Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Why no Front Row download? I'll tell you why

Mar 1, 2006 4:29AM PST

Two words - Remote Control.

How many Mac models have an infrared port? How many of those ship with Front Row? All of them.

I believe it's a usability / support issue, and not an Apple conspiracy to keep this software away from people.

It doesn't appear that they've placed any restriction on the software in that it will work on a Mac if you install it. If you can figure out how to install it, then you can figure out how to run it.

But, if it was installed by default on everyone's computer in a patch, how would most people use it if they didn't have a remote? The software is intended to be an 'across the room' feature, which pretty much requires a remote.

The average non-technical user is not going to know how to get the software to work without the remote, and so making it available would generate a ton of support requests or active user frustration: "I've got it installed on my computer and the darn thing won't work." (As opposed to passive user frustration: "I want it, but I don't know how to get it.")

By the end of the year, all the computers will have Front Row, all will have remotes.

People with older computers can get the exact same functionality by using the DVD Player, iTunes, iPhoto and QuickTime.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Theoretically, it shouldn't be that hard to do ...
Mar 1, 2006 4:55AM PST

... using a standard presentation-type remote. I believe those remotes just simulate keyboard presses, which makes them work. All one should have to do is set up a remote to simulate pressing the arrow keys, and what-not, and it should work just fine.

As for Front Row, I had used a website from Andrew Escobar, using his program called Front Row Enabler. He has a link to download Front Row 1.01, and if you try to install the package without using his Front Row Enabler, it will tell you that you need an iMac G5 with a built-in iSight camera to be able to install it. I'm currently running Front Row on my PowerBook G4 with no problems. So theoretically, it should be able to be installed on say, an older Mini connected to your TV. Add a remote, and voila! you should be good to go.

At least, I'm hoping it's that easy! Happy

-Terry

- Collapse -
I tend to agree
Mar 1, 2006 11:36AM PST

I'll buy that. Apple certainly hasn't made any effort to take down the Front Row Enabler stuff, and I think I remember seeing that the Keyspan folks updated their remote software with preloaded button mappings for Front Row. I have Front Row on my G4 mini, so I think the next step is to try out a remote. If that works then it'll be time to try and hook it to the plasma and find a S/PDIF connection that will do AC3 passthough for MPEG4 files (I think I found one, but I'll just have to try it).

- Collapse -
Some things aren't a la carte
Mar 1, 2006 12:41PM PST

As I hear people continute to gripe about not being able to install Frontrow on their computer, I'm thinking ''isn't it supposed to function with a remote?''

Yes, there are workarounds, as there almost always are with software but I honestly hear this stuff and realize that so many people just don't get ''The Mac Way'' yet. Do I really have to keep saying software/hardware INTEGRATION over and over? Happy

I've noticed the ones yelling for it the most are typically coming from the PC side where everything is a la carte whether it works well in the complete system or not. If you want Frontrow and you want it to work well, buy a system that was designed to use it. Otherwise just buy a PC Media Center.

-Kevin S.

- Collapse -
Now I feel bad
Mar 2, 2006 1:56AM PST

See I'm one of those folks running Front Row on a system not designed for it. If I had $800 laying around to buy *another* Mac mini I probably would, but I don't.

So I would, in general, agree that buying the integration is the right way to go for most folks, when you're a tinkerer and technologist whose wife has a limited tolerance for the number of computers in the house you work around it all. Wink

BTW, we have as many iPods as mammals in the house (that includes the two cats) and more computers than mammals too. Since everything is networked I'm expecting the machine revolution to start any day now. Happy

-KyleNotBelvidere

- Collapse -
I'm divided with my feelings on it
Mar 2, 2006 2:17AM PST

On the one hand, I'd kind of like to download it myself, take it for a test drive even though I know the car would be missing a few pieces and parts and just kind of check it out. Maybe it would even encourage me to say "hey, I can see how cool this would be on a system that has it all" and go out and buy one.

But then I see Apple's side of it where people might A) be clogging their support channels because they can't figure out why this isn't doing that isn't doing this, etc. because it's missing fetures and B) removes an incentive for people to go out and buy another piece of Apple hardware. Apple just wants to sell things, like any other company. We'd like to think they're cool tech geeks like us but they are a company that has to feed the beast (payroll, R&D, rent, etc.)

-Kevin S.