Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 9
Do Even More with iCloud and AirPlay
As capable as iCloud and AirPlay are in their own rights, if you're willing to spend a little extra cash,
you can create an even more connected environment or add features you thought were previously im-
possible. In previous chapters, I've mentioned many hardware add-ons and apps that enhance core
capabilities such as watching TV and sharing information. But there's a whole raft of products and
apps you can get to extend iCloud and AirPlay in unique ways. This chapter brings them under one
roof.
Mac Mini Media Center
It may seem a little over the top to buy a Mac Mini solely as a media center but Apple's portable
Mac is an ideal contender for living room use at a lower price than any other computer in the Mac line.
Using the remote-control methods covered in
Chapter 4
, a Mac Mini can be the ideal partner for your
TV, connected via an HDMI cable and controlled from an iOS device or other Mac.
Because the Mac Mini has built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet, it can connect to your network easily and
even share media from other computers. Unlike most set-top boxes, it has a suitably large hard drive
to keep all your TV shows, movies, and music. You can also attach an external drive to the Mac Mini if
you need more room and, of course, it can connect to a media server if you have one running on your
network.
There are several apps that allow you to control a Mac as if it were a regular media-streaming box,
including
Plex
and
XBMC Media Center
. These large, graphics-focused apps can help you quickly nav-
igate your movies and music via your TV's screen and also allow you to install apps for viewing stream-
ing content online.
Network
Although you may have all your devices and computers connected to the Wi-Fi router in your
home wirelessly, there are other devices that you can throw in to the mix to add additional functional-
ity.
Network drives
One option is to get a network drive that can be accessed by all your computers connected to the
same network. Many companies make such drives, including Western Digital, Iomega, LaCie, Seagate,
and Drobo. Multiple computers can use the network drive for sharing data, including movies and mu-
sic. Most network drives come with their own server software to make the setup process easier. You
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