Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Multimedia, Software, Apple
Petition for Front Row on all Macs
How bad do you want Front Row, the application that turns an iMac into a Media Center Mac, on all your other Macs? Right now, you can buy an Apple Remote, a new Universal Dock— but no Front Row? Well one guy isn't taking this lying down. Nathan Sharp has used PetitionOnline.com to create the Front Row Software Request Petition. A gentle request by over 1,000 (so far) Macheads to Apple, asking them to release Front Row into the wild. No specification as to free, paid, etc.The question is, how much would you pay? Apple is, after all, a hardware company. Should Front Row come bundled with the Remote? What about if you buy the remote and the dock you get it free? Otherwise, maybe $19.99? Personally, I think Apple should release it as a free download to .Mac users, just because I roll like that (and have a .mac account).
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Hee Haw said 5:20PM on 10-14-2005
I don't know why they would or will.
I'm thinking about buying the first discounted new model 17" iMac that comes along now. Partly because of Firewire support drop on new iPod. (iBook only regular USB)
Yuh, I'm a whore-- but could justify it is a business expense.
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Dan said 5:22PM on 10-14-2005
I think it should be bundled with the remote and an IR reciever/dongle. I'd happily pay $40 for that package.
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James Kahler said 5:24PM on 10-14-2005
All in good time. And I don't imagine we'll be waiting too long. If i was a betting man, I'd say that: 1) we'll see FrontRow on any new hardware introduced and 2) we'll see it rolled into iLife '06. I don't recall when we saw iLife '05 released, but we're certainly closing in on an update.
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Scott said 5:25PM on 10-14-2005
would iTunes have gotten if they did something similar?
I don't think I would pay just for the software, at least not until I'm able to view this content on my TV without a a rat's nest of wire, but that remote is perfect.
So yes, it should come standard with the remote. Don't know about a free download; is it possible to control front row with the mouse?
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LD said 5:33PM on 10-14-2005
PetitionOnline is the most retarded thing ever.
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Mark said 5:35PM on 10-14-2005
Around $50 would seem fair. Of course that would be $90 in the UK *sigh*.
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Bj? said 5:44PM on 10-14-2005
Hey, what about the Salling Clicker ?
http://www.salling.com/
Isn't that like Front Row on steriods ?
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DaveH said 5:46PM on 10-14-2005
So that new I-pod dock, with the IR receiver, is (or will it be) controlable by a universal or programable remote? If this goes in the living room, I'd rather give the $29 to Logitech towards a harmony remote, and run everything rather than just buy the apple remote.
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Brady J. Frey said 5:48PM on 10-14-2005
Our work has a perfect example of why we need this. We have a 50"+ smart screen wall mounted, it's managed by a mac mini and some bluetooth keyboards. We've transferred all our tapes and dvd's into quicktime movies for training and support -- we use it for graphical presentations as well and have isight on it for video conferencing. Front Row loaded on the mac mini would be perfect -- we have no need to buy a 17" monitor only to connect it to a 50" screen.
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Moosey said 8:05PM on 10-14-2005
They need to make a software package at their $79 level.
Why $79?
-Apple Remote
-IR Receiver (that mounts on the top, like iSight)
-Front Row program
While all the above probably comes to $50 or $60 total, it's apple we're talking about.
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Mars said 8:49PM on 10-14-2005
Nothing about the new Apple remote requires an IR receiver. It is a bluetooth device, and theoretically should already be supported buy the minis with BT. The only thing they would require is the software.
Considering the current gen minis don't have BT standard Apple may be waiting for the "new" 1,5 gig models. Then they will have a complete line of computers with support for the remote and perhaps then they will allow you to download the software seperately.
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Moosey said 11:42PM on 10-14-2005
Why would they bother using IR if its a bluetooth device?? Is there confirmation?
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Aaron said 11:44PM on 10-14-2005
Please don't spread misinformation. The remote is IR, not Bluetooth.
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Mars said 11:58PM on 10-14-2005
Actually it appears that the standalone remote being sold at the apple store is IR, but everything I've read about the remote bundled with the iMac says that it's bluetooth (nothing on apple.com seems to specify, though).... hmmm, are they indeed two different remotes?
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Aaron said 12:02AM on 10-15-2005
The remote is IR only. I am 100% positive.
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Victor Agreda, Jr. said 12:06AM on 10-15-2005
There is indeed confusion on this. So far no kb articles have appeared. There's this:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=MA128G/A
Which is the only "product" page I can find. It says the remote is compatible with any Apple product introduced in 2005 with IR. Which would be the universal dock, and the iMac??? Yeah, I heard BT repeatedly as well, but I suppose the iMac could have IR in iSight. But the iMac specs show no sign of IR.
Perhaps it does both? That'd be cool. I'll look into it.
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Mars said 12:07AM on 10-15-2005
IR it is then... I don't know where I got confused, but apparently I wasn't the only one http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000633063054/
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LD said 3:08AM on 10-15-2005
You were confused because of the horrible fact-checking of Weblogs, Inc.
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Neil Cochrane said 5:43AM on 10-15-2005
Front Row will be available to most computers come iLife 06 - let's face it, this is the best way to sell movies when that comes alone sometime in the future.
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Mark said 9:55AM on 10-15-2005
i did my part and signed the petition! i REALLY want FrontRow!
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