As you know front row only runs on intel macs and the imac g5 isight version, but now you can run it on any PPC (if you do this to an intel mac it wii mess up your system) mac running 10.4 (see farther requirements below) thanks to http://andrewescobar.com/frontrow and even use a wii remote to run it (www.iospirit.com/remotebuddy), or just your keybord.
Here are a few easy steps to this process (http://andrewescobar.com/frontrow made these instructions, not me. I am not responsible for anything in these instructions, so use them at your own risk):
Requirements:
Mac OS X 10.4.8 or 10.4.9
PowerPC based Mac
iTunes 6.0.4 or later
iPhoto 6.0.2 or later
Core Image capable graphics card
1. Download Front Row from Apple
Download Front Row 1.3 from Apple’s website.
When the download completes, open the disk image (FrontRowUpdate1.3.dmg) and copy Front Row’s installation package (FrontRowUpdate1.3.pkg) to the Desktop.
This file must be copied to the Desktop. Do not run the installation just yet. At this point if you try running the Update Installer package, you’ll get this error:
Alert
This software update requires a Macintosh with a built-in infrared (IR) receiver running Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later.
Front Row’s usability is not dependent on an infrared (IR)receiver, and in fact runs very well on recent Macs (past 3 years or so). If you are confident your system is capable, you can chose to skip the hardware check using Enabler 1.5.
2. Install Front Row
Download Enabler 1.5 at http://andrewescobar.com/files/Enabler/Enabler1.5.dmg
When the download completes, open the disk image (Enabler1.5.dmg).
Next, open Enabler from the disk image. (Do not copy the application to a different folder. It must be opened from the disk image.)
Select “Install Front Row” and authenticate with you password.
Wait for Enabler to install Front Row using the installation package found on the Desktop.
Select “Continue” after Enabler notifies you that Front Row has been installed.
3. Enable Front Row
Front Row has been installed but Mac OS X checks to see if your Mac has a built in infrared receiver. For Front Row to launch, two of Mac OS X’s system files must first be patched by Enabler. Even without an IR receiver, Front Row can still be used with a keyboard or other remotes, in-place of an Apple Remote.
Select “Enable Front Row” button and authenticate with you password.
Wait for Enabler to patch Mac OS X.
Select “OK” after Enabler notifies you that the system files.
Quit Enabler.
Restart.
Launching Front Row
The default keystroke to launch Front Row is command-escape.
Keystrokes:
Command-Escape – default to show and hide Front Row
Option+Up/Down – set volume
Enter or Spacebar – select menu, playlist, song, movie, etc.
Escape – go back to previous menu/screen
Tab – quickly return to desktop (or any other keys really)
Front Row Preferences:
Enabler provides for a fully working version of Front Row. Open System Preferences to have a full control over Front Row’s preferences.
Keyboard Shortcut
Open the Keyboard & Mouse preference panel. Under the “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab, ensure that Front Row’s shortcut is check-marked. The default keyboard shortcut to “Hide and show Front Row” is command-Esc but you can change it by double-clicking on it. I have it set to F11 along side my Exposé and Dashboard keys.
Sound Effects
Open the Sound preference panel. There is a new option under the “Sound Effects” tab to enable or disable playing Front Row sound effects.
