (and thus getting access to everything on the ReadyNAS+).

I am controlling playback with an iPod Touch and iPhone, both paired with the Mac mini/ReadyNAS+ and the ATV libraries.

I have found that for the best possible stability in playback, it's a good thing to run an Ethernet cable to the Mac mini, but I am most of the time using wireless, both for music and movies (maybe a glitch/week with wireless). Distance from base station to Mac mini about 20 meters.

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

jk1002 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:27:20 GMT

While I am at it. That the ATV is centric about their content not mine when it come to the User Interface is a bit annoying as well.

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

jk1002 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:24:54 GMT

Still happy with the Air. However running Itunes from the Readynas wasn't the best idea I ever had.

I was hoping I can store the Itunes Library on it, not just the music files and videos but the library database itself. So that i can share it between Air and my Imac.

It's bit slow for that, I guess I have to upgrade my wireless to N.

What bugs me a bit is, that I can't link the A TV to the NAS yet. I can stream from the Nas straight to Itunes via Firefly, however to teh ATV they won't let me. I guess this is to protect the rental movies, to avoid a bunch of college kids in the dorm sharing the same movie through wireless.

Hmmmmm. There are better solutions out there Mr Jobs. Somehow they are becoming a bit a pain in the B*&(.

Re: Just got a new Macbook Air

Peter — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:49:57 GMT

I don't have that much on mine but rely on my wireless network at home and it is for web browsing and email at work. I do have the external drive but don't use it really as I just use the drive in my PowerMac wirelessly. It was useful for putting Windows on though - my one mistake was making the partition for Windows too small - I used the minimum and forgot how inefficient Windows is - already full and have almost nothing on! (Just the Beo5 software!)

Just got a new Macbook Air

jk1002 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:05:10 GMT

Hmmm .....love it ...... not much more to say >> I bought an Infrant Netgear nas with 1 GB last month which i will be using for itunes ,,,,, I think I will start using it at work in a few weeks .. just neetd to transfer all my stuff >>>> love it sofar ...... and no it's not my only mac but may become my most used one >>>>