I got an iMac yesterday. Frontrow popped up and it looks very similar to AppleTV interface. I am purchasing a long dvi to hdmi cable and audio cables to hook up to a 42" Bravia (Sony). I plan to watch Hulu on the tv via the iMac. What can't Frontrow/iMac do that AppleTV can do? Suppose if AppleTV has become obsolete here in my bedroom, I'll move it to another room.
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Can Frontrow take the place of AppleTV?
- Thread starter Advance The Man
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Add AppleTV's FrontRow to your Intel Mac:
http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/AppleTV_FrontRow_on_Intel_Mac
http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/AppleTV_FrontRow_on_Intel_Mac
That's the thing, frontrow just popped up without loading it. It automatically found all of my media. Suppose I'll answer the question later this week when I get the cables to connect to the tv.
All the information that I've been able to find regarding the Apple TV interface running on a Mac only references 1.x software. Is there a modified Finder.app for version 2.3.1?
If your running leopard you can go into the Application folder and click on it.
Or hold Apple and click esc!
The main problem with Front row as I see it is that it relies upon Quicktime to play media. You can improve quicktime by installing Perian and the WMV extensions, so you will be able to play avi, etc. Not mkv files, though.
However, the main limitation is that quicktime only passes through AC3 from DVDs and from m4v files. Thus, if you have, say, an avi file with a 5.1 AC3 audio track, quicktime/front row won't pass it through.
In that case, you'd want to use something else, like VLC.
Now, the problem with VLC is that you don't get the beautiful interface.
If you want the beautiful interface and to be able to play everything, install the free Plex.
Now, the problem with Plex is that there is a bit of a learning curve to figure it out and get it to see all your media.
If you want it to be easy and see your media by itself, use Front Row.
Now, the problem with Front Row is....
However, the main limitation is that quicktime only passes through AC3 from DVDs and from m4v files. Thus, if you have, say, an avi file with a 5.1 AC3 audio track, quicktime/front row won't pass it through.
In that case, you'd want to use something else, like VLC.
Now, the problem with VLC is that you don't get the beautiful interface.
If you want the beautiful interface and to be able to play everything, install the free Plex.
Now, the problem with Plex is that there is a bit of a learning curve to figure it out and get it to see all your media.
If you want it to be easy and see your media by itself, use Front Row.
Now, the problem with Front Row is....
Will VLC player pass DD 5.1 to my surround receiver? I don't mind using it if it does. The other members of the house can use Front Row.
Got it! I'm gonna try Plex Media tonight along with VLC and see which I prefer. I'll report back with my findings.
Frontrow/QT does NOT pass AC3 from m4v files. Some think Apple purposely restrict QT from doing proper AC3 passthru to push people to AppleTV..
That to me is a biggest show stopper to using Mac/Mini as a media center, as I am not too interested in Plex for some reason..
Yeah, I am not feeling Plex too after using it last night. So you can confirm that Handbrake ripped DVDs (univerasal present) can play through ATV with full 5.1 support? If so, I may get an ATV this weekend.
Yes, I can confirm that. By default, the universal preset adds an AC3 pass-through track and the Apple TV passes that track out the optical port. (I assume it goes out HDMI as well, but I don't have an HDMI capable receiver yet, so I haven't used that path.)
Why not just use the "Apple TV" preset? That will include the 5.1 track. I don't know how "universal" is different - maybe it takes longer to convert, or is lower resolution, or ?
I was doing that for a while, but the conversion times were too painful. Better to have a Mac you can hook up and use vlc. (I think.)