Apple’s Front Row is more robust than it once was. Free media center clients have appeared that make it easier to watch that content. Content from major television networks and terrestrial radio can also be streamed over the Internet. NetFlix offers an option that lets you stream some of its TV shows and movies. For example, you can purchase or rent movies from the iTunes Store and purchase TV shows and seasons. In the past three years things have changed. It was simply easier to use the satellite receiver, TiVo, AV receiver, and DVD player (and, later, an Apple TV) rather than jumping through hoops to make the mini take on their functions. Smart-as-a-whip though my wife is, when I showed her around the various applications and utilities necessary to bring media from the mini to our eyes and ears she pointedly remarked, “Let me know when our old stuff is back,” and left the room.Īnd it wasn’t long before the old stuff was back. While I was able to accomplish all these tasks, it took some doing and the results weren’t terribly family-friendly. It also had to be capable of being controlled from my couch. This demure little Mac was tasked with playing music, recording and playing TV programs, acting as a radio, and playing DVDs. Nearly three years ago I laid hands on a 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo Mac mini with the idea of turning it into a media center.