Filed under: Audio, Hardware, iTS, Software, iMac, One More Thing
Front Row = Apple's big foot in the Media Center door
Conrad from Joystiq brought up a great question about the new Front Row software: What's CenterStage going to say? I briefly played with their alpha and it looks a lot like Front Row. Of course, I'm sure there aren't a whole lot of ways to pull off a media center oritented application and not look like the next guy. The second thing to hit me was: I wonder if Apple will make Front Row available for other Macs.Then I realized this new iMac with Front Row, video iPods and the introduction of full-on video downloads in the iTunes Music Store (iTunes Video Store?) symbolizes Apple taking a big first step into the media center market. They now make the media software, portable hardware and offer audio and video downloads. Let's hear it for innovative competition!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LD said 3:44PM on 10-12-2005
"Then I realized this new iMac with Front Row, video iPods and the introduction of full-on video downloads in the iTunes Music Store (iTunes Video Store?) symbolizes Apple taking a big first step into the media center market."
Thanks, Captain Obvious!
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N. said 3:49PM on 10-12-2005
What CenterStage needs to do is focus still on being open source, and work hard on their live TV functions. Ideally they will be able to make CenterStage accept commands from the FrontRow remote.
FrontRow is a great stepping stone, but will never integrate live TV functions unless there's a DRM on there somewhere. Even then I'd doubt it'll record live TV, pre-scheduled or otherwise, since they are pimping the iTunes for downloading TV Shows.
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jr said 3:51PM on 10-12-2005
I'm surprised Apple didn't put Front Row on the Mac Mini. With everyone using them as media centers, they'd be perfect for this.
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bryan webster said 4:03PM on 10-12-2005
i think apple need to make this remote and front row software available for everyone who has a mac before it can get really big
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Callum said 4:05PM on 10-12-2005
If you go to the Apple Store, under iPod accessories you can buy the universal remote - surley that's one hack and a download (chose your bittorrent client now) to getting the software "Front Row" on Any Bluetooth mac. (offputingly the same name as a radio 4 programme on arts and the like... Front Row = Mark Lawson, Radio 4 listeners will get me).
Interesting, looks like a InfraRed semi-transparent red cover on the front... i wonder if i can point this at my TV too?!
Yeah - take a look at media centre, take a look at Front Row - they look similar *in the basics*.
Now, look at the price: Media Centre PC 900 ( you CANT install Media Centre on any old PC!). But - IF and only if - things are as simple as teh $30 for the Remote and a download of some software... you're only a TV-Tuner away from media centre like capabilities.
So, Yeah- I'm gonna call Apple right now, clarify things.
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Michael Clark said 4:07PM on 10-12-2005
For me Front Row this is a dream come true. TV stresses me out with the blaring commercials and over abundance of garbage. For the last couple years I have just used netflix for getting my favorite tv shows on DVD.
I also would like to see this on the mini so that I could use Front Row in the car and living room.
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Drew said 4:08PM on 10-12-2005
I'd really like to order the remote right now, but only if Front Row is available as a download. And is anyone sure that the remote is actually bluetooth and not IR?
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Callum said 4:14PM on 10-12-2005
"I'm afraid we Can't adapt the Front Row software for older Mac" says my Apple Saleman, that makes me sad. But he made some jokes about chilly Scotland, did you know if you call from out of hours (in the UK) they patch you throught. US Salesmen rock.
Also, the User interface on the new iPod (when connected using the new dock) is not Front Row, its very basic - you control your iPod via the remote... no feedback in the Front Row style on your 42" High-Def Telly. Dang!
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Drew said 4:18PM on 10-12-2005
Dang. I guess I'll continue using the ol' ATI Remote Wonder with my mini.
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Kevin said 7:50PM on 10-12-2005
it has to be IR look at the remote. Blutooth must have to do with something else
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Kevin said 7:50PM on 10-12-2005
it has to be IR look at the remote. Blutooth must have to do with something else
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Derek said 7:59PM on 10-12-2005
I have to say, the new iMac as a "media center" I do not understand. Where exactly is one to position this computer? If you're using it for work, or even just email and the web, will it go in you living room, in front of your couch? Probably not. But you're not liable to sit at a desk with your frinds and loved ones to watch movies. Maybe you're going to spend a couple of grand for essentially a TV replcaement, sure ... but then of course, there's no built in TV tuner, so you can't jack cable into it either. So why the remote? It seems totally useless.
How about just building a video version of the Airport Express? It seems NUTS to me that Apple has yet to make it possible to run DVDs, video files (of any format Quicktime will play) and music - even photos and slideshows - all wirelessly to your stereo and TV. That I would buy, that needs a remote (which transmits to the APX video), and that would be a good use of Front Row software (on your TV of course!)
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RP said 8:56PM on 10-12-2005
CenterStage > Front Row
The final version will have so much information at your fingerips, TV via FireWire or other devices, better remote compatibility, DVD changer support, other device support such as a VCR, etc.
Some of these are already there. I watch TV with it right now. So good.
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Samual Icky said 10:53PM on 10-12-2005
I've said it to a few people at work today and I'll say it again... the iMac is the wrong platform for this product. Roll this out on mini and laptops first... how often is a room designed around an iMac? After all apple tags it as "Music, photos, and video. From your sofa." I'll ask you this... does your sofa face your iMac? The only reason why I think apple put this on the iMac was the fact the iMac has the G5... h.264 needs the a G5. Does center stage also play with mplayer? I doubt Front Row does.
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Colin said 11:00PM on 10-12-2005
I reckon iMac with Front Row works if taken as a great gadget to have in a bedroom, or in a room already with a TV (the latter of these two set ups happens a lot in my experience, even though it seems over the top).
Like Derek, I am dissapointed that Apple have not brought out a new Airport Express device to connect to a TV, but I reckon that's down to having to get the right deals. As well as a TV connection I would expect: 1) Movies; 2) a huge choice of TV shows; and 3) a nicer user interface. Something on this scale would rock the world of PCs, TVs, DVDs and Hard Disk Recorders, I think.
Maybe the companies that make this stuff think the same. They are not going to put their faith (read revenues) in apple, yet.
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Small Paul said 5:08PM on 10-13-2005
How often is a room designed around an iMac? How often did people buy MP3 players before the iPod? The new iMac is stage one. Have a look at your living room. How many remotes are there? How many buttons do they each have? Apple is saying "Screw that: we've got an iMac, and a remote with 6 buttons. That's all you need."
Sure it isn't there yet, but add tv and full movie downloads into the picture, and I'd buy one very quickly.
No idea if anyone else would, but the new iMac is being positioned as an entertainment applicance, over being a computer. The times, they are a-changing.
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Chuck5566 said 3:23PM on 10-28-2005
I really can't consider any Mac a multimedia box until it comes with an All-in-Wonder video/tv card. Plain and simple; cut and dry; black and white. WHAT HAS BEEN THE HOLD UP?! And puh-lease, no EyeTV.
(And I have no association with ATI other then customer.)
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David Chartier said 3:15PM on 11-02-2005
Chuck5566 it's funny you say that, cuz Apple offered machines with full-on video in/out about a decade ago. Needless to say, they were a tad ahead of their time. I'm not familiar with which model or exactly what year they were, but I've heard about them from other publications and we used to have a few lying around an older lab on campus.
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