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Mac OS X Lion - Front Row

I got Front Row to work on Lion...I think...

I think I might have figured something out that can get Front Row to work on OS X Lion, because I'm running it on Lion Goldmaster with hardly any problems (just a few stalls here and there but it plays video, audio, and misc. like a charm ;) )

This is my first post (well, a mere reply, if at that) here on macrumors, so I'm still working my way around things. And btw if you're someone who can get something really tricky in just a few words, I put an "In A Nutshell" version below the "Step-By-Step-By-Step-By-Step."

Okay, here was my long (but well worth it) process. I won't provide any links, in case that breaks any rules. I don't think it would because all you have to download is the 2.1.7 update on the Apple website (which shouldn't be too hard to find). Just download the image, mount it, select the package on the disk image and you're on to the next step. After that, click "Show Package Contents." Next, locate the "Archive.pax.gz" file within the "Contents" folder. Extract it and move the result folder (should be "System," but if the folder is the same title as the ".gz" file, just go into that and you should find the "System" folder.) to your Desktop for easier access. Go into the "System" folder and you should find a "Library" folder. Open that and you should find the following folders:

CoreServices
LaunchAgents
PrivateFrameworks

Now, believe it or not, but all these folders are the paths were the installer goes to in order to update the files. Since we don't have those files, just open three Finder windows, and go to the paths in which the folders in the "Archive" package state. If you are unaware, here are the paths:

Macintosh HD>System>Library>CoreServices
Macintosh HD>System>Library>LaunchAgents
Macintosh HD>System>Library>PrivateFrameworks

Locate each folder one at a time and just drag and drop the files in the folders of the same name to the ones in the paths above. Once all the files are put neatly in place, just run the updater and it will think that Front Row is installed! Once that's done, it's installed...But there's a catch. The app itself (if double-clicked from the Applications folder or opened from LaunchPad) won't open. Simple: Just do the Front Row shortcut (Command-Escape) and the screen should fade, giving you Front Row!

Now, here's the "In A Nutshell" version:

Download the 2.1.7 update on the apple website. Once the image is mounted, take the package and select "show package contents." extract the archive.pax.gz file onto your desktop. you should be faced with a "system" folder. dig further into it until you find three folders. these are, as you probably know, folder names in the directory "macintosh hd>system>library." back to the extracted folders, open those puppies up and copy the files within into the folders of the same name. once all files are basically transferred to the hard drive, where it can now be detected by the updater, run the package, do the install, and you're almost done! just the only way to access front row at this point is to use it's keyboard shortcut (command-escape) and you should get good 'ol front row once again!

If you guys run into problems I'll do my darndest to help! :apple:
 
TheAppToMyApple said:
I think I might have figured something out that can get Front Row to work on OS X Lion, because I'm running it on Lion Goldmaster with hardly any problems (just a few stalls here and there but it plays video, audio, and misc. like a charm ;) )

This is my first post (well, a mere reply, if at that) here on macrumors, so I'm still working my way around things. And btw if you're someone who can get something really tricky in just a few words, I put an "In A Nutshell" version below the "Step-By-Step-By-Step-By-Step."

Okay, here was my long (but well worth it) process. I won't provide any links, in case that breaks any rules. I don't think it would because all you have to download is the 2.1.7 update on the Apple website (which shouldn't be too hard to find). Just download the image, mount it, select the package on the disk image and you're on to the next step. After that, click "Show Package Contents." Next, locate the "Archive.pax.gz" file within the "Contents" folder. Extract it and move the result folder (should be "System," but if the folder is the same title as the ".gz" file, just go into that and you should find the "System" folder.) to your Desktop for easier access. Go into the "System" folder and you should find a "Library" folder. Open that and you should find the following folders:

CoreServices
LaunchAgents
PrivateFrameworks

Now, believe it or not, but all these folders are the paths were the installer goes to in order to update the files. Since we don't have those files, just open three Finder windows, and go to the paths in which the folders in the "Archive" package state. If you are unaware, here are the paths:

Macintosh HD>System>Library>CoreServices
Macintosh HD>System>Library>LaunchAgents
Macintosh HD>System>Library>PrivateFrameworks

Locate each folder one at a time and just drag and drop the files in the folders of the same name to the ones in the paths above. Once all the files are put neatly in place, just run the updater and it will think that Front Row is installed! Once that's done, it's installed...But there's a catch. The app itself (if double-clicked from the Applications folder or opened from LaunchPad) won't open. Simple: Just do the Front Row shortcut (Command-Escape) and the screen should fade, giving you Front Row!

Now, here's the "In A Nutshell" version:

Download the 2.1.7 update on the apple website. Once the image is mounted, take the package and select "show package contents." extract the archive.pax.gz file onto your desktop. you should be faced with a "system" folder. dig further into it until you find three folders. these are, as you probably know, folder names in the directory "macintosh hd>system>library." back to the extracted folders, open those puppies up and copy the files within into the folders of the same name. once all files are basically transferred to the hard drive, where it can now be detected by the updater, run the package, do the install, and you're almost done! just the only way to access front row at this point is to use it's keyboard shortcut (command-escape) and you should get good 'ol front row once again!

If you guys run into problems I'll do my darndest to help! :apple:
Click to expand...

Awesome, dude :)
 
The 2.1.7 update was for Leopard. You may have better compatibility if you pull the same files included in the update from Snow Leopard.
 
I use front row a lot as it was perfect for the way I have my media collection set up. One possible reason I thought of for its demise is full screen apps. Essentially front row is a full screen remote friendly interface for iTunes. Perhaps there will be an update to iTunes that allows it to run full screen with the apple remote?
 
@TheAppToMyApple:

Thank you for your detailed and fruitful explanation. It didn't work for me exactly as you said, but it gave me pointers that might be useful for others. In my experience, this is what must be done. If you have access to a Front Row previously installed in Snow Leopard, no download of a Leopard version is necessary from Apple. Proceed as follows:

  1. Go to /System/Library/CoreServices of your Snow Leopard disk and locate Front Row (an application). Copy that to /System/Library/CoreServices of your Lion disk.
  2. Go to /System/Library/LaunchAgents of your Snow Leopard disk and locate com.apple.RemoteUI.plist. Copy that to /System/Library/LaunchAgents of your Lion disk.
  3. Go to /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks of your Snow Leopard disk and locate a couple of folders: BackRow.framework and iPhotoAccess.framework. Copy them to /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks of your Lion disk.
  4. Go to /Applications of your Snow Leopard disk and locate Front Row (an application). Copy that to /Applications of your Lion disk.

In my case, doing the above wasn't enough as such, so I had to restart my Mac. Sure enough, when I pressed Command-Esc, Front Row appeared! Curiously enough, I can also launch Front Row by double-clicking on its icon.

So, it would appear that forum members who said this was a hoax were seriously mistaken.
 
I followed these directions.
And front row launches remote works however none of my iTunes content show up. What did i miss?
 
never use front row…the subtitle text is bugging me…better use vlc…
 
Last edited:
One thing Apple is missing is an iTunes server to allow 24/7 access for AppleTV and iDevices. Because for those of us who rely on iTunes for our media then the solution presented the most is "Go buy a Mac Mini" which makes even less sense if Lion doesnt have Front Row.

For me, my iTunes works like this. I keep my iTunes files on my Time Capsule which resides behind my TV. Next to the Time Capsule is my AppleTV, but in order to access the TC iTunes library I need to turn on either my electricity guzzling Windows powerhouse downstairs or my Laptop docked in the office and connect wirelessly to those machines.

Its hardly an efficient setup and if they eliminate FrontRow then it makes the Mac Mini a less capable Media playback device. Hopefully Apple has to have some sort of official solution up their sleeve... but maybe not. This has been an ignored problem for a while now.
 
iAmYou said:
Well crap. I really miss Front Row
Click to expand...

??? I don't quite follow. A procedure has been detailed that allows you to run Front Row in Lion EXACTLY THE SAME as it ran in Snow Leopard. Then, why exactly do you "miss" Front Row in Lion when it can be "manually" installed and work flawlessly?
 
PeterHolbrook said:
??? I don't quite follow. A procedure has been detailed that allows you to run Front Row in Lion EXACTLY THE SAME as it ran in Snow Leopard. Then, why exactly do you "miss" Front Row in Lion when it can be "manually" installed and work flawlessly?
Click to expand...

You obviously didn't read the whole thread before jumping to your conclusion and posting your thought.
 
iAmYou said:
You obviously didn't read the whole thread before jumping to your conclusion and posting your thought.
Click to expand...

On the contrary, I noticed the various member's rants about how much they were(n't) going to miss Front Row because it was useful or useless for them and their assessments on various "similar" products. Now that we know Front Row runs well in Lion, for you to say you "really miss Front Row" is truly strange. Since it runs, and it runs well, what exactly do you "miss"?
 
PeterHolbrook said:
On the contrary, I noticed the various member's rants about how much they were(n't) going to miss Front Row because it was useful or useless for them and their assessments on various "similar" products. Now that we know Front Row runs well in Lion, for you to say you "really miss Front Row" is truly strange. Since it runs, and it runs well, what exactly do you "miss"?
Click to expand...

Apparently you didn't notice the posts where it says iTunes 10.5, which is needed for iOS 5, breaks front row.
 
Cougarcat said:
Apparently you didn't notice the posts where it says iTunes 10.5, which is needed for iOS 5, breaks front row.
Click to expand...

Apparently you didn't notice those are still betas. Front Row (in Lion) works flawlessly with the latest officially released iTunes (10.3.1).
 
PeterHolbrook said:
Apparently you didn't notice those are still betas. Front Row (in Lion) works flawlessly with the latest officially released iTunes (10.3.1).
Click to expand...

Yes, but with iTunes' new library format and Frontrow never getting updated again, I highly doubt the final version of iTunes will work either.
 
Cougarcat said:
Yes, but with iTunes' new library format and Frontrow never getting updated again, I highly doubt the final version of iTunes will work either.
Click to expand...

But what will happen to Leopard and Snow Leopard's Front Row? Will they still work properly?
 
PeterHolbrook said:
On the contrary, I noticed the various member's rants about how much they were(n't) going to miss Front Row because it was useful or useless for them and their assessments on various "similar" products. Now that we know Front Row runs well in Lion, for you to say you "really miss Front Row" is truly strange. Since it runs, and it runs well, what exactly do you "miss"?
Click to expand...

OK I guess I will spell it out.
I can not use it anymore, because I have the beta iTunes 10.5
I need that in order to run iOS 5, therefore front row is broken and does not work properly and I miss it.
 
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