Apple HTPC

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BenjNZ

16 posts

Geek

#166221 6-Mar-2015 10:48

Hi, I'm new to this forum (and HTPC's) and I'm wondering if I could get some advice.

Now I've already purchased this stuff, so please don't tell me it's crap!

I want an HTPC which is really easy to use (so my missus will put up with it).
The goal is to download programs and movies from Streaming sites onto a NAS and also store FLAC files for Hifi Audio.
I did a bit of googling last night and I just purchased:

Apple iMAC mini
2.6GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5
16GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
1TB Serial ATA Drive @5400 rpm
Intel Iris Graphics

Along with the Apple Airplay Extreme

and

Synology DS215j NAs Storage Box
with
2 x Western Digital NAS Red 6TB Sata3 HDD

The plan is to plug the iMac mini into the TV in the lounge and plug the airplay into the NAS box in a different room.

The question is, what do I need to access the files stored in the NAS from another TV (like the one in the bedroom)?
Will an additional Apple TV do this?

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#1252180 6-Mar-2015 10:57

I used an Apple Mini as a HTPC: installed Windows 7 using Boot Camp and just ran Windows Media Center. Since then I moved on to the Dell Zino HD and last year to a Gigabyte Brix (similar to Intel NUC).

If you MUST use an Apple device, why not consider an Apple TV, which is cheaper?

geekiegeek

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#1252203 6-Mar-2015 11:38

Apple TV wont play flac. Even playing FLAC on OSX will require additional software. You could convert your music to ALAC which will work. Not sure about HTPC software on an iMac as most are Linux or Windows.

jtan

122 posts

Master Geek

#1252228 6-Mar-2015 12:10

Nice setup.. You can set up a Plex Media Server on the Mac Mini to act as a 'server' to manage your videos and movies, it indexes things nicely with information from various websites including IMDB. It is very similar to XBMC, has a nice interface too.

Then you can also use Plex Home Theater on the same machine to 'connect' to PMS and watch your videos. It will also manage audio but unsure about FLAC. Have a look at their website for more info. www.plex.tv

You can get the Plex App for various mobile devices to be able to watch them around the house when connected to wifi (or even via the internet if your upload bandwidth is large enough).

As for the other TV upstairs, you could either get another mini computer, a console (some consoles are supported, others are coming soon I believe) or even something like Raspberry Pi (install Plex on it to connect to PMS to watch your local content). Some Smart TV's can also have Plex installed on it too.

Good luck!

jonathan18

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#1252241 6-Mar-2015 12:16

We run a very similar (but far more ancient!) set-up to what you've bought, and we're totally happy with the approach.

When you talk about accessing content on your TV, I'm assuming this is video files rather than the FLAC? But are you also wanting the same device to be used for both video (to the TV) and music (to a stereo)?

For video: have you considered an Amazon Fire TV? We use one of these connected to our second TV (the primary TV uses the Mac Mini for Kodi, and an ATV for Netflix); the advantage of this is that not only does the Fire TV run Netflix, BBC iPlayer etc, it can also side-load XBMC/Kodi. And, given you'll be accessing content from a NAS not a USB drive you don't have to worry about the firmware updating issues which can kill any attempts to set up the USB port for drive access. EDIT - I believe Amazon Fire also can run Plex, if that's your choice of cuppa.

To be honest, I really don't know about the Fire TV's music capability, but generally I find 'media players' like this work fine for video but are far more limited in their usability for audio, primarily due to the lack of a practical interface (who wants to turn the TV on to select music? I also prefer a dedicated remote). That said, perhaps there are iOS and/or Android apps that provide a decent interface to select music. Also, some networked receivers may be FLAC compatible?

We went down the route of separate audio players - we have Squeezebox Duets in two places plus a UE Smart Radio running Squeezebox firmware to access music (both FLAC from the NAS as well as streamed music from Pandora and Spotify). These too can be controlled by Android and iOS apps as well as the provided wifi remote (in the case of the Duet). I notice there have been a few Squeezeboxes on TM the last few weeks - indeed I think there are still some on there now.

BenjNZ

16 posts

Geek

#1252282 6-Mar-2015 13:25

Thanks for the comments...

I should have explained I only want to play the FLAC files through a Plinius Toko connected with an Ethernet Cable directly to the NAS.
This was the main reason I wanted a big NAS, as these files are quite large.
If you play standard iTunes files on a decent stereo they sound HORRIBLE.

The only issue is the TV and Movies on the additional TV.
I've done a bit of googling and I saw a guy using Plex on a fairly similar setup.
For a second TV he used google chromecast and just flicked the movie from his iPad to the TV.
Looks like a cheap and cheerful solution, but it's using the iPad to play the movie, I think if you closed the app on the iPad the TV would stop playing the movie?
Not a great fix.

geekiegeek

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#1252286 6-Mar-2015 13:35

AppleTV can also use Plex with an easy hack - https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide

Costs a bit more than a chromecast but might provide more usability in a apple house.

jonathan18

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#1252289 6-Mar-2015 13:44

We tried the Chromecast and gave up within a few weeks. I know there are many on here who like them, but I found it a terribly frustrating device. The reliance on using another device to control it (phone, tablet) was particularly irritiating. It also lacks ethernet, so relies solely on wifi - not the ideal situation for video.

We replaced it with a Fire TV, and haven't looked back (indeed, it replaced not only the Chromecast but also another Mac Mini, given it could perform all the tasks we required of that HTPC).

Have you researched this product? I'm sure this will do all that you want it to do given it'll run Plex and XBMC(Kodi) plus also Netflix etc. Comes with a (bluetooth) remote, has ethernet, runs many Android apps including a number of relatively basic games... There are some good threads on GZ discussing it, which are probably worth reading. I remember a post the other day saying it was on special to around $80sh US - even if that's gone, it'll come down again sometime soon no doubt.

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BenjNZ

16 posts

Geek

#1252296 6-Mar-2015 13:54

Those boys from Dove Electronics don't mess around.
I ordered this about 4 hours ago....