How to turn an ordinary Mac into a MIVOMac-- a TIVO for music.

I'm thinking about turning an old desktop Beige G3 Macintosh into an MP3 jukebox. We have a TIVO that my family really enjoys, and I thought, why not make a sort of TIVO for my music collection?

I am thinking that I could use a video card with an external s-video output to connect to my entertainment center receiver. That will get the video from the computer to the TV via the receiver. I'll need the video output displayed on the TV so that I can control the computer on screen. For sound output, I think I will use the Mac's sound output with an adapter. I wonder if there are any third-party audio cards for the Mac? I'll have to look into that.

I think I will use iTunes for MP3 ripping and playback. Controlling iTunes will be somewhat a challenge because I will have to allow for a mouse (I could roll the mouse across the top surface of the Mac -- it's a desktop so it has a broad top surface.). Or I could look into some sort of presentation device that comes with a remote control-- that would be really cool. Avermedia makes one. That device would solve my mouse issue and my video output issue.

I could also control my MIVOMac (my term) remotely via an application called "iHam on iRye" (iTunes remote control software) or via Timbuktu or an open source remote control application. However, the infra-red remote that comes with the AverMedia product has a lot of appeal to me.

A cool side benefit: I could run iPhoto on myMIVOMac to play back iPhoto slide shows (with music piped through our stereo system) when I want to really bore my friends and family. No, really, the slide show feature of iPhoto is really amazing. If you haven't tried it with some of your photos, you are really missing out.

Two more possible cool side benefits: Imagine sitting on your sofa using the AverMedia remote control to edit iMovies! I'm not sure how well it would work, but it would be fun to try. Or how about surfing the web on TV using the wireless remote? I'll admit that typing would be a challenge... oh yeah, WebTV has already tried that.

I plan to run a network cable to the entertainment center so that my MIVOMac can connect to our home network. That way I will be able to access music, movies, and photos on another computer (a server for instance) or control the MIVOMac remotely via the network.

I am putting the pieces together to try this idea out. I'll probably start simple, using a video card that I already have and a Mac mouse attached to the computer for control, but if it goes well, I may add more advanced features like the infra-red remote control product. I'll let you know how it goes. Keep an eye out here for updates.