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Mac mini needs a Front Row seat

macworld.com — As someone who gets to play with computers and iPods for a living, I actually find myself saying that fairly frequently. The unique thought I had was, "OK, where’s the Mac mini, Media Center Edition?"

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 14, 2005

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  • rox_midge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Actually, it was your singular thought. "The singular thought I had was..."

    Saying it was your 'unique' thought implies that no one else was thinking the same thing. Hint: they were.
  • modestmelody, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That was my first thought as well. I love to see it on the iMac though, and as much of a gimmick I initially felt the built in iSight is, I am starting to come around. Think about it-- that's the first step to truly introducing video chat as a standard. Offer the hardware and software for free, and make it easy to use. Couple that with the media capabilities that the iMac has, and I think we have the first true bedroom computer here (though you may have a computer in your bedroom, it is just as well designed for the office, the new iMac screams a lot more fun). Add FrontRow to the Mac Mini, and it may be the first real living room computer.

    Speaking as someone who has a custom built desktop for gaming and PVR, I would have spent 1k less and bought a Mini if it had FrontRow. PVR is great, but I am willing to wait/Tivo for that.
  • Linuxrocks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Sure is good everyone insults Microsoft when they copy something, but when Apple makes something similar to something Microsoft made it's praised and Microsofts product is insulted.
  • TurboDerek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think everyone thought Front Row, Mac Mini, Apple remote = Apple Media Center.. Hell i blogged about it and said the very same thing.
  • diggnationdevon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0All Macs need it...
  • prowling-tiger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Very true. Right now I'm considering on buying a mac mini to put in my room, But it would be awesome if the mac mini would have front row, I would buy one today if it had that.
  • neocitron, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0mac mini isn't powerful enough to drive that crazy GUI that Frontrow has... the new iMac however, has a G5 and PCI-E graphics... so yes.. u get all that crazy eye candy... besides.. the Mac Mini is only entry level for switchers...
  • ketsugi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I agree 100%.

    I won't say what exactly I'm agreeing with because THAT is MY unique thought.

    >_>
  • cepher, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i love my macs...i like the mini idea...but, the im happy witht he imac mce...it just feels so right!
  • ozwald, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Actually you can't use Front Row on a Mini right now.
  • pixelmatrix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0You actually can use Front Row on a Mini I believe. Take a look at apple's iPod's accessories page and you should see the iPod remote. According to the description it looks like you actually CAN use it on any mac with the Universal Dock and the iPod remote. I could be wrong though.
  • e3mw, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The second I saw that beautiful transition from the Tiger desktop to the kick ass media center I knew that Front row just HAD to be released to the rest of us mac users. I am a little agitated that Apple hasn't already announced its availability for all macs yet. I could live without the remote for a while until apple developed a way for the remote to work. If Apple would get smart and either release Front row, or sell it bundled with the Remote and an IR receiver -- My mac mini would take a proud position next to my television in an INSTANT! As far as its capabilities, the mini is more than capable to run Front Row. The concern among mac mini users is the core image support. But from what I can tell, Front row isn't utilizing anything more intensive than the same graphics transitions that are used in Tiger to "switch users," Something a mac mini doesn't skip a beat doing. Apple, quit playing mind games with us Mini users! Give us Front Row! We're begging you!
  • Anth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Meh, wait for the intel-based Mini. It'll have front row, and maybe optical out. If not, there is an adaptor from M-Audio thats USB that provides optical out and works with iDVD. Then an DVI/HDMI adapter into the back of a HDTV.
  • gmacster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"mac mini isn't powerful enough to drive that crazy GUI that Frontrow has"

    Wtf are you talking about. There are four icons on the screen that rotate. How does that constitute a "crazy GUI"?
  • sdenike, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0you have to buy the universal ipod dock that comes with an ir port, then a mac mini, and a remote then your golden... I think they jsut need to make a mac mini video unit that has a built in tv tuner and like a 300 gig drive and built in IR port.
  • jk_baller23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think front row should be available for purchase. Photo Booth should be too. I do wish they release the new software for people who already own macs. They could sell the remote (or package it together :D)with the an IR port that plugs into the usb.
  • Charlotte_Web, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That's what Bob Cringeley predicted, that the Mac Mini was poised to become the Mac Media Center PC:

    http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050120.html

    However, I get the feeling that that was never Apple's intention. I'm glad to see that they are moving in that direction, because I thought that Cringeley had an awesome idea, but I get the feeling that what we're seeing now is a reaction to his article.
  • chuckythe2651, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I want a Media Center Killer! Tivo is limited especially for Mac users. Media Center is buggy. and damn I have a 55inch TV that has a DVI port that is just begging for a computer to be attached to it. APPLE GIVE ME MY MEDIA CENTER KILLER!
  • Matrixsjd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0yeah, the mini doesn't have an IR port, so Front Row wouldn't work on it currently.
  • 1337freek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0the Mac mini has a media center currently being developed on http://centerstageproject.com its pretty cool and is getting along the dev stage oh and btw it open source just adding my two cents
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Centerstage doesn't actually _do_ anything. And the UI, like all open source software, sucks.
  • NSXROX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0A mini with Front Row w/DVR capability and a fat hard drive would totally rock. I predict it will be announced in January 2006. Bye Bye Windows Media Center!
  • suMMx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0this is exactly what would drive the sale of the mini. Making it a media center is great and perfect since it doesnt come with a monitor/kb/mouse and stuff. Id consider buying one for a media center
  • ddtape, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0There is also the iTheater Project here at http://www.itheaterproject.com . They are also building a Mac Media Center Application.
  • adam.lindsay, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Have you ever tried to use iTunes to purchase music and movies on a regular TV?

    The reason it is only on the iMac, is cause they know that a hi-res screen is needed.

    Now DVI could be used, but most the industry is going HDCP, so it will not take long for customers to complain about.

    I find it interesting in the "year of hd" we have 320x240 video and a media center from apple that only mirrors to s-video and composite.

    Hate to say it but Apple has gone mainstream. They no longer target the highend elite that would have been just fine with DVI only mirroring.
  • althe3rduww, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I know I would buy a current mac mini and throw front row on it if i could. My HDTV would suddenly have a beautiful interface via DVI with DVDs, Movies, Music Videos, Movie Trailers (I would use this one a lot), Photos, and more. The only other possible solution I can see is for apple to produce a "media center extender box" like so many other Media center systems out there. Therefor allowing you to keep the imac in another room and allowing it to be used as a computer while in the living room your media is streamed over the network to a mac mini like device.

    Its hard for me to believe didn't think of this sort of customer request before creating the new iMac, i bet they have something in the works. Because whats the point of an enlarged media simplified interface if the only place you can watch it is sitting 5 feet away from your 20" screen.
  • chubbywookie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0How is someone's blog news? Isn't there way too much of this on Digg lately?
  • starboard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I bet that this "digital hub" idea will be expanded. Frontrow and the remote control will eventually be added to all macs. I think airport express will also eventually work with this set up to port out video and sound to your television.
  • pseudojd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease let there be a mini media center with tv support and remote. praise allah.
  • armstheykill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I don't think that anyone commented on the fact that the Apple Key + Tab application switcher stops working once you add Front Row (I'm using a mac mini with Tiger 10.4.2). Not to mention the fact that my iTunes keeps repeatedly launching without my intention. I did replace the "BezelServices.framework" folder with the one provided in the mix. Anyway of me getting the original BezelServices.frameowork folder?
  • lineman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Unique??? Yeah, it's so unique it was on the latest TWiT.
  • kidicarus74, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"How is someone's blog news? Isn't there way too much of this on Digg lately?"

    It isn't just "someone's blog"... MacWorld is a respected magazine and this is what's known as a "column" that has been written by a professional journalist. Column's have been around as long as newspapers have and are ways for professionals to offer their opinions on a specific subject... perhaps you should do a little more research before opening your mouth next time
  • paulbram, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Oh, one more thing.

    Can you really imagine using that remote for TV? I can here my wife saying it now. Where's the channel up/down buttons? Why can't I just type 11 to change to NBC?
  • paulbram, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Let's get real here. I know you mac fanatics can be pretty bullish when it comes to reality but let me spell it out for you.

    Front Row will never be a Media Center killer!

    Let me explain: Can you imagine your iMac sitting next to your TV with IR blasters, AV/S-Video cables connected to your two digital cable boxes? That's a total of four wires per set top box all going into individual TV tuners in the iMac! I think I hear Steve Jobs cringing!

    Now, let's talk about compatibility. Apple's idea of compatibility is simple... They're compatible with Apple! If they were to support television they'd have to do what they've always despised... open up and make their system compatible with every TV network in the world. We're talking DirecTV, Dish Network, and hundreds of cable companies just in the US. Then, they'd need to manufacture region specific TV tuners for the rest of the world and suppor their proprietry TV formats such as PAL.

    At the end of the day TV is an ugly business from a technology standpoint. The great thing about Apple is they like to keep things simple. The only way Apple would ever do TV is if it were its own TV provider.

    Would you cancel your cable subscription to download all your TV from iTunes? I don't know about you but I know my wife would never go for that!
  • ScottBookG4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0linuxrocks: Remember, imitation is the biggest form of flattery.

    Apple just pulls it off with more style ;)
  • LesPaul, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think we can count on a third party creating an interface to allow the use of the Apple Remote with older Mac models.

    As for a retail release of Front Row, we can only hope...
  • iaskedTGT, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0More Lemming spam.
  • iaskedTGT, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Look a mac that can do the same thing a PC could do years ago! This is so innovative!
  • ScottBookG4, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I don't like how Apple is leaving out a large part of its customer base with Front Row. Granted, future Macs will probably have IR capabilities built in to support the new Apple remote, but what they really need to do is sell a USB-IR adapter alongside the new remote control. Bundle it with the Front Row software and us PowerBook/Power Mac/iBook/Mac mini/eMac users can take advantage of this sweet gear, too!

    It makes me think that since Apple is holding another press conference on Oct. 19, what are the chances of them selling a new PowerBook with built-in iSight/IR/Front Row? You never know...but it COULD happen.

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