14 DAY TRIAL // Could it be possible that Apple is preparing to equip the Mac mini with a Blu-ray optical drive and turn it into the ideal media center? At least one person thinks so and the idea may not be so crazy, if you think about it.
The Apple TV and the Mac mini share quite a few similarities, and Apple could do without one of them by combining both, Jim Dalrymple (The Loop) believes.
“With an optional Blu-ray drive, users will be able to purchase a Mac mini complete with Apple TV software included,” he writes. “That means you can have a full media center, with the ability to burn DVD or Blu-ray disks. Of course, with the Blu-ray and DVD support, you will also be able to watch movies just like you would from your home theater setup. The Apple TV software will allow you to do all the things you do now, like purchase shows and movies, but the hardware configuration takes it to the next level,” he asserts, noting that this would also fall well with rumors that iTunes 9 is coming with Blu-ray support.
Citing a reliable source, The Boy Genius Report recently posted a piece saying that iTunes 9 would be packing support for Blu-ray playback. Apple hasn’t disclosed (or even hinted at) plans of equipping any of its products with Blu-ray capabilities.
Jim also believes that built-in DVR functionality would be a nice touch, as far as the Apple TV is concerned, “but that’s not crucial,” he admits. “Because you are using a Mac mini, it’s easy to install Elgato’s EyeTV and a TV tuner, which would turn your Mac mini/Apple TV hybrid into everything you wanted in a Mac media center.”
How many of you would buy a Blu-ray-capable AppleTV?