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Reader Report: Front Row Works with Other Macs

by , 4:00 PM EST, October 31st, 2005

Front Row, Apple's new media management software, will work with Macs other than the new iMac on which it ships, according to reports submitted by TMO readers. According to those reports, the software worked when installed on a Power Mac G5 along with Apple's Universal Dock, which has a built-in infrared receiver, or Xkeys, software that allows you to customize your function keys.

Front Row allows users to remotely manage their media files -- including music, video, and photos -- from an easy to use graphical interface suitable for use from a couch. In other words, Front Row is Apple's first step to making the Mac into a media center computer/set top box, but it's currently only available with new iMac G5 models.

Apple has not announced plans to sell the software with other Macs, or as a standalone application, but it's clear that a combination of Apple or third party IR receivers and Front Row would give any Mac those abilities. Whether Apple sees the possibility of selling more iMacs or developing a new software revenue stream remains to be seen.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:sebimeyer Posts: 1 Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:17 pm Subject: logical part of iLife suite

Front Row seems to be a missing link in the iLife suite. I would not be surprised at all if Apple keeps it iMac exclusive for the holiday shopping season but debuts iLife with iTunes, iMovies, iDVD and now Front Row at the MacWorld Expo San Francisco in January.


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Close Name:Bryan -   TMO Staff Posts: 7325 Joined: 11 Jun 2001
Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:28 pm Subject:

I agree, sebimeyer.

Bryan
Editor
TMO


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View Name:Guest
Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:07 pm Subject: The infrared acts as a dongle
Close Name:djta630 Posts: 9 Joined: 18 Jun 2002
Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:18 pm Subject: 10.4.3 update...

Is it me - or does Front Row now not work on "unsupported" macs after the update?

Anyone?


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View Name:Guest
Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:10 am Subject: it's just you
View Name:Guest
Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:07 pm Subject: This should help
Close Name:JulesLt Posts: 136 Joined: 06 Jul 2005
Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:01 pm Subject: iLife 06

'Including FrontRow, Photobooth and an IR Remote to control your Mac' - come on, they've got to give us some reason to buy the upgrade.

I presume it only works with G5 based Macs, or at least only Macs with video cards that can support CoreImage?


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Close Name:lab_tech Posts: 128 Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:53 pm Subject:

No, you do not need a G5 to run FrontRow. This app works with G3 iBooks with 32 MB VRAM. The one thing you do need is iLife 05. This suite is a must for it to work for iPhoto. I like Front Row on my G3 iBook but it is quite slow.


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View Name:Guest
Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:32 am Subject: Front row
Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 2833 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:25 pm Subject: Re: Front row

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
IT ONLY WORKS WITH MACS THAT HAVE A REMOTE


No need to shout.

With Leopard, Front Row works just fine without a remote. You use the keyboard to navigate.


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