Automated DVD and Blu-Ray backup, encoding and tagging… right to iTunes
First written back in October of 2009, this post on the Handbrake forums is the backbone of my AppleTV home theater setup.
While it takes a bit of fiddling to set up, it allows me to use my old MacBook Pro as a “Media Mac” that backs up my DVD collection while also making that media available via iTunes and shared across my network to my AppleTV.
Using the system is simple: I insert a DVD and the Batch Rip Dispatcher Automator action asks if it’s a DVD of a movie or a TV series1 , it copies the contents to an appropriate Batch Rip Folder and renames it automatically. Then, in the wee hours of the evening, an iCal action springs into…well…action and summons Handbrake to encode everything for iTunes. An Automator action kicks in to add metadata, cover art, and the correct title for the resulting files and then Hazel moves it all to my backup folders and adds the movies to iTunes. Once in iTunes, the regular update process propagates the media to my AppleTV making them available for viewing.
It all works like a well-oiled machine. Every time I slide in a disc, my mind reared on Looney Tunes cartoons can’t help but start me humming this tune:
- this can be set to auto-run if you plan to rip a bunch of movies [↩]
Build Your Own $50 Apple TV
The Apple TV is a truly cool product, if you have a widescreen TV. But what if you don’t have a TV that supports component/HDMI inputs or 480p? Suddenly this $300 product end up costing you $1200+.
If you have $50 and a Mac mini then you can make one of your own that will play just fine with your older TV. And this one will play your DVDs and DivX files too. Don’t have a spare mini? We got options for you too.
Read about it in our Mini Media Mac tutorial.
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Build a Mac mini Radio Station – on the Cheap
Stream music to your whole house without wires or WiFi. And do it for less than what you paid for your Mighty Mouse.
There are plenty of ways to connect your Mac to your stereo, but most require expensive 802.11x or Bluetooth hardware or miles of wires. In our Mini Media Mac tutorial we’ll show you how broadcast music through your whole house for less than $40.
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Revenge of the Headless iMac
We all remember that our beloved Mac mini began its public life as the “headless iMac”. From the minute Steve asked us to BYODKM I’ve been wondering, what if we didn’t?
What can you do with a headless Mac? Lots, it turns out. Join me and decapitate your Mac. You’ll find there a slew of useful remote tasks your Mac mini can do on its own.
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Make your Mac mini into a spam killer… with remote training
This tutorial will explain how you can set up a Mac mini or other spare Mac to be a 24-hour spam filtering drone. The process utilizes Apple’s Mail application, IMAP email, and C-Command’s SpamSieve along with a few custom AppleScripts that will allow you to remotely train the Mac mini in the fine art of spam filtering.
Soon you will be able to look in your Inbox, be it on another Mac, a PC, a PDA or even cell phone, and not have to worry about being confronted with a screen full of nasty unsolicited advertising and phishing schemes.
File this under “AddToGood.”
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mini Survivor
It’s springtime – and for many parts of North America that means storm season. Unfortunately, electricity is one of the first victims of foul weather. What can you do to keep your Mac (mini or other wise) and VoIP connection alive?
Join me for another Mini Media Mac installment and we’ll look at an inexpensive solution to turning your mini Mac into a mighty storm survivor.
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Turn your mini into a Long Distance Phone
What happens when you combine the most popular VoIP system with the Mac mini and a cool new USB phone? You get world-wide calling for cents on the minute and a cool handset.
Find out how to make your mini (or Mac) into a discount long-distance phone that’s as easy to use as your old analog. It’s in our new Mini Media Mac tutorial.
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Mini Media Mac Holiday Gift Ideas
The Holidays are upon us, and its time to think of gifts – for others, ourselves and our Macs. Fortunately for you, Santa’s not the only one with a list.
Check out our Mac mini-related gifts for some great ideas for you and your mini friends.
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Mac mini PVR
Think Elgato’s got a corner on Mac PVRs? Turns out, you’re only half right.
Turn your Mac mini into a mini PVR with the best hardware encoding and
software available.
For the complete review, join me for the last mini PVR tutorial you’ll ever read. It’s in the latest installment of our Mini Media Mac series.
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mini Cordless Chat and VoIP
Bluetooth is hot, and so is VoIP. Put them together and you have a unique new solution for a little Mac that came without a mic.
In this Mini Media Mac tutorial, we’ll show you how to set up a Bluetooth wireless headset with your mini (or Mac with Panther or better) for the ultimate in cordless calling from your Mac.
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