Comments on: The sad state of Mac HTPC front-ends http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:55:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: B.Greenway http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-585 B.Greenway Sun, 11 Jun 2006 18:31:49 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-585 Kevin, check out my updates on distantDVD, thats what I'm using now and its offereing me much of what I needed out of a machtpc front end. Kevin, check out my updates on distantDVD, thats what I’m using now and its offereing me much of what I needed out of a machtpc front end.

]]> By: Kevin Cannon http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-584 Kevin Cannon Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:16:56 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-584 <p>Hey,</p> <p>Thanks very much for the roundup. I'm really shocked there's not a better front-end.</p> <p>Like Bill Hodgson, I'm very interested in getting a Mac Mini and TV Max unit, becuase I'll be moving into an apartment where space is short very soon, so the idea of an all in one solution seems promising.</p> <p>I'll have to keep an eye out, or else see if I can get Windows Media Centre or mythTV working on the MacMini.</p> <p>- Kevin </p> Hey,

Thanks very much for the roundup. I’m really shocked there’s not a better front-end.

Like Bill Hodgson, I’m very interested in getting a Mac Mini and TV Max unit, becuase I’ll be moving into an apartment where space is short very soon, so the idea of an all in one solution seems promising.

I’ll have to keep an eye out, or else see if I can get Windows Media Centre or mythTV working on the MacMini.

- Kevin

]]> By: Bill Hodgson http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-583 Bill Hodgson Wed, 31 May 2006 09:12:20 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-583 Can anyone provide a similar assessment of the Eye TV v2.0 front end? Will it play ripped DVDs? It seems to support storage anywhere on your network - can anyone confirm? Does it support AVIs? Interested in feedback on the combination of Eye TV and the Miglia TVMax unit as a combined HTPC with a Mini. Regards, Bill. Can anyone provide a similar assessment of the Eye TV v2.0 front end? Will it play ripped DVDs? It seems to support storage anywhere on your network - can anyone confirm? Does it support AVIs?

Interested in feedback on the combination of Eye TV and the Miglia TVMax unit as a combined HTPC with a Mini.

Regards, Bill.

]]> By: Murph7355 http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-582 Murph7355 Sun, 14 May 2006 01:05:11 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-582 Just found this page - am looking at doing the same sort of stuff and have just bought a Mini. Agree fully with the critque above. A couple of the apps are very (frustratingly) close but not quite there (same thing goes with the Intel Mini - why can't the damn thing detect S-Video plugged, CRT televisions properly!). If FrontRow: - would read files from wherever *I* want to put them - would playback VIDEO_TS and any other files the Mac can easily handle (and slide all these under "DVD" or "Movies - are both really required?) - let the Music section work *exactly* as per the iPod (shuffling's a right old pain!) - integrate with EyeTV I'd be very happy. And I'm sure none of these things would be too tricky technically. As for the others: iTheatre's too new right now. The opening screen of CentreStage is promising, then it goes off the rails with one key press. MediaCentral is probably the 2nd best option, but I'm finding it very buggy; Doesn't handle shared music well on my network, only bringing in a small selection of songs, and still doesn't give great control; I have a VIDEO_TS file that hangs all the time (only extracted the main feature) and try as I might EyeTV won't work. Had a quick look at DistantDVD. Not sure on this one - don;t like it quitting after the DVD finishes, lack of flexibility on resolutions is a pain and it's a bit clunky when starting to play. But it's not bad, and being able to access functions via keystrokes is perfect (Matinee should do this, and run full screen). Guess we'll have to keep waiting patiently. Believe Apple have recently employed someone from Elgato, so who knows. A bit of work and I reckon they could nail MS based HTPCs. Mind you, wouldn;t surprise me if they charge a fortune for the software or force you to buy a new Mac! Just found this page - am looking at doing the same sort of stuff and have just bought a Mini.

Agree fully with the critque above. A couple of the apps are very (frustratingly) close but not quite there (same thing goes with the Intel Mini - why can’t the damn thing detect S-Video plugged, CRT televisions properly!).

If FrontRow:

- would read files from wherever *I* want to put them
- would playback VIDEO_TS and any other files the Mac can easily handle (and slide all these under “DVD” or “Movies - are both really required?)
- let the Music section work *exactly* as per the iPod (shuffling’s a right old pain!)
- integrate with EyeTV

I’d be very happy. And I’m sure none of these things would be too tricky technically.

As for the others:

iTheatre’s too new right now.

The opening screen of CentreStage is promising, then it goes off the rails with one key press.

MediaCentral is probably the 2nd best option, but I’m finding it very buggy; Doesn’t handle shared music well on my network, only bringing in a small selection of songs, and still doesn’t give great control; I have a VIDEO_TS file that hangs all the time (only extracted the main feature) and try as I might EyeTV won’t work.

Had a quick look at DistantDVD. Not sure on this one - don;t like it quitting after the DVD finishes, lack of flexibility on resolutions is a pain and it’s a bit clunky when starting to play. But it’s not bad, and being able to access functions via keystrokes is perfect (Matinee should do this, and run full screen).

Guess we’ll have to keep waiting patiently. Believe Apple have recently employed someone from Elgato, so who knows. A bit of work and I reckon they could nail MS based HTPCs. Mind you, wouldn;t surprise me if they charge a fortune for the software or force you to buy a new Mac!

]]> By: Ty http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-581 Ty Wed, 10 May 2006 15:05:44 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-581 Nor I. But, other's are in beta, and, in a sad way, it is an option. I was just curious to see how it stacked. I'm not a member or supporter of the project,but I am curious across the board. Nor I. But, other’s are in beta, and, in a sad way, it is an option. I was just curious to see how it stacked. I’m not a member or supporter of the project,but I am curious across the board.

]]> By: B.Greenway http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-580 B.Greenway Wed, 10 May 2006 04:56:05 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-580 <p>From:<br /> http://www.itheaterproject.com/downloads.php</p> <p>v0.1.1 Release Notes:</p> <p>KNOWN ISSUES:<br /> -iTheater may not run under 10.3 because of an XML error in the widget module<br /> -DVD controller not implemented<br /> -Music playback still not working<br /> -Weather module cant specify location<br /> -Error in the rect class & associated objects<br /> -Photo viewer not implemented<br /> -Controls may still be buggy</p> <p>Stopped reading once I got that far. Not to mention the images of the GUI here:<br /> http://www.itheaterproject.com/media.php just didnt do much for me. </p> From:
http://www.itheaterproject.com/downloads.php

v0.1.1 Release Notes:

KNOWN ISSUES:
-iTheater may not run under 10.3 because of an XML error in the widget module
-DVD controller not implemented
-Music playback still not working
-Weather module cant specify location
-Error in the rect class & associated objects
-Photo viewer not implemented
-Controls may still be buggy

Stopped reading once I got that far. Not to mention the images of the GUI here:
http://www.itheaterproject.com/media.php
just didnt do much for me.

]]> By: Ty http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-579 Ty Wed, 10 May 2006 04:45:04 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-579 what about iTheatre? what about iTheatre?

]]> By: Ayman http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-578 Ayman Sat, 06 May 2006 09:35:58 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-578 Hey guys, take a look at MacDVDOnDemand. It uses DVDPedia as a front end and through the use of a plugin, and daemon, will play VIDEO_TS. I would use NFS to mount network drives. Nothing else is as smooth. You can find MacDVDOnDemand on versiontracker. Hey guys, take a look at MacDVDOnDemand. It uses DVDPedia as a front end and through the use of a plugin, and daemon, will play VIDEO_TS. I would use NFS to mount network drives. Nothing else is as smooth. You can find MacDVDOnDemand on versiontracker.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.machtpc.com/archives/2006/05/04/the-sad-state-of-mac-htpc-front-ends/#comment-577 Cliff Thu, 04 May 2006 22:22:52 +0000 http://www.machtpc.com/?p=141#comment-577 I'm with you on all of these. And equally depressed by them all. Not because they all suck, but because they are all sooooo close. If I may add my own comments.....in the.... comments section..... here. CenterStage- Could be great, if the GUI wasn't overdone and code WAY underdone. Their problem is they made this huge list of things they wanted to do, and they are gonna do them all for version 1.0, come hell or high water. SO, instead of starting small and fixing while adding features.....it's a big, bloated, buggy mess. Front Row- Need to start iTunes and iPhoto in the background? You'd think if ANYONE could access these files without loading all that baggage...... BUT, it does play h.264 wonderfully. MediaCentral- Still kinda ugly (especially after using Front Row) and all those h.264 files that play great in Front Row skip all the time in MC. And I would LOVE the option of just turning off the options I don't use, TV and DVD being the big ones. Basically, a little purdying up and some ironing out of the rough edges and this is a definite winner. And for anyone looking.... the ATI Remote Wonder Plus (ebay is a good place to look) is a much smaller RW, that works great with OSX. You can easily sit back and critique all these wonderful applications from the comfort of your sofa without ever needing to touch the computer. Who you callin' lazy...... I’m with you on all of these. And equally depressed by them all. Not because they all suck, but because they are all sooooo close. If I may add my own comments…..in the…. comments section….. here.

CenterStage- Could be great, if the GUI wasn’t overdone and code WAY underdone. Their problem is they made this huge list of things they wanted to do, and they are gonna do them all for version 1.0, come hell or high water. SO, instead of starting small and fixing while adding features…..it’s a big, bloated, buggy mess.

Front Row- Need to start iTunes and iPhoto in the background? You’d think if ANYONE could access these files without loading all that baggage…… BUT, it does play h.264 wonderfully.

MediaCentral- Still kinda ugly (especially after using Front Row) and all those h.264 files that play great in Front Row skip all the time in MC. And I would LOVE the option of just turning off the options I don’t use, TV and DVD being the big ones. Basically, a little purdying up and some ironing out of the rough edges and this is a definite winner.

And for anyone looking…. the ATI Remote Wonder Plus (ebay is a good place to look) is a much smaller RW, that works great with OSX. You can easily sit back and critique all these wonderful applications from the comfort of your sofa without ever needing to touch the computer.

Who you callin’ lazy……

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