Front Row preferences: I think it's about time

My experience with Front Row is limited, as I've only had my iMac for a few months now. However, in the short amount of time I have spent with it I find myself wondering why Front Row wasn't built with the notion that users may just want to have control over their experience. A few of the options I've found myself wanting:
*Turn on/off file scrolling*
- I've spent many hours creating cover art for my movies, so if I only want it to display the icon I've replaced for the folder icon, then I should have that option. I don't want to see the contents of that folder.
*Ability to target a different source folder, disk, or computer*
- I realize there are workarounds to this, but it should be much simpler than it currently is to do this. Most people in this day and age have external drives, or additional computers within a single household. It shouldn't be assumed that everyone prefers to store their media in those predetermined folders.
*Option to resume movie*
- This one seems so obvious that I have to assume that I've simply overlooked this option somewhere. Shouldn't one have the ability to resume playback of a movie where they left off if the movie is interrupted?
*Keyboard shortcut and/or remote command that exits Front Row*
- Again, I feel like I'm missing something here. Is there really no way to exit Front Row with one key/button stroke? I find myself having to back out of several screens before I can finally get back to my desktop. I've tried several logical keyboard shortcuts and tried holding down the 'menu' button on the remote and got no response. I realize we're only talking about a matter of seconds here, but it does become an inconvenience over time.
*ID3 tags for movies*
- I realize this is asking a bit more than just adding a couple of checkboxes, but it would really enhance the user experience if you could give your movies ID3 tags (or equivalent) so that the process of finding cover art, previews, synopsis, cast/crew info, etc. would be automated. Currently it takes about 5 minutes per film to manually download/optimize this content. Honestly, if I didn't have OCD I probably wouldn't waste the time.
Consider this a running list of requests to Apple, if anyone out there is listening. The more I use the program the longer this list will undoubtedly get. It's an amazing feature which makes the Mac platform stand alone, but it's time to take this application to the next level. I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to usability, and right now this product has fallen short in my opinion.
I'd be interested in hearing others thoughts on this. I'm sure I haven't covered everything here.

I would really suggest you send Apple some Mac OS X feedback for each of your suggestions.
Option to resume movie...
Movies/TV Shows/videos inside iTunes will pause and resume. It's only the movies that live outside of iTunes that, currently, won't resume.
-Doug

Similar Messages

Think it is about time to get internet security for new iMac. appreciate recommendation of product

am interested in getting security for my imac g5. dont know of a good product. Have eset on my pc's is highly rated.

There are many forms of ‘Malware’ that can affect a computer system, of which ‘a virus’ is but one type, ‘trojans’ another. Using the strict definition of a computer virus, no viruses that can attack OS X have so far been detected 'in the wild', i.e. in anything other than laboratory conditions. The same is not true of other forms of malware, such as Trojans. Whilst it is a fairly safe bet that your Mac will NOT be infected by a virus, it may have other security-related problem, but more likely a technical problem unrelated to any malware threat.
You may find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Security and Privacy, useful: The User Tip seeks to offer guidance on the main security threats and how to avoid them.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435
More useful information can also be found here:
www.thesafemac.com/mmg

Media Center vs. Front Row

I hate to say, I just watched the keynote, and Steve made a really thoughtless comment that got the crowd cheering.
He had a comparison of the iMac remote, and 2 different Windows XP Media Center remotes from HP and Gateway. He pointed out that the MC remotes had around 50 buttons, and the iMac remote had 6. This is an absurd comparison.
The Media Center remotes allow you to pause, play, record, rewind, and fastforward TV. They also have, EQ controls, volume, audio switching, video input, and many other useful controls.
There's no surround sound with an iMac. There's no hi-def inputs with an iMac. There's just volume, play, rewind, fastforward. (with the remote).
And yes, I own a Media Center PC, and such a copy Front Row is. He's bragging about it like it's new technology, when the Media Center has been around for 4 years or so. He even copied the in-menu interface (once you choose music or video, etc.).
Vikram

Vikram's point was that Media Center has been out first for 4 years and Apple just NOW came out with it. And copied parts of it besides. By the way, other things, like Widgets, has been out for PC's a while before they were included in Tiger. Apple is not as great as they, and Steve Jobs, think they are. And everything Apple is still overpriced compared to PC's.

Front row error with IPhoto 6

When i'm using front row, and finish watching a slide show that I made with IPhoto, then select Library to see the slidshow of all my photos, it causes an error. It says "IPhoto is not responding. Press the play/pause button to return to the desktop". And when i return to the desktop, IPhoto opens, and the Library is selected under source on the left, but on the right it's trying to show a slideshow, but the image preview is black, and there are no thumbnails of the photos in the slideshow up top. So i click on Last Roll, or another album, but it is still showing the same black preview with no thumbnails. But when i click on the slideshow I last played, the preview loads, and all of the thumbnails are back, and basically it goes back to normal.
I provided all the details i could, if you need more info, just ask. This is the first problem i've had with my macbook, im still so glad i bought it.
MacBook2,1 Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Try deleting the Front Row preference file, com.apple.frontrow.plist.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Front Row: missing resume option

There's a serious issue with front Row... whoever decided what to put in the new Front Row forgot to add a "resume video" option. So now you have to start the movie from the beginning and go all the way forward (there used to be an option in Tiger to resume or play from the beginning)

Ok, I think I've got a handle on what's happening. It gets a little circular, especially the inconsitancies between iTunes movie playback and front row movie playback.
Here is my situation:
All of my Movies in iTunes are QT reference movies. They are all saved with the playhead at the poster frame, ie. some random time in the film. This was so that in the old front row the preview would start at the poster frame, not at the beginning of the film where the production company stuff is. In iTunes under options, all Movies have "Remember playback position" checked. The start times and end times are 0 and the end of the film respectively. Though, checking the boxes next to the start times and end times seems to have no effect and isn't saved when you close the window. Maybe i don't understand the functionality of those two settings. Anyway.
It appears that Front Row will still remember your playback position, but only if you are more that 5 seconds into the film. If you stop a movie earlier than 5 seconds in, front row sets the resume playback position to the position of the playhead in the saved QT file (not the beginning for me). It does not however set the bit to prompt the user to resume the next time the movie is played in front row. So stop before 5 sec, hit play again, playback jumps immediately to the poster frame, no prompt. I know that the position is saved upon stopping the movie because if i stop before 5 seconds and then quit front row and play the same movie in iTunes, playback begins at the poster frame. If i let it go for more than 5 sec in front row, playback in iTunes resumes at that point. This is all repeatable.
Going the other way -- resuming movies that were last played in iTunes in front row. This works, but is also buggy.
This is all a result of separating front row from iTunes. Something in my opinion apple never should have done. It is the root of most of the new problems with front row. In tiger i spent the time orgainizing my TV shows exactly the way iTunes and front row wanted them, name, season number, episode number. New front row says "f" that, how about reverse chronological for everything?!?! You may not be able to find the next episode of a show you wanna watch, but you get to that realization in less than three clicks! Apple: sacrificing mantra for usability. Honestly though, I don't think they really put that much thought into it. This is a secondary app that not many people use on an OS that was way behind and needed to hit an already extended launch date. They probably just dragged it over from apple TV, saw that it started and said thats that.
good luck

Front Row shows songs in Japanese!

Hi,
it is a bit strange, in the "music" part of Front Row, the 2 first element are in Japanese... and if I go inside I have a selection of best songs in Japanese (well, that's my guess :P)... I have nothing against Japanese, but isn't there a way to correct that? I'd like to have the best songs in France for instane..
I have an iMac bought in Spain, but configured in French... can that be an explanation???
Hep!!

Those are the "Top 10" songs from the Japanese iTunes store. For some reason, Front Row thinks you've selected the Japanese store in your iTunes. You can probably fix this by deleting your Front Row preferences. This may be trickier than expected though, as Front Row seems to "cache" or save this setting in memory. I would suggest you log out and log back in (to make sure no Front Row process is running in the background). Delete the Front Row .plist file in this path:
<Macintosh HD>/Users/<YourUsersShortName>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.frontrow.plist
Then log out right away and log back in. Is it fixed now?
-Doug

ITunes Rental Movies Do Not Play in Front Row on Computer

Surely I cannot be the only person who would like to watch a rented iTunes movie on my computer using Front Row?
My iTunes library is on an external drive and when I open and browse Front Row, everything BUT the rented movies appear in my movie list. Purchased movies are there, video podcasts are there, home movies are there, just not the rented ones. Why is that?
I don't have an Apple TV, just a laptop an external drive and a desire to watch rented movies through an application designed to play ALL my media, not just select media.
And I haven't seen any info on Apple's website to indicate that rentals would not work with Front Row. And I do have all the latest Apple software updates.

Front Row in Mac OS X 10.5.x (Leopard) has access to your iTunes and iPhoto libraries without launching those applications. You're right, rented moves don't appear in Front Row and there have been a couple of Front Row updates since rented moves became available. The only thing I can think of is that the rental terms can't be enforced when the movie is played in Front Row instead of iTunes. For example, Front Row's access to your iTunes library is really read-only. You can't delete files, apply ratings or change any other settings on the files in your library through Front Row. I think the way iTunes handles rental movies, the file has to be updated with some kind of tag when you start to play it so iTunes knows how much longer you have to finish playing it. So, it's doubtful Front Row will be able to do this. I don't think Apple has ever made a statement one way or the other about this, it's just my opinion.
-Doug

AirTunes compatibility with Front Row

In the AirPort Express FAQ, it says:
Question: Can I use other applications, like QuickTime or Windows Media Player, to send sound to AirPort Express via AirTunes?
Answer: At this time Apple only supports sending one AirTunes stream to AirPort Express via iTunes 4.6 or later.
What does this mean for Front Row? Is Front Row just a interface for iTunes and hence works with AirTunes, or not. I see in the Front Row forum people asking many questions about getting volume control with Front Row and AirTunes, so it seems like the FAQ description sounds more limited that the reality.
I am particularly interested the ability to watch a movie (that has been loaded into iTunes) using the Front Row interface and piping the sound out to AirTunes. In this case, would Front Row be using iTunes (and work with AirTunes) or would Front Row be using QuickTime (and not work with AirTunes)?
If movies in Front Row will work, will it work for all movies loaded into iTunes -- e.g. not just mov files, but also avi files supported with QuickTime plug-in to make them work in iTunes? And, if avi files loaded into iTunes would work, would it work for both movies physically stored in /iTunes/movie folder, as well as 'reference movies' stored in that folder pointing to files stored elsewhere?

Per the Wikipedia AirPort article, no video in iTunes. Apparently, there are 3rd party utilities that can pump any program sound output (Mac and Windows) to the AX, not just iTunes -- which is handy, say, if you want to play Pandora in Safari. However, even these programs say they are useless for video. Apparently, the AirTunes protocol delays playback 2 to 10 seconds for buffering. Delay in audio playback aren't a problem, but with video, the sound and picture would be out of synch.

Playing rental movies with front row

Is there any way that they can upgrade front row so that i can watch rented movies through it? I'm a very lazy person and i want to watch my rented movies from my bed without moving. I can use the remote to watch most things but it won't let me play rented movies with it.

Unfortunately, rental movies do not appear in Front Row. I believe this is because of the inability of Front Row to alert you (and have you click "okay") to the rental agreement requirements. It may also be because Front Row does not give iTunes feedback about when you started playing the movie and/or when you're done. If you would like to see rental movies in iTunes, as do quite a few people who post in this forum, I would suggest you send Apple some Mac OS X feedback (since there's no form specifically for Front Row):
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html
-Doug

Mysterious music in my Front Row

I'm not a huge Front Row user -- I pretty much just use it for DVD viewing. One day I explored a bit more and checked out the "Music" section, and found a bunch of music I didn't recognize, especially considering the titles were in Japanese, and I don't speak Japanese. Check it out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/endquote/2124583368/
I have no idea how that stuff got there. (I also have no idea how to take a screen shot of Front Row -- that's an iPhone pic.)
I have two Macs, a newish dual-core MacBook Pro, and an old Powerbook G4, which acts as a music server. I have an Airport Extreme providing network access to everything and two Airport Expresses for Airtunes use. The wireless network is using WPA password protection, and I just changed the passwords tonight. None of this music shows up in iTunes on either Mac. The only other devices on the network are an iPhone and a Wii.
What's going on here? Is there a security issue? Am I hallucinating? It's just so strange.

He he! I haven't actually seen a screen shot of that yet, but you're not the first to report this issue. Some people have resolved this issue by deleting the Front Row preferences. You can find the file in this path:
<Macintosh HD>/Users/<YourUsersShortName>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.frontrow.plist.
You'll need to log out and log back in after deleting the file. For some reason, your iTunes store preference has changed to the Japanese store.
-Doug

An Error Occurred - Photos on Front Row

Hi, I really hope someone can help me....
Whenever I try to show photos on Front Row, the message comes up "an error occurred" Press play/pause to exit front row.
I think I must have some corruption in my iPhoto library so I have tried the following:
Re-building the library, thumbnails etc.
Deleting the last 10 events (since the problem occurred)
Emptying trash
Deleting all albums and slideshows
All to no avail.
I have tried creating a new user account and opening the library in that and using Front row to confirm it wasn't user account settings, same problem again. But if I create a new library with just a few photos in it, it works fine in Front Row on both user accounts.
This has all started happening since I moved from a mac mini to a 27" iMac, the photo library is on an external drive and worked fine like that with the mini but not the iMac. I have tried copying it onto the iMac hard drive in case it was the external drive causing the problem but that doesn't seem to have made any difference. I did change to snow leopard around the same time, would this have anything to do with it maybe?
I have over 16000 photos in my library and have spent hours tagging them, geo-tagging, updating faces etc so I really don't want to have to rebuild the library from scratch manually.
Any clues?
Thanks

Well given that the problem doesn't occur in the new Library it does point the finger solidly at some form of corruption in the main library.
What format is the external disk?
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

Front Row Preview

I would like to turn off the movie preview in Front Row. Scrolling through movies takes forever with this feature. Please help!

Unfortunately, the Front Row preference don't contain a line or an option for disabling the previews. You might send Apple some Mac OS X feedback and suggest an option to turn it off or a menu item to list the movies without a preview.
-Doug

Front Row produces screen artefacts

When I search the Front Row discussion forum I find a lot of unhappy users. I for instance cannot understand why Airtunes support was abandoned. Someone in Cupertino must have though: "Hey guys: I have a great idea...".
Anyway: I found another weird bug. When playing music from Front Row, the screens turn black after about 10 minutes. Nothing strange so far. But when the screen is woken, it show block-like artefacts that disappear after about 20 seconds. The artefacts flash with about 1 Hz. What could be wrong?

Someone in Cupertino must have though: "Hey guys: I have a great idea...".
Since this is a user-to-user forum and none of us work for Apple, we can't really speculate about why this decisions was made, if there even was one. You can continue to use iTunes directly to play your music through AirTunes.
When playing music from Front Row, the screens turn black after about 10 minutes.
In the Front Row "Settings" menu, have you disabled Front Row's own screen saver?
-Doug

Front Row forgets passwords

Hi everybody!
I have a Mac mini connected to my audio and video equipment and use Front Row to access music on other macs. The iTunes library on my MacBook is password protected, and fortunately Front Row is able to deal with passwords lately. *Sadly it forgets the password everytime* I reconnect to the music library and it's no fun typing the password with the remote everytime this happens.
So, is it just me, or is that the 'normal' behaviour. If I connect once from the Mac mini via Front Row, iTunes can't remember the password anymore, too. So, obviously Front Row does something wrong when storing the password. Does anybody experience the same problems?
Greetings,
Henry
PS: Do you know how to access cover art over the local network? It's a big letdown browsing your music without covers...

I too am experiencing this issue.
I am running 10.5.3 with Front Row 2.1.3 (266). Each time i connect to my shared library on my Mac Mini i have to type in the password.
I have tried to use iTunes to remember the password in the keychain thinking that Front Row might get it from there but nope, it doesn't.
So is it 'Normal' behavior? If so then maybe it shouldn't be. Of late there seems to be more and more settings missing from Front Row, especially if you have iTunes failing to stream Video properly through quicktime (just get a loading bar for what seems like an age).
Is Windows Media Centre as bad as this?

Front row connects to the wrong itune store

when connecting to itunes through front row it connects to the wronng store and not the uk store .any idea,s

Delete your Front Row preferences. You can find the file in this path:
<Macintosh HD>/Users/<YouUsersShortName>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.frontrow.plist
Just drag the .plist file to the Trash, log out and log back in. (You might want to log out, log in drag the file to the Trash, log out and log back in just to make absolutely certain the Front Row process is not currently running in the background when you delete the file.) The iTunes store you've selected is almost the only thing saved in that file.
-Doug

Front Row preferences: I think it's about time

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for