“I’m surprised that there was less outrage over Apple’s Front Row software, which is a complete Media Center rip-off (albeit one that offers only a subset of Media Center features). Joe Belfiore, the general manager of Microsoft’s eHome division, is in New York this week for Digital Life for the soft-launch of XP MCE 2005 UR2, and he’s surprised about a completely different issue. ‘I was surprised that it took them as long as this to do a feature like Media Center,’ he said. Indeed. But this lengthy gestation–Media Center has been out for over three years now–suggests that Apple isn’t all-powerful. Furthermore, Apple is only now dealing with issues Microsoft first solved four years ago–IR interfaces, for starters–and has yet to figure out all the issues involved with TV tuner cards, TV recording, and so forth. In short, they have a long way to go before they can ever catch up with Media Center. Most tellingly, perhaps: Why is Apple’s interface so text-based? It looks sad next to Microsoft’s highly-visual approach. Which, frankly, is what you want with digital media content. Just a thought,” Paul Thurrott writes for WinInfo.
Full article here.
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Long before Microsoft began pushing Media Center computers, before most Wintel PCs even had sound cards, Apple made a Mac with a built-in TV tuner. Macintosh TV, introduced by Apple in 1993. More info here.
Like the GUI, the mouse, FireWire, Wi-Fi, ad infinitum: Apple leads. Microsoft tries to follow. As usual.
So, Apple was not “slow” with the new Front Row, more like “waiting for the right time.” The Front Row interface is instantly familiar to iPod users for a reason. Obviously, Apple has a way to go, but if you think Steve Jobs doesn’t have a grand master plan, you’re wrong. We’ve only seen pieces so far. By the way, if you want TV tuners and recording and so forth for your Mac, take a look at Elgato’s offerings here.
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