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Level 1

30 points

Poor performance on Snow Leopard

So I just installed Snow Leopard on my Mac Mini which I use as a media center in my living room. So obviously I use Front Row extensively. Imagine my dismay to find out that front row is now jerky, sometimes won't respond, and in general *****. Videos play back jerky, and steppy as well while the same videos play find through Quicktime X or Quicktime 7, and iTunes full screen. What gives? Anybody else experiencing this? Any solutions?

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.6), 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Aug 28, 2009 10:23 PM

184 replies

iarann

Level 1

0 points

Nov 9, 2009 3:14 PM in response to Watchful

Just upgraded to 10.6.2 and it did not fix all the issues. Some videos run smooth now but some don't. Haven't isolated any rhyme or reason behind it yet.

Nov 9, 2009 3:43 PM in response to iarann

I just upgraded my Mac Mini to 10.6.2. I can confirm that DVD playback in Front Row is better. But now controlling EyeTV using the Apple remote doesn't work. Can't get to EyeTV menus using the menu button on the remote. Can't get to Front Row when EyeTV is is running using the Apple remote.

I think I'm done being a guinea pig for Snow Leopard. I'm heading back to Leopard where everything worked perfectly with Front Row, EyeTV, and DVD playback.

Nov 9, 2009 4:02 PM in response to Bill Pietsch

For those of you having remote control issues with Snow Leopard, try Candelair, a free alternative driver for Apple IR receivers. Apparently it fixes some remote issues in 10.6.

http://www.iospirit.com/labs/candelair/

Nov 9, 2009 6:21 PM in response to Watchful

Just went to 10.6.2 and FrontRow seems to be back to norm in playback but it's having a hard time finding the correct iTunes library to use from my network. Other than that all my Snow Leopard issues have been addressed.

Nov 9, 2009 8:24 PM in response to Gunny Sack

Thanks Gunny! Candelair fixed my remote issues. It has an option "Leopard compatibility mode." That and 10.6.2 fixed the Front Row issues I was having. It's almost as though I'm back to Leopard 🙂

Nov 9, 2009 9:07 PM in response to Watchful

I ran the update and still cannot play iTunes content or ripped DvD content through Front Row. I only get audio playback at the moment. I did go in and uncheck the "Start in 32bit Mode" box in FR's get info box... no help there. I need to check my VLC to see if it needs an update too...

Anyone else still unable to play iTunes content or DvDs though FR???

Thanks

Nov 9, 2009 10:55 PM in response to Scott Aronian

For me 10.6.2 update addressed the Front Row problem on my Mac mini. DVD disc and VideoTS playback is back to normal.

Nov 10, 2009 2:05 AM in response to Watchful

I finally got mine working correctly now. I ended up running updates to Flip4Mac and Perian... but I really think the Mini needed to be rebooted a couple of times. It seemed that FR didn't remember which codec to play video with... it wasn't even playing the iTunes movie trailers.

But all is well now. I can play everything in my library through FR now... no choppiness, smooth, clear HD 🙂

mkush

Level 1

8 points

Nov 10, 2009 6:08 AM in response to Robert Newton1

After installing 10.6.2, I confirm that my early 2009 mini now plays DVDs (VIDEO_TS folders) in FrontRow with no stuttering or choppiness.

Nov 10, 2009 11:26 AM in response to Watchful

Ok, so I updated to 10.6.2 and like most people here the playback in Front Row is fixed 🙂

However, I now seem to have a problem with my Apple remote.
I can't use the menu button to start Front Row, but if I start it manually I'm able to use the remote as normal to navigate and play media/use the menu options etc.
This also seems to have affected the use of the remote with EyeTV. In this case it simply fails to control EyeTV at all.

Anyone else getting similar problems and have any solutions?

Nov 10, 2009 11:32 AM in response to Gunny Sack

Gunny Sack wrote:
For those of you having remote control issues with Snow Leopard, try Candelair, a free alternative driver for Apple IR receivers. Apparently it fixes some remote issues in 10.6.

http://www.iospirit.com/labs/candelair/

*Thank you* for this link!!!!!!!!!
My MacMini media centre finally works again.

Why Apple couldn't actually do this themselves, with two further releases, I'll never understand but I can't see myself ever buying a 'new & improved' Apple upgrade again.
Grrrr.

foobula

Level 1

10 points

Nov 10, 2009 7:20 PM in response to Watchful

Yay, it's fixed with the 10.6.2 update! It looked like crap before the update, with pauses in the video every second or so, and now it works. Good job Apple.

Nov 10, 2009 8:48 PM in response to a.goodwin

This also seems to have affected the use of the remote with EyeTV. In this case it simply fails to control EyeTV at all.

Anyone else getting similar problems and have any solutions?

Yes I am. No solutions sorry.

It seems that when EyeTV is in full screen mode Front Row does not obey the Remote. So you are now unable to switch to Front Row from EyeTV via the remote. Only if you select a smaller screen size first on the EyeTV then you can select Front Row. Try explaining that work flow to someone else before they watch your TV.

They fixed the stutter and broke so much more.

Nov 11, 2009 12:17 AM in response to Tim Sydney

Tim,

Did you try Candelair for your remote issues?

http://www.iospirit.com/labs/candelair/

geeji

Level 1

0 points

Nov 11, 2009 12:34 AM in response to a.goodwin

a.goodwin wrote:
Ok, so I updated to 10.6.2 and like most people here the playback in Front Row is fixed 🙂

However, I now seem to have a problem with my Apple remote.
I can't use the menu button to start Front Row, but if I start it manually I'm able to use the remote as normal to navigate and play media/use the menu options etc.
This also seems to have affected the use of the remote with EyeTV. In this case it simply fails to control EyeTV at all.

I have the exact same problem.
Installing the candelair IR driver ( http://www.iospirit.com/labs/candelair/) cured the Apple Remote problem in EyeTV, but ONLY after I switched on the "Leopard Compatibility Mode" in Candelair's control panel.

Poor performance on Snow Leopard