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!

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Using Front Row to view photos stored on a network drive.

Good evening.
I am setting up all my files on a network drive. I've got Front Row "seeing" my movies on the drive and my music too.
What I'm looking to do is have it "see" my photos. Here is what I would like to do if possible:
I have my photos on the network drive in a Photo directory. In this directory are several sub-directories listing events, i.e., Xmas 2005, Weddings, etc.. How do I get iPhoto to get these photos and keep them in the same directory structure that I have set up so I can choose which photos to veiw? Also, as I add more photos to the network drive, how can I get iPhoto to automatically bring them in with no intervention (similar to the way new movies show up in the Movie Alias folder when they are added to the network drive).
Thanks.

Well you can partially do what you want. In iPhoto there is now an option to not copy photos into it so it will just generate links to the originals instead when you drag that photo folder into iPhoto.
However, there is no support for automatically detecting/adding new content.
One option would be to create an automator workflow that would add a photo to iPhoto and create a watch folder on each subfolder in your Photos directory. When new photos are dragged into that folder, the automator workflow would get launched with the input being the photos in question. Then the workflow would add the new photos to iPhoto and you'd be all set...

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

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?

Shuffle music videos using front row

Hello, I just can´t figure it out, can I shuffle music videos using front row?
MAc mini Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I don't think anyone's figured out how to do that. Music and music playlists from iTunes are played through iTunes. However, even if your video is inside iTunes the video is played through Front Row using the QuickTime Player application, not iTunes. Since the QuickTime Player application is not reading playlists from iTunes and has no "shuffle" option of its own, I don't think it can be done. If you do make a playlist in iTunes that has videos on it, all you get is the audio and a black screen when they're played with iTunes.
I would suggest you send Apple some Mac OS X feedback and let them know you'd like to see an option like this.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback/
-Doug

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 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?

Using Front Row On Duel Screen

Hi guys,
I've got a macbook at the moment and was wondering, if i were to hook it up to another screen and run it duel screen is it possible to use front row in the second screen as appose to just the main laptop screen? And then also use the remote and everything to control front row, but at the same time be using my macbook normally for other tasks? So basically....i use my macbook normally, but at the same time, someone else can be using the remote to control Front Row thats showing on a different screen. Thanks in advance,
Luke

I assume when you are not using FrontRow, you can see your Mac desktop on both your laptop and the TV, correct? (Just making sure the connection is working.)
If so, in the Displays preference pane, there should be an Arrangement tab. This is where you tell your Mac how your have your displays arranged. There should be a check box that says Mirror Displays (or something like that). That tells the computer to show the same image on both displays.
Front Row can only be on one display. I assume it will always be on whichever display the computer has designated as the "primary" display. And it will blank any other displays while Front Row is active. If that is what is happening in your case, mirroring the displays should put Front Row on both.
BTW: The Mac's Help system can be, well, helpful here. From the Finder's Help Menu select Mac Help. Do a search for "mirror video" and you'll get instructions on how to do it.
Message was edited by: Bean

Using front row to play movies you ripped yourself??

Hi,
Is there a way to use Front row for movies you have ripped from your own collection? I read in "Macworld" December 2006 that you can use a program called Salling Clicker (www.macworld.com/1721) with a cell phone (well it has to be a certain type which I don't have). Is there another way to get Front Row to work in this capacity?
Thanks,
S.

If you are referring to DVDs, there are a few different ways--some are free/shareware some cost. Mac The Ripper is pretty good although it has choked on a few of my DVDs. Another, and my preference, is Handbrake. The pay version is DVDxDV.
Since Handbrake is my favorite, and has been able to rip every DVD I've used (except for badly scratched), the link is http://handbrake.m0k.org/.
I also create home videos using my camcorder--use Final Cut Express HD to generate the final videos.
If you want to add to the TV Shows or Music Videos, a program called Lostify can be used to set the attributes appropriately--this cannot be done in iTunes at this time. Lostify is free.
HandBrake has a lot of different features and I've tried most. My typical settings are: H.264, constant quality 60%, 2 pass, de-interlace, framerate same as source, audio leave in default. Perhaps others will chime in here with what worked best for them.

Sharing iTunes and then using Front Row

I have been downloading all the album artwork just like everyone else is, now that iTunes 7 is out.
I have run across a small problem and a fix I would like to pass along for people having problems viewing the album artwork on a computer that is sharing the iTunes from another computer and then using Front Row.
First off, the artwork for me seems to work fine on all individual computers that have the songs and the album artwork on it.
When I shared my 'master or main' computer iTunes with my Mini Mac Intel, I then played the music using Front Row but the majority of the album covers would not show up.
For some reason only a few of the album covers were showing up in Front Row on the shared computer. It took me quite awhile to figure out that the only album covers that were showing up were the album covers that I dragged and copied onto the main computers iTunes album window.
I don't know if anyone has found anything easier to fix this problem but I went ahead a copied all of the album artwork, one by one, on the main computer into the iTunes artwork window. Now, all the computers that access the main computer via sharing, shows the album artwork when using Front Row.
I hope I explained this clear enough.
Here is a photo of my Mac Mini hooked up to my TV, playing Front Row and using the shared iTunes Library from my main computer which is an iMac G5.
http://users.sisqtel.net/jkriz/MacMini/frontrow_albumcovers.jpg
I needed to use the flash for this photo because it was getting dark but I think you get the idea.
I know I could have put all my music on the Mini Mac or any of my other computers and I wouldn't have had to go through all of this... but then I would have trouble keeping all of my computers music up to date. This way, I only have to keep the main computer up to date with all of my music. Much easier.
If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know.
I hope the rest of you can benefit from this tip.
iMac 17 (Intel), iMac G5 (Rev B), Mac Mini (Intel) Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Bizmarck,
Well, this is interesting.
When I first read your question I said to myself, of course I can play the shared slideshow along with the selected shared music.....
Well, I'm glad I tried it out first before I posted this as I cannot play the selected songs on the shared slideshow. All I could play was the Minuet in "G"....
I could have sworn I used to be able to do this with 10.4.7 and Front Row 1.2
However, I could be wrong.
I have tried everything.
I have the Serving computers iTunes and iPhoto open and to allow sharing of both.
On the Mac Mini which is playing the shared items from the serving computer, I can turn off the music but I cannot select a song from the shared library in iPhoto. All the library shows for music selection on the Mac Mini is the music that is on the Mac Mini.
Apparently Apple has more work to do if this is going to work.
It is interesting to me that we cannot play a shared slideshow along with the shared music that was selected with that slideshow.
If the selected song from the shared slideshow is already on the Mac Mini, then I can choose it, but I cannot choose any other songs unless they are on the Mac Mini.....
It seems that Front Row will not play the selected shared song from the shared slideshow. Front Row only wants to play the songs that are on the Mac Mini for any of the shared slideshows... BUMMER.......
If you open iPhoto (not Front Row) on the Mac Mini, then select a shared slideshow, then click on the 'Play' button. You will see that Minuet in "G" is selected to play on that shared slideshow. I turned all of mine OFF for the time being as I am tired of the sample music also.
If I come up with anything new I will post it here.
Thanks for sharing this information.

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.

Using Front Row w/ Macbook in closed lid position (w/ Cinema Display) ?

Using Front Row w/ Macbook in closed lid position (w/ Cinema Display) -
Is it possible if I buy a remote, to use Front Row on a Macbook that is in the closed position?
I use a Macbook linked to an external cinema display (a brushed alum, slightly older 23" model - doesn't have built in iSight) - wondering if I can get some of the same functionality via remote and Front Row.
Do Macbooks even support the remotes? I would assume since they have a built in webcam/iSight they can accept infrared, or no?
Thanks!

I am using the IR remote with my MacBook Pro. That remote operates my LED Display when I do it thus:
Shut down Mac, connect display, and restart.
Close lid. Mac goes to sleep and display goes black.
Point IR remote at Mac (not too far away or too oblique an angle - see instructions for Remote) and click "Menu" button.
Mac wakes up, launches Front Row, and displays it on my 24 inch.
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.2) MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.2)
LED Cinema Display G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

10.6.2 Front Row and iTunes video still stutters

I thought this was going to be fixed. What's really odd is Quicktime X no longer stutters.....
Was the FR stuttering "fixed" for anyone?

Further Clarification
Front Row will not play my HD content. Plays the .mp4 content fine, in fact plays it better over my wireless network than iTunes does over wireless but iTunes will not play .mp4 content now (10.6.2) without stutter even when loaded on the MAC HDD.
I have not used Front Row before because I always used iTunes with iPod Touch as the remote so I don't know if this has always been a limitation with Front Row. Still prefer the iTunes method but the bulk of my content is .mp4 format.
I'll probably go back to 10.5 so don't upgrade to Snow Leopard if you have mixed iTunes movie/TV content.

Use front row to control airtunes volume

is there any way to use front row (and remote) to control volume on external airtunes speakers instead of system volume? i understand how to select them, just want to know how to do volumes. thanks.

You're talking about using the volume slider within iTunes? Or using the remote to actually control the speakers?
If the former, than try the App called iRedLite. It lets you remap the remote's inputs to different functions.
If you're familiar with AppleScript you can make the up and down buttons control the volume slider.
Open Script Editor, then open the iTunes Dictionary. Find the "volume up" and "volume down" and use those in iRedLite.
This should work, hope I helped.

Accessing iTunes using Front Row

I just bought a new iMac today and really like the front row feature. I noticed that I cannot see my iTunes library in Front Row. I have tried going into sources but my only option there is My Computer. I tried seeing if I could open my iTunes up for sharing but that does not seem to have worked either.
Thanks in advance
Mike

Your iTunes library is located in your Home folder or User Account (the one with the little house icon.) In this home folder should be a music folder and inside that an iTunes folder.
It is usually best to not muck around inside the iTunes library if you are new to Macs.

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

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