How to play Pandora on mini without a monitor

I should mention i control it with my itouch. I have pandora on my itouch but it only plays thru headphones. I want to be able to start it up on the mini headless.

Use a VNC client on the itouch to control the Mini. Set up a shortcut to pandora.

What VNC clients are there for the iTouch/iPhone?

So you could do a VNC client for Pandora (and other operations)and use the Itunes Remote for controlling Itunes? I that right?

What about internet radio like viewing and changing stations?

Internet radio stations can be added as items in iTunes. Then the Apple remote app for iPhone/Touch works very well for choosing them, though I have had problems with hangs while the stream buffers.

I have never used VNC before. How would i go about setting that up on my Itouch and creating a Pandora shortcut?
I have a sonos system and can start it up on there, but don't have another zone player to hook up to my Mini. Seems like alot of $$ just to open Pandora remotely.

All you need to do is go to the app store and search "vnc". There are plenty of them- I use a free one and it works fine. I will post later today which one. Setup is easy- just google it and make sure that you are using instructions for the proper OS. OSX 10.x has the vnc server built in so there is no additional software to load on the MAC.

I calibrate my DRC remotely via VNC so it can be quite capable.

Just to clarify

VNC has two pieces; the server and the client.

Itouch/iphone is the client- this is a free app download from the app store.

OSX has the server built in. All you need to do is enable it and point the client that runs on the itouch/phone to the internal IP assigned to the mini by your router. OSX will display this for you in network settings.

What you will see afterwards is literally your mini desktop appear on your itouch.

Also- I have a vista PC that also has a VNC client and this is how I do maintenance on the mini. Add applications, etc.

Wow. Thanks for the detailed info Robr45. I will try it tommorrow when i get home from work. Can't wait!!

Robr45,

I have just started to set up my mac mini and just implemented the VNC screen sharing you recommended. You just flat out made my day. Thanks so much. I can now turn off my server from upstairs, use Pandora, Classicalarchives, and control everything I wanted to. You're a prince.

Brilliant! Thanks again. I don't buy cd's much these days as i have very little time to search for new music. I like to put on Pandora and let that find me new music. I upgraded to Pandora One and it sounds really good to me.

Is there an similar solution to control Pandora via the iPod touch or iPhone and direct the Pandora steam from a remote desktop to an Apple TV?

Currently, I open Pandora on the desktop and then "highjack" the stream using Airfoil in order to direct it to the Apple TV in my main and secondary system. Works OK, but to change Pandora stations I have to go back to the desktop.

Thanks in advance.

I was able to answer my own question thanks to the tips of Robr45. I now have Pandora up and running and fully controlled from my Touch using Airfoil and VNC viewer. I just started a new thread with more detail.

Thanks to all. This has been an ongoing frustration now fully resolved.

This is the right place for me to learn about Internet Radio. I used HD radio, Zune HD with no satisfaction abt SQ.

Recently, I bought the HP netbook 210110Nr and registered with Pandora for $36.00 a year. I used the old Yamaha DSPA1 with a $10.00 Y cable from RadioShack and the speakers are the old Mirage SFX7 floor standing.I am pretty pleased with the SQ.

Would you guys think the HTR Music Steamer Dac will worth the investment? Any idea of any better Y RCA cable than the one from RS? Thank you.

I can almost guarantee a better y adapter will not make an audible improvement to the sound. However, if it makes you feel better get one from audioquest or transparent.