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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Front Row
| logo = [[Image:Front Row Icon.png|64px]]
| screenshot = [[Image:Front Row Screenshot.png|220px]]
| caption = Front Row v2 (Included with [[Mac OS X v10.6|Snow Leopard]])
| developer = [[Apple Inc.]]
| latest release version = 2.2.1 (314)
| latest release date = November 9, 2009
| operating system = [[Mac OS X]]
| genre = [[Home theater PC|Media Center]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| status = Discontinued
| website =
}}
'''Front Row''' was a [[Home theater PC|media center]] software application for [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[Macintosh]] computers and [[Apple TV]] for navigating and viewing video, photos, podcasts, and music from a computer, optical disc, or the Internet through a [[10-foot user interface]] (similar to [[Windows Media Center]] and [[Kodi (software)|Kodi]]). The software relies on iTunes and iPhoto and is controlled by an [[Apple Remote]] or the keyboard function keys. The first version was released October 2005, with two major revisions since. Front Row was removed and discontinued in [[Mac OS X Lion|Mac OS X 10.7]].<ref name="AppleInsider: Mac OS X Lion drops Front Row, Java runtime, Rosetta">{{cite web |url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/26/mac_os_x_lion_drops_front_row_java_runtime_rosetta.html |title=Mac OS X Lion drops Front Row, Java runtime, Rosetta |author=AppleInsider Staff |date=February 26, 2011 |work=[[AppleInsider]] |publisher=AppleInsider, Inc |accessdate=February 27, 2011}}</ref>

==Versions==

===Introduction===
Front Row was first unveiled on October 12, 2005 with the new [[iMac G5#iMac_G5_.28iSight.29|iMac G5]] (along with the built-in iSight camera, the [[Apple Remote]], and [[Photo Booth]]).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/oct/12imac.html | title=Apple Introduces the New iMac G5 | date=October 12, 2005 | work=Apple PR | accessdate=December 26, 2008}}</ref> The software was billed as an alternative interface for playing and running [[iPhoto]], [[DVD Player (software)|DVD Player]], and [[iTunes]] ([[Internet radio]] stations could play by adding the station into a playlist in iTunes).

[[File:Front Row v1.png|right|250px|thumb|Front Row v1.3.1 running on [[Mac OS X v10.4|Tiger]] ]]

=== Apple TV ===
The next incarnation, released in the original [[Apple TV]] software in March 2007, was a complete, stand alone application that played content directly from libraries. Among the features added were more prominent [[podcasts]] and TV show menus, trailer streaming, a settings menu, streaming content from computers on the local network, and album and video art for local media. In the summer of 2007, Apple released an update adding streaming of [[YouTube]] videos.
===Version two===
Released in November 2007 with [[Mac OS X v10.5|Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard)]],<ref>[http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#frontrow Apple – Mac OS X Leopard – Features – 300+ New Features<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> version two of Front Row included the new features introduced with the Apple TV (except for the YouTube viewer), a different opening transition, ending [[AirTunes]] functionality, and a launcher application in addition to the Command+Escape [[keyboard shortcut]].

Front Row 2 has an undocumented [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-in]] architecture, for which various third-party plugins are now available, based on reverse-engineering the Front Row environment. Because it uses [[QuickTime]] to render video, Front Row can utilize any codec installed in QuickTime, including [[DivX]], [[Xvid]], and [[Windows Media Video|WMV]], and play DVD images copied to the hard disk. However, because Front Row does not use [[QuickTime X]], it lacks support for certain codec features like Sample Aspect Ratio.

==="Take 2"===
In February 2008, Apple announced a Front Row update branded "Apple TV Take Two." In addition to the prominent addition of direct downloads for movies, TV episodes, and podcasts via the [[iTunes Store]], movie rentals, the ability for viewing online photos from [[Flickr]] or [[MobileMe]] (branded [[.Mac]] at the time), and the streaming of audio to AirTunes were added.

===Discontinuation===
Front Row was discontinued with the July 2011 release of [[Mac OS X Lion]] (v 10.7). The software appeared in neither the early Developer Previews nor the final version.

While it was initially possible to reinstall Front Row by copying the frameworks and application into OS X Lion,<ref name="installfrontrowhack">{{cite web|url=http://9to5mac.com/2011/07/19/os-x-lion-kills-front-row-heres-how-to-get-it-back/|title=OS X Lion kills Front Row... here's how to get it back|work=9to5mac.com|author=9 to 5 Mac LLC|date=July 19, 2011|publisher=9 to 5 Mac LLC|accessdate=July 19, 2011}}</ref> [[iTunes]] v 10.4 on 22 July 2011 broke compatibility, causing those who updated iTunes to lose access to their music through Front Row.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3201475?start=0&tstart=0|title=Front Row missing with Lion upgrade|work=apple.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mac OS X}}
{{Home theater PC (application software)}}

[[Category:Apple Inc. software]]
[[Category:Apple Inc. software]]
[[Category:ITunes]]
[[Category:ITunes]]

Revision as of 18:57, 3 November 2016

Front Row
Developer(s)Apple Inc.
Stable release
2.2.1 (314) / November 9, 2009
Operating systemMac OS X
TypeMedia Center
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#frontrow Edit this on Wikidata

Front Row was a media center software application for Apple's Macintosh computers and Apple TV for navigating and viewing video, photos, podcasts, and music from a computer, optical disc, or the Internet through a 10-foot user interface (similar to Windows Media Center and Kodi). The software relies on iTunes and iPhoto and is controlled by an Apple Remote or the keyboard function keys. The first version was released October 2005, with two major revisions since. Front Row was removed and discontinued in Mac OS X 10.7.[1]

Versions

Introduction

Front Row was first unveiled on October 12, 2005 with the new iMac G5 (along with the built-in iSight camera, the Apple Remote, and Photo Booth).[2] The software was billed as an alternative interface for playing and running iPhoto, DVD Player, and iTunes (Internet radio stations could play by adding the station into a playlist in iTunes).

Front Row v1.3.1 running on Tiger

Apple TV

The next incarnation, released in the original Apple TV software in March 2007, was a complete, stand alone application that played content directly from libraries. Among the features added were more prominent podcasts and TV show menus, trailer streaming, a settings menu, streaming content from computers on the local network, and album and video art for local media. In the summer of 2007, Apple released an update adding streaming of YouTube videos.

Version two

Released in November 2007 with Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard),[3] version two of Front Row included the new features introduced with the Apple TV (except for the YouTube viewer), a different opening transition, ending AirTunes functionality, and a launcher application in addition to the Command+Escape keyboard shortcut.

Front Row 2 has an undocumented plug-in architecture, for which various third-party plugins are now available, based on reverse-engineering the Front Row environment. Because it uses QuickTime to render video, Front Row can utilize any codec installed in QuickTime, including DivX, Xvid, and WMV, and play DVD images copied to the hard disk. However, because Front Row does not use QuickTime X, it lacks support for certain codec features like Sample Aspect Ratio.

"Take 2"

In February 2008, Apple announced a Front Row update branded "Apple TV Take Two." In addition to the prominent addition of direct downloads for movies, TV episodes, and podcasts via the iTunes Store, movie rentals, the ability for viewing online photos from Flickr or MobileMe (branded .Mac at the time), and the streaming of audio to AirTunes were added.

Discontinuation

Front Row was discontinued with the July 2011 release of Mac OS X Lion (v 10.7). The software appeared in neither the early Developer Previews nor the final version.

While it was initially possible to reinstall Front Row by copying the frameworks and application into OS X Lion,[4] iTunes v 10.4 on 22 July 2011 broke compatibility, causing those who updated iTunes to lose access to their music through Front Row.[5]

References

  1. ^ AppleInsider Staff (February 26, 2011). "Mac OS X Lion drops Front Row, Java runtime, Rosetta". AppleInsider. AppleInsider, Inc. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  2. ^ "Apple Introduces the New iMac G5". Apple PR. October 12, 2005. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  3. ^ Apple – Mac OS X Leopard – Features – 300+ New Features
  4. ^ 9 to 5 Mac LLC (July 19, 2011). "OS X Lion kills Front Row... here's how to get it back". 9to5mac.com. 9 to 5 Mac LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Front Row missing with Lion upgrade". apple.com.
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