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Apple rumored to be readying Mac mini with HDMI

Engadget reports that Apple may be ready to launch a new Mac mini with HDMI.

A Mac mini with HDMI. Makes sense, right? Well, it hasn’t to Apple so far, but it looks like it just might be ready to change its tune. That’s according to AppleInsider, at least, which has it from “two people familiar with the matter” that prototypes of a Mac mini with an HDMI port have been seen making the rounds in the usual inner circles.

Back in March 2008 (two years ago) there were rumours that Apple were going to kill the Mac mini. Back then I said:

I do like the Mac mini, it works well as a little Mac for testing and trying things out as well as introducing people to the Mac. I also have used it in the past as a server for various web services and for limited use it works really well – probably would not be too happy if it was a production server.

I did try it as a TV computer, in other words connected to my TV, but I never really used it, in the main as it was an old G4 PPC model and was rather slow for recording and capturing video from an EyeTV USB device. The newer Intel models have the advantage of remote control and faster processors and graphics better suited to video.

I am looking to get a new TV when the Freeview HD models become more widely available. At the time I did consider getting an Apple TV over putting a Mac mini under the TV; as the Apple TV did have HDMI and as well as buying HD TV shows from the UK iTunes Store, you could rent HD movies for use ONLY on the Apple TV. If there is a new Mac mini with HDMI and you can rent HD movies on the new Mac mini then I may get one over an Apple TV.

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EyeTV Netstream DTT

Quite intrigued by this new product from Elgato. The EyeTV Netstream DTT.

EyeTV Netstream DTT is a dual network tuner for digital TV. It connects to your TV antenna and to your Ethernet network router/switch to stream digital television in full HD to your Macs and PCs. If you have a Wi-Fi network you can watch TV wirelessly on a portable computer, free from cables.

Find out more.

Now I don’t think I will be getting one, as though it is a very clever piece of technology, I don’t see me using it that much to justify buying one. In the main as I rarely watch live TV these days, much more likely to watch either recorded TV from the EyeTV on my iMac, or downloaded from iTunes.

Still if you do watch a lot of live TV then this could be an ideal opportunity.

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Really, all that from a job advert!

You have to love the rumour sites, have a read of this article from Macrumors.

Computerworld points to an Apple job listing posted last week which suggests that Apple is looking to expand the iPhone OS beyond the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad to additional platforms.

It suggests….

Let’s all speculate the future production of Apple products based on the job description of someone who will probably design those future products…

I love the rumour sites!

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Introduction to video on your TV from your Mac

I still have a video recorder under my TV, in the main as it has a clock!

I have not used the VCR to record for over five years now, the Elgato 410 connected to my Mac is my way main method of recording TV shows.

However I much prefer watching TV on my TV than watching it on my computer.

So how do I get the recorded video from the Mac to the TV?

Over the years I have used a variety of methods, depending on need, speed, wireless connectivity, even DRM. I have used DVD-Rs, EyeHome, video streamers, PS3, Mac mini, iPod touch, iPhone, iPod, MacBook Pro… each has its advantages and disadvantages. Over the next few weeks I will be talking about, showing and explaining how and why I use all these different methods.

Picture source.

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Video on the Google Nexus One

One of the nice things about the Google Nexus One is the beautiful screen which is much much nicer than the iPhone screen.

I did wonder how video would look on the device, so I copied over a video that I had encoded for the iPhone, 480 x 270 H.264 and AAC audio and was very pleased with the result. It played fine, and looked fantastic.

Pleased with the fact that not only did it look good, I didn’t need to re-encode the video from the iPhone version so that it would play on the Nexus One.

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Facebook launch ‘Zero’ site for mobile phones

BBC News reports on Facebook Zero

The world’s biggest social network has revealed details of a stripped-down, text-only version of its mobile site called Facebook Zero.

The low-bandwidth site is aimed at people viewing Facebook on their mobile and will launch “in the coming weeks”.

Facebook is very popular with learners and though various Apps have been released for the iPhone and Android, this version of the Facebook site will work on any mobile device that can access the internet.

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Eye-Fi, oops


Virtually every digital camera I have bought has been a Sony and therefore I have almost always used Memory Stick. My first digtial camera was a HP PhotoSmart that used a proprietary memory card format, all the Canon DSLRs I have used have used Compact Flash.

I recently got a Kodak Zi8 and this uses SD cards, so as a result I was tempted to get an Eye-Fi, as I really quite liked the idea of uploading my images automatically.

I was in the Apple Store a couple of days ago and saw the Eye-Fi Geo, a 2GB SD Card with wifi capability that can also geo tag your photographs. Whilst I was in the store I did do a price check; I always think it’s nice that Apple have full internet access on their computers. The price was good so on an impulse I bought it.

I have now regretted that decision.

The main reason is that I didn’t check camera compatability and the Kodak Zi8 is not compatible.

So it doesn’t work!

Other reason, is that it only shares with my computer over wifi, it doesn’t automatically upload to Flickr or other photo sharing site, you need to pay $9.99 a year for that. That I didn’t mind as the Eye-Fi with that included was about £30 more, however the site assumes that you are only in the US or Canada!

So…

I should have done some more online research.

I should have checked camera compatability.

I shouldn’t have bought it!

So deciding whether to sell it, or sell the Zi8 and buy a new digital camera that uses a SD card.