Will Leopard FrontRow allow plug-ins?

June 12, 2007   0 Comments With Leopard adopting AppleTV's Backrow as its new FrontRow media center application it opens the door to its ability to handle plug-in. Since AppleTv's release the application has been sliced and dices to all plug-ins. Plug-ins such as a RSS-Reader, Sports Scores, and of course YouTube, which Apple has already adapted for AppleTV.

Since released in 2004, Apple FrontRow application has been nothing more then a skin for iTunes, DVD Player and iPhoto. It performed its duties well, allowing users with the largest libraries to quickly access photos and movies. However when you compare the user experience to Microsoft's Media Center Edition, MythTV, iTheater, or MediaCentral it was falling far behind.

Recognizing this El Gato built a FrontRow launcher into EyeTV, matching the looks and feel of front row. But it didn't take long before Apple had them switch it up. Other tricks such as getting Internet Radio into FrontRow and DVD Assist have helped but it still not all it can be. Which leads us to Leopard's FrontRow.

If Leopard's FrontRow application is based on BackRow, we could see this as a serious bonus for FrontRow. The ability to fill in functions that other media center applications take advantage of.

Here are some of our ideas:

• EyeTV/TheTube - Watch live cable/satellite tv
• Internet TV - Jump into Joost's wide assortment of channels or other provider
• Internet Radio - Is it really that hard to do?
  
• VideoConf - Use that iSight/iChat and do some instant video conferencing
• Widgets - Just a quick dashboard launcher to quickly get your scores, news, etc
• YouTube - Maybe already coming but not shown right now
Perhaps we are getting our hopes up, but Apple needs to do something if they want to keep up with MCE.

Keeping with the optimistic look on things. What plug-ins or features would you like to see? That is the ones Apple will allow...

Labels: FrontRow, Internet Radio