digg

Join DiggAbout

Donkeys and Elephants and Delegates,oh my!
Check out the most popular Elections 2008 content on Digg.

Front Row Enabler Gets a Cease and Dessist

andrewescobar.com — Andrew Escobar, the author of Front Row Enabler - which allowed you to install Front Row on a Mac that would not otherwise support it - has received an email from Apple instructing him to remove all Front Row related software from his site. He has complied.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • Heiliger, on 10/12/2007, -5/+24What a shame... it was great while it lasted.
    Thanks for the efforts, Andrew.

    I would now like to take a moment to vent my frustration and anger on the topic, a la Shatner:
    "KKKKkkkaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhnnnnnnnn!"
    • andesco, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8I was wondering who the hell left that comment on the site. Anyway, I didn't give it any thought. I had no time to fight this, nor did I really want if I could have. Not worth my time right now.
    • cadpo76, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5For those of you who dont know:
      www.khaaan.com
  • kaiyraa, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Well, who's got a mirror?
    • thelastknowngod, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6i didnt even know this was out... thank god for bittorrent.
  • dhakbar, on 10/12/2007, -13/+10Sad, but understandable.
    • Geterix, on 10/12/2007, -11/+26Translation:

      When Apple does somthing like this, it is cool. If it was someone else I would be bitching about how innovation is being squashed by an evil corporate machine.

    • Claymore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Correct Translation (and let me know if I'm wrong dhakbar):

      Its sad, but understandable that Andrew Escobar had to take it down because he probably doesn't have the time or resources to battle with Apple's legal team.

  • zenmouse, on 10/12/2007, -9/+25You've fought a good fight Andrew. Unfortunately Apple has a good train of logic going.. Customers are going to want Front Row SO BAD that they'll buy a new computer to get it. You should have seen that coming. Think of the sales they've lost thanks to your site. Sheesh!
    • nuclearpenguins, on 10/12/2007, -11/+22I don't know if your reply was sarcasm or not, but it if wasn't is the point of Digg to stick up for the little guy unless he harms the all mighty Apple? Seems like a double-standard to me.

      Just in case it was sarcasm I digged you anyways.
  • Roger, on 10/12/2007, -17/+5Hmm.. so this guy Escobar is facing potential legal trouble?
    • isoprophlex, on 10/12/2007, -8/+26Hahaha.... With the last name Escobar, you need to steer clear of any potential legal wrong doing.
    • isoprophlex, on 10/12/2007, -9/+10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Escobar
    • andesco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3lol. My last name does a lot more than it does good. Than again, you never do forget it.
    • XSforMe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Escobar is a fairly common last name in Spain. There are lots of Escobars (including myself) scattered throughout latinamerica too.
  • sud0n1m, on 10/12/2007, -15/+6Kind of a shame - guess you'll all have to get intel macs now :)
  • dyessdawg, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5FrontRow is freakin awesome though... that's a real shame. I'll keep using frontrow on my iBook G4. Who needs a remote!
    • zenmouse, on 10/12/2007, -12/+11bluetooth phone. that's where it's at.
  • Elxx, on 10/12/2007, -21/+39If this was something about a Windows app, all of you would be going "OMGZZ EVIL MICROSOFT DIE DIE".
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -18/+20No, I'm pretty sure I'd condemn any software pirating. Be it Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, whatever.

      If you don't want to pay for it, write your own, or use a free/OS version. You have no legal right or expectation to use FrontRow, you didn't buy it, you have no license for it. What Apple did was protect their IP, something any company should do.

      Seriously people, let's not turn Piracy into an Apple/Microsoft Intel/AMD Closed/Open source flamewar.
    • ubpsanity, on 10/12/2007, -8/+21Sure, no problem, I'll run right out and buy it..

      Oh wait, that's right, you forgot you can't buy it. How else are you going to run the software? Well, you can buy the $1500 version, with the free computer thrown in as part of the package.

      And it's also a free download straight off of Apple's site anyway, not exactly pirating if Apple gives it to you.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -18/+18"Sure, no problem, I'll run right out and buy it.. Oh wait, that's right, you forgot you can't buy it. How else are you going to run the software? Well, you can buy the $1500 version, with the free computer thrown in as part of the package."

      You also have the $600 and $800 options. Believe it or not, just as you don't have the right to use OS X on non-Apple hardware, you also don't have the right to use Front Row on non-Apple Remote systems. It's pretty straight forward, and it's in the license. Hell, the software prevents itself from being ran as a part of that licensing scheme.

      What this guy did was wrote an application to circumvent that licensing scheme. He infringed on Apple's IP. If Apple cared enough, they'd sue the guy for every penny in lost sales they could prove (which is at least one, and could be more if they grabbed his download logs). Instead, they chose to write this guy a letter and ask him nicely to stop what he was doing, because it was illegal. And because the guy was smart, he agreed.

      "And it's also a free download straight off of Apple's site anyway, not exactly pirating if Apple gives it to you."

      It's a free download /for those with an Apple Remote/. The Apple Remote is a hardware key that acts as the licensing agent for Front Row. Same thing with some of the Autodesk applications, where you have to buy a USB2 key dongle that you plug into the port and allows the application to be ran. It might not be the best of licensing schemes, but Apple chose it over Product Activation (aka tracking users), or strict DRM. And that's their right. You still don't have the right to use it, even if you can download it off the site.
    • avatarpalin, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2That's because there is still a very clear and distinct difference between apple and Microsoft...

    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -18/+18So why are you guys modding me down, because what I speak is the truth and you support Piracy?

      I hope you guys bought HDTVs, when HDCP hits and you can't watch your movies without buying new TVs, I'll be the one laughing because it was your practices that caused it to happen. When Microsoft starts shipping systems like the Origami and eventually their desktop systems with DRM like that of the Xbox 360, again, I'll be the one laughing. When companies like Intel launch DTCP-IP, and you can't get on the "Trusted" Internet because your computer contains unlicensed media, again, I'll be laughing.

      Why? Because I'll know what caused it. You. Pirates. Believe it or not, using something without getting permission is not legal in this USA. People equate it to stealing, because it is, only, not criminal so it's not theft. It's Copyright Infringment. If you don't like the copyright system as it is, civil disobediance isn't going to change it; you don't have enough political clout on your own to change it. I'm sorry to tell you the truth, but that's how it is. Companies like Apple and Microsoft, the RIAA and the MPAA have the money and the political clout to fight for whatever laws they want passed, and in this simple case, they want to protect that in which they put their hard work, money, and time into. They want to protect their businesses from people who want to take advantage of the business, and not pay the price.

      The only way to win against copyright is lobbying and boycotting. If you don't like Apple's practice of requiring you to have the remote, don't buy their products. It really is that simple. If you don't like Microsoft keeping you from running Linux on your Xbox 360, don't buy one. If you don't like Adobe keeping track of you every time you install the software you purchased, don't buy it. Vote with your dollar and not your act of Piracy. (Because, as you may know, when you pirate it, you're simply voting for it, only you're saying you don't have any dollars).

      So please, censor me if you feel the DRM'd future is something you want. But I advise otherwise. The wise will listen and realize what they are doing is wrong and stop. This guy did just that. And that's all Apple asked of him.
    • chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23"Why? Because I'll know what caused it. You. Pirates."

      Right. Because Lexmark wouldn't lock in their ink cartridges if people didn't steal them all the time. Wait...

      Lets try that again.

      Microsoft wouldn't have used various lock-in schemes, proprietary formats, anti-trust tactics, and other legal and illegal methods to lock consumers into using their product if they would stop pirating it. Err... wait.

      One more try.

      The MIAA and other media industries would never use zone-schemes to charge different amounts for the same product depending on the country and/or household income if you would all just agree to pay a small percentage of your gross income. There. That works.
      Next year, if you submit your last-year's w-2's to the MIAA, you can get yourself a license to by non-region coded DVD's at a price based on your income... instead of your income by location.

      Point being is that DRM, Trusted Computing, DVD region coding, all of it stems from market control, lock-in and price tiers based on income, location, or other products you are using. Remember Sony's propriety song formats and MP3 players that don't play MP3's?

      Piracy is the excuse. Money is the real motivator. They aren't getting money from the pirates, and they don't expect to. They expect to squeeze more out of me and you - the ones who renew their software licenses, and coming next year - our media licenses.

      It is about money.

      If you honestly think that a zero piracy level would have prevented any of this, I think you are naive and I strongly disagree.
    • thebog, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3For all of you that don't know the legalities of Trademark laws, they are obligated to protect any trademark or stand to loose it. That's the whole story whether they like what you're doing or not.
    • chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"For all of you that don't know the legalities of Trademark laws, they are obligated to protect any trademark or stand to loose it. That's the whole story whether they like what you're doing or not."

      This is true. It is why Linus Trademarked Linux(tm).

      It is also the reason some linux distro's contained an unbranded Firefox. Mozilla is notorious for being over-protective of their trademarks. They won't be accused of letting is slip though.
  • zweben, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Good thing I already got it.
  • panique, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Is this a viral marketing tactic? Because I'm sure 5 or more mirrors are going to pop up in the next week.

    I don't know what the big deal is all about though, I used Andrew's hack to get Front Row running on my Mac Mini and it sure is dog slow when it comes to browsing my folders of QuickTime movies. And it's only a few dozen movies. I think the "thumbnail" generation is very CPU intensive.

    I'm just using the Finder now. Of course, that means I have to keep a mouse on my night stand. =(
    • drakethegreat, on 10/12/2007, -11/+10The big deal is that Apple created Front Row as a selling point to their new macs. As cool as his hack was, he was distributing illegal software via a website! Front Row is a piece of software that is commercial and paid for by buying a mac that supports it. So once again, as cool as this was, he broke the law and everyone knew it and it was only a matter of time before he got called on it.

      Now I honestly don't think this is comparable to applications like MacTheRipper and DVD Decrypter because those applications actually have a legitimate purpose, providing people with fair use of their DVDs. Now if the DMCA wasn't create by a bunch of idiot politicians then they wouldn't be illegal. However this is no where near the same thing...
    • cidkato, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Drake, Front Row itself is free from apple. Anyone can download it off of apple.com. The Front Row Enabler, which removes the IR restriction is the illegal part.

      I wouldn't recommend the Front Row hack. I have been using it for about a month with no troubles, and just today it messed up my SystemUIServer process, and with it Spotlight and my menu bar icons.

      But hey, it was about time I reformatted anyways. I'm just bitter.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -11/+5I'm pretty sure right in the terms of use, in pretty clear lettering, it says that you can only use it with a Mac computer with an Apple Remote. No remote, no license, no use. Think about demo software; it's available on the server for download, but only after you acquire a license. Same thing, only Apple's making it so you have to have a hardware key to enable the license instead of a software one (which in the end is better for the user as it doesn't require any thinking; either you have the remote or you don't).

      Plain and simple, this is Piracy. Piracy is the #1 cause of DRM, and should be condemned.
    • panique, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Drake, you took my comment out of context. I meant "I don't know what the big deal about Front Row" is. From my experience, as I elaborated on in my post, it ain't all that great. You might want to try decaf only after 1PM.
  • zenmouse, on 10/12/2007, -9/+18Very true. Dick move, Apple.
  • SniperGX1, on 10/12/2007, -10/+15Now I want to enable front row on my G4 powerbook out of spite. Thanks Apple for making yourself look like dicks. The penalty for frivolous lawsuits and legal threats should be death.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -12/+8I don't think it's overly litigious to protect your software that you paid developers to write as a selling point for your computers. You should be happy they're not using DRM to lock it down like Microsoft would try; they just issued a Cease and Desist. Hell, this guy could Open Source his code and not release binaries and it'd be perfectly legal. But that's not what he did. He was distributing a package with the intent on piracy, and thusly, he was shut down.

      But what you don't see is Apple implementing Activation to make their programs work.
    • Bob82, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1How much do the janitors at Apple make, geminitojanus?
  • dpogni, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4too bad his enabler killed your menu bar
    • cidkato, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Killed mine. I never realized how much I used Spotlight before the icon stopped showing up. Well, maybe I realized this when I tried clicking the top-right corner of an XP box at school..
    • damonic, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3i've got it running on 3 macs and have not had any menu bar problems.
    • cidkato, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1To be fair, it was running wonderfully up until tonight, at least since the new Bonjour update. And the Front Row being there just added to the troubles for me, it wasn't really what set it off.

      Now if only I could find my backup Search.bundle file..
    • manfesto, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4http://ldopa.net/2006/03/03/how-to-install-front-row-121-and-not-destroy-your-mac/

      How to install Front Row 1.2.1 and not lose your menubar in the process

      (Or how to fix it if it is busted already)
  • garyinthehouse, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5so where can we download the enabler now? This software was really nice...
  • capajc, on 10/12/2007, -7/+12"Hi, we're Apple. We don't want you running any software that we don't give you explicit permission to run."
  • jk_baller23, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Oh well, so sad, thanks for everything anyway.
  • Seumas, on 10/12/2007, -15/+1pussy
  • Misos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Major Geeks still has it. Get it while you can: http://mac.majorgeeks.com/download5128.html
  • GhengisKhan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I don't know if it's coincidence but the 10.4.5 update killed my FR enabler. I think not. Apple's been chasing this thing for awhile.
  • Jason23z, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2No matter! Other people will find different ways to get Front Row without giving a dime to Apple.
  • NetSliderX, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7I'm sorry ... Haven't we all been able to use Front Row on our G4 mini's since shortly after the release of Front Row 1.0.1? What changed? Oh...? Wait, of course! Why on EARTH would people buy a higher priced Intel Mini JUST for Front Row on their TV when they can .. get this... get a cheapo mini g4 and save close to a grand..??

    Apple is great and all but they are rapidly becoming the next Microsoft. Great for them... I'm not so sure this is at all good for us though.

    Time will tell.
    • blownfuse, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3they'll still be better than Microsoft because the products will always work. They may be overly controlling and project an image that would make one think that they endorse the opensource mentality, however, they only support it because it works.
    • sierranovember, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7blownfuse: that's like saying nazi's will always make good political leaders because their system works, even if they are overly controlling.

      why do you hate america? :-)
    • zybch, on 10/12/2007, -6/+7Sure seems like it. If it was MS doing this this whole story would be full of anti-MS comments, but since is crapple macintrash people see it differently.
      Talk about your double standards!
      Is it any wonder why mac fanboys are so despised.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Sure, you'd see tons of Anti-Microsoft sentements, if Microsoft were doing this.

      Oh wait, Microsoft already did do this, it's called Product Activation, and it's required every time to install Windows XP or better. Only Apple implemented it in a way that they don't have to know everything about your computer or what you're doing on it, etc; Apple implemented it through a hardware key, which Autodesk did with some of their software.

      So please, no flames. These are just companies trying to protect their IP from pirates. And a Cease and Desist is a slap on the wrist compared to a multi-million dollar lawsuit. Hell, a Cease and Desist isn't even punishment, it's a suggestion; "We would like for you to stop. It's okay if you don't, we'll just sue you and make you stop, but if you do it on your own it won't be as messy for either of us". Apple and Microsoft are both "guilty" of doing this.
  • opnotic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I'm not sure exactly what this front-row did other than give you a nice interface (I've only seen pictures). Why doesn't someone just write something that does this? You have the idea all laid out already.. use your own code and your own pictures. Apple can't go after you for writing a piece of software that you created on one of their machines can it?
    • smhill, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8There are a couple of them out there:
      http://www.equinux.com/us/products/mediacentral/index.html

      I don't think people were using it because it was the best or only, just because of the newness/shiny factor. I tried it, and it was neat, but not a daily user... at least on a laptop.
    • enderu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"Apple can't go after you for writing a piece of software that you created on one of their machines can it?"

      If it's clearly a direct copy of the application except with different pictures, yes, yes they can (and have and will).
    • ubpsanity, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Not sure what Front Row gave you? It's wonderful, you can play music with it, kinda like you can with iTunes; you can show your photos on it as well, kinda like iPhoto; and movies, again, like Quicktime.. Hmm, now that I think about it, what's the point? Well, there is the remote so when you're sitting in front of your computer you don't have to lift a finger to touch the keyboard.
    • harpdog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I would second the use of mediacentral from equinix it is much better than front row anyway as it supports more movie formats.
  • northLite, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4pfft big deal, once its out there its out there
  • Nerys, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4While I agree has the right to protect there IP I am less inclined when they do it snake like. and making you buy hardware for something for which there is no technical reason for you to buy new hardware is "snake like" to me.

    As far as I am concerned the idea that they do NOT offer it "for sale" to existing users is snake like and Illegal or not I cheer anyone who fights this and enables it for users of older machines

    Illegal yes Wrong NO. there is a difference.

    Chris Taylor
    http://www.nerys.com/
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4That's a total ***** reason. Let's think about it in a different way.

      Front Row is a piece of software sold to support the Apple Remote (a hardware device). Making you buy hardware (the iPod, Mac computers, etc) to use Apple's superior software is their core business model. So it's not "snake-like", it's BUSINESS.

      Microsoft sells video games. In order to use any of those games, you have to buy Microsoft hardware (the Xbox/360) or Microsoft software (Windows). Is it snake-like that Microsoft is using hardware to sell their software? Of course not, that's how it's intended to work.

      While Front Row can be adapted to work with other controls, a keyboard, etc, it's not intended to be used in that way. Apple didn't design it to work with the keyboard, Apple designed it to work with the Apple Remote. It's called "writing software to support your hardware", or simply "good business".
    • zybch, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2A bit like how Skype rolled over and stopped their software from giving non intel users more than 5 users per conference call (till it was cracked).
      Its nothing to do with good business if it drives potential customers to look elsewhere for an equivalent product.
      Sure, the mac is a great platform because apple controlls everything and stuff generally just works, but its also the worst thing about the mac, telling users what they want rather than listening to what they want.
      So far they've struck a pretty good balance, but crap like this just sucks!
  • oldsk00l, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5My sentiments exactly to the above comments ala "Dick move, Apple"

    Apple was really stupid for this...and they need to support their user communities.
  • wrinkles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5google cache

    http://urlci.com/594e4f
  • justinprine, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Maybe Apple just doesn't want everyone to see how damn buggy it is. Frontrow looks pretty, but has jokingly bad stability issues. It locks up more than any other OS X app I've ever used. Way to strike back at the community that supports you Apple.
    • trogdoor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I have only tried the hack, is the real version just as buggy? ( minus things like screwing up spotlight or loosing the minimize button on windows that are obvious effects of the hack and not front row itself )
  • galfridus73, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Too bad. Nice software, but Apple has to allow it to get out there for us to be convinced...
  • damonic, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3we all know that Front Row runs on older G4 macs. they should just sell the damn software so that people dont need to hack it. duh!
  • damonic, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1doh
  • isoprophlex, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Screw it. If you dont have Front Row, run this instead:
    http://www.equinux.com/us/products/mediacentral/index.html
    • spin-docta, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1wow people you should check this out... its a clone of front row without some good features like podcasts and iTunes videos
    • galfridus73, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Actually, while it's not as pretty as FR, MC does have more features. However, MC does have a speed issue, and that's because it's handling the playback itself in many cases why it can't play songs purchased from iTMS, for example). FR just invokes the application in the background (DVD Player, iPhoto, iTunes, QuickTime) - you can see the apps are open if you bounce back to the Finder.

      Neither of the apps is a true media center solution, though MediaCentral is trying to get there. If Apple would open FR up (hah!) then we might be able to see it handle things a bit differently (VLC or VIDEO_TS folders, anyone?). Either that, or Apple just has to go whole hog and embrace the media solutions that are out there...
  • spin-docta, on 10/12/2007, -12/+1Thanks for sticking up for us Andrew Escobar!!!! NOT
  • Laurent, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1The software is easy to find on Acquisition or anywhere else. Why did they acted so late?
  • deathscytheh64, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I guess this will be a mirror to many comments I'm too lazy to read. Apple shouldn't litigize (hey truthiness is a word) some poor shmuck hacker who wants to give other Mac fans more value for their product. WTG AAPL
  • Deuterium, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4The heavy Jack Boot of Apple comes down hard. Bammm!!!
  • Nerys, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Actually I could never get in trouble for posting C&D letters sent to me since when you visit my site you are accepting my terms of service and in those terms it says clearly ANYTHING you send to me by ANY means physical or electronic you authorize me to use and publish publicly any way that I choose with no recourse to stop me or penalize me in any way shape or form. so just add such a notice to your site. the only way they will contact you is by VISITING your site and therby accepting your terms and thereby even if they MAIL it to you, you will be free to publish it in anyform you want.

    This legal crap works both ways :-)
    http://www.nerys.com/license.html

    Chris Taylor
    http://www.nerys.com/
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2While I haven't read your Terms of Use, I can tell you right up front that certain terms can be thrown out. Though the whole "publish any communication" rule isn't one of them (why the ***** would they care if you published a C&D order, it simply says "you're doing something we don't like. please stop. if you do not, we reserve the right to seek legal action against you". It's not voodoo or hocus pokus, it's a letter).

      And please, stop posting your link as a "signature" to your posting. It's a very spammy thing to do.
  • honemasterT, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4that's okay.. this free app does nearly the same thing
    http://centerstageproject.com/

    Besides.. Front Row sucked on my iBook g3.. what a resource hawg!
    couldn't even play the Xvid file with it running.

    No great loss here.. Apple can kiss off.. they should make
    this thing freeware for all Mac OS X users.. lame..

    move along citizens, back to your lives
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2G3 huh? And you really expected it to run anything modern? I'm surprised you even got Tiger to run.
    • galfridus73, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Now that's a spiffy-looking piece of software, both visually and in terms of features. I'm downloading it right now. :)
    • honemasterT, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0yeah.. I just dropped all my coin on a new dual g5 tower :-) actually
      Tiger makes the iBook (600Mhz g3 640Mb ram) *faster* than
      Panther or Jaguar. (go figure) Of course I'm not that dellusional..
      I havent tried running Mac OS X on my PowerMac 7500
      (although it will run even though its 10+ year old hardware) it
      cruises along with Mac OS 9 and iMovie2 just fine.

    • l0ne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well, due to DivX's lack of speed, FR only runs movies (and only up to DVD-res ones) _if and only if_ you are running 640x480 on a G4. You _do_ really need at least a G5 to run it decently.
  • nesstheking1, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2*****!
    good thing i downloaded it 3 days ago from him!
  • TKDWILSON, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3I don't understand how apple can do that. What part of their copyright was he violating?

    Eric Wilson
    • geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Try "All of it". Apple isn't licensing it to people without the Apple remote, this hack circumvents that licensing proceedure, thus, via the DMCA, copyright violation.
  • Mediaright, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Well, as long as someone else is still making this stuff available (I mean the real deal; the Front Row wanna be stuff is slow and looks like crap), it's fine by me. Apple legal should be grounded for a few months or so. They've been too busy with the AppleKeynotes, and now this. Horrible.
  • drbroccoli, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Well, you still have bit torrent....
  • nneonneo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3OK, I mirrored both the help and the dmg here:
    http://nneonneo.ath.cx/frontrow/

    Have fun, don't do stupid stuff. Provided only as a mirroring service (I'm not going to use it).
  • spyyder, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7This is reason 3,342 of why apple cannot gain any significant market share. They shut out inovation. Its gotta be apples way or nothing. Why do you think no one wants to develop for apple. They wan't complete control of your computing enviroment. People can't produce one good thing for apple without them either shutting it down, or wanting licencing fees. I hope a 1000 people mirror the software
    • smhill, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Just exactly how is hacking a piece of software innovative? What, do you think that Apple somehow couldn't figure out how to make it work without a remote? Gimme a break.
  • esork, on 10/12/2007, -7/+0If you want a Front Row style interface for music use only check out CoverFlow shareware at http://www.steelskies.com/coverflow/ . Excellent and stable.
  • blownfuse, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1let's not forget that apple designed front row to work with the apple remote. not only is it a very trivial app, the number of users who legitimately need an apple to work in a remote-control situation (ie, mac based htpc) has got to be pretty slim. i know at the office where i work, i'm glad i only have a powerbook g4 because when all the intel imac users play with their remote, the IR signals bounce and control other intel imacs.

    this is part of being a slave to apple. go play with a windows box for a few hours, do some "power using" or maybe try some repair, and you'll realize that in the end, apple can do pretty much whatever they'd like because the only other viable alternative is true open source, which isn't worth the effort (or an option at all) for most of apple's target markets.
    • l0ne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1None of you at work haven't read the wonderful thing that's mentioned in the manual, and called "pairing". As in, pairing a single remote with a single Apple item (Mac, iPod dock or iPod Hi-Fi). Made just to prevent this mess.
  • GreenSlabOfClay, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6Heads of Hydra

    lol, I love the fact that when companies and their lawyers start bullying the Internet community, they just make things worse for themselves.
    Kinda like the heads of Hydra.

    Now more people know about FrontRow AND we have more sites than ever, all over the world, mirroring the information.

    Don't these management people get it?
    Wake the ***** up Apple!

    Did you ever think maybe you should hire the guy instead?
    idiots!
  • thewise1, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I'm all for protecting your IP. No problem there. But, you guys sure do cut apple a lot of slack versus other companies that do the same thing.
  • NetSliderX, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6Ok .. so ... how about those of us that spent our hard earned cash last year buying your oh so great hardware? (Of course I speak of the Mini G4) What about us? Does our purchase mean nothing.

    Call it whatever you want use all the legal mumbo jumbo too. It doesn't matter. This is *****.
  • NetSliderX, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5and for the records, yes, I am a HUGE Apple/Mac OSX supporter ... what with my iMac Core Duo and Mac Mini G4 (and no, I'm not rich either)
  • whoatemydigg, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Rule Number 1 about spreading information over the internet - spread your information across multiple websites so the Po Po cant shut it down cuz its everywhere, like a sex tape.
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 86 of 86 discussions
  •  

    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.