Install Apple TV on a Mac mini

[Charliem78]

This might sound a little crazy but I was wondering if it was possible to make a dual boot setup for my Mac mini. One being OS X mountain lion and the other being Apple TV. I like the Apple TV interface for my home theatre needs but found the hardware weak and not very powerful so I upgraded to a Mac mini. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds?

[Intell]

It is possible to install Apple TV OS 2.1 and lower on Intell Macs. But only on the first generation of Intell Macs because Apple TV OS is based on 10.4.9. None of the first generation Intell Mac Minis can run Mountain Lion. Because of this, it cannot be done on your Mac Mini.

[CocoaPuffs]

I kind of don't see the point, unless there's a specific channel on ATV that cannot be accessed through Mac Mini.

Try installing XBMC on Mac Mini, which might surprise you if you haven't used it before.

[waw74]

Originally Posted by CocoaPuffs

Try installing XBMC

or plex

[phrehdd]

Originally Posted by CocoaPuffs

I kind of don't see the point, unless there's a specific channel on ATV that cannot be accessed through Mac Mini.

Try installing XBMC on Mac Mini, which might surprise you if you haven't used it before.

XBMC or Plex would be a great fit for a Mac Mini vs (even if possible) ATV software.

[Charliem78]

Yes xbmc is great and I do have it installed I mostly want Apple TV software for the Netflix app. I like just being able to use my apple remote to control all my media and I can't do that now (I still need to occasionally pick up a mouse or exit XBMC and load a web browser for Netflix or iTunes since I'm not fond of XBMC music player)

[FreakinEurekan]

On my old 2007-ish Mini I had Front Row that really worked pretty well when I used that as a HTPC. I ended up getting ATV and moved the Mini to being just a media server but for those that still want the Mini directly attached to their TV, it's unfortunate that Front Row is gone now.

[blanka]

Originally Posted by waw74

or plex

How does Plex work nowadays? I remember it from long time ago as media-player, but if you look it up now, it only seems to be a server module.

XBMC has an Apple-TV lookalike frontend BTW.

[waw74]

Originally Posted by blanka

How does Plex work nowadays?

works great.
plex now uses a client / server model.

the server works on windows, mac and linux.

the client (player) works on windows, mac, iOS, android, roku, jailbroken aTV (so a 2), and some LG and Samsung TVs.
-you can watch in a web browser, so you can use linux if you wanted.

you can run the client and server on the same computer.

if the client isn't capable of playing a certain media file, the server will convert it on the fly as you watch it. So you can have an uncompressed blu-ray in your library, and play it back on any of your other devices. and if you have a decent internet upstream connection, you can even watch away from home over the internet.
and you could start a show on one client, stop, then change to any other client and pick back up at the same spot.

they also have to ability to sync files to your mobile device so you can watch offline.
(currently in paid beta, and only available with iOS)

[Che Castro]

I wish there was an Apple TV OS mac app , where you could tap on the app on the Mac mini and see the Apple TV OS


This would be great for people who connect there Mac mini to the tv