Apple's Front Row and Apple Remote

Yeah, not as big as a new video iPod, but Stevie did announce the new Apple Remote, as well as Front Row, a new Mac user interface for navigating your media collection (music, photos, videos, and DVDs) from a distance (like from yer couch, you lazy bastard). The Apple Remote looks a lot like the iPod shuffle, doesn't it? Click on for more images of both Front Row and the Remote.

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

There's also a new "Universal Dock" (fits all docking iPod models -- hooray!) that works with the remote:

http://www.apple.com/ipod/accessories.html

[AWD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I assume you can't purchase this item alone?.. I just bought an 20" iMac, and now I want one.. damn..

[Fantaz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

WTF?! The Apple Revolution?

[Benjamin Dow @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

is this compadible with all mac's with bluetooth or just the new imac? because it'd be real nice to have it on my powerbook

[Sean @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Will the FrontRow be able to be used on Powerbooks with Bluetooth and Tiger? Or is it strictly for the Imac G5?

[Trebz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

This would be a nice addition to the mini as a HTPC.

[tb @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

that is cool, i wish all my remotes were bluetooth or at least for manufactures to start doing it, line of sight sucks.

plus i'm doing my part to preserve engadget server resources by disabling pictures and ads :)

[ahmad @ Aug 1st 2007 4:14PM]

thanc ury









[e-mail]

[Poolshark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

So i just bought a G5 like a month ago. SO they come out with one with Front Row pre loaded and a remote. Am I shit out of luck? God damn I mean why not create something that will work on a machine you sold me a month ago. I can't seem to find out if you can buy Front Row as a seperate accessory or not. I suppose the remote would be the problem. I hate apple...especially over priced apple in canada.

[sound+vision @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

soooooooo nice. but the remote is like instantly retro (design wise)

i want frontrow on my powerbook!!!!

[Lawrence Pepper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I wonder if it will work with my Power Mac G5 with Bluetooth?

No mention anywhere.

hmmm...

[Hunter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

How is it adhering to the side of the computer?

[Paul Dunlop @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I'll also assume the new Universal dock will enable AV out on iPod nano's, as the spec page says it will allow Photo output functionality on any iPod with a colour screen

[richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I'm just glad the new remote works with the new Dock, which works with my new nano. I'm pretty sure that means that i can mount the Dock in my car and have a remote controlled nano on my dash. Rock.

My only question is... if it's a bluetooth enabled remote, why do both the remote and the dock seem to have IR ports on them? Does it support both IR and bluetooth?

[ixalon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I expect the On Demand Group (owners of Front Row - an NVOD service on cable in the UK) will have something to say about that!

Apart from the unoriginal name, it looks good. Should give MCE and MythTV/VDR/etc a run for their money.

[Greg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

what about tv? i guess this is their first try at a 'media center'.

[mobiler @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

today engadget page looks like Apple home page..... everythings apple apple..ipod...imac...rename site to iEngadget

[zollo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

sailing clicker will probably make it work with my sonyericsson... and that would make me happy...

[Karan Lyons @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I want one for my pb. Then I'll be happy.

[jayarr_the_motherfcuking_superstar @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

hmmmm a bluetooth enabled ipod dock and some bangin speakers? amen

[Gary @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Look at Apple's website, folks. You can buy the remote and the universal dock for your iPod but I don't see a way to purchase the Front Row software separately just yet.

[john @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I agree with #6, this would be a great addition to the mac mini. just hook it up to your TV and go.

[B-Sabre @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

On the remote adhering to the side of the iMac - my guess would be a magnet. That's how the old iSight stuck to the top of the previous revision iMac.

And to the people who just bought an iMac before this. Yes, you pretty much are out of luck. There's always something newer/better/shinier coming down the pike. You place your bets and you take your chances....

As to Front Row on other Bluetooth-equipped Macs like powerbooks, damn good question. I'd like to use it on my powerbook where I have an S-video out to hook to my stereo system.

[Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The reference to BT is to the new iMac, not the remote itself. It's selling the Remote in conjunction with the Universal Dock, which has an IR receiver on its face, and the new iMac, which probably does also. My guess is the remote's not BT, it's IR only.

Apple might release a IR-to-USB hardware piece to make the Remote (and FrontRow) useful to PowerBook, mini, and G5 users. But as of today, I wouldn't buy one and expect it to work without more hardware.

[kim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

yeah, no tv recording features?

[GDBLO @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Does it come in black?

[Usman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I wonder what the iTheater Project people think of this (http://itheaterproject.com/)

[Faffy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Since this is a bluetooth device, i don't see any reason why it won't be available later to the rest of Apple's line up. As long as your mac has bluetooth & a dvd drive u should be set.
How much though? $19.95 - $24.95 i'm guessing.
So don't fret

[DBD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Where is the HDMI connector on an Airport Express so that I can pump FrontRow directly to my TV screen? What good is the remote otherwise?!

[maxplanar @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

This is just the same as the ROKR - an experiment. Apple is dipping its toes into waters uncharted, and I think the Cube experience has made them hesitant to plunge straight in. I think what we're seeing here is them getting all the parts of a Media Center working, before finally releasing a Mini-based HTPC that they declare to be the best thing since sliced bread in the HTPC market. These are baby steps. They can't release the full HTPC until the Intel transtion is fully underway, they need all that new hardware to work perfectly when that box comes out as it'll be in the consumer space and they would be punished for an incomplete system. Here they are perfecting the idea itself, and making sure that by the time Longhorn comes out they are already at version 2 of all software they need to make it work. This is the genius of Apple in full effect, and means the next two years are going to be a MASSIVE for them.

[Angel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Emac is out...

[marty @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Good one, you guys talked about this months ago:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000257043526/
http://www.hypnoticnet.com/apple_airtunes_remotecontrol.html

[brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The remote is only Infrared. It says so in the press release for the new iMac. The IR reciever is where the built in iSight is, and also the black dot on the new iPod dock. The product page for the remote does not list the inclusion of FrontRow software, so it's safe to assume that it will only work with brand new iMacs and iPods in the new dock until Apple comes out with something else.

A shame, too. If it were bluetooth, I'd buy it. But I don't always have a line of sight to my powerbook, so if they keep it infrared AND make you plug in a USB receiver, no go for me.

[Tony @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Search the Apple store for "front row"

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71701/wo/e8Y30d6ckcCk3NATw1I2DpEQNRo/1.0.15.1.0.8.25.7.11.0.3

It's compatible with the iPods, so I doubt its bluetooth (too bad, I wanted it for my powerbook).

[gareth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The remote is IR only, and not Bluetooth.

What is the point in making it Bluetooth? It would eat batteries for one thing.

Bluetooth is a technology that is really looking for a problem to solve. It was designed for intermittent data connections, NOT for streaming audio, or video, or for using as a remote control.

Every time something new comes out every one jumps out of their skin for Bluetooth. Headphones, syncing, remote control.

There are better, more functional technologies for all of these problems.

If you want a Bluetooth remote for your Mac or PC, then buy Salling Clicker. I'm sure they'll support Front Row.

[www.smashmyipod.com @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

welcome to the year 2000 apple.

[Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The FrontRow interface looks great, but I'll wait for the 2nd generation of the remote -- with click wheel! :o)

[Tommy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The remote most likely just communicates with the built-in iSight... any digital camera can pick up IR signals.

I'm sure that the next version of the Mini will have an IR reciever on it. I just hope it doesn't take too long to get there.

[Jerome O'Donohoe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

It's not Bluetooth, it's IR. boooooooo. very poor.

[Arlo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I also wouldn't be surprised if FrontRow becomes part of iLife.

[PDB @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I guess since Windows Media Center Edition is outselling WinXP this year that Apple thought they better get in the game...

Agree with everyone on the IR remote... lame. Good design as usual), lame execution.

Not sure about the black screen... I presume it's skinnable? Black UIs don't look good on TVs...

[Anonymous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#25 Usman, looks like Center Stage beat them to the punch.

http://www.centerstageproject.com/

[acidreflux @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

true dat, smashmyipod.

why is apple excluding other computers for front row? what is the business logic? all I can say is that a beefy mini with front row, would be a dream for a lot of people, regardless if your a mac head or not.

hey engadget, your photos cant be clicked.

[Craig @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

As some of you have already been saying...who cares if its not bluetooth. Seriously, for this application bluetooth has basically no advantages over something like IR or RF.

In short:
1. Its way more expensive to implement.
2. It consumes power more quickly.
3. All the extra bandwidth bluetooth offers is basically wasted in a remote control. Commands sent from the remote are short and serial in nature.

Also, Steve Jobs is so impressed with the fact that this thing has just 6 buttons, but if you think about it, all it does is control the media player. The bulk of extra buttons on other remotes are for TV related functions which arent supported in this case.

On another (unrelated) note, I'm really starting to hate these apple product releases. Every time they come out with something new (for them), they act like its the latest greatest thing and they were the first ever to think of that. HOLY CRAP theres an ipod that supports video! WOW a remote control for the computer! Listen up Mr. Jobs, products that do these very things are already on the market. Don't act like such hot shit. I know other companies do this too, (i.e. AMD64 versus Intel's EM64T) but somehow it seems way more annoying coming from Apple.

maybe its just me tho....

[N. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

"The simple six-button Apple Remote gives you control over your music, movies and photos from anywhere in the room � and it stows away neatly (and magnetically) on the side of your iMac when not on." Magnets, near a computer? Another first from Apple!

from: http://www.apple.com/imac/design.html

[jimmy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Watch Microsoft make an inferior copy of this in 2 years. Again Apple is the only company offering true innovation.

[Jack Campbell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

To #40: Actually, the folks at Apple (and a lot of other folks, including me) recognize that there is often a huge difference between "doing something" and in "doing something extremely elegantly." If you don't understand that at a conceptual level, you are likely not a prime Apple customer prospect.

[Poolshark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

You call this innovation? MCE has been out for over 2 years. There is no TV included in Front Row. It looks like they just kicked the nuts right off the people who just bought iMac G5's. Way to go piss off the customer base...Innovation my ass...come on people get serious. Browse your music collection from your couch..wow...if my Mac is in my living room with it hooked to my stereo (which it isn't). Its not a new concept #41 jimmy get a grip.

[PDB @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#41, jimmy, where the hell have you been? Microsoft has had Media Center Edition out for years...

There is zero innovation in this product... it's jumping on the bandwagon. Go look at SageTV, GB-PVR, etc, etc...

[Eric Jeffers @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

@ #41, aree you on pot.
Microsoft has this for at least 3 uears now, ever heard of "Windows Media Center". This is actually apple copying microsft, except worse, as in no live TV with DVR capabilities.