Best way to control Mac Mini

Yes - i used iTunes remote on my iPad to control iTunes, and use a VNC app (or just screen share) in case i need to do anything on the mini. It only needs a monitor on first set up. 

Hi, I use the Splashtop 2 remote app on my iOS and Splashtop streamer on my Mac mini, works great, and no need to tether my mini to the tv. Also available on Android.

I see Google have just released their chrome desktop app for iOS, allowing you to remotely connect with the Mac mini. Again available on Android.

I use the remote ap on my iPad or iPhone but I like screen share from my MBP better.  There is a $10 dongle that goes into the usb of mini that makes it work really smooth

Greg--

Could you give me a product name or description of the "dongle"?  I'm using wireless screen sharing between my MBP and a Mini, and it's very sluggish.

I don't know what the name of the specific product is....it's not on the device but it is made by fit.pc       I got it on amazon  Also I errored.......it goes into hdmi port

I hope this is not against the rules but it is this

http://www.amazon.com/CompuLab...keywords=fit.pc+hdmi

+1 Screen Share gives full functionality. I also use Remote app on the iPad to play my music library through the MuSo. As Wat says though, it is limited to selecting tracks on iTunes, but that's all I need it for.

Except for using an HP monitor I also use a bluetooth keyboard [and mouse] to control my mini. 

Very straight forward and works a treat. Okay that the batteries do not last as long as I would like in the remote keyboard [and mouse], but that is the only downside. The MAC bluettoth keyboard is itself a thing of beauty, and would not look out of place in the simplest or most elegant surrounds.. It looks a bit posh here!

ATB from George

I had one on order but when I heard Yosemite allowed hi res display with Screen Share I cancelled it.

I got mine before Yosemite.  It made a huge difference but with Yosemite I don't know if it helps.  Its been plugged into my mini for a while

For better advice you guys should explain what it is you are controlling on the mini. Also waht devices you have, phones etc. 

I have to say that a bluetooth keyboard, or VNC/Screen share is about the worse/last option.

What is wrong with a bluetooth MAC keyboard?

Even as a complete computer numpty, I have never had a single problem with this method in three years of MAC mini use. Perhaps I am just lucky?

I control iTunes as well as general use of the computer for Forum and Emails, and editing photos with iPhoto, and so on. Probably I do not challenge the mini very much ...

I do use an iPod or anything else like an MP3-playing phone, but do use an HP printer occasionally.

Please explain what is wrong with just about the simplest solution? Simple is good isn't it?

ATB from George

George I suspect you use a mini in the traditional sense, i.e. its hooked up to a screen.

I am assuming the general questioning is coming from someone who ideally wants to use his mini 'headless' i.e. without a screen. Or the mini is connected to a TV across the room. HDMI into a TV is great for watching movies, but terrible for actual computer screen use as the pixels are large and there is not many of them.

There are some terrific solutions for such a scenario, you can even turn it to your advantage, for instance if you use itunes, and your mini is hooked up to a TV, control it with 'remote' on an iphone/ipad/ipod and have 'screensleeves' running on the mac. This kicks off a screen saver displaying the currently playing song, with glorious full res artwork.

In this context, a bluetooth keyboard and mouse is a mess. You either sit at the sofa awkwardly trying to use these devices intended for desktop use, or you have to be up closer to the TV looking at huge, lo res pixels.

Hense my question, what is it you want to control.

Thanks all for the advice and opinions.

My Mac Mini will have one use only - to play music through the DAC. I have a HP laptop and iPad for all other uses and don't own a Mac Book. For me, the only problem with the iPad is having to a) grab it off the wife / kids, b) remember to take it in to the listening room with me. I want something that will stay in the listening room and I want a bigger screen than on my phone.

I am happy using the touchscreen UI of n-stream and Sonos, and have to date only used iTunes for synching my iPod and not for playing music (but imagine that iTunes is a popular player for the Mac Mini). I don't even know if you need a keyboard for playing music through iTunes or if it works via touchscreen (or moving a cursor around a screen) i.e. without requiring a keyboard.

The TV would obviously fit the requirement of always being in the room, and was looking just now at the Apple Magic Trackpad - again attractive as it would only be used with the Mac Mini. Is that a good option ?

This is probably obvious to a lot of you, but alas not to me :-

Given that my Mac Mini and my TV will both be connected to the LAN via ethernet cable to a network switch, can this connection not be used to get the Mac Mini video output on the TV ?

Or what about video from the Mac Mini going to the TV wirelessly via DLNA ?

Happy to route an HDMI cable from Mac Mini to TV, but just trying to see if there are ways around this.

Am not aware of option on Mac display settings so may need additional hardware, star tech make a HDMI over lan converter but never used one so cannot say how effective it is. 

For initial set-up of the Mini, do I need a keyboard as well as a monitor ?

For set-up, it's no problem for me to plug the Mini in to a TV via HDMI, but I don't have a keyboard - unless I can somehow use the one on my HP laptop, or get the Splashtop 2 app working on my iPad for set-up ?

I understand that either option above will allow me to see the Mac Mini display on my portable device, but do they also allow data entry or would I also need eg. a bluetooth keyboard for that ?

Just go to a local drugstore and buy a usb keyboard for a few bucks

For those using remote desktop apps, how many have configured the firewall in their broadband / cable router to block the relevant ports to prevent unauthorised access across the internet?