Use Tv For Mac Mini

The ideal setup for Mac users is to use a Mac Mini as your media center to handle all recordings as the only problem with using a Macbook or iMac is that your hard disk will soon get full with recordings especially if they're in HD. However, you can also transfer recordings to an external hard drive to avoid this problem. Additionally, you have significant upgrade capabilities with the Mac Mini. If you would rather build your own DVR you can always get an El Gato Eye TV to use and being recording programs to your Mac for viewing later. The downsides to using a Mac as a media center are the extra cables needed to convert the DVI connection to HDMI. Mini remote, portable telescopic antenna and travel bag included Product Overview. PCTV Systems brings an easy-to-use TV experience to Mac owners with 'TV for Mac'. TV for Mac HD mini Stick is an ultra-compact, USB-powered TV tuner that's the perfect match for super-slim Macbooks. To use AirPlay on both your Apple TV and Mac mini, make sure you're using the latest version of tvOS and macOS, respectively. With AirPlay, you can stream video and mirror your display from iPhone, iPad, or Mac to Apple TV. The technology also lets you stream audio to Apple TV and any compatible speakers. I used the Mac app, but there are versions of Reflector 2 for Windows, Android and Amazon Fire TV. The app works with Google Cast as well as Apple AirPlay. Reflector 2 setup.

Over the past couple of weeks I have begun ripping my personal DVDs to an external hard drive on my iMac. Why you might ask, because I have my iMac hooked up to my 42″� LCD TV. You can ask, why not just go ahead and use a DVD Player? Well, I currently have 5 different remotes to use to control all of the components I have connected to the TV, and I would rather not have to keep an entire DVD collection on shelves that take up space. Just for reference, this article will be using a Mac Mini as the Mac of Choice.

There are benefits and disadvantages to both setups. The Apple TV is very useful for those who have purchased a significant amount of content from the iTunes store, or for those who do not want to spend time determining how to hook up a sound system to a Mac computer. While, on the other hand, the Mac mini is good for those who have obtained their media using non-iTunes means or do not mind getting their hands dirty to get the perfect setup.

The positive aspects about the Apple TV are the slim design, simple setup, easy update function and it just works right out of the box. The Apple TV has digital out, for both audio and video. The video can be outputted using Component cables (Red Green Blue) with RCA Audio (Red and Yellow), or via HDMI. HDMI has both audio and video being outputted over the same single cable. The Apple TV has some negative things, including the fact that it has not had an update in months, and who knows when the next update will be.

Despite all that the Apple TV has going for it, there are some downsides. It does not have the ability to play DVDs (no optical drive at all). It cannot be easily modified or re-configured if your needs change. There is no expandability support, excluding any software updates that Apple releases. The Apple TV works best as an all-in-one media center for the iTunes centric. It does support 720p content (if encoded by the user). However, remember the Apple TV can ONLY play items that iTunes can play. It must be attached to an iTunes library.

Using a Mac as a media center is a different story. It has the ability to do better than 1080p (1920×1200 resolution). You have the option for playing DVDs. Using Front Row on OS X 10.5 Leopard along with some programs will allow you to play just about ANY type of file that your mac can play, not just iTunes content. You will not be limited by what iTunes can play, as you are with the Apple TV. This mean that you could play, DIVX, XVID, DVD, mp3s, ogg, flac, any file type that a Mac can play. This has significant improvements over just having a limited number of file types that you can play. Additionally, you have significant upgrade capabilities with the Mac Mini. If you would rather build your own DVR you can always get an El Gato Eye TV to use and being recording programs to your Mac for viewing later.

The downsides to using a Mac as a media center are the extra cables needed to convert the DVI connection to HDMI. The audio is not transmitted on the same cable. Since the DVI Specification does not include audio. There is no digital audio on the Mac like the Apple TV, so you will only have analog (â…›'� mini-jack out). However, if you have a USB to digital audio out, I do not see why it would not work as a digital audio source. The cost of the mac mini is also a factor, considering that the base price of a mac mini costs twice as much as the Apple TV does.

Whichever solution you decide on, it behooves you to do your research into which will work for your situation. If I had to suggest a solution, I would suggest the mac mini. It has more capabilities than the Apple TV and can be expanded and upgraded much easier.

AirPlay enables you to stream content from your compatible device to an AirPlay receiver. If you have a Mac, this guide focuses on how to AirPlay from a Mac to an AirPlay receiver available on your network. Read on to learn more.

Screen Mirroring & AirPlay Tips

AirPlay is one of the really useful features offered by Apple. Passport for mac not working. It allows Apple users to mirror content from one device to another – all without needing any cables at all. The technology works over a wireless network and lets you mirror one device's screen to another as long as they are both compatible.

In the following guide, you are going to learn more about this wonderful feature offered by Apple, how to enable and disable the feature on your Mac, and how to actually use it on your Mac. At the end, you will also learn to fix some of the common issues you could encounter while using the feature on your devices.

What is AirPlay and How to Turn on/off AirPlay on Mac

First of all, let us learn exactly what AirPlay is and how it works.

AirPlay is a feature embedded on your Apple devices including Mac and iOS devices that lets you mirror your device's screen to another device. For example, you can mirror the screen of your iPhone to a compatible Apple TV, and so on.

This gives you a chance to view the contents of your iPhone or iPad on a large screen of your Mac or Apple TV. Since all the Apple devices come enabled with the option, there really is not anything you need to buy or download on your devices.

Enable and Disable AirPlay on Mac

Turning AirPlay on and off on Apple devices is pretty easy and it can be enabled as the following on your Mac.

Step 1. Click on the Apple logo at the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.

Step 2. On the following screen, click on the option that says Displays. That is where the option we are looking for is located.

Step 3. Turn the AirPlay Display option to the ON position.

Enable the AirPlay feature on Mac

The feature should now be enabled and you will see its icon in the menu bar of your Mac. Clicking on the icon will let you see all available AirPlay receivers.

To turn the feature off, simply head into the same settings panel and disable the AirPlay Display option. You will be all set.

How to AirPlay from Mac to Apple TV

Now that you know how AirPlay works and how to enable it, let us check out how to use AirPlay on a Mac with an Apple TV.

All Apple TVs come equipped with the AirPlay feature and you can mirror your Mac's screen to any of those TVs as long as the minimum requirements meet. In order to mirror screen from your Mac, both your Mac and your Apple TV should be connected to the same WiFi network.

Once that is done, follow the following steps on how to AirPlay from Mac to Apple TV to do the actual task of screen mirroring.

Mac Mini For Tv

Step 1. Click on the AirPlay icon in the menu bar of your Mac to open the feature options.

Step 2. You will see a list of available AirPlay receivers. Click on your Apple TV in the list and your Mac will connect to it.

Soon as a connection has been established, you will be able to see the screen of your Mac on your Apple TV. This is usually instant in most cases and you have successfully made an AirPlay connection between your compatible devices.

How to AirPlay from Mac to Samsung TV

Not everyone owns an Apple TV and there are Samsung and other TV users as well who would like to use the AirPlay features on their TVs. If you are one of them, this section will help you out.

In order to do screen mirroring from Mac to the Samsung TV, you need to install an app on your Mac. It is because the Samsung TVs are not compatible with Apple's AirPlay feature and so you need to use a third-party app to bridge the compatibility gap.

The following shows what you need and how to perform the procedure on your Mac machine:

Step 1. Download and install the ‘Mirror for Samsung TV' app on your Mac machine.

Step 2. Ensure that both your TV and your Mac are on the same WiFi network. Launch the app on your Mac and let it scan the available receivers.

Step 3. Click on your Samsung TV in the list and the app will start mirroring your Mac to your TV.

Use Tv For Mac Mini Screen

AirPlay from a Mac to Samsung TV

The app also gives you the option to transfer audio from your Mac to your TV if you would like to do it.

How to Fix AirPlay Not Showing up on Mac

There may be times when you will not see the AirPlay icon in the menu bar of your Mac. This makes users wonder as to where the feature is gone.

Fortunately, there are a few fixes to apply to get the option back in your menu bar.

Fix 1. Turn On AirPlay

Make sure the AirPlay receivers on your network are turned on and that specifically the AirPlay option is also enabled.

If your Mac does not find any AirPlay receivers on the network, it removes the AirPlay icon from the menu bar.

Fix 2. Enable the AirPlay Option

If you have not already enabled the AirPlay option on your Mac, you will not see the icon in your menu bar.

Head into System Preferences followed by Displays. Ensure the AirPlay option is turned on.

Fix 3. Reboot Your Devices

Reboot all of the devices you are trying to connect and it should likely fix the issue for you.

How to AirPlay from Mac to Samsung TV

Not everyone owns an Apple TV and there are Samsung and other TV users as well who would like to use the AirPlay features on their TVs. If you are one of them, this section will help you out.

In order to do screen mirroring from Mac to the Samsung TV, you need to install an app on your Mac. It is because the Samsung TVs are not compatible with Apple's AirPlay feature and so you need to use a third-party app to bridge the compatibility gap.

The following shows what you need and how to perform the procedure on your Mac machine:

Step 1. Download and install the ‘Mirror for Samsung TV' app on your Mac machine.

Step 2. Ensure that both your TV and your Mac are on the same WiFi network. Launch the app on your Mac and let it scan the available receivers.

Step 3. Click on your Samsung TV in the list and the app will start mirroring your Mac to your TV.

Use Tv For Mac Mini Screen

AirPlay from a Mac to Samsung TV

The app also gives you the option to transfer audio from your Mac to your TV if you would like to do it.

How to Fix AirPlay Not Showing up on Mac

There may be times when you will not see the AirPlay icon in the menu bar of your Mac. This makes users wonder as to where the feature is gone.

Fortunately, there are a few fixes to apply to get the option back in your menu bar.

Fix 1. Turn On AirPlay

Make sure the AirPlay receivers on your network are turned on and that specifically the AirPlay option is also enabled.

If your Mac does not find any AirPlay receivers on the network, it removes the AirPlay icon from the menu bar.

Fix 2. Enable the AirPlay Option

If you have not already enabled the AirPlay option on your Mac, you will not see the icon in your menu bar.

Head into System Preferences followed by Displays. Ensure the AirPlay option is turned on.

Fix 3. Reboot Your Devices

Reboot all of the devices you are trying to connect and it should likely fix the issue for you.

Mac Mini Apple Tv

These are some of the things you can do when AirPlay does not show up on Mac. Canon lide 110 driver for mac.

The Bottom Line

If you have a Mac and you wish to use the AirPlay feature, the above should teach you how to AirPlay from a Mac machine. There are various ways to use the feature and you can go for the one that is convenient for you.

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