Front Row (software)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Front Row | |
|---|---|
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 Front Row v2 (Included with Leopard) |
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| Developed by | Apple Inc. |
| Latest release | 2.1.3 / April 2, 2007 |
| OS | Mac OS X |
| Genre | Media Center |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | Apple: Front Row |
Front Row is a software application for Apple's Macintosh computers that acts as a media viewer and allows for users to browse media on their computers using the Apple Remote or a keyboard. The concept behind the product is similar to that of Microsoft's Windows Media Center, but without the TV recording capability. The software is included on all shipping Macs. It was announced by Steve Jobs at an Apple special event on October 12, 2005.
Apple TV uses a new version of Front Row and also uses the Apple Remote. This version is included with Mac OS X Leopard.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Front Row in Leopard
Unlike Front Row in Tiger, Leopard now features additional TV Shows, Music, Podcasts, Settings, and Sources menus which can be accessed in the menu screen, in addition to Movies, Photos, Music, and DVD. The new Front Row resembles the Apple TV's graphical interface, featuring dynamic 3D Cover Flow-like shuffling of Album Arts and Photos on the left of the screen while scrolling through the menu. Also, whereas the original Front Row was accessible only via the remote or the keyboard shortcut, the Leopard version includes a launcher application.
[edit] Notes
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (November 2007) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
- The digital audio out port will function as a line-level port, ie: the volume from this port cannot be controlled via the remote.
- Front Row can also be accessed using ⌘+⎋ (Command Key and Escape) or F1 (depending on the computer), useful if the remote control has been broken or misplaced
- All media types playable by QuickTime or QuickTime components (including DivX and Windows Media) can be played in Front Row so long as the correct components are installed; it indexes all files under the Movies subfolder of the user's home directory, regardless of whether they are included in the iTunes library.
- Widescreen movies from Final Cut Pro are displayed with the incorrect aspect ratio.
- Just as with Exposé, Dashboard and the minimize effect, Front Row also has a slow motion mode which is accessed by using the shift key when opening or closing Front Row.
- With a little work you can play and add Internet Radio in FrontRow
- As of OS X 10.5 (Leopard), Front Row is no longer able to stream music using AirTunes to an AirPort Express unit.
- DVD Video covers can be displayed by adding a .jpg image to the movies title folder. The video cover image will not be displayed if the image is in a folder that contains a rip of a DVD disc. (video_ts)
- Front Row doesn't come with the YouTube features that are present on the Apple TV.
- Activating Front Row pauses iTunes and songs playing in Front Row are stopped on exiting. While Front Row on Tiger could be used as a controller to iTunes, on Leopard it cannot.
- The "zoom out from desktop" animation when starting Front Row has been replaced by a "fade to black" animation.
- Cover Art isn't displayed when source is a different computer on your network.
- Plugin Directory within the FrontRow.app allows for properly coded 3rd Party Plug-Ins. Includes EyeTV and other media browsers.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Apple Mac mini — Front Row
- Apple iMac — Front Row
- Apple MacBook — Front Row
- Apple MacBook Pro — Front Row
