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Frontrow has arrived to let you take and share photos from YouTube livestreams
YouTube's been beefing up the tools for its users lately, adding an audio editor, stabilization and color correction tools, and even ways for live-streaming productions to empty our wallets. Now, an outfit from the land of Oz has created an application that uses YouTube's live-streaming capabilities to allow those watching to grab pictures of live-stream and share them. Called Frontrow, it'll make its debut streaming the Vivid LIVE music festival currently going on at the Sydney Opera House. The app doesn't just let you take simple snapshots, either, users can zoom in and out and apply image filters to grab that perfect image of Florence + the Machine while watching them via WiFi a world away. Hit the more coverage link and check the video after the break for more.
iSync: Who stole my software?
Actually, if you upgraded to Lion, Apple did. When you installed the new OS, Apple decided to delete Apple software that wasn't part of the Lion distribution. It's left a lot of hacked off customers who were using iSync with some older phones to sync contacts and calendars. iSync still functions just fine under Lion, but if you didn't preserve it, Apple reached into your hard drive and obliterated it. It's not just iSync that has gone to the world of Apple discontinued software. Front Row is also a goner, probably because Apple would love to sell you an Apple TV. Front Row will work under Lion, if you can get a copy via a Time Machine install for example, though it's a less-than-optimal experience now that iTunes support has been pulled. Apple has posted a download link for a Front Row update, but not the whole app. Or follow this advice. It's a bit hard to understand why Apple does this. If they don't want to support a piece of software, that's surely up to them. It's quite another thing, however, to erase perfectly functional software from your computer. Sure iSync is pretty long in the tooth, and I expect the majority of Apple owners also have iPhones. But if you were syncing to an old Nokia or some other ancient phone, you're pretty much out of luck. Of course if you have Time Machine running, or some other back up you can get the software that way. Or find someone who hasn't upgraded and hit them up for a copy. If you are really in the weeds you could look at some paid alternatives to iSync, like Missing Sync, which works with some phones but not all under Lion. As for Front Row, there is software like Plex which is free and Media Central from Equinux which isn't. This issue is a little different from the tightening specs that have messed up Apple Mail for some, and created problems for network attached storage drives. What do you think? Is Apple being a bit too proactive for you at deleting working software?
How to install Front Row on Lion (Updated)
Update: As several of you have discovered, the latest version of iTunes breaks compatibility with Front Row so that Front Row will no longer see your music. Most unfortunate. Ralph Perdomo reports that he has ported OS X Front Row to Lion by moving several frameworks and the application itself from his old Snow Leopard install. He wrote up the procedure over on his weblog and has provided an optional installer for anyone who didn't keep a Snow Leopard install around. Perdomo reports that the re-installed application seems to work well, and he does not seem to have run into conflicts from what I can tell. The frameworks/app in question are: /System/Library/CoreServices/Front Row.app /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/BackRow.framework /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/iPhotoAccess.framework /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.RemoteUI.plist /Applications/Front Row.app TUAW has not had a chance to test this hack out, but we applaud Perdomo for his creativity in the face of OS upgrades.
Plex 1.1 for iOS adds functionality, interface changes
Put simply, Plex version 1.1 is everything that FrontRow should be. For a start, it streams to your iDevice, presents plenty of online media ... you get the idea. The only advantage FrontRow has is price, and at US$4.99 Plex probably won't break the bank. The latest version includes many new and updated features, like improved subtitle and audio stream selection support, Direct Streaming and Direct Play support. One interesting addition is TV out and AirPlay support, though the latter is still "experimental," which suggests less-than-optimal performance. Plex 1.1 also offers much improved live encoding. For example, Plex 1.1 will note what your Apple TV 2 can manage and only convert what needs to be converted, leaving other streams intact. Plex 1.1 is available from the App Store now for $4.99. Also, grab Plex for Mac to enjoy video, music, pictures and more. Have fun, media buffs! [Via MacStories and 9to5 Mac]
ETVComskip and PyeTV are great add-ons for EyeTV
As Erica mentioned earlier, Elgato's EyeTV hardware/software bundles will let you record your TV programming, either over the air or via your cable/satellite box depending on the exact product and setup you have. The latest hardware from the company is the EyeTV HD, which will capture HD video off of any source with component outputs. EyeTV also works well with third-party hardware from Plextor, Hauppauge and other tuner manufacturers. I've been happily using the EyeTV software for a few years now. For me, an essential part of the EyeTV experience is the addition of a free plugin called ETVComskip, a "com"merical "skip" program ported from comskip. After EyeTV finishes recording a TV show, ETVComskip automatically scans through the file looking for commercial breaks, and it marks them. The image above is the finale of LOST with the commercial breaks marked. ETVComskip successfully marked all of the commercial breaks (and there were a lot of them!) although I did go through and adjust some of the start/end times. Having them automatically marked, even if you have to do some manual adjustment, is a huge time saver. You can then export the video from EyeTV and the commercials will be automatically removed. If you want to watch the shows you have recorded in EyeTV right on your Mac, you can install PyeTV which will integrate EyeTV with Front Row. When EyeTV shows are played back through Front Row, commercials will also be automatically skipped.
Using aliases to extend Front Row's capabilities
While Front Row's integration with iTunes and iPhoto provides a nice, seamless experience, there are times when your needs demand a not-so-integrated approach -- say, for example, if you have an external hard drive full of videos that you'd like to watch on Front Row, but don't necessarily want to import into iTunes or copy into your Movies. One solution to this is to create an alias that points to said external hard drive or any other folder on your computer or network. For new PC-to-Mac converts, an alias is the equivalent of a "shortcut" on Windows. To create an alias, right-click on the file or folder (in our case, folder) and select "Make Alias." Now, place said alias in the your Movies folder, which is located in /Users/username/Movies. Now, you'll be able to browse and play movies of the folder that the alias points to. And if QuickTime can play the file, then so too can Front Row.
Front Row performance on the mini takes a dive with Snow Leopard
Here's an interesting feature of Snow Leopard that you may or may not (probably not) find particularly useful. Apparently after upgrading to 10.6 several users at the Apple Discussion Forums -- mostly owners of Mac mini or MacBook models with the GMA950 graphics subsystem -- are reporting poor performance with Front Row. The performance issue seems to effect navigation as well as playback, resulting in jerky video/audio in the menu and when watching a movie. This is also not limited to pesky DiVx files or QuickTime plug-ins either, as some users are reporting seeing the problem with iTunes purchases and others are even running a completely stock installation. Interestingly enough, some of the same users with Front Row issues are not seeing the same problems when playing back with QuickTime X. In my opinion, this is not much of a surprise following such a major upgrade to many of the OS's underpinnings -- including an overhaul to QuickTime on which Front Row is largely based. This is the reason I did not upgrade the Mac mini in my living room. Aside from being a full-time webserver, I also rely on it for multimedia functionality as well. Some folks with complaints have found solace in either Plex or Boxee as these fine media players do not rely on QuickTime or iTunes. For most though, a working Front Row would be ideal. Personally, I have not checked for problems with Front Row since my multimedia Mac hasn't been upgraded. However, I did note some wonkiness on another machine when using QuickLook to playback some video files through Finder. I have a sneaking suspicion there is something going on related to QuickTime X being used by other programs (i.e. FrontRow or QuickLook). What say you dear readers? Is your Front Row experience causing you grief or are you simply smirking because you haven't received your pre-order upgraded yet? Thanks to Ivey for sending this in via Twitter.
Ask TUAW: Taking apart a MacBook Pro, installing Leopard on a Mirror Door G4, streaming movies and more
Once again, it's time for another edition of Ask TUAW: the place where we try to answer all of your Mac and Apple-related questions. This week we're answering questions about taking apart a MacBook Pro, installing Leopard on a Mirror Door G4, watching movies streamed from a Mac media server and more.As always, we welcome your suggestions for this week and questions for next time. Please leave your contributions in the comments for this post. When asking questions, please include which Mac and which version of OS X you're running. If you don't specify, we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac.Jim asks:Hey guys, Jim here. I am running OS X 10.5.6 on an Intel 2.4Ghz MacBook Pro (2007 model). Lately, this thing has been getting really, really hot. I've tried a lot of things, fresh OS X installs, laptop cooling pads, but none of it seems to work. A quick Google search told me that my laptop's innards might be clogged with dust, blocking its airflow. I'm thinking of opening it up and using some compressed air to clear out some of the dust. What do you guys think? Opening up any computer can be sometimes lead to difficulty; opening up an Apple laptop even more so. Apple packs their computers into as small a casing as possible. Consequently, they are sometimes difficult to work on and may require a trained Apple tech.That said, you can take the MacBook Pro apart successfully if you are very, very careful and make sure to keep good track of all the parts and pay close attention to what you are doing. Of course, Apple always recommends you seek help from an authorized repair facility but if you decide to take the plunge, the guides provided by iFixit are especially useful. Check out their MacBook Pro guides here to find your specific model.
Understudy plugin offers Hulu and Netflix in Front Row
I think one of the coolest features in Boxee, the XBMC-based media center software for Macs and Apple TVs, has been the relatively recent addition of Hulu and Netflix streaming. Now Understudy offers similar functionality for Front Row users.The plugin adds an Understudy menu item to the Front Row interface. You can use it to add feeds from those two streaming services (e.g. most popular, etc.) or URLs from the clipboard. Frankly, if it were me I think I'd go whole hog with Boxee, but if you're happy with Front Row but want to add a little streaming content, Understudy is worth a look.Understudy is a free download from Google Code.[via Macworld]
Understudy gives Mac users another option for Hulu and Netflix streaming
We can't get enough way to bring Hulu and Netflix streaming videos to the TV screen, and now Understudy is stepping up to serve Front Row fans. If boxee isn't your flavor, the Understudy plugin pulls content via RSS (although you'll need to first login via Safari to view Netflix streams) for a lightweight -- though still under construction, check the issues section for potential problems -- Internet video to TV experience.[Via eHomeUpgrade & 123Macmini]
Front Row 2.1.6 update available
OK, so it's not really important news, but for those of you who are using Front Row on a regular basis, you might want to pull up Software Update and get Front Row Update 2.1.6. The file size is a miniscule 13.1 MB, and the update apparently "provides improved iTunes 8.0 compatibility and bug fixes."The update has been out for about a week, but if you've just installed iTunes 8.0 in the last few days, this may resolve some issues for you. Have fun!
FrontRow 2.1.6 is available
The updates keep coming out of Cupertino this morning. iTunes, QuickTime and now Front Row. Version 2.1.6 adds iTunes 8.0 compatibility and "...bug fixes." This update is just over 13MB. Short and sweet. Get it via Software Update now. We didn't find anything obviously new with this release, but let us know if you do.
VideoDrive: easy iTunes video importing and tagging
In a recent Ask TUAW we addressed a question about getting divx video files to register properly as TV Shows in Front Row. In the discussion that followed one of our readers suggested VideoDrive as an easy way of accomplishing this. Basically, VideoDrive allows you to import your videos into iTunes without converting them, while still having full control over the metadata, including the tags that control placing videos either in the TV Shows or Movie categories. That way they will appear in the appropriate submenus in both Front Row and on the Apple TV. VideoDrive can also download cover art form Amazon as well as clean up file names and more. Keep in mind, however, that the appropriate codecs must already be installed to use this (check our Perian for this purpose).VideoDrive is €12.99 (~$20) and a demo limited to 12 videos is available for download.
Front Row 2.1.3 update
Just when you think Apple's update spree is over, they send you a Front Row update. This update, version 2.1.3, will provide you "bug fixes and improved iTunes compatibility." This update coincides with tonight's iTunes and QuickTime updates. You can get this update by opening up Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update).Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Front Row update
Looks like today was the ultimate Apple software update day in addition to that other thing that also happened! In their last batch of updates, Apple updated Front Row for Leopard. Here's what Apple says about the update: This Front Row update provides for bug fixes and improved iTunes compatibility.Please note, this update for Front Row requires iTunes 6.0.4 or later, and iPhoto 6.0.2. You can download this update by using Software Update, or by visiting the Apple downloads website.
Kensington's SlimBlade Media Notebook set relies on magnets not magic
In perhaps the largest dose of hyperbole you'll taste this year, Kensington is claiming to "reinvent the computer interface" with their new SlimBlade Media Notebook set. No, we're not talking mult-touch, speech, or thought control here; just magnets. Sorry, no magical Steorn energy, they're simply using magnets to attach a media remote and keypad module to the sides of a keyboard. Whoopee. The wireless laser mouse features a 360-degree scroll ball while the keyboard goes both ways with PC or Mac hotkeys. A Wireless USB micro-receiver controls all the modules and tucks away inside the mouse when not in use. The kit goes for $130, or $150 with the Vista MediaCenter / FrontRow enabled remote control. Pretty sweet all-in-all but hardly a re-invention of the computer interface.
Front Row Update 1.3.1
The folks at Apple have been busy bees! New iMacs, new iLife, new iWork, and now a shiny new version of Front Row? That's right, fire up Software Update, kids, Front Row 1.3.1 is awaiting you. What does it do? Why, it has 'improved iPhoto compatibility.'I like compatibility.Thanks, Andrew K.
CenterStage open source media center updates, offers preview of future interface
The Mac media center market is heating up lately, with a healthy collection of competitors to Apple's Front Row offering unique features and different UI experiences. This is great news for anyone who wants to turn an older Mac into a media center, or if Front Row simply doesn't float your boat. CenterStage, while still very much in alpha and under heavy development (they're always looking for more developers to lend a handy, by the way), is a promising open source media center that brings a strong style, some exclusive features and the promise of an impressive UI down the road.For now, CenterStage covers the meat of what a media center needs to be pretty well: it can play movies, music and your photos; nothing too much to write home about there. CenterStage can already do interesting things like play TV shows recorded with EyeTV, but highlights from the planned features list, however, is what might peak more of your interest: Bonjour support is coming to allow access to the media of other machines on the network, which will include viewing photos and slideshows from other computers (take that, Apple TV) Subtitle support for playing movies Live TV viewing Live and scheduled TV recording Game support - playing CD-ROM, Flash and emulation games For now, CenterStage has released a significant v0.6.2 update which the team calls the "most fully functional release to date." For the future, however, the CenterStage crew have also produced a slick video of what the interface will eventually become, with demonstrations of browsing the library and a few other choice features.Like I said though, CenterStage is still very much an alpha product so if you give it a spin, definitely treat it as such. Still, the project seems to be progressing nicely and it will be great to see the day when it is a formidable competitor to the likes of Front Row and equinux's MediaCentral.
Front Row reworked to resemble Apple TV
One of the 300 new Leopard features that Steve didn't mention is an updated version of Front Row. Specifically, the UI has been rebuilt to look just like that of the Apple TV, so there no more need to install your own skin. From the limited copy on the webpage, we can assume that the functionality is the same, and only the look as changed. Perhaps this is just an extension of Leopard's new unified look.Thanks, to everyone who sent this in!
BackRow SDK unleashed for Apple TV
As if the Apple TV hasn't been hacked up enough in its infancy, Alan Quatermain is keeping the fun rolling with the unleashing of his BackRow software development kit. The completed SDK includes headers for the BackRow framework, iPhotoAccess framework, and QuartzComposer frameworks, which are reportedly all that's necessary in order to build and run your appliance plug-ins and the BackRow Test application. Additionally, you'll find a project template for Xcode, which "creates the Info.plist with the required elements, Appliance and ApplianceController classes, and links in the appropriate frameworks (Foundation and BackRow) for you." Of course, the possibilities are far too numerous to cover in this space, so do yourself a favor and hit the read link if you've managed to hold back your trigger finger 'til now for a detailed account at what the SDK entails.[Via iLounge]
