Front Row icon

Front Row

Front Row is an integrated media center software designed by Apple Inc. It enables users to access various media files stored on their computer and play them on a connected display. Front Row provides an intuitive interface to browse and play music, photos, videos and DVDs.

What is Front Row?

Front Row is media center software that was developed by Apple Inc. and included in Mac computers sold between 2005-2011. It provides an easy-to-use interface for accessing various kinds of media stored locally on a Mac computer.

The key features and purpose of Front Row includes:

  • Provides a 10-foot user interface designed to be viewed comfortably from a distance, like on a TV
  • Allows browsing and playback of music, photos, videos, DVDs, and other media files stored locally on a Mac
  • Designed for use with remote controls, enabling control from a couch when connected to a TV
  • Includes an integrated media library to browse content by categories like artists, albums, genres etc.
  • Supports slideshows for photo viewing
  • Plays DVD movies along with extras and menus
  • Streams video and audio files to external devices like Apple TV

So in summary, Front Row aims to turn a Mac into an easy-to-use home media center for the living room. It provides simplified access and control of media content stored on a Mac when connected to a television or external display.

The Best Front Row Alternatives

Top Apps like Front Row

Kodi, Plex, Emby, MythTV, Red Bull TV, Miro Player, OpenELEC, Moovida, nessMediaCenter, Kroozbox are some alternatives to Front Row.

Kodi

Kodi is an open-source media center application developed by the XBMC Foundation. Originally released in 2002 as Xbox Media Center for the original Xbox game console, it was later ported to other platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.Kodi allows users to play and view various digital media files including...

Plex

Plex is a feature-rich media server application that allows you to bring together your personal media library, organize it beautifully, and stream it to all of your devices. It provides a single interface through which you can easily access and enjoy your personal media, whether you are at home or...

Emby

Emby is an open-source media server designed to help you organize, play, and stream your media collection across devices. It allows you to bring together your personal videos, music, photos, and live TV into one unified platform that is accessible from any device on your network.Some key features of...

MythTV

MythTV is a free and open source digital video recorder (DVR) software that allows users to watch and record live TV on their computers. Developed in 2002, MythTV turns a computer into a digital video recorder that can function similarly to set-top boxes from cable or satellite providers.Some key features...

Red Bull TV

Red Bull TV is a free digital video service owned and operated by Red Bull Media House. It focuses exclusively on airing content related to adventure sports and high-adrenaline events.The service features both live event broadcasts as well as a vast on-demand video library. Content spans across various adventure...

Miro Player

Miro Player is a free, open-source media player application developed by the Participatory Culture Foundation. Originally named Democracy Player, it was launched in 2005 as an easy way for people to watch internet video and listen to podcasts.Some key features of Miro Player include:Supports a wide range of video...

OpenELEC

OpenELEC (Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center) is a lightweight Linux distribution that is purpose-built as a media center operating system. It comes preconfigured with the Kodi media center software and is optimized to provide a smooth and user-friendly media playback experience on home theater PCs (HTPCs).Some key details about...

Moovida

Moovida is an open-source software media player and media center application designed to allow users to play back music, videos, and access online content. Originally developed by Fluendo for the Linux platform, Moovida aims to provide an intuitive and attractive media management interface.Some of the key features of Moovida...

NessMediaCenter

nessMediaCenter is an open source cross-platform media center application that allows you to manage and play your digital media library including videos, music, and photos. It has an intuitive and customizable interface that is easy to navigate with a remote control.Some key features of nessMediaCenter include:Automatic media scraping...

Kroozbox

Kroozbox is a graphics software focused on digital painting and illustration. Some of its key features include:Intuitive drawing tools like brushes, pencils, eraser, shape tools, and text toolsSupport for vector and raster graphicsLayer management system for organizing your artworkBlend modes for creating composite images and effectsFilter effects like blur...