Dec 02

Mac Mini Media Center

AppleTv, Application Pick of the Week, Genaral, Hardware, Mac, Uncategorized, gaming No Comments »
MacMini Media CenterWell, I bit the bullet and built a Mac mini media center. As with most things Mac it was very simple after doing some basic research. Based on that research, to create this monster, I used a Mac mini, VIZIO 32 inch TV/Monitor, Apple wireless keyboard, Mighty mouse, Scientific Atlanta digital cable box, EyeTv TV tunner and various cables.
Once I had all the componets in hand I hooked it all up in the following way. Mac mini to TV via RGB, cable box via composite video to the TV, sound via 1/8 male to male from the Mac mini to the TV. To hook up the cable TV, screwed in the incoming 75 ohm cable to the splitter and then one out went to the TV and the other to the EyeTv tuner on the mini. The keyboard and mouse are connected via wireless, as you might have guessed. Network connection is provided via Airport Extreme. Originally, I had it connected via Linksys WRT54G, but the set up begged for “N” speed, so I updated the router to an Airport Extreme multi channel router. That did the trick, the network flying now! All this could have been done with many other computers, but there are very few that provide the power of the mini with a near zero noise level. This is very important when you realize this is in a bedroom. Also, there were many other ways to hook all these components up, but I went with the most standard setup I could, given the components that I already had. Future updates, will be to move components to HDMI and a hardwired gigabit ethernet connection. Ripping 100+ DVDs stored on some sort of central storage to be shared across the network. Possibly via the USB port on the Airport Extreme? This was a truly enjoyable project that just allows the enjoyment to keep going and going.

Component list below:

Info Center
Mac mini – Spec 2.53 GHz
Mac mini front view
Mac mini rear view
Keyboard
Mighty Mouse
EyeTv Hybrid Tv Tuner
TV/Monitor
All male 1/8 audio cable
Scientific Atlanta digital cable box
All male 1/8 audio cable
Composite video cables
RGB monitor cable
Apple MiniDv to RGB converter
75 Ohm cable splitter
Two three feet sections of 75 ohm cable
Note: Links are for illustration only and do not reflect where the components came from.

written by Blake

Aug 15

iVandal iPhone App

Software, app store, gaming No Comments »
iVandal

iVandal

Well MerchTech has done it again. This is a super app for filling time and just having fun! The best thing of all is that you can take care of anyone or anything that needs it! Check it out on the AppStore.

written by Blake

May 06

Apple’s Gaming Empire

Applications, Hardware, Software, Uncategorized, gaming, iPhone, newton, pippin No Comments »

Not quite yet, but maybe soon. With all the rumors swrilling these days about Apple-Twitter, Apple-EA, etc, it is hard to keep up! The rumor mill is churning, ferociously, on many fronts, which usually means there is some truth in there somewhere, but we are not looking at exactly what that is, at the moment.

What I am looking at is the idea that Apple could become a gaming empire apart from whether or not they buy EA. There are two paths one could take down this path, buy a company, or build relationships with current game developers. Both have their risks and rewards. I would submit that Apple has been building their gaming portfolio one small iPhone application at the time. Well done games for the iPhone are very appealing. I have been surprised how compelling some of the best games on the iPhone are. I didn’t think you could create a real interactive feel for complex games in such a compact environment. Boy, was I wrong.

Games on the iPhone produce a great gaming experience. The graphics, response, inputs, and sound, with head phones, are all great! I know, sound is awful on the iPhone. I don’t know what you can do with speakers on such a small device, but maybe someday they will solve this issue, but I digress. Myself and others, really enjoy playing games via the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Now on the building front. There has been hiring going on at One Infinite Loop that leads the keen eye to see a heavier focus being put on gaming. They just hired, Richard Teversham, the senior director of business, insights and strategy for Xbox’s European division. There have also been several jobs postings of late that were gaming related. Could be nothing, but it could be the silent building of an empire.

Look, I know that there is no guarantee of success here, remember the Pippin? I do. Well, I also remember the first Apple PDA, the Newton, at the time, it was not a roaring success, but it laid the groundwork for what we now have, the iPhone. So, lets not read too much into a failure at a company that over time has had great success in so many things!

Game on!!!

written by Blake