Mac Mini is the cheapest and smallest computer in Apple. It is versatile and suits a media server, smart home hub, or even a media center, ranging from having a minor desktop workhears up to front-end.
I took a chance on a used Mac Mini for this purpose and discovered some things in this process that I want to know before going to the project. Here is how Mac Mini is perfect for your living room TV.
Mac Mini has the right form factor
Something that I already knew that I have Apple’s “Starter” Mac before I started. Since the introduction of the machine has been the case, back in 2005 (yes, it has really been long).
Regardless of which model you go for, you will find a small aluminum box of tricks with a reputed apple logo at the top and to indicate a single white LED on the front side that the machine is on. The M4 Mac mini amendment introduced in 2024, the “flat and wide” breaks from the form factor that Apple has used for the best part of 20 years and requires a more vertical space.
Mac Mini mixes perfectly with other devices living under your TV. You do not need to display it, because there is no infrared functionality (later more on it). As long as there is enough ventilation in the unit, you can put it inside your entertainment unit, close the door, and forget it.
M1 is quite powerful
I went to the M1 of another hand with 16GB of RAM, essentially evidence of Apple’s concept for her hand-based processor. As you will know that you have used any of these machines, Apple Silicon is highly powerful. This makes these chips perfect for use in a media center because it means that they also whispered under the load. Even though Mac Mini is a fan inside, but I have not yet heard to spin it (my M1 Max McBook Pro is true, come to think about it).
If you choose an old Intel-based Mac option, fan is expected to hear a bit of noise. These old 64-bit X86 chips are not only efficient, producing more heat when using more power. The dedicated hardware decod engine dedicated to the new M1 and later chips (for both HEVC and H.264) ensures that the main CPU core media is not a burden from the playback functions.
It should not come as any surprise that Mac Mini has chewed everything that I have thrown on it, even some chunky 4K HDR RIPs which are at the top of 100 GB. By comparing, streaming the web material is a walking journey in the park. This machine is probably overcome for this scenario, but I have paid $ 160 for happiness, so it is not that I have any regrets (after all, the cost of Apple TV 4K is $ 129 new).
The palette in entry-level Mac mini model (by 2024, at least) should be greater than sufficient for 8GB RAM work. If you plan to use your media center front-end for more duties-running a home assistant server, playing games, serving media, rolling your own cloud storage solution-You can run against this limit periodically.
Storage is another matter to keep in mind. These machines come with 256GB storage, although you can choose to opt for large configurations. If you are indexed to a large local media collection, then you want an external solution. Fortunately, M1 or better Mac mini models have rapid interfaces in the form of Thunderbolt 3 (USB 4) and USB 3.1 General 2, and more rapid interfaces as USB-A USB-A.
Controls are not so straight
As mentioned earlier, Mac Mini has no infrared capacity. It is a computer, which means that it is designed to use it like a computer: with the keyboard and mouse (or trackpad). Of course, not everyone wants a keyboard and mouse in their living room, so fortunately there are some workarounds.
I settled for the first Remote mouse The app is available for both iPhone and Android. Although it works, it is not as reliable as I would like. This also means that whenever you want to sit and see something, you need your smartphone or tablet (I am trying to break a habit).
Instead, I settled on a “keyboard mouse” remote. These are small, remote -shaped keyboards with trackpads that are perfect for limited interactions that are likely to be with your media center. They connect either through Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless, and they will need to be charged from time to time. The keyboard included is a step from the on-screen keyboard on most smart TVs, although you would not want to use it to write a novel or anything.
Depending on the software of your choice, you can find that a gamepad controller simply works. Apple has made Macos compatible with almost every gamepad that uses a Bluetooth connection. This may be the correct use for an old gamepad that has developed a stick drift, come to think about it.
Just remember that from time to time you will need to treat your Mac Mini like a computer, and not like a set-top box. This means that to have a tismkening of asymmetrical settings, approving software updates, or installing more software to expand its abilities. This is very easy to do if you have a dedicated controller, rather than grabbing and pairing the periphery from elsewhere in your home.
The good news is that Mac Mini works with almost every keyboard and mouse combination, even specially designed for Windows.
Software is abundantly
I set Stremio And Kodi My Mac Mini Media Center and I did not look back. To see the stremio, it becomes easy to find a variety of things and then they are launched on the relevant streaming platform. There is also a huge range of add-on and an impressive catalog of public domain films to choose from.
Kodi is a local media center app, which is great to act in your own personal collection. It provides far more polish experience than stremio, and can also be expanded with a huge range add-on. Kodi also works beautifully with a gamepad and it seems that it was designed keeping in mind the “sofa experience”.
I have also opted to install Jellyphin So that Mac Mini can draw double duty as a media server for other rooms in my house. I have been indexed by both my local media folders Kodi and Jalifin, later to serve streams throughout my home using UPNP media streaming.
I’m still working on HDR
Apple’s own performance works an excellent job of serving HDR content. On my MacBook Pro, I can watch an HDR video on YouTube, while the rest of the screen maintains SDR look and feel. I get a bright glow to the left, and regular work mode on the right side. This is not a case with the third-party display.
Instead, the MACOS system handles the HDR with a tole under the “Display and Brightness” menu in the settings. You can either be on HDR (until your display allows it), or off the HDR. I am happy except HDR all the time, was it not for the fact that the SDR material may look strange when you do this (especially in the strands). If I am using an app like Movist Pro or Mirror to play HDR videos from a file, then HDR mode is a requirement.
This is certainly the biggest defect I faced, and it is probably enough to close many people. I believe that I was a little disappointed at first, but I managed to find a shortcut workflow that allows me to immediately togle or close HDR. Togglehdr workflow Mac developer is the job of Elin Panitu, and can be triggered by the menu bar or assigned a keyboard shortcut.
This is a shell script, so you have to enable that functionality under shortcut> settings> advanced.
You can do a lot
While Mac Mini is a competent media consumption assistance, it can be kept for better use. Perhaps the funniest use for a Mac mini that is already connected to your TV is in the form of a retro gaming machine. Like by installing an emulator RetroracYour Mac Mini can play different types of games.
Even the old Intel Mac mini models can handle the old titles in the true sense from the 8-bit period, which are Playstation 2, the original Xbox and beyond. The new model should have enough grunt to play the playstation 3 titles, as well as an arcade board simulation. Connect some spare gamepad and turn your Mac Mini into a multiplayer retro gaming rig.
As mentioned, jeliffin works very well as a media server, but if you are happy to pay for features such as hardware transcode and mobile access, you can also choose the option of Plex. If you have enough storage connect, you can use your Mac Mini as a time machine backup andpoint for other Mac computers on your network.
This is a great opportunity to install a home assistant server. This open-source smart home software is lighter and free, with thousands of integrations. If you have patience you can create your own automation, and other smart homes can do much more than ecosystem.
If you have received it, can you use that extra power?
Should you do this?
If you have an old Mac mini and you need to do something on which the media is to play, it is a great use for your old hardware. If you want more freedom than the permission of smart TV apps, then Mac Mini is a good platform. If you have the opportunity to bring your hands to a cheap, used Mac mini, it is one of the several tasks that will handle it with APLOOing.
Connected
How did I change this cheap Mac Mini in my cheap media center
Apple’s smallest computer can do all this.
Will I go out and buy a new M4 Mac Mini for this purpose? Probably not. There are more direct ways to view media, such as using a smart TV app or by purchasing dedicated streaming devices such as Apple TV or Chromecast.
You will have to deal with some HDR vonkness and find out how the best to control your Mac mini, but if it does not bother you then it can be a fun short project.
