Front row with mpeg2 video

evening board
i have a ppc mini with an "enabler" version of front row.
I have many gigs of mpeg2 streams recorded from an eyetv session that play fine in eyetv, VLC and mplayer however i get horizonal lines appear when I play it in quicktime or frontrow.
It seems to happen most when lost of screen activity is happening e.g. a panning camera or an explosion.
As I alread said this does'nt happen in eyetv or VLC or even mplayer, just frontrow and quicktime.
I can play divx encoded movies in frontrow fine, no problems and things like podcasts are fine also it just seems to be mpeg2.
any ideas?
is it a interlace-deinterlace problem? I have a plasma telly I am using as the display (VGA in) however this is the first time I have ever had an issue (games are fine as are all other apps).
I think its a quicktime codec issue but can't find where to fiddle.
Any help would be great, as I'm not relishing the fact that I may have to divx encode 300Gig of mpeg2 just to view it in frontrow.
cheers
Steve

i have come to the conclusion that it is the mpeg2 codec for QT.
converting the mpeg2 to DV and playing using QT allows the de-interlace option to work as the DV codec seems to support this.
however not for mpeg2
at the moment I am using VLC player, but this has no nice user front end like front row making my mini a less than elegant media centre.
VLC manages de-interlacing fine, various options blend/bob progressive etc etc all produce nice results.
its possibel, so why doesn;t QT do what it says on the tin?
any suggestions from anyone?
very disapointed.........
Steve

Similar Messages

Can I use Front Row with my Macbook closed?

I just got a mini-dvi to video cable for my macbook. I love using front row with it but I was wondering if there was a way that you could use front row with the laptop closed. Oh and I'm using tiger, so its not the new version of front row.

With your computer attached to a keyboard you should be able to wake it from sleep and run it properly with the lid closed.

Front row with a mac pro . . .

hi im just trying to figure out how i cn use front row with my macpro? has anyone figured out a way , or know how to do it? i would prefer if i didnt have to buy a remote but i will if i have to. thanks heaps
luke

Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Right now, Apple only supports Front Row on Macs that have a built-in infrared receiver and shipped with an Apple remote. However, when Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) is released, it will include Front Row for all Macs that are compatible with Leopard (like your Mac Pro). You can use the keyboard to run Front Row (Apple-esc opens it, for example), so you'll have an option if you upgrade when it's released.
If you want to use similar software now, you can install .
-Doug

Native EyeTV files ( MPEG2) to play in Front Row with MPEG 2 component

Will Front Row recognise and play native EyeTV files (MPEG 2, but with .eyetv suffix) with the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component bought and installed? Also will it playback as 16:9 ratio?
According to Elgato, us UK bods get a 4:3 signal with a sub carrier signal that can be forced to play as 16:9.... as you can see I have no idea what the real technical language is.
So will the component allow 16:9 playback?
Have looked into MediaCentral but it wont install on my intel imac at the mo... and I am oh so desperate to give apple more of my money

No, the QuickTime MPEG2 plugin doesn't support the MPEG2 transport streams that are what El Gato saves to disk.
Kevin

Can I use Front Row with macMini (PowerPC)?

Is Front Row compatible with macMini PowerPC version and Tiger? Or does it need Intel?

Do you think that I can successfully emulate an Apple TV by setting up my MacMini (PowerPC) with a third party (someone suggested Keyspan) remote, Front Row application, and using Front Row to access iTunes music, TV shows, and videos (same as APple TV),and using Safari to access .mac web gallery (now available on Apple TV2)? The interface on the AppleTV is probably more elegant and seamless, but really, I could access the same content with the macMini, right? Also YouTube videos and Picasa photos can also be accessed via Safari. It will just look and feel more like a computer if I use Safari, vs a Media Centre! Do you think it's worth giving a try?

Front Row has ALL video files in "Movies" list. WHY?

This is ridiculous! I have never had this problem before, but now it is out of hand. In Front Row under the "Movies" list, along with the movies that I have purchased from the iTunes store, every single video help file from various applications on my iMac are now in that list. What the heck is going on? Why is that happening? How can I make the list go back to just including movies that I have purchased from the iTunes store? PLEASE HELP! PLEASE!

Front Row looks in three places for movie files: iTunes in your user's account, iTunes libraries that are shared on the network and inside your user's "Movies" folder. If the movies are in your user's "Movies" folder, they'll appear in Front Row. This is the way that Front Row has worked from the beginning, it's not new. Are all the video help files inside your "Movies" folder? If so, I don't think there's a way to make them go away. Your applications may need them to be there, but I've never heard of any video help files like that before.
-Doug

Front Row not marking video as watched properly

I kept hoping that this issue would be resolved with one of the point releases, but here we are at 10.6.3 and it's still the same for me, so here's the problem.
Before installing 10.6 I was running 10.5.8 and when using Front Row to watch a video (say a TV show I downloaded on iTunes) I'd watch it all the way to the end and the status circle next to it would show that it's been watched. iTunes would report the same status.
Since installing 10.6 when I watch a video in Front Row all the way, the status shows up as if it's only partially watched instead of completely watched. I'm sure the video was over since I let it play all the way through until it comes back to Front Row.
This is very annoying. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there some way to fix it? If not, I hope Apple can address this in 10.6.4.

Bump.
I have tried multiple solutions and non have solved this issue. I am rather disappointed that watching content on my AppleTV or via FrontRow does not mark the show as "watched" in iTunes. FrontRow will mark it part watched and AppleTV does not effect the watched status flag at all.
I do believe this is an iTunes 10 issue though as I only saw it after upgrading to iTunes 10.
Can anyone point me to a solution?

Front Row with black screen

Hi,
When I am using Front Row (MacBook) with Leopard, the screen turn off when I put the power adapter in the MB. Without the power-adapter everything works fine.
Why ?
I made a video to show You - in`s here:
http://bo.joergensen3.person.emu.dk/frontrow.avi
Best regards
ShermanX

Hi,
Did You see the video?
Have You seen this before?
What should I do?
Best regards
ShermanX (denmark)

Using Front Row to access Video, etc. on other networked Macs.

The ability to use the new version of Front Row and Bonjour to access viedo, photos, and music on other networked Macs seems very interesting, but I have a question.
Suppose for example, I buy the new Mac Mini and set it up with my audiovisual system ... and I have other Macs in my home network (e.g.,a G4, iBook, and G5). Do the other computers have to be able to run Front Row in order for their video/photo/audio files to be accessed by the new Mac Mini and played thru my AV system?
In my case, for example, my G4, G5 (Quad) and iBook (G3) don't have Front Row and at the present time Front Row is not available for these Macs.
G4, G5, iBook Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Phillip,
When I was trying out FrontRow on my computer, I got access to video on my PC by simply creating an alias for the files and dropping them into the Movies folder on the mac. FrontRow will show the aliases fine and when you select them will conect to the server (if not already connected) and start playing. This is totally cool! So... you don't really need the video to be in an iTunes shared library if you dont want to go that way.
Nevermind
PS. Of course ZeroConf is pretty cool too!

Front Row with 2 monitors ....

I have a second montor hooked up to my laptop. I would like Front Row to play on one display leaving me the ability to work on the other display. Is this possible? Either that or prevent Front Row from displaying in full screen mode and work more in a windown on the display.

Douglas McLaughlin wrote:
Sorry, Front Row takes over all the connected displays. The main display (the one with the Dock and menubar) will display the Front Row interface and the other screen will remain dark.
Is there any way - AppleScript perhaps - to allow either auto-switching of the main display, or enabling 'Mirror Displays', when Front Row starts?
Normally I have my MBP setup in extended desktop for when I connect my external monitor or connect to my TV (DVI->HDMI adaptor) for watching BBC iPlayer etc., however I want FR to run on the external monitor/TV if one is detected.
It seems to me that is how FR is (or should be) intended to be used - on a big screen for boring family and friends with your holiday photos/videos etc.
Message was edited by: parish_chap

Leopard Upgrade - Front Row 2.0 Video Playback Choppy

Hi Everyone,
I just upgraded from Tiger to Leopard and all is well except for video playback via Front Row. I'm playing video_ts files - which play back fine if I use the Apple DVD player application. In the new version of Front Row they tend to 'studder' and are choppy from time to time. I have 1GB of RAM installed, and I'm wondering if that is enough??
Another note about video playback... I was watching the Dallas vs. Greenbay game last night via a live stream on the Internet using my Mini on a hard wired connection. Unfortunately, it was choppy for both audio and video. My G4 Powerbook did a perfect job. It also has 1GB of RAM, it's running Leopard - and I was watching the game over a wireless connection. Audio and video were almost perfect.
Do you think that Leopard requires more memory than Tiger on my dual core Mini? I'm wondering if I should upgrade to 2GB's of RAM - or maybe re-install Leopard from scratch. (I did an upgrade install the first time.)
(Also - My Mini is connected to a 37" 1080p Sharp LCD display via DVI.)
Thanks for the help and advice!

Thanks for the response Boece...
My startup drive has 15GB of free space. The files are playing from an external Lacie HD (via USB 2.0) that has 20GB of free space.
It's odd that all files will play perfectly when using the DVD app to view the movies. Front Row 2.0 will have intermittent problems when viewing the same file.
Nothing else is running on the Mini when I am using Front Row.
The only other time that I have seen choppy video playback is with the screen saver. I really like the new 'Mosiac' option for pictures - but with this display the Mini can't zoom from one picture to the next at all without being all choppy. It's almost like the graphics card is having trouble. The other options for 'Collage' and 'Slideshow' work fine - with smooth flowing playback.
I'm planning on hooking the Mini up to a 19" monitor today to see if the problems go away.
I'll report back with the results.

Front row cannot play video on my shared network? not recognized? HELP!

When i launch my front row on my macbook it informs me that there are no videos being shared on my mini. But when i review the mini inside itunes i clearly see all the content and can play it. Any ideas why itunes and front row would not work together? It worked fine in the past, but the last two upgrades knocked it out. Both units are fully updated.

That is strange, it sounds like it should be working. I might try to create a new user with the Accounts System Preferences on the MacBook, log out and log in as the new user. Can the new user find the shared videos in Front Row? If not, then you have some kind of system-wide problem. If they can find the shared videos, then your original user has a preference or configuration issue.
-Doug

Any way to get Front Row to show video playlists such as TV shows?

I can get AppleTV now to show the TV show playlists in iTunes as their own menu items. However, I can't seem to get Front Row in 10.6 to do the same thing.
I currently have iTunes 8.2.1 in 10.6.0. Is this something either upgrading to 10.6.1 or iTunes 9 will enable?

Front Row users have been waiting for this option since video playlists first appeared in iTunes quite some time ago. Unfortunately, I've never been able to make it work. Why Apple can't enable what seems like a simple options is beyond me. My iPod nano can do it but Front Row on my Mac can't. I'd advise you to send Apple some Mac OS X feedback since there's no specific form for Front Row itself:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html
-Doug

99% CPU on Front Row with Snow Leopard, possible workaround...

This might be helpful for some who have experienced this issue as well. It seems that Front Row will continue to work in the background when you exit from it using Apple - Q, but if you exit using the remote, holding down the Menu button for a couple of seconds it completely quits. You can check using Activity Monitor.

I have similar problems.
I have an AirPort Extreme with two USB hard drives connected to it. One drive is for media such as our iTunes library and some movies. The other drive is used as TimeMachine backup.
After upgrading to Snow Leopard we only have sporadic access to the media drive with our two laptops (MacBook Pro and MacBook) and the TimeMachine backups have stopped working completely because TM can not connect to drive. Sometimes Finder can se the drives, but most of the time it does not. When drives are visible in Finder, most of the time we can not browse the folders on the drives at all.
AirPort Utility can detect the AirPort Extreme but when I attempt to configure the unit manually the program can not read the AirPort Extreme's configuration.
The AirPort appears to work all right when it comes to accessing the internet.
Apple needs to fix this AirPort debacle ASAP!

Run Front Row With Lid Shut?

Hi,
Is it possible to run Front Row on a MacBook with the lid shut? I want to connect a MacBook to a 32" LCD TV and run Front Row on the TV screen. And ideally I'd like to be able to do that with the MacBook's lid closed.

merchamster wrote:
if you run the macbook in clamshell mode, then yes, you can. and by clamshell mode, i mean with the lid closed and an external monitor (tv in your case), mouse, and keyboard plugged in
You do not have to have a mouse or keyboard plugged in to use the MacBook in Clam Shell mode for Front Row. You can wake it just using the Remote as long as external monitor or TV is hooked up. This works under Tiger and Leopard.

Front row with mpeg2 video

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for