digg

Join DiggAbout

Discover the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.

Apple's Front Row Comes Closer to Couch-Driven Computing

washingtonpost.com — Now that the computer industry is nearing the end of its decades-long quest to ensure that nobody's nose is farther than three feet from a monitor, some companies are moving on to a different, more difficult goal: Letting you keep using the computer from across the room.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • test5477, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2looks pretty cool, another good apple program. Very few bad programs from Apple recently, just an observation.
  • kawai, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Windows XP MCE 2005 >> front row
  • jermm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Man, that guy is bitchin about how the imac doesn't have a modem.
  • hyperpasta, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Windows XP Media Center = Archos PMP
    Front Row = iPod

    Some people digg the extra features of Windows MCE. Others prefer the less-advanced but cooler and easier to use Front Row. I call a tie.
  • schmiddi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3the one thing the article was good at was at pointing out that while Windows Media Center is a superior product when it comes to features it does not mean it is easier to use. Especially with something like a media center which is used from the couch the less features the better. a living room device should work out of the box doing exactly what the user needs it to do. Apple will certainly improve on the current version of front row and once it will be included in the Mac mini it will be probably have lost most of its bugs (similar to the iPod actually). This is going to be an interface for the living room in the end and the mini the set top box. the media center is a computer OS and nothing more.
  • sabarsky, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0that guy wrote: "The last issue with Front Row is that it runs on only one computer."

    sigh.
  • sexysysadmin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I have you front row. I bought it for my parents. They placed there media PC from windows on craigslist!!!
  • capajc, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0It'll have the same problem many Apple products have: better and easier to use at the substantial (and, for me, deal-killing) cost of being less flexible.

    Still, glad they're trying.
  • rdas7, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Yeah what's up with that mention "it comes with an iSight but no internal modem"
  • rdas7, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Yeah what's up with that mention "it comes with an iSight but no internal modem" as if these things are even remotely related???

    Yah, Apple the suXX0rz cuz they don't ship a 56k modem anymore. Well I stopped buying Macs when they killed the 800k floppy!!

    ha ha ha.

    Good article. +digg
  • hyperpasta, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@capajc

    While Apple products are less flexible, the main difference in Front Row is it does NOT have TV support. Other features on WMCE (Photo Editing, wtf?) aren't particularly important.

    And what does Front Row have that WMCE doesn't? About 40 less buttons on the remote, and a super-simple, eye-pleasing interface. Take your pick, but I choose Front Row.
  • SpringBoy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If you want flexibility you should be using something like Freevo or MythTV. Open source goodness for full control (and plugins :).

    If you just want to actually sit down and use a generic system then WMCE or Front Row are ideal.
  • Flynnz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I dont know....can you even watch tv through Front Row? (not to mention dvr capabilities)

    Seems a lil watered down if you ask me. Compared to MCE or Myth.
  • Flynnz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0"And what does Front Row have that WMCE doesn't? About 40 less buttons on the remote, and a super-simple, eye-pleasing interface. Take your pick, but I choose Front Row."

    I never thought using a remote was "hard" and MCE isnt exactly ugly.
    Not too mention you have to give props to microsoft cause they had MCE way before anyone else.

    And lastly, if you ask me the best ability of MCE is that you CAN watch and record TV. But I would NOT put it past Apple that they didnt want TV cause then the remote would be "ugly" with all the extra buttons needed, and harder to "brand" F'n sad. I mean Christ the remote looks like a damn shuffle. Are people really falling for this stuff?

    Would also like to point out that the interface looks very similar to www.microsoft.com/max/ (the 3d picture effect)
  • chuckythe2651, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I like the article, and I agree with most of what is said. However, the writer did miss the big difference that makes MCE the better app (for now) MCE can be used as a DVR.

    I realize that this is a 1.0 app but the DVR function should have been there. Once it is I think Apple will be putting it on a Mac Mini and they will tout it as a MCE, TIVO, and cable DVR killer (and it will be). But until then... it's a neat app but I will not be replacing my Tivo anytime soon.
  • scbysnx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Front row = itunes pushing media monger
    windows mce = atempt at making windows the center of your life... again
  • gohepcat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Man. Apple fans are bizarre folks. Front row is fine, but MCE is a very, very nice app, with tons of 3rd party support, an elegant, easy to use, robust design, and great performance.

    Front Row is painfully limited. Comparing the remotes is a little misleading. I probably use about 5 buttons on my MCE remote 90% of the time. I have the option of using the other 45, but rarely do.
  • Dragular, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0"And what does Front Row have that WMCE doesn't? About 40 less buttons on the remote, and a super-simple, eye-pleasing interface. Take your pick, but I choose Front Row."

    That gets on my nerves... all this stuff about Apple's stuff being "eye-pleasing." It's still a damned computer monitor, it's still text and graphics... I'm betting if you spent all night with the light out staring at it doing some sort of graphics work, your eyeballs would STILL burn at around 4 or 5 am.

    "Eye pleasing?" Get me an interface that consists of two naked women doin' somethin naughty, that's eye pleasing. Rounded corners and weird colors do not please my eyes.
  • vernsan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Who still uses dial up? I'm glad to see them go more toward broadband though. Which could only mean better things to come for us, such as more broadband in areas and such. Simplicity helps when you don't want to look on the remote trying to find the button just to stop the media, or many other things. It all depends on the persons preference.
  • rjespo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Front Row runs smoothly on my 1 GHz laptop with 32 megs of video ram. And it looks excellent on my TV. If they add a TV tuner, thumbnails for photos, and fix the few omissions in the interface, then I'd definitely buy it (if they ever sell it).
  • hyperpasta, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@Dragular

    hehe. Don't mean to flame the flames, but us Mac users would say that this is a perfect example of what Windows users don't get. PRODUCTS SHOULDN'T BE UGLY!
  • hyperpasta, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1*fan the flames
  • sexypixels, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Windows users are so used to so much ugly in their computing experience that anything with an Apple aesthetic looks superfluous.
  • reclusivemonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Mac Mini + Front Row

    Grandma Test? I reckon she could do it if someone plugged it in for her...

    Hey, I've got Myth, I built the machine mostly from spare parts, and I love it. But this is going to appeal to people with no computer nous at all, which face it, is the majority of people. Simplicity is the key here, the style is simply a bonus.
  • laughingboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0After playing with it for a while, I'd consider the current Front Row running at version 0.5

    I love the interface and the simple approach that Apple is taking with the interface and remote. But...

    In the name of all things Holy, add HD content sourcing (DVR/download), polish, and release it on an Intel mac mini we faster/bigger storage at MWSF and call the banks to increase the size of the cash vaults set aside for Apple.

  • Flynnz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"hehe. Don't mean to flame the flames, but us Mac users would say that this is a perfect example of what Windows users don't get. PRODUCTS SHOULDN'T BE UGLY!"

    sorry there is nothing ugly about MCE. Thats really a stretch. Think you are better off making fun of all those complicated buttons (read options) that come with the MCE remotes.

  • JustinPM, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I don't know. . . . Myself, I like XBMC. Front Row doesn't look like anything new to me. As for WMCE, I think before I'd go to that, I'd give freevo and Myth a try. Crediting Apple with things others have done but without the sheen Apple puts on it is just lame. Hell, even ATI has EAZYLOOK. Bah, let the Zealots have their candy, I like function over flair.
  • Flynnz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I agree XBMC is sweet. If it had HDTV support I would be all sorts of happy.
  • Gills, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i think apple is just scratching the surface with Frontrow. this type of thing is right up their alley and wouldnt be suprised to see a fully functional version of frontrow appear in a few years. maybe even a complete pvr hardware solution.
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.