I want Front Row Back

You are welcome.

I have a solution that allows you to play movies, tv shows, music, and podcasts.

1. Install Front Row: http://www.mac-hatter.com/blog/frontrowenablerforlion

2. Make sure "Share my library on my local network" is turned on

3. Run dns-sd as described in this post: http://blog.iharder.net/2010/11/17/frontrow-access-other-users-itunes-account-on -the-same-computer/ (I recommend to create the launchd agent he describes)

4. Start up Front Row, go to Sources, and select "Local iTunes"

Now use Front Row to play all your content. Go back to "Sources" and select your computer name to view

This basically tricks Front Row into thinking it's connecting to another computer's iTunes library over the network, using the standard iTunes sharing.

Fantastic. The only problem I've noticed, and it's a minor one, is that the artwork of your music library doesn't show (or, at the very least, takes an awfully long time to load). Thank you very much for your very valuable contribution.

FYI, step #3 in my previous post can be shortened to running this command in Terminal (buried in there is the string "Local iTunes" – you could change that to whatever you wish):

echo \

'<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"><plist version="1.0"><dict><key>KeepAlive</key><true/><key>Label</key><string>net.ihar der.shareitunes</string><key>ProgramArguments</key><array><string>dns-sd</string ><string>-P</string><string>Local iTunes</string><string>_daap._tcp</string><string>local</string><string>3689</s tring><string>localhost.local.</string><string>127.0.0.1</string><string>Arbitra ry Text Record</string></array></dict></plist>' \

> ~/Library/LaunchAgents/net.iharder.shareitunes.plist;

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/net.iharder.shareitunes.plist

I build my HT systems with macmini, touch screen, video projector.. around Front Row in cooperation with bruji dvdpedia. It works fine with dvdpedia i have a flexible movie database accesible by plug-in directly in Front Row

Why with Lion stop the development of an application that works so well?

I will not upgrade to Lion my HT Macmini until it includes Front Row.

leave now my negative feedback...

After such terrific contribution to the progress of the situation, I'm convinced Lion adopters throughout the world will feel now at ease, certain that Apple will soon duly see to it that your HT Macmini receives the attention it so rightfully deserves.

I can´t understand...maybe they wants to force us to buy an apple TV????

One think more that I don´t like of this horrible Lion..!

When I first bought a Mac, Front Row & the remote was a pretty huge defining feature that set it apart from any ole Windows machine... made it pretty awesome to just relax in a bed and watch a movie on my iMac... I also have an AppleTV which now I use, but Front Row is still useful if you cook in your kitchen and want to listen to music, using the remote with iTunes just isn't as nice. Overall, I really don't see the point in removing Front Row, I am sure they though that AppleTV would be a total replacement for it but they should have kept it for all the people who enjoyed using it. I see it as a part of the Mac experience, one of the reasons why I paid top dollar for this machine.... without it, it is just one less reason to even own a Mac.

This does not seem to work for me but there are several things that I might have done wrong. I have Front Row running but no access to iTunes music.

I did find the description of steps to take a little confusing because it was not clear what are Terminal commands and what are Finder-related actions. But it is great that you have worked out and are sharing a solution - thank you.

I have to say as someone whom has there IMac and just upgraded to Lion a while back ago. I have never been more dissapointed with Apple. As I had previously bought snow leapard but when I upgraded to Lion, I didn't realize that they were getting rid of Front Row. Honestly I feel like I have been robbed. One of the best selling features of the imac was the use of all in one with the remote. I don't believe it's fair what Apple has done. How can they remove a product that was one of the best selling features. Now having a remote for my Imac is absolutely pointless in my opinion. It's just ******** that if I want to do a picture show slide one I have to manually get up and do it. Why did I buy an Imac I am now thinking??? When you pay for a product you expect it to still be there on your next upgraded. In my opinion Apple should be ashamed of their actions. For dissapointing their paying and dedicated customers this is the biggest insult!!

Notwithstanding the impresive work to get frontrow going for Lion - hacks should not be necessary ...

I've combined Frontrow and EyeTV and a 42 inch HDTV for an amazing PVR/media centre. Doing everything with the apple remote - My 4 year old can select music, the family can find movies, we can view our photos ... A great solution

I have been an Apple user since the Apple IIe ..

Apple this is a REALLY stupid way to treat loyal customers.

Also poor economic sense - you have a great product in Frontrow which basically would be very low cost to get working on Lion and targets very different segments to AppleTV2 ... Hard to see leakage from AppleTv to MacMini and even if you do then you make more money. Also hard to see a major clash with any new TV products.

I purchased an iMac27 a few weeks ago and have just discovered now that Front Row is gone. Wow, I am disappointed in Apple. My spouse has my iMac24 with Front Row and therefore easy access to our iTunes library and all of the other media files. What a step backwards this is. Apple needs to correct this quickly. Very disappointed customer here.

You are not the only one.... we are many....and I mean many who are so dissappointed.... almost getting to the point of getting angry at Apple.

How can anyone remove anything that obviously adds so much value to a computer? .... ? I mean how?

Any person seeing it ... and I mean ordinary people.... fell flat on the floor when seeing it.... "oh a computer that I can actually use....wow... maybe we should buy a computer dear?"

Look at my facebook page "iWantFrontRowBack" here..., lots of people write there too.

But mostly in here...

Anyway..., before Lion and the dissappearance of Front Row, I was hoping to see the AppleTV GUI in Front Row... but I guess that's a long shot.

Regards,

Martin Lund Larsen

I would like to add my voice to those who regret the removal of Front Row.

Though I used Macs in my work between about 1985 and 1995, I had had no cause to use anything made by Apple until I saw a Mac Mini running Front Row in a local store in about 2008. It was sufficiently persuasive to sell the device to me within seconds. That Mac Mini has replaced multiple devices: a CD player, a DVD player, a radio tuner, a minidisk recorder, a place to store photos. From there, it is a small step to buying iPods, renting videos and so on.

In the short run, the loss of functonality is easily solved by not upgrading to Lion. But I'd value a more permanent solution, whether built in by Apple or an add-on by another supplier, so long as it was as clean and simple as Front Row.

I had been debating on purchasing an Apple TV or Mac Mini for my new HTPC and ended up deciding on the Mac Mini. (This was easily and additional profit for Apple) Now I have everything set up and discover if I upgrade to Lion I lose functionality. What a crock. I guess I should have stayed with the Windows PC and built my own system. So much for trying out Macs again. Guess I made the wrong choice. I wonder how much I can for my Mini on eBay?