Apple Enters Media Center Domain

An anonymous reader writes "CNN has a story up describing Apple's new media center concept. The software takes on a classic Apple approach: simplicity. 'The program, called Front Row, lets you listen to music, watch videos, play DVDs and display photos from a distance with a few clicks of a lighter-sized, six-button remote control.'" More details available from ThinkSecret.

Comments

Stupid Publicity

[HaMMeReD3]

Didn't RTFA but what the hell does it matter, front row is not new? For something to be news it should be new, this is just olds.

CNN wastes our time yet again

[Anonymous Coward]

How can you even compare the two? They aren't similar at ALL, but CNN gives Apple a long slow asskiss anyway. "Sometimes, less is more" for this DVR-killer which isn't a DVR.

Innovation!

[MiKM]

Windows did it first! Interesting that this post will be modded down while a similar post where Mac/*nix did it first would be modded up.

Re:The Real Deal Apple's iVision.

[DaveCBio]

This is not going to happen. Apple knows a lot, but they no squat about games. Every time they have boasted about new support for game devs they have fallen far, far short of their promised mark. Apple is to game as Microsoft is to security.

A little late to the game, both CNN and Apple

[TheSkepticalOptimist]

CNN is too busy with doom and gloom to have realized that Front Row was released with thet last iMac update, a little over a month ago.

Second, Front Row is so far away from a media center computer, it isn't even funny. Pretty much its just a front end to iTunes, iDVD and iPhoto. Where is the PVR functionality? Where is the HomeTheater support (i.e. a computer that can output 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS).

The 6 button remote is a joke too. What does Steve have against buttons? I mean, he dissed Microsoft's Media Center remote for having 43 buttons, but at least it actually WORKS like a home theater remote, allowing me to control DVD menus, access chapters quickly, as well as PVR buttons like record and such, and shortcut keys to get to different apps quickly.

This is classic Apple. They are slow to realize a market trend, quick to criticize others in the industry that beat them too the punch, and then finally introduce a product where their customers are screaming for so much more, and Apple ignores them yet touts it as the most innovative product on earth! Eventually Apple will succumb to customer demand and offer a more feature rich product and claim they thought about it first.

Apple should have realized a few years ago they are in a novel position to create the ultimate set top box. They have the ability to innovate new enclosures shrinking traditional computers to small form factors as well as combine state-of-the-art hardware and software with an eye for simplicity. After the success of the iPod, Apple really should have started focusing on consumer electronics rather then trying to remain a computer company. They will never capture more then 5 - 10% of the computer market. But they could easily become the next Sony (the Sony that USED to offer state-of-the-art well designed consumer electronic components that don't suck) and TIVO combined, as well as a hub for their iPod products. They should have had a network capable HTPC set-top box that is the hub of anyeverything media centric in the home that would blow Media Center out of the water.

But why don't they? Because of Steve Jobs. He believes that TV/PC integration is a fad that will never last. The idea of integrating home theater into a computer based component is just a pipe dream vision OTHER people are deluding themselves with. Yeah, just like PDA's and digital video players. I credit Steve for turning Apple around and making them the buzz word of the 21st centruy with the iPod, but he can (and I believe will) just as easily ruin this company.

Apple's few forays into media based products, outside the iPod, have failed. AirTunes is so feature lacking and unusable it isn't even funny. The fact you need an entire computer to change between songs smacks of a poorly conceived and a rushed product. People only buy these to extend their wireless coverage in their homes. The iPod, while wildly successful, lack WiFi or bluetooth connectivity, even though EVERY Apple computer integrates these features. More simplistic iPod connectivity would be welcomed, but obviously Apple is unaware of the need for it. Now Front Row is a knee jerk reaction to a realization that Media Center PC's are starting to become hot items. Steve is realizing that computers with HTPC functionallity can be sold at a premium without offering much more then the conventional computer, so rather then trying to undercut the market with cheaper computers, people are selling more feature rich computers at a premium price, and consumers are latching on to that concept. I could have developed Front Row in a month, by myself. Why Front Row wasn't offer with the original Mac Mini is beyond me. Again, Front Row seems to be a poorly conceived and rushed product that doesn't offer much.

Anyways, I would be the first in line if I could be if Apple came up with a REAL Media Center HTPC concept. I think they could really make a winner by integrating High Definition PVR support AND simple, clean GUI in a small wunder-PC box. Put an iPod do