New iMac, FrontRow and PhotoBooth Apps

[wdlove]

but the problem remains that people don't typically have their desktop in the same room as their tv.

this whole media / front row thing is just screaming out for a mac mini like box that sits next to your tv and outputs all your media to your tv.

i'd be there like a shot.

Iain

I would like to see a stand alone product so that FrontRow could be used on all Macs. At least the newer one's. Those that purchased recently should be able to share in this technology.

 

[Epicurus]

I would like to see a stand alone product so that FrontRow could be used on all Macs. At least the newer one's. Those that purchased recently should be able to share in this technology.

Apple will probably take its time integrating Front Row with its computer lines, since the app only makes sense when you have the remote. Since it currently is an IR remote, getting the receiver to fit on the outside of the Mac without messing with the "look" is a high priority. The Mac mini will probably get the remote next, with real TV outputs coming later. Apple isn't being very aggressive with its living room invasion. They're taking it slow, like with the whole video iPod/movie downloads bit. One step at a time.
😀

 

[Atlasland]

Apple will probably take its time integrating Front Row with its computer lines, since the app only makes sense when you have the remote. Since it currently is an IR remote, getting the receiver to fit on the outside of the Mac without messing with the "look" is a high priority. The Mac mini will probably get the remote next, with real TV outputs coming later. Apple isn't being very aggressive with its living room invasion. They're taking it slow, like with the whole video iPod/movie downloads bit. One step at a time.
😀

they should also make it usuable with the bluetooth apple mouse, so thre would be no need for an ugly external IR setup.

 

[Squire]

they should also make it usuable with the bluetooth apple mouse, so thre would be no need for an ugly external IR setup.

It would be neat to have it (FrontRow) set up in the living room with a mac mini and this mouse. I don't know about you guys, but I don't have a lot of desktop-like real estate in my living room to roll a mouse on. (And the space I do have is usually covered in condensation from a cold beer.) 😀

Squire

 

[BGil]

Apple will probably take its time integrating Front Row with its computer lines, since the app only makes sense when you have the remote. Since it currently is an IR remote, getting the receiver to fit on the outside of the Mac without messing with the "look" is a high priority. The Mac mini will probably get the remote next, with real TV outputs coming later. Apple isn't being very aggressive with its living room invasion. They're taking it slow, like with the whole video iPod/movie downloads bit. One step at a time.
😀

Here's a question for everybody...
How do you suggest Apple fit a TV tuner, a video card and processor capable of encoding/decoding H.264 (the new ATI's will be hot and Yonahs are hotter than G4's), and a series of video output ports on or in a Mac Mini.

All TV tuners aren't the same and the small mini pci tuners used in Windows laptops don't have spectacular picture quality (and don't need to because they aren't going to be hooked into a TV). Only the bigger PCI based cards have great PQ. Where are they going to put the TV our ports? Maybe they could output a signal and then use a cable to split it into various types (composite, s-video , component) so they don't need to add many ports to the Mini itself but that still takes a lot oc internal circuitry if you want great PQ.
The only way I see this happening is if Apple increases the size of the machine dramatically, especially since everyone is going to want more HD space.

 

[Peace]

Apple is working on the TV tuner part of the equation..

From the Oct. 18th Elgato Press release :
Freddie Geier to head up Apple Computer Germany

Munich, October 18, 2005. Elgato Systems today announced that Freddie Geier has been appointed Managing Director of Apple Computer's German subsidiary and will be leaving Elgato at the end of October 2005.

"Apple Germany is going to be led by a true entrepeneur, we congratulate them and we're very happy for Freddie," said Markus Fest, President and founder of Elgato Systems. "We'd like to express our deep gratitude to Freddie for his outstanding contribution and leadership over the last two years."

 

[JustinCaseiMac]

Can you use front row with previous G5 iMac?

I have the predicessor to this new iMac. Mine is about 4 months old. Can I get front row and that remote for this?

 

[devilot]

I have the predicessor to this new iMac. Mine is about 4 months old. Can I get front row and that remote for this?

Before people stone you... no you can not. There are rumors, mostly wishful thinking, that this features will be available to purchase in the future... but as of now, no it is not possible.

 

[BenRoethig]

Here's a question for everybody...
How do you suggest Apple fit a TV tuner, a video card and processor capable of encoding/decoding H.264 (the new ATI's will be hot and Yonahs are hotter than G4's), and a series of video output ports on or in a Mac Mini.

All TV tuners aren't the same and the small mini pci tuners used in Windows laptops don't have spectacular picture quality (and don't need to because they aren't going to be hooked into a TV). Only the bigger PCI based cards have great PQ. Where are they going to put the TV our ports? Maybe they could output a signal and then use a cable to split it into various types (composite, s-video , component) so they don't need to add many ports to the Mini itself but that still takes a lot oc internal circuitry if you want great PQ.
The only way I see this happening is if Apple increases the size of the machine dramatically, especially since everyone is going to want more HD space.

You take an enclosure similar to the ones Lacie Makes for hard drives, and put the tuner chipset in there and hook it up to the MacMini via firewire and/or USB 2.0

 

[matticus008]

Here's a question for everybody...
How do you suggest Apple fit a TV tuner, a video card and processor capable of encoding/decoding H.264 (the new ATI's will be hot and Yonahs are hotter than G4's), and a series of video output ports on or in a Mac Mini.

I tried to quote myself, but couldn't find it. Basically, the TV tuner won't be internal and will be USB. I'd like to see them team up with Elgato or Plextor (looks like Elgato 😉) and have them develop a TV tuner box that acts as a "stand" for the Mini. The pure TV tuner version could be just an inch thick, but it would have some corner flares to hold onto the mini, and would sit beneath it with a similar aluminum finish on the sides, ports in the rear (except a remote receiver and maybe a front video input).

An upgraded version of this would be thicker and include an external hard drive within it, allowing for direct recording to a second volume instead of filling the mini's hard drive or requiring a third device. Both the hard drive and non-HD versions would include at least one USB port so that it didn't occupy one of the precious few on the mini.

 

[sjk]

Basically, the TV tuner won't be internal and will be USB.

Something like EyeTV EZ?

I'm glad my EyeTV 200 is an external device so it can be easily moved between systems, which I've already done a couple times.

I'd like to see them team up with Elgato or Plextor (looks like Elgato 😉) and have them develop a TV tuner box that acts as a "stand" for the Mini.

That might satisfy some of the Mac mini media center advocates. 🙂

I'm not interested in a costlier-computer-in-the-living-room media center. What would interest me right now is an EyeHome-like device capable of decoding H.264 (including Apple iTMS video content) for wireless streaming from systems not in my living room to the living room, controlled with a Front Row-like on-TV-screen interface. Wireless digital media streaming is a prerequisite for any upgrade of my current EyeTV+EyeHome solution.

 

[matticus008]

I'm not interested in a costlier-computer-in-the-living-room media center. What would interest me right now is an EyeHome-like device capable of decoding H.264 (including Apple iTMS video content) for wireless streaming from systems not in my living room to the living room, controlled with a Front Row-like on-TV-screen interface. Wireless digital media streaming is a prerequisite for any upgrade of my current EyeTV+EyeHome solution.

Ah. In that case, it's probably a little trickier. Basically, you're going to want to keep it in H.264 until it gets to your living room (unless they get 802.11n pieced together soon), otherwise you're going to run out of room for data in your wireless signal 🙂. At that point, all you'd need is a wireless-equipped Mac mini that can handle H.264. Apple could also probably make a special H.264 device with a wireless module that solely handled decoding and TV display.

Something like a Front Row-equipped video version of the Airport Express. Just plugs into the wall and into your TV and is good to go. It'd be a little bigger, and probably have to live above/below/beside your TV in order to handle remote signals.

 

[csubear]

Ah. In that case, it's probably a little trickier. Basically, you're going to want to keep it in H.264 until it gets to your living room (unless they get 802.11n pieced together soon), otherwise you're going to run out of room for data in your wireless signal 🙂. At that point, all you'd need is a wireless-equipped Mac mini that can handle H.264. Apple could also probably make a special H.264 device with a wireless module that solely handled decoding and TV display.

Something like a Front Row-equipped video version of the Airport Express. Just plugs into the wall and into your TV and is good to go. It'd be a little bigger, and probably have to live above/below/beside your TV in order to handle remote signals.

You don't need h.264 or 802.11n to stream video. I can stream mpeg2 dvds over my 802.11g connection with out a problem.

 

[matticus008]

You don't need h.264 or 802.11n to stream video. I can stream mpeg2 dvds over my 802.11g connection with out a problem.

No, but he specifically WANTS H.264 streaming, not just video streaming, so that's the only solution 😉.

 

[sjk]

Apple could also probably make a special H.264 device with a wireless module that solely handled decoding and TV display.

Yep. Or Elgato could upgrade EyeHome hardware/software to support H.264 decoding in addition to other formats it already handles, but without Apple's cooperation iTMS DRM content would be an issue. I get around that limitation with the current EyeHome using AirPort Express and AirTunes for streaming audio, which is much nicer than EyeHome's clunky UI anyway.

My 802.11g WLAN has enough bandwidth for content I'm already streaming or would want to with the addition of H.264. HD (and eventually 802.11n or other higher-bandwidth protocol) won't be concerns for awhile.

Something like a Front Row-equipped video version of the Airport Express. Just plugs into the wall and into your TV and is good to go. It'd be a little bigger, and probably have to live above/below/beside your TV in order to handle remote signals.

Yep, an "Airport A/V" like that would be an ideal component to upgrade my setup, more than using a Mac mini or other computer. I've called it the EyeHome-killer and still speculate a product like it is being developed, with or without Elgato's knowledge or collaboration. That made today's announcement about Freddie Geier particularly interesting to me.

Oh, and from a brief look at the Front Row after the announcement it seemed like its interface would scale to any TV.

 

[BGil]

I tried to quote myself, but couldn't find it. Basically, the TV tuner won't be internal and will be USB. I'd like to see them team up with Elgato or Plextor (looks like Elgato 😉) and have them develop a TV tuner box that acts as a "stand" for the Mini. The pure TV tuner version could be just an inch thick, but it would have some corner flares to hold onto the mini, and would sit beneath it with a similar aluminum finish on the sides, ports in the rear (except a remote receiver and maybe a front video input).

An upgraded version of this would be thicker and include an external hard drive within it, allowing for direct recording to a second volume instead of filling the mini's hard drive or requiring a third device. Both the hard drive and non-HD versions would include at least one USB port so that it didn't occupy one of the precious few on the mini.

I'd rather have a Shuttle-size PC. PCIe (even SLI in some models), PCI, room for dual core A64's, full-size DVD burner, full-size TV tuner (maybe even two tuner), and room for at least one full-size hard drive. That should be about the same size as the Mini plus whatever you want to add to it plus it's far more expandable and upgradable.

 

[pionata]

I'd rather have a Shuttle-size PC. PCIe (even SLI in some models), PCI, room for dual core A64's, full-size DVD burner, full-size TV tuner (maybe even two tuner), and room for at least one full-size hard drive. That should be about the same size as the Mini plus whatever you want to add to it plus it's far more expandable and upgradable.

If you dont mind windows torturing your soul forever...

I come from the pc world, as a gamer and musician. I've enjoy windows only for one thing, it can run games fast, and any cheap computer can run them. But as I got into more serious stuff at the university, I needed a mac, so I got a cheap iBook. Now, I got used to Osx, and Im willing to drop games for it. If I would keep using windows people would find me dead somewhere soon... Its like, well you know what I mean, when you taste something better than your used to at a restaurant you stop going to the other one you were going before.

The computer you have is great, but the os is just pain compiled in thousands of dlls that slowly rip your being apart... (As you probably can tell, windows made me lose important work and miss deadline one time too much lol)

So, I'll be moving to a Imac 20 inch (500gig, 1,5 gig of ram) with an external firewire m-audio soundcard. Cant wait til the student loans appera in my bank account!

 

[BGil]

If you dont mind windows torturing your soul forever...

I come from the pc world, as a gamer and musician. I've enjoy windows only for one thing, it can run games fast, and any cheap computer can run them. But as I got into more serious stuff at the university, I needed a mac, so I got a cheap iBook. Now, I got used to Osx, and Im willing to drop games for it. If I would keep using windows people would find me dead somewhere soon... Its like, well you know what I mean, when you taste something better than your used to at a restaurant you stop going to the other one you were going before.

The computer you have is great, but the os is just pain compiled in thousands of dlls that slowly rip your being apart... (As you probably can tell, windows made me lose important work and miss deadline one time too much lol)

So, I'll be moving to a Imac 20 inch (500gig, 1,5 gig of ram) with an external firewire m-audio soundcard. Cant wait til the student loans appera in my bank account!

I do like Windows but I was saying that I'd perfer something the size of a Shuttle PC not that I would perfer a Shuttle PC.
I've never had any problems with XP.

 

[BenRoethig]

You're lucky then. I've averaged more (OS) problems weekly with my last two windows machines than than my iBook or my old G3 had in their lifetime...combined. If Apple would make a SP mid-tower or sell OSX x86 retail I'd be very happy.

 

[BGil]

You're lucky then. I've averaged more (OS) problems weekly with my last two windows machines than than my iBook or my old G3 had in their lifetime...combined. If Apple would make a SP mid-tower or sell OSX x86 retail I'd be very happy.

It has nothing to do with luck. I've built numerous Windows boxes and XP is quite fast and stable.

 

[~Shard~]

It has nothing to do with luck. I've built numerous Windows boxes and XP is quite fast and stable.

I agree. If you build it right and don't load crap like kaazaa on it, you should be fine. I haven't encountered any problems with my latest XP box - it's been rock solid.

 

[matticus008]

I'd rather have a Shuttle-size PC. PCIe (even SLI in some models), PCI, room for dual core A64's, full-size DVD burner, full-size TV tuner (maybe even two tuner), and room for at least one full-size hard drive. That should be about the same size as the Mini plus whatever you want to add to it plus it's far more expandable and upgradable.

The shuttle PC you described would not be the same size as a mini. Two full size TV tuners and a full-size hard drive would not all fit in a 6.5x.6.5" anything, let alone being 2 or even 3" thick.

As an HTPC, yes, I agree that a mini ITX form factor is superior and much more flexible than a mini. But getting one that looks good and comes with all the incidental features costs as much as a new 15" PowerBook. I've been pricing them out for months, trying to assemble a small, nearly silent, and powerful MythTV box. So for aesthetics and value, a Mac mini with a tuner add-on would be much better. Especially with the Front Row interface (which is much more refined and smooth than any Linux frontend).

Right now I use the same box as my actual PC (an Antec Sonata case), and simply worked Myth into my Linux distro. It works phenomenally, but I want to take advantage of a separate machine so I can use my monitor's Picture in Picture. 😉

 

[newamiga]

No Front Row on iMac Models in Apple Retail Stores?

Visited the Littleton CO store today.. they had both the new iPod Video as well as the new iMacs. The iPod Video has a great screen. I waited a bit to play with the new iMac hoping to try out Front Row. Unfortunately there were no remotes with either of the two demo machines they had up front. I did a Spotlight search for the term Front Row as well several variants of Front and Row and it did not appear to exist on the HD of these machines. Does anyone know why this would be the case? 😕

 

[matticus008]

Visited the Littleton CO store today.. they had both the new iPod Video as well as the new iMacs. The iPod Video has a great screen. I waited a bit to play with the new iMac hoping to try out Front Row. Unfortunately there were no remotes with either of the two demo machines they had up front. I did a Spotlight search for the term Front Row as well several variants of Front and Row and it did not appear to exist on the HD of these machines. Does anyone know why this would be the case? 😕

Are you sure they were new iMacs? They had the built-in iSight and the little remote holder? I live in the dark ages now. Going from the San Francisco Apple Store to no Apple Store at all has been rough on me...I can't go look at the new toys!

I find it strange that they would take out Front Row on the demo machines.

 

[newamiga]

Yeah I played with the built in camera and PhotoBooth for a bit.. cool little app.. but no sign of the remote or FR. The built in camera actually performs rather well for its tiny size in the bezel.