What is the best way to stream content (movies, music, etc.) from my Mac to my Xbox 360? I'd love to run Boxee (or Plex or the Hulu desktop app) on my Mac and stream it wirelessly to my Xbox is that possible?
I've been using Connect360 to stream all of my iTunes content to my 360. Assuming both your Xbox and Mac are hooked up to a wireless router, your Mac will show up as a networked computer in the 360 dashboard. Works like a charm. I'm not sure if there's a way to get Boxee or Hulu running on there though.
6 Answers
I've been using Connect360 to stream all of my iTunes content to my 360. Assuming both your Xbox and Mac are hooked up to a wireless router, your Mac will show up as a networked computer in the 360 dashboard. Works like a charm. I'm not sure if there's a way to get Boxee or Hulu running on there though.
All you need is a DLNA server running on your Mac to stream to the 360. As other said, Connect360 is probably your best option here. The benefit with something like Connect360 vs just a DLNA server is it will pull the content out if your iApps.
As for the Boxee/Plex/Hulu question, it is a different one entirely. Those apps are not for streaming, they are interfaces to play content locally on the Mac giving you a nice couch interface that is remote friendly. For those your best bet is hooking your Mac up to the TV, usually with a DVI>HDMI adaptor and a miniplug>RCA audio cable. If you are going to do this often I'd recommend a Mac Mini. If you get a Mac hooked up to your TV full time the 360 streaming will become irrelevant. I used to use my PS3 for media streaming, since I got a Mac Mini I haven't used the PS3 once.
I've been really satisfied with a program called "Rivet". It has several options to select the folders you share - the real limitation is the formats the Xbox can read/display
Since I run OS X Panther I have a hard time finding things to stream to my Xbox 360 Connect360 is the only thing I have found to work, if you use 10.5 or higher versions of Mac OS, you're more in luck, such as Rivet, and a list of these other things:
Hulu Related:
PlayOn
Random Xbox360 "fun stuff":
Boxee
Connect360
Rivet
MKV Files
Visual Hub
HandBrake
If I find anything else I'll be sure to share or you can find me on facebook, live journal, etc.
Not entirely sure what the goal is but you can get a cord to connect your Mac to your TV without involving those other apps. As long as the TV has HDMI or VGA/DVI connections it is just that easy.
Also found this link, http://www.tuaw.com/2007/04/16/tuaw-guide-xbox-360-and-mac/ which might be of use.