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August 11th, 2009, 09:45 GMT · By

A Mac Mini with Blu-ray May Be the Next Apple TV

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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?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: DaddyE on 11 Aug 2009, 20:26 UTC reply to this comment

I am looking to get rid of my cumbersome / troublesome Win XP Media Centre and bring the house properly into the state of the art. However, it has been relatively difficult to find a Mac solution off-the-shelf, and I would carefully have to piece together the necessary hardware and software.

A Mac Mini with Blu-Ray (with something like Elgate EyeTV bundled) and PVR/DVR capabilities certainly seems the answer - extending Front Row to incorporate this seems natural, and has been done by Microsoft years ago. I will be crossing my fingers that Apple gets onto this soonest!


Comment #2 by: Jorge on 11 Aug 2009, 20:31 UTC reply to this comment

So...What does Sony think about this?
I'd buy for sure.


Comment #3 by: JackPepper on 13 Aug 2009, 01:23 UTC reply to this comment

Apple's new Final Cut software does support blu-ray. So I don't think it would be a stretch to think that some new hardware upgrades are soon to come.

I would absolutely buy a Blu-Ray Apple TV.


Comment #4 by: Scott on 14 Aug 2009, 00:23 UTC reply to this comment

I hope this is true, I have been wishing for this for years!!!


Comment #5 by: JJ on 15 Aug 2009, 15:17 UTC reply to this comment

with the HDDVD/Blueray war behind us and all studio's lined up this would be a great device I would buy in a split second.

Upgrading to 1080p would also e worthwhile accoording to todays standards.

The only question remains - why would Apple support playpack from physical media if thats not generating revenues in their itunes store....


Comment #6 by: Andrew on 18 Aug 2009, 03:29 UTC reply to this comment

I think a reasonably priced mac mini with bluray and hdmi would be the best


Comment #7 by: Jason on 11 Nov 2009, 03:04 UTC reply to this comment

I would buy a mac mini with bluray and hdmi today if it was available. I am sure I could convince 5 neighbors that are into that type of thing as well. There really isn't a good complete solution out there and this would seem to be it...with dvr too.

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