ringlis Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Has anyone integrated Apple's FrontRow software (i.e., running on a Mac Mini, iMac, MacBook) with a Home Controller? FrontRow uses Apple's small white remote control to load DVD, stored video files, photos & music. The remote is IR so, given the Mac was already on, it should be feasible to control using an IR relay but I don't see any drivers for Apple computers in composer .I appreciate that I could build the driver but I'm very new to Control4 and aren't sure how much time it would take to build the driver and I'm also concerned there are other barriers I'm not anticipating. Any help or advice appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_The_Lucky Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 The driver should be easy enough to build - not many buttons on the Apple remote! However, the only catch I see is that you would need proper video distribution such that you could pull up the Apple display on any TV in the house in order to see and select the music you'd like to play. Also, you would lose out on the functionality of viewing and selecting music via a MTS or remote. If you are doing this for music distribution only (not pulling up videos) then you may want to just consider the C4 iPod dock - which I believe does video as well..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin L Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 the apple tv driver already exists.. the codes are the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ringlis Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 Thanks for the feedback BTL and AA!:) Nice to know the codes are the same, looking closer the remotes are the same across Mac products so that should make it easy to control any Apple product that has IR. The Mac Mini would primarily be a video solution as I think we'd map the client's iTunes folder via a local Cat5e for integration with an HC-300 for music. We're using the Sony Video Switcher to distribute video throughout the house.The goal is really to find a Mac based solution that will let allow the client to stream home and downloaded movies (primarily .avi files) to 3 TVs. I was thinking of adding a Mac Mini as a source to the Sony AV switch but after a bit more research last night a Netgear EVA 9150 might be simpler. I'm also reading there are Apple TV hacks that let you access local video (not just rented movies & tv shows) but I'm looking for more of an "off-the-shelf" solution for distributed video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maniac36 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Netgear EVA 9150 might be simpler. I'm also reading there are Apple TV hacks that let you access local video (not just rented movies & tv shows) but I'm looking for more of an "off-the-shelf" solution for distributed video.I have a "hacked" Apple TV and it works great, getting it hacked was a little complicated but not to bad. If you can find yourself an "off-the-shelf" solution, I agree that it would be simpler and easier from a dealer perspective. The Netgear 9150 is what I'm also waiting for, for $399 it will play way more file formats then the AppleTV can, has a 500G swapable hard drive and can search your entire network and categorize almost any file format. Down side it's not out until Mar. '09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titus Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I have an Apple TV in my setup that I use with the C4 remote. I added Boxee to the Apple TV and now it is an unbelievable solution. Boxee is a splinter from XBMC and it allows you to play almost any media type, connect to other sources, view internet content (hulu, cbs, bcc, etc). The Apple TV by itself was alright, with the addition of Boxee it is extremely useful. And I can use Boxee as the front end to get to any other media on my local network. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterM1 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Boxee has been taking a lot of my time lately, this thing is too good to ignore. Combination of Joust and XBMC, taking it to the next level Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wappinghigh Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 AH...Frontrow can now be controlled wirelessly from an iphone/itouch ....see the app rowmote.I've taken this little app and tested it on 4 networked macmini's/imacs.Why am I telling you this...well it's totally awesome..It's blown me away. So simple. You walk around with an iphone in your hand, select which mac (zone) you want and bingo this 99c app wakes up the mac and launches and controls front row. No IR required!Will also do the same for boxee and xbmc....even plex...I mean wonders never cease....this whole automation field is moving at lightening pace...Is this how the Frontrow/xbmc driver operates within C4?..or is it more 2 way? If so fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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