Apple’s Front Row - A Review

The future is tantalizingly close and Apple’s iMac G5 is weaving its way into your life as your primary device for work, study, and entertainment — a lifestyle appliance. And nothing about this product says mainstream more than the Remote Control and Front Row application.

The new iMac G5 comes with a built in iSight camera and is bundled with the new Front Row media experience (software and remote control.) Apple is moving the hub, front and center as THE lifestyle appliance from which all aspects of your digital life can be processed and then dispersed to add-on devices (like the iPod, or a cell phone, or speakers, or a camera).

Can there be any doubt that the Mac will become the appliance that replaces your television, DVD player, telephone, stereo, CD rack, bookshelves, phone and address book, etc? Analog aspects of work and home life are integrating and Apple’s digital hub makes it very easy.

Bring in “the Expert”

In the spirit of scientific analysis, I decided to enlist an expert, to experience the new device and application and offer his feedback to the audience at large. Allow me to introduce, Mr. Michael Indiano, Husband™, master of the couch, all manner of manly appliances and king of our remote(ssssssss) yes, plural —practically one for every device we own — all different and difficult to use. I wanted an expert’s opinion…

Cate: So, honey, I was wondering if you would be willing to test drive the new Apple Remote and Front Row application?

Michael: Huh? Apple has a remote control?

Cate: Yep — and I thought you could provide some valuable feedback to the readership of Designorati. So, what say you? A trip to the Apple Store?

—moments later—

TJ Terry (Apple Store manager, Indianapolis, extraordinaire): Cate, we have two iMacs available to test drive in different screen sizes…

Michael: Let’s look at the largest.

Within seconds Michael is whizzing through Front Row with a remote control small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. 5 buttons — that’s it, just 5. How could that possibly satisfy? Here’s an excerpt of Michael’s thoughts.

1. VERRRRY easy to use, and not to be sarcastic, Apple continues to deliver on “point and click”

   2. Stepping through the menus is very easy. You can easily move between video and audio.

   3. Application — here’s the question. Will this replace my television? Cause I don’t need another entertainment appliance. It would be nice to reduce the number of my appliances (don’t repeat that to my wife).

   4. If it’s not supposed to, then why am I playing movies on a 20″ screen instead of my television with a DVD player? Although, it would be cozy in the bedroom…?!*!?

   5. Futures — I could envision laying in bed with my remote control, wireless keyboard/mouse, looking at my appliance and switching between music (I’m getting in the mood to work), applications like e-mail (while I’m working), or a video (I’m done working). Since Apple only offers this for its iMac G5s right now, I’m left to ponder the possibilities.

   6. Concern: the remote is so small, I could envision losing it easily (sofa’s eat items much larger than this, a wrist attachment would be nice in case “someone” is reading this). Our salesperson points out that it magnetically attaches to the side of the system — very cool, for the disciplined person…

One device, to play all your media, and the remote will work up to 30 ft a way. In the words of fellow editor and devoted Apple user Vadim Litvak (designorati.com/in-house), “…and I can envision a Front Row addition to the iLife Suite of Lifestyle programs — you can already make movies, music and photo albums with iLife, adding Front Row to the suite would integrate those other apps for everyday users just as Adobe Bridge has managed to integrate the Adobe Creative Suite for designers.”

Michael: I’m seeing the future… a large screen appliance with access to hundreds of channels, on demand television, on demand music, on demand movies, all of my applications, connecting to the rest of the world — e-mail, IM, FTP …. (fade to a murmur)