Note: This post has been insanely popular, and despite its utility, it detracts from the original intent of this website. Further posts on this topic can be found on the sister site: software.jonandnic.com
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.
It does, however, have one bug. If you activate FrontRow using the script, the Apple Remote doesn’t work — no reason, no explanation. It just doesn’t work. I’m posting a download link so you can hook up your Mini the same way as me, with the hopes that someone else can fix the Remote Control bug. For now, I’ve just commented that code out, so you’ll have to hit “Menu” on the remote after the Intro video. I also included a wallpaper so that when FrontRow isn’t running, you don’t see a regular desktop. I’m sure someone else can do a better job of that too!
Here’s some steps you’ll want to take after extracting the Zip…
- Create a folder in the Library folder on your hard drive called “AppleTV”
- (Note, not your own Library which is ~/Library, but the one on the root of your boot drive)
- Copy the contents of the zip file into that folder
- If your hard drive is named something other than “Mac OS” you’ll need to edit the script to point to the right path
- Set your desktop background to the included wallpaper
- Turning “Hiding” on in your Dock options
- Turn desktop icons off in your Finder preferences
- Add the Script to your Log-in Items in System Preferences
Update - Thanks to the folks who left comments, the bugs are fixed and the bundle is improved. Download again if you want, and add this additional step:
- Copy the included screen saver to your ~/Library/ScreenSavers folder
Now when your Mini starts up, it’ll immediately begin behaving like an AppleTV! Download the gear you’ll need here…
Update Again - Check out the skin posted in the comments. It adds AppleTV-like icons to FrontRow.
Posted on March 25th, 2007 by Jonathan Wise
Filed under: Digital Toys
jonandnic dot com uses:
You’ve almost got me ready to go buy a mac mini now… Not fully, but pretty darn close.
“with the hopes that someone else can fix the Remote Control bug.”
Fixed! I just emailed you the new version now.
Check this out:
http://digg.com/apple/Apple_TV_OS_available_for_download_install_on_any_mac
Ha, so this is what you were typing during the movie…
I made a Front Row skin that looks a lot like AppleTV. A great addition to this package!
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3ELH3IM0
Great job on that skin, spiderroll!!
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.
How does the screen savor work? I just get a black screen?
Mike - Founder:
http://www.switchingtomac.com/
How will the FloatingPhotos.qtz work? I have tried, it does not appear to find photos.
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!
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
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.
OK, so Jon 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
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.
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
Ya, at this point for movies, I’d rather purchase the legacy media (the DVD) and use Handbrake…
http://handbrake.m0k.org/
[...] And for Mac Mini users, you can change your Mac Mini to Apple TV too! [...]
Need a mirror? I’ve got plenty o’ space and bandwidth. Email me.
Does it work with a mac mini G4, not intel?
+1 for the screensaver not working
Why is that?
Bit of a newb, how do I edit the script to point to the right path??
[...] Para los que ya hayais optado por el camino MacMini como Mediacenter, también está por ahí cómo configurarlo para que parezca un AppleTV [...]
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!
And how do you connect the mini to your tv?
rgs Jochem
[...] read more | digg story [...]
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.
[...] Turning a Mac Mini into an AppleTV - JonandNic.com [...]
[...] Turn your Mac Mini into an AppleTV Filed under: Uncategorized — recar @ 1:07 pm Turn your Mac Mini into an AppleTV I’ve collected some media, pulled it together with some AppleScripts and compiled some instructions to make your Mini look and feel like an AppleTV. Not a full software solution like some others are working on, but I think it looks pretty slick![technology] [news] [apple] [software] [...]
One thing the Apple TV does better than the Mini, is the included graphics hardware (nvidia), which is superior to the intel GMA950.
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
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”
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.
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)
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/
[...] For those of you (like me) who favour the Mac mini over the AppleTV this article on how to turn your Mac mini into an AppleTV whilst not 100% may give you some useful tips. [...]
Very interesting..Mac Mini is great gadgets you can do such thing..thnaks for the file..got to try.
AppleTV is cheaper but you can use your Mini as a Linux W/S and runnding WIndows..which one should I buy?
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
The site looks great ! Thanks for all your help ( past, present and future !)
[...] You can even turn a Mac mini into an Apple TV or an Apple TV into a Web server (by installing Apache). [...]
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 #)
“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. ind 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
The link to the apple.zip does not appear to work.
This there an alternative download?
Thanks, Will.
Fixed the link — again!
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.
[...] formats? If possible I would like to do this using either FrontRow or the AppleTV applescript from jonandnic dot com � Blog Archive � Turning a Mac Mini into an AppleTV. [...]
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.
[...] to work as a home media center; following in the footsteps of my good friend Jon Wise (more info here). After speaking with the first representative for a few minutes, I have learned that Comcast [...]