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Mac mini Reigns Big On ‘Green’ Computer List

J.R. Bookwalter — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:54:05 -0600

Apple has been making a big push in recent years to show how “green” its computers are in regards to the environment, and now the diminutive Mac mini has landed a top spot as one of the greenest.

In fact, the Mac mini reigns over the top four spots, thanks to Apple offering two models with two different configurations for each. According to TUAW.com, the Sust-it.net website hosts the chart, which breaks down energy use rankings for thousands of home appliances, entertainment devices and personal computers.

Taking the crown at top spot is the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mac mini, which slurps up a mere .94W when powered off, 1.71W in sleep mode and only 12.6W when powered on but idle. The energy cost per year (sans monitor) is only $5.51 US. Of course, this model is no longer produced by Apple, but the newer 2.26 GHz Mac mini is even more energy efficient, according to Apple. The refreshed model uses only .80W when off and 1.39W in sleep mode, but 13.4W when in idle mode.

The Mac minis are Apple’s only showing in the Sust-it.net top 40 for desktop computers, but definitely not on the whole chart. Several models of Mac Pros are ranked between 87 and 111, and the various MacBook models chart high amongst laptop computers (10 in the top 20), with the 1.86 GHz MacBook Air ranking No. 2 (barely!) and the 2.13 GHz version at No. 3. In the all-in-one computer category, the top iMac falls at No. 6 behind eMachines, Acer, Asus and MSI.

Sust-it.net is a good place to start if your carbon footprint matters, and with the energy costs charted by day and by year, you could save a bundle on appliances, televisions, entertainment devices and computers, even if the initial cost of purchase is a bit higher than normal.

Podcast #112: Apple Releases New Hardware - Yippee!

Mac|Life Staff — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:49:21 -0500

New iMacs, Mac minis, a MacBook and a shiny new mouse fills our hearts with love and sets our cash ablaze as it burns a hole in our pockets.

We discuss the new machines and how we feel about these machines and what are the chances we'll part with our chase in pursuit of these shiny new Macs.

We also announce the latest DonorsChoose prize pack for the week. This week we're getting you ready for traveling while you help the kids.

Got a question, but you're afraid to leave a voice message because of Witness Relocation Dept. rules? Drop us a question via Twitter twitter.com/maclife.

This week's Battlestar Applactica picks:

ZipCar - Free

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and ideas for the new podcast. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

New Macs! Redesigned White MacBook, LED iMacs, Mac mini Refresh, and a Magic Mouse

Susie Ochs — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:09:38 -0500

Yes, it's New Mac Day, everyone's favorite day, after St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve, and Pretzel Day. What blessed gifts hath Apple bestowed on its faithful? Oh man, lots. Let's dive right in.

New plastic MacBook!

Um, that's polycarbonate to you, actually. The entry-level MacBook (actually, the only model not positioned as Pro or Air) is still around, still white, and still $999. But it's been redesigned, with a unibody shell that's more like the aluminum unibody MacBook Pros, just, you know, not aluminium. It has Apple's built-in, 7-hour battery, a departure from the last model's removable, 5-hour battery.

The display uses LED backlighting, just like the Air and Pro models. The last MacBook's display was TFT, so this is the first time Apple's entire notebook line has gone to LED-backlit displays.

And naturally, its specs are improved. It's got a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (the last MacBook's Core 2 Duo ran at 2.13GHz), and a whopping 250GB hard drive (the last one's was 160GB), for the same price. They also made it lighter, down to 4.7 pounds from 5 pounds.

How does it differ from the 13-inch MacBook Pro? No backlit keyboard, no FireWire port, no SD card slot. That's no FireWire at all, folks -- the last white MacBook still had a FireWire 400 port. But the new MacBook is on sale today, and you can check it out here.

iMac makeover!

The new screen sizes are 21.5 inches (up from 20) and 27 inches (up from 24), for a nice widescreen view. All the iMacs have LED-backlit screens now. Both models have four USB ports, one FireWire 800 port, and for the first time, an SD card slot.

Specs-wise, the 21.5-inch iMac can have an Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at 3.06GHz with a 3MB shared L2 cache, or 3.33GHz with a 6MB shared L2 cache. For graphics, there's an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M chip with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with the main memory, or an ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory.

The 27-incher is available in dual-core versions as well as a beefier quad-core version for pro-level usesrs who don't want to spring for a Mac Pro. Dual-core versions use the same 3.06GHz and 3.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo chips as the 21.5-inch models, and the quad-core iMacs use either a 2.66GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache and Turbo Boost performance up to 3.2GHz, or a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache, Turbo Boost up to 3.46GHz, and Hyper-Threading for up to eight virtual cores. They feature ATI Radeon HD graphics, either the 4670 or 4850 chips.

All the iMacs come with 4GB of RAM standard, sporting four SO-DIMM slots for RAM upgrades up to 16GB. The 21.5-inch models start with a 500GB SATA hard drive, with upgrades to 1TB and 2TB drives. The 27-inch models start with a 1TB SATA hard drive, with a 2TB drive option. All those SATA drives run at 7200rpm.

The 21.5-inch iMacs start at $1,199 (3.06GHz Core 2 Duo, 500GB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics) and $1,499 (3.06GHz Core 2 Duo, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics). The 27-inch iMacs start at $1,699 (3.06GHz Core 2 Duo, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics) and $1,999 (quad-core 2.66GHz Intel Core i5, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics). Buy them here.

Mac mini refresh!

The lovable little mini got some much-deserved attention from Apple. The new minis start at $599, the same price as the old ones, but feature faster processors. You can choose from a 2.26GHz, 2.53GHz, or 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, all with 2MB shared L2 cache. They've got double the RAM out of the box, with 2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM in the entry-level model, but they still top out at 4GB of RAM in two SO-DIMM slots. And the hard drives are bigger, starting at 160GB with upgrades to 320GB and 500GB. (The last round of minis had 120GB, 250GB, and 320GB drives.)

The size is the same. The ports are the same (5 USB and one FireWire 800). The graphics card is virtually the same, an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with the main memory (the last entry-level Mac mini's graphics card used 128MB of shared memory, no longer an option here). You can buy them starting today.

And there's even a Snow Leopard Server model! For $999 you can get a Mac mini running Snow Leopard Server and sporting two 500GB but no SuperDrive. Yep, an all-in-one server ready to go right out of the box, just BYO display. That is cool. Check it out here.

New Mouse!

The new iMacs come with a funky new mouse, Apple's Magic Mouse, "the world's first Multi-Touch mouse." Apple mouse haters who remember "the world's first crappy hockey puck mouse!" can be forgiven for rolling their eyes, but this thing actually does look pretty interesting.

It's got no visible buttons at all, but has "a Multi-Touch area" on top that responds to one-finger scrolling, two-finger swipes, and clicks and double-clicks anywhere on the mouse. Apple swears its secret-sauce software and chip will be able to distinguish a a scroll from a swipe, and "even knows when you're just resting your hand on it." Obviously we haven't tried it here at Mac|Life HQ yet, but if it works more like the iPhone touchscreen and less like, um, every other Apple-made mouse in history, it could be really something.

You can buy it today for $69.

Refreshes to iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Imminent?

Cory Bohon — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:27:14 -0500

An online ad that appeared this weekend suggests that Apple could be on the verge of updating the iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook lines for the fall. The textual ads were featured on Google.nl searches for "MacBook," "iMac," and "Mac mini." AppleInsider translated the search ads as follows:

MacBook: Thinner, lighter and faster! Free delivery. Order today.
iMac: Ultra Thin 20 & 24 inch models. From only €1099. Apple Store
Mac mini: Faster and more affordable than ever. From only €499. Order immediately.

MacRumors adds that the current price for the Mac mini is €599 (~$877.68), which could signify a decrease in price of about €100 (~$146.52) for the beloved little Mac. We can only hope that these rumors turn out to be true, after all, we've been writing about them for months now.

Rumor: New Desktops are Coming, New Desktops are Coming!

Arvind Srinivasan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:15:07 -0500

Woohoo! New Macs. Hopefully. Possibly. Probably? How do we know this? Well, according to AppleInsider, Apple Retail has it on official order from the head honchos at Cupertino to stop selling the Mac mini and the iMac through its own distribution channels. Now, they are just running on supply that they already had. This is after Amazon.com stopped selling the same computers directly, only selling it through other vendors.

This comes after several rumors regarding a revamped Mac line before the holiday shopping season. Now we just wait, and watch, and obsessively hit refresh on apple.com.

Don’t hold us to this, but if you were planning on buying a new Mac desktop in the next few weeks, we would suggest you wait.

Build The Ultimate Mac Entertainment Center

Zack Stern — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:59:59 -0500

Wishing you could cut your ties to the cable company forever? You can. You can broaden your video entertainment choices and spend less each month with an Apple tech-based home-media setup. We show you exactly how.

Before You Start

There are a few ways to make Apple tech the centerpiece of your entertainment center, but if you want to go all out like we did, you'll need the following:

> Apple TV or dedicated Mac (Intel processor recommended but not required)

> High-speed Internet connection and wireless home network

> High-definition television or large flat-panel monitor capable of at least 280x720 resolution (720p) and 16:9 aspect ratio

> Latest version of iTunes on your primary Mac (8.2 as of press time)

> Digital A/V cables necessary to connect existing entertainment center components to your Apple TV or Mac (see below)

> Netflix account for streaming movies on demand via a compatible device (such as Roku, Xbox 360, or TiVo)

> Amazon.com log-in and Amazon's free UnBox software for downloading video from Amazon Video on Demand

Considering our lack of free time to watch TV, our cable bills are embarrassingly high, ranging from $60 a month to a talk-about-it-only-in-hushed-tones $130. Sure, the top-priced package has nearly every channel, including dozens in HD, but even at 60 bucks, we’re paying for much more than we watch. Who has time to soak in the content offered on 300 channels? We don’t. But at least now there’s a way to only pay for the programs we actually watch.

It’s time to cut the cord to the cable company and get all of your favorite video programming from the Intertubes, served up on your Mac or an Apple TV. Between a wealth of free, streamed content and á la carte paid shows from iTunes and elsewhere, you can easily undercut what you’re paying for cable or satellite TV service each month. (If you need proof, see our cost comparison chart at the end of this article.)

NBC, Fox, CBS, ABC, the WB, Comedy Central, and many more networks stream shows for free on their own sites and Hulu or other services. And you’ll find many more shows and movies for sale or rent in the iTunes store and on Amazon. And, of course, if there’s still a show you’re missing, you can get nearly anything else through Netflix DVD rentals or real-time streaming.

Online content is cheaper in the long run, but it comes with a few trade-offs. For one thing, we’re not about to move a couch in front of our office computer, so we moved some Apple gear—we recommend using a Mac mini or Apple TV—into our entertainment room instead. And visual quality, especially that of free content, still has room for improvement. At press time, even if a show is marked “HD,” it might render at a lower quality than your cable TV feed, although some HD-labeled content is nearly the same.

In the following pages, we’ll explain how to navigate these pitfalls and get set up. With this guide, we’ll help you decide if an Apple TV, Mac mini, or other option should be your entertainment-system centerpiece and show you how to hook your choice up to your existing TV and sound system. We’ll detail the different methods you can use to access your favorite shows—even with an over-the-air tuner—and explain which peripherals offer you the best control from the comfort of your couch.

So grab your most recent cable bill and—before you shred it—schedule an appointment to cancel your service for good. You’ll get the shows you want when you want them, and you’ll even save money. And as Internet speeds and compression technologies improve, your Apple-centric media center is only going to get better.

Video, Audio, and Network Basics

The first step toward becoming cable-independent is to make sure you already have the basic framework in which to insert your Apple TV or Mac mini.

Inventory Your Entertainment Center

Unless you just came into a cache of cash, you’ll probably want to keep your TV and audio setup as it is, so you can realize the most savings from giving your cable service the KO. In most cases, the television and audio receiver you already own should work fine with the data cables from an Apple TV or Mac mini. But if you’re upgrading or setting up an Apple-centric system from scratch, look for equipment with the following features.

Your existing HDTV will essentially function as a computer display. In fact, you can even use a large flat-screen monitor as your TV in most cases (for a Mac|Life-tested and –rated range of choices, see “Seeing Is Believing,” Apr/09, p40). Regardless of what type of display you’re using, pay special attention to its aspect ratio, screen resolution, and inputs. Most HDTV content is formatted at a 16:9 aspect ratio, meaning that for every 16 inches it is wide, it’s 9 inches tall. Nearly every HDTV ships at that aspect ratio. Many computer displays are the same shape, though occasionally they come in 16:10 or other ratios. For the best results, stick with a traditional 16:9 screen.

Screen resolution is also crucial, whether you’re picking an HDTV or computer display. Get a screen capable of displaying at least 720p HD video, meaning it is equal to or greater than 1280x720 pixels. Pick a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels—also known as 1080p—for best results. We like LCDs for their size, quality, and cost. But you could pick a projector or another style of screen, if you prefer.

Choose a TV or computer display with digital inputs too. You absolutely need DVI, HDMI, or one of their close cousins, such as mini-DVI or Mini DisplayPort. These connectors are capable of carrying HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection), the latest copy-protection scheme. Those ports and HDCP are on nearly every new HDTV.

Having the right connectors is key to reaching entertainment nirvana. (click to enlarge)

If you use a digital connection without HDCP, some content, including HD iTunes video, won’t play at all. So be sure every digital device you connect supports it, including any switchbox that you’d use to connect several inputs, such as a PS3 and Apple TV, into one TV port.

If your older TV doesn’t support HDCP, a component connection can still carry a high-resolution picture. (Look for the three RCA cable jacks coded red, blue, and green.) HD iTunes shows will play through that hookup.

Now Hear This. Audio makes up the other half of your TV- and movie-watching experience. If you don’t want to use a dedicated audio receiver, you’ll still be able to connect to your TV’s built-in speakers with RCA cables. But we highly recommend standalone audio hardware, even if you end up buying a stereo receiver bundled with speakers. (If you’re using a Mac mini, you will need to use a stereo mini-to-RCA adapter for audio, available for a few bucks at Radio Shack or on Monoprice.com.)

Your stereo receiver should feature a TOSLINK (also known as Optical Cable) input with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound support. If you’re a movie buff or audiophile, you may have already upgraded beyond this standard and may consider it the lowest bar to clear, audiowise. But the five speakers plus subwoofer on such a system sound great, and none of the streaming solutions we describe in this article has expanded beyond that standard.

Our Internet service isn't scoring as high as normal. If this persists, we'll have to call the ISP and complain about speeds.

Check your Network. Your cable-free home theater also needs a good network connection, teamed with a fast broadband Internet feed. Go for service at about 6Mb/s or faster. Visit www.broadbandreports.com to shop for local service and also test your setup to see if you’re getting that much speed. (If those tests don’t fall within the promised speed range for which you pay, contact your ISP.)

NEXT: Pick Your Apple Gear

Pick Your Apple Gear

If you're an Apple purist, there are two primary routes you can take to bring your beloved gear into your entertainment system. The Apple TV is the option Apple suggests you choose, but there are good reasons to consider a Mac mini too. We reveal the pros and cons of each, so you can decide for yourself.

The Apple TV vs. A Mac Mini

Bite into Apple TV. The Apple TV is a cross between a standalone device and an extension of iTunes. You’ll access the video and music content from your Mac or shop directly on the iTunes Store. The store’s paid content includes many shows and movies for purchase or rental from nearly every major content provider.

Instead of streaming live content, the built-in Apple TV hard drive syncs and stores data. The downside is that you’ll have to wait for a new show to partly download or transfer before it begins. But since the Apple TV stores all shows locally, it can drive video at a higher quality—and on lower Internet speeds—than if streaming.

Any Gigabit Ethernet Wi-Fi router should work, but we heart our Apple AirPort Extreme.

Other than YouTube videos and free video podcasts, you’ll pay for all Apple TV video content. However, you can hack the device to stream Netflix movies, Hulu content, and other sources with Boxee (see “Get Boxee and XMBC on the Apple TV,” later in this article). To help you decide which Apple device should serve up all your entertainment, we’ll first show you how to get started with the Apple TV.

Set Up and Connect. The Apple TV can connect to your TV or computer display through HDMI or component connectors. Use HDMI if your TV supports it, or buy a cable that can work with HDMI or DVI on the TV. If you have an older TV, connect the three component video cables. We bought cables for just a few dollars each through MonoPrice (www.monoprice.com). Don’t be suckered by pricey name-brand cables.

The Apple TV is easy to set up but not as full-featured as a Mac mini.

For audio, use the TOSLINK connection to connect to your stereo receiver. This digital port will give the best quality and 5.1-channel surround sound with supported content. Or, just use a stereo RCA cable and save up for a surround-sound system.

Transfer your Content. When you plug in and turn on the Apple TV, you’ll go through a setup process to link it to your Mac. Follow the onscreen prompts to activate the connection. (Or select Menu > Settings > Computers > Add Shared iTunes Library.) The TV will display a short password, which you’ll enter into iTunes on your Mac. After the machines are linked, the Apple TV can sync audio and video content to its local hard drive.

Now you’ll need to manage which shows get transferred in iTunes. The process is similar to syncing content with an iPod. In the left pane of iTunes, go to Devices, and select your Apple TV. In most cases, click the Summary tab, and leave it set to Automatic Sync. If you have more media on your Mac than will fit on the Apple TV, choose Custom Sync. Navigate through the other tabs to pick content, and click Apply in the lower-right.

Our Apple TV's hard drive is too small to hold our entire iTunes library, so we'll have to choose which content to transfer.

Depending on your home network connection and volume of content, the sync process could take a few hours initially. If you’re syncing from a laptop, temporarily connect it to your wired network to speed up the first transfer. Subsequent transfers will only copy new files, so those should go more quickly.

Shop iTunes for Shows. iTunes is a staple of our entertainment center, even though we have to pay for content. (But, hey, at least we’re only purchasing the shows we actually watch!)

The iTunes Store has more than 40,000 TV show episodes and 5,000 movies on offer. More than 1,200 are in HD, an ideal match for your home theater. The 720p video files look great on an HDTV or high-def computer monitor, at about the same quality as you’d get from a cable provider.

Favor the HD content when shopping for shows on iTunes. You'll pay a little more, but it looks much better on a TV.

It’s hard to beat the convenience of buying and renting shows from the comfort of your couch. And those shows will be synced to your linked Mac too. But you can go the other direction if you prefer: Purchased shows on your Mac will transfer back to the Apple TV, as long as there’s room on its hard drive.

NEXT: Mini Mac, Maximum Entertainment

Mini Mac, Maximum Entertainment. If you opt to use a Mac mini as your media-center hub, you’ll have a much wider range of content to choose from. The biggest difference, of course, is that unlike the Apple TV’s closed approach, the mini is a full-fledged Mac. You can add any software and access any websites you want. Without having to get into hacks, you can stream all kinds of free content from Hulu, Netflix, Joost, and network television sites. Plus, you can still access all of the iTunes Store content and even try competitors, such as Amazon’s streaming video service.

A Mac mini is more expensive and slightly more complicated to set up than an Apple TV, but we hardly need remind you that you’ll get more out of your investment, since you’ll essentially be adding another Mac to your home network. You can surf weather on websites, play games, check email, and more—from the couch.

A Mac mini makes a compact but powerful media hub.

We recommend using a late-model Mac mini with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The 120GB hard drive on the mini’s starting configuration (www.apple.com, $599) will store a good-sized entertainment library, though it’s probably smart to upgrade to 2GB of RAM from the standard 1GB. Skip the overpriced RAM Apple sells and upgrade the RAM on your own—check out dealram (dealnews.com/memory) or Ramseeker (ramseeker.com) for aggregate deals on Mac RAM.

You could even use a full-size Mac, but we prefer the small shape and quiet operation of the Mac mini. Here’s how to get started.

Set Up and Connect. The Mac mini has equally diminutive video ports. You have a choice between mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort. However, the mini also includes an adapter for full DVI. Go with that connection, adapting it to HDMI, if needed, for your TV.

For audio, you’ll need a mini-TOSLINK adapter to connect to a TOSLINK stereo. (Get it for less than a dollar on Monoprice.com). The results are worth it, pumping out 5.1-channel surround sound. If you’re connecting to an older stereo, use a mini-jack cable that adapts into stereo RCA plugs. For either kind of cable, plug into the Mac mini’s headphone port.

(click to enlarge)

Your TV (or computer monitor) serves as the Mac mini’s screen, but you’ll still want to use a keyboard and mouse. Any USB device could work, but we like something that was designed for the living room, such as the Logitech diNovo Edge ($179.99, www.logitech.com). It’s a single, wireless slate that combines keyboard and mouse functionality via a built-in track pad. It even recharges in its storage base, so you have a reason not to let it slip it between the couch cushions.

Adjust the OS. After you first plug in and set up the Mac mini, you’ll want to run through a few system settings and updates to get it optimized to serve as your media hub. These adjustments will make the difference between using the Mac on a desk or from your couch.

Set the screen resolution to match your TV’s native resolution, or at least match its aspect ratio. The Mac mini should recognize the display’s native resolution, but if not, you can set the resolution manually in System Preferences > Displays. For example, a 1080p TV would typically have a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (check your TV’s user manual to be sure).

If you don’t see the display’s native resolution, you can substitute a different size with the correct aspect ratio. This means that for an HDTV, you should try that same 1920x1080 resolution or 1280x720 (720p).

If none of these options exists, you can manually add your display’s native resolution. Download and launch just the SwitchResX control panel from www.madrau.com/html/SRX/DL.shtml (you don’t need the full package). Click the Custom tab, then click the plus icon.

Check the box to Use Simplified Settings, and enter the native aspect ratio for your TV. In our case, we’re using an HDTV with native resolution of 1360x768 pixels. Click OK. Click Apply, and restart your Mac. The new resolution should now appear in the regular Displays System Preference. Set it there. (If this process doesn’t work, or you need more details, read the SwitchResX FAQ at www.madrau.com/html/SRX/FAQ.html.)

While 1360x768 resolution is commonon many HDTV, our Mac mini needed SwitchResX to work with this oddball resolution.

You won’t need to adjust the Sound System Preference if using a digital audio connection. Instead, you’ll change the volume within specific applications or directly on your audio receiver. If you’re making an analog connection, you can change the volume there or in the menubar.

Turn off the screen saver, since the Mac might think the computer is idle while you watch certain streaming content. Visit the Energy Saver System Preference, and set the option to put the display asleep to Never.

NEXT: Stream Free Shows

Stream Free Shows. After setting up the Mac mini, spend some time checking out content sites from which you can stream free video. Be sure to first install Microsoft Silverlight (www.microsoft.com/silverlight) and Adobe Flash (get.adobe.com/flashplayer), since some sites need these plug-ins to function.

You’ll find a range of shows scattered around the Web at various qualities. We look first to Hulu (www.hulu.com), since it has the best range of content, some of which is streamed in 480p. That higher-quality option makes a big difference in a living room, although it’s still below the bar for most HD paid content.

If your connection is fast enough that Hulu gives you the option, click the 480p button for a significant quality boost, then click the Full screen option.

Hulu stockpiles free shows and movies from NBC, Fox, Comedy Central, and other stations, plus it includes links to Disney, ABC, and more. Most shows land on the site the day after they air on TV, so you can even stay current with 24, The Office, and The Daily Show. Like other streaming sites, Hulu shows are broken up by a few commercials, but it’s hard to argue with the free price.

A few other free streaming sites are challenging Hulu’s domination. YouTube (www.youtube.com/shows) has recently begun streaming ad-supported TV shows and movies, although the initial selection is a thin mix of cult favorites and unknowns. Joost (www.joost.com) has more content, although it also lacks the range of current shows available on Hulu. Crackle (www.crackle.com) is full of Sony-owned content, with occasional hits, if you’re willing to skim though the rest. We don’t think any hold up to the range of choices offered on Hulu, but keep these bookmarks handy because some content won’t be available on Hulu but will be on one of these competitors.

And many TV networks offer their own content online. Visit your favorite networks’ websites—including cable channels Food Network, VH1, Discovery, HGTV, and more—to see if they stream full episodes of your favorite shows.

Stream Paid Shows. If you opt to pay for streamed content, your options expand further. Netflix and Amazon both support Macs. Both also stream some content at higher resolutions. Amazon’s HD streaming looks great on a TV, for example.

Netflix (www.netflix.com) requires one of its typical DVD-by-mail subscriptions, which start at $8.99 a month for the one-DVD-at-a-time plan. Once enrolled, you can stream an unlimited amount of content to your Mac. You’ll just have to log in to the Netflix site, and search the Watch Instantly section.

Over 12,000 movies and TV shows are available, making the service a great foundation for your streaming entertainment center. While these titles only represent a fraction of the 100,000 DVDs available, Netflix says it will keep adding more. And as long as you’ve got the one-DVD program, take advantage of it; the Mac mini includes a DVD player, after all.

Amazon (www.amazon.com/videoondemand) sells streaming movies and TV shows. Content is sold as rentals, which expire in a day, or for purchase with unlimited playback. Unlike iTunes, all Mac support requires you to stream the content, instead of playing it back off your hard drive. That’s a disappointing requirement for content we claim to “buy.” But drop by the site, in case you can’t find something on the iTunes Store.

While we prefer playing shows on our local computer to streaming them, streamed shows from Amazon HD look great with a fast-enough Net connection.

Add Front Row, Boxee, and VLC. With all of these Web sources for streaming content, you might have to spend a lot of time in a browser. Even if you choose the option to play the video full screen, the interface favors watching it from the typical desk chair–to-monitor distance, rather than the couch-to-TV distance. A couple alternatives can address this dilemma.

If you’re not already familiar with it, Front Row is Apple’s own, bundled media app, presenting your iTunes library with an easy-to-navigate interface that relies mostly on the arrow keys. Hit Return to make a selection and Escape to back out. You can’t buy shows directly, as you would within iTunes, but after you’ve loaded up local content, the simple interface works well to surf your media collection and control playback.

As much as we want to love the free Boxee (www.boxee.tv), we can’t quite commit unconditionally to this streaming aggregator. The theory behind it is great: Boxee lets you browse streaming content from Netflix, Hulu, Joost, the BBC, and more from a single location. It’ll even play media files from your Mac or a server. Add in optional social networking features to see which shows your friends like, and it’s an excellent concept.

Boxee uses a simple, couch-ready interface to aggregate content from several sources.

But too often Boxee videos didn’t fit our TV screen properly—even after manual adjustments—cutting off some of the image. And at press time, Hulu was doing its best to cause Boxee problems, which could have been the cause of some of the problems we experienced. Do check it out, however. If you’re willing to weather a few display glitches, or if the service improves, it could turn into an excellent source of free video entertainment.

If you’re recording and using a variety of video formats, you might run into a situation where iTunes and QuickTime won’t play your recordings without additional software. For example, Apple wants you to pay extra to play a native MPEG-2 stream, the same file your TV tuner can capture from DTV. Instead of paying extra, try VLC (free, www.videolan.org/vlc), a video player that tackles all kinds of uncommon formats.

Get Boxee and XBMC on the Apple TV

The Apple TV is a great device, even though Apple considers it a “side project” and hasn’t offered media buffs everything they’d really love in a digital entertainment hub. But while Apple hasn’t fully explored the Apple TV’s full potential, Boxee and other developers continue to expand the device’s features through a variety of hacks. In order to get Boxee and XMBC (Xbox Media Center, an open-source, cross-platform media player) features—which are, we should mention, unauthorized—you’re going to have to patch the device. Despite Apple’s clear commitment to keeping the Apple TV a “closed” system, the patching process is surprisingly simple.—Roberto Baldwin

1. Go to code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator and download the ATV USB Creator (atvusb-creator). Insert the USB drive into a free USB port on your Mac. Unzip the file (if it doesn’t do so on its own). Launch ATV USB Creator.

2. Choose ATV-Patchstick from the drop-down menu. Make sure Boxee For Mac and XBMC For Mac are both checked. The app will recognize the USB drive you plugged in prior to launching.

3. Click on Create Using, then wait for ATV USB Creator to do its thing, including erasing and then saving the necessary files to your USB thumb drive. Note: Some USB drives refuse to work with the ATV USB Creator. The final installed files require less than 30MB of space, so use a drive you know works, but don’t use one that you’re using to store data.

4. Unmount and unplug the USB thumb drive from your Mac. Power down the Apple TV and insert the USB drive into the USB port in the back of the device. We encountered some issues with Wi-Fi passwords not working correctly with the patchstick, so be sure to plug an Ethernet cable into the Apple TV. Onscreen you will see enough command line jargon to choke a tiny Unix-loving pony. Wait until the patchstick does its magic. The Command line will notify you when it is safe to unplug the Apple TV. Unplug it, remove the USB drive and then plug the power back in.

5. The Apple TV should launch as usual, but now with new options in the menu. Be sure to update Boxee, XBMC, and the Launcher to the latest versions to achieve maximum Hulu goodness. For the most part, you’re safe updating the Apple TV software when it becomes available without overriding the patch, but, just to be safe, you should check the Boxee blog (blog.boxee.tv) for up-to-date information.

A Few Notes: While Boxee does claim to work with Hulu, the ongoing battle among content providers means that sometimes Hulu will just stop working. The Boxee folks are pretty good about fixing these issues in a timely fashion, but be aware of the issue. Also, be sure to check out XBMC (xbmc.org). It's the foundation on which Boxee is built and is more stable than the alpha version of Boxee available for the Apple TV at press time.

NEXT: Add a TV Tuner

Add a TV Tuner

A TV tuner can turn your Mac mini into a digital video recorder. This hardware connects to an antenna to receive TV channels over the air, while software enables the TiVo-like DVR features: pausing and rewinding live shows, fast-forwarding buffered programs, and more.

To get the most out of these features, a TV tuner carries a bigger footprint than the USB port it occupies. You’ll have to leave adequate hard disk space, plus your Mac mini will have to be left on any time it needs to record.

It's small and sleek, with big functionality.

Over-the-air digital content starts at a moderate resolution and scales up to huge sizes. Because your content will likely be encoded at one of three standards—480p, 720p, or 1080i—the amount of space it takes will vary. In general, figure that an hour of recorded content will fill about 8GB for high quality. But if you get good enough reception, the tuner could pay off. You’ll be able to capture HD shows for free at a quality equal or greater to what you can buy from the iTunes Store.

So, what tuner package should you buy? We like the combination of the Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus hardware ($199.95, www.elgato.com) plus EyeTV 3 software, but you can substitute your own hardware or software if desired. With the EyeTV, the USB-connected box passes the live TV stream to the software. It even wakes up a sleeping Mac to record scheduled shows, so you don’t need to leave the computer on all the time.

Survey says: It's just like watching a regular TV.

To get started with the EyeTV, you’ll just install the software and hardware. A free subscription to an online show guide automatically propagates your channel roster, just like with cable TV. The mouse and arrow keys drive basic TV control, and if you run it in full screen, you won’t see any significant difference from the old cable service.

With any tuner, buy an antenna that’s designed for digital TV (you can buy one from Amazon or Monoprice for less than $25). We’ve found that DTV reception has improved over its first few years too. Unlike fuzzy analog TV, if you get a sufficient DTV signal, it’ll look just as it should: You’ll either get a channel or you won’t.

Control with Remotes

We wouldn’t consider subbing a Mac mini for our cable service without an entertainment center–savvy keyboard and mouse. But remotes are essential too; they just feel right. We keep the keyboard and mouse around for certain functionality, like typing in Web addresses, but several remote-style controllers are ideal controllers for all of your media-center activities.

The Keyspan was built to control iTunes remotely.

Between the TV, audio receiver, and Apple TV, you can replace three remotes with a universal device. We like Logitech’s Harmony line because of its easy setup and ability for deep customization. It even includes the Apple TV commands in its database. Check out the Harmony One ($250, www.logitech.com) as a baseline; you could go less or more expensive and still buy the same general functionality.

The Harmony will include macro programs to turn on the TV, receiver, and Apple TV all with one button. Then you can even use it instead of Apple’s bundled remote. The process is nearly the same with a Mac mini, but you’ll have to add an IR port since it doesn’t include one. The Keyspan Remote Control for iTunes ($46, www.tripplite.com) is a solid IR port option. You’ll first set up the Keyspan remote, then program the Harmony to replace that controller.

The Harmony One is all about, well, digital harmony.

Your iPhone or iPod touch will also make a great Apple TV or Mac mini remote, and they don’t require adding other hardware; you’ll just need to download the right app. Apple’s Remote app does a great job, since you can swipe through an iTunes library and even type letters from its pop-up keyboard. Get it free from the App Store.

AirMouse puts remote buttons on your iPhone's screen and controls all your computers, Mac or PC.

For the Mac mini, also consider software-based controllers. We like the VNC-style LogMeIn Ignition ($29.99, secure.logmein.com/welcome/iphone/Default.asp), because you can see and control the entire Mac from your iPhone. This app is handy when you have the TV off but still want to start music playing. RPA Technology AirMouse (www.mobileairmouse.com) is another great choice ($5.99 in the App Store; the companion Mac app is free). This app turns your iPhone into a mouse and keyboard for your Mac.

Can Macs and Blu-Ray Play Nice?

Mac fans have been waiting on built-in Blu-ray drives for a while now. Rampant speculation that it was on the horizon was pretty much obliterated when Steve Jobs described Blu-ray as “a bag of hurt” at a MacBook launch in October 2008. Clearly, with the iPhone’s App store, Apple TV, and the iTunes Store, Cupertino is embracing downloadable content and trying to push Apple users away from physical media. Despite being an early supporter of the Blu-ray format, Apple doesn’t seem terribly interested in supporting it—much less building Blu-ray drives into their products. But just because Apple isn’t building in Blu-ray drives doesn’t mean your Mac is left in the dust by the new format. Keep reading for the answers to key questions you might have about Blu-ray and your Mac.

Does the Mac support Blu-ray? It depends on what you mean by “support.” If you’re trying to burn a Blu-ray disc, you’ll need to buy a Blu-ray drive from a third party, and there are internal or external models available. You can use your Blu-ray drive to burn data discs, if you’re running OS 10.5.2 or later. This is awesome for physical backups of music, media, or photos on 1 or 2 discs, rather than a pile of DVDs. But be aware that Blu-ray blanks run about $20 to $40 a pop, depending on capacity.

You can also use a third-party Blu-ray drive to author discs for playback on standalone Blu-ray players—including the PS3—using Adobe CS4 or Toast 10 Titanium. Unfortunately, there’s no support for Blu-ray authoring baked into Apple’s iLife apps…at least not yet.

What about watching movies? You can watch a Blu-ray movie on your Mac—if you’re willing to suffer the indignity of having to dual-boot into Windows XP or Vista. Unfortunately, OS X doesn’t natively support Blu-ray playback. Is it really just a “bag of hurt” that Apple is avoiding until licensing issues settle down? Or is Apple dragging its feet until the iTunes Store can offer 1080p downloads that will be able to directly compete with physical Blu-ray media? We’re guessing it’s a little of both, though Apple did not return our phone calls asking for a comment on the issue. And licensing for Blu-ray hardware and software is supposed to be getting a lot simpler and cheaper, so hopefully Apple will get onboard soon.

Should You Buy in Now? If you need to author video onto Blu-ray, you don’t have much choice. But for most users, the costs are too high to make it a practical data medium, and without native support for Blu-ray playback, we have a hard time getting onboard.—Ray Aguilera

NEXT: Other Boxes That Can Stream Shows To Your TV

Other Boxes That Can Stream Shows To Your TV

Lest we be accused of recklessly cramming Apple-logo’d devices into your entertainment center, we present six other devices that can bring video programming into your living room and play nice with the Mac in your office.—Ray Aguilera and Roberto Baldwin

1. TiVo ($149.99 for dual-tuner Series2, www.tivo.com). Your Tivo already controls most of your video entertainment. Add in Roxio’s Toast 10 Titanium ($99.99, www.roxio.com), and its Mac2Tivo feature will have your networked Series3 or HD box playing back files from your Mac.

If you rock one already, your Series2 TiVo can talk to your Mac with help from Roxio Toast.

PROS: Simple to do. Video streaming doesn’t eat up TiVo disk space. Free Tivo Desktop software can also be used for music and photos. TiVo interface is—let’s face it—the one that all the others should be judged against.

CONS: Your Mac has to be on while streaming. Requires Roxio software, although if you’re comfortable converting your own video and fiddling around in the Terminal, you can transfer your own files for free. See our How-To, Sending Videos to a TiVo, for details.

2. Nintendo Wii ($249.99, www.nintendo.com) When you get tired of Guitar Hero: Metallica and World of Goo, put your Wii to work playing video with the help of Riverfold Software’s Wii Transfer ($19, www.riverfold.com).

The Wii is a wondrous gadget on its own. And it can stream the movies you've got on your Mac too.

PROS: Can stream movies from your Mac or play back converted files from an SD card. Works with lots of common video formats. Also supports music and photos. Can also be used to back up Miis (Wii avatars) and game data to your computer.

CONS: Requires Internet Channel ($5) and Wii Transfer software ($19). Obviously wasn’t designed for use as a media center.

3. Western Digital WDTV ($129.99, www.wdc.com). One of the easiest—and cheapest—ways to get media files off your computer and into your television. WDTV eschews fancy networking and streaming for good old-fashioned sneaker-net for transferring files (for details, see our review.)

When you need Mac- and wallet-friendly streaming, the WDTV delivers.

PROS: Ultra-affordable—the WDTV box can be found online for about $100. Plays back nearly every audio or video format under the sun from an attached hard drive you supply. Speedy file transfers (hook the drive up to your Mac, drag over some files, and go). Can output full HD quality via HDMI. Simple to set up and very reliable.

CONS: Moving files on and off requires shuttling a hard drive between your Mac and the WDTV, which can get tiresome, even though it’s easy to do. The interface is clean, but we wouldn’t describe it as “Apple elegant.”

4. Xbox 360 ($299.99, www.xbox.com). When you’re not playing Left 4 Dead, you could be streaming your videos from your Mac to your TV with Vuze (free, www.vuze.com) or Connect360 ($20, www.nullriver.com) software.

The Xbox is one thing that Microsoft's done right. You can let it stream videos from your Mac in between Madden marathons.

PROS: If you already have one, you can keep track of who’s playing what while watching videos.

CONS: The Xbox 360’s UI for accessing video files is horrible. All the videos are in one folder and that folder displays the name of the episode or file. Very un-Maclike!

5. Sony PlayStation 3 ($499.99, www.us.playstation.com). Like the Xbox 360, the PS3 is a great way to add streaming video to your entertainment setup. Use Vuze (free, www.vuze.com) or Nullriver MediaLink ($20, www.nullriver.com) software on your Mac to stream video.

The PS3 offers a way better gaming experience than your Mac, but it's pricey.

PROS: The PS3’s UI is much nicer than the horrid Xbox 360’s. You can Copy media directly to your PlayStation 3 from your Mac with MediaLink.

CONS: Unless you already own a PlayStation 3, it’s an expensive add-on.

6. SageTV HD Theater ($199.95, www.sagetv.com). A viable alternative to the Apple TV, with more ports and a wider range of supported video types.

More flexible than the Apple TV but not as purty.

PROS: Component, composite, S-video, and HDMI ports. Great for people living in the television past. Supports a wide range of video codecs.

CONS: Streaming only. It’s only a little cheaper than the Apple TV, and its UI is nowhere near as slick.

The Bottom Line: Cutting cable cuts your cash outlay

How much can you save by cutting cable? If you watch less, you’ll spend less; it’s an amazing concept we’d all but forgotten after years of sending in checks to our cable provider. Here’s a rough overview based on our own setup before we ditched cable for good. Your savings may vary depending on how much time you spend in front of the boob tube.

(click to enlarge)

Contributing editor Zack Stern had to watch a lot of TV while researching this article. He's not complaining, though.

The Mac mini - Unboxed and Exposed

Lisa Weddle — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:30:42 -0600

There was much excitement to be had over at macminicolo.net as they received the news that a new Mac mini was announced by Apple yesterday. Even more joy was had when they managed to get their hands on one. These lovers of all things Mac mini, describe in loving detail the packaging, exterior and interior of the tiny machine.

The site notes that Apple has reduced the amount of packaging for the mini, something that is in keeping with the company's commitment to becoming more 'green'. However, Apple seems to have missed a small error in the illustration on the box which shows the mini as having nine vents on the back when it really has ten.

Along with a plethora of photos of the Lilliputian machine, there is also a nice comparison between the exteriors of the two versions (previous on top and new on the bottom).

An unveiling of the interior proved that it is slightly more tricky to do so with the new version and revealed the new SATA optical drive that macminicolo says would make it easier for the device to have a second hard drive in it.

More Mac mini love to come, as the site proclaimed, "We're going to get right to work on benchmarking this Mac mini in server performance. The last version was solid and performed well. With the extra RAM (at a faster speed), and the larger hard drives, these Mac minis should make even better servers."

Updates on said benchmark tests can be followed on macminicolo's Twitter feed.

Podcast #79: New Macs Are Here

Roberto Baldwin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:38:00 -0600

The staff is all giddy about the new Macs released today. Turns out the Mac mini is a personal favorite of the staff and we can't wait to update the new Mac Pro with its pull out drawers.

A rock-pop artist is chosen for our weekly, "Keep or Delete." Each week we download and review the free iTunes song of the week and decide whether we're going to keep or delete the file. This week's artist:

Carolina Liar - Show Me What I'm Looking For

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.