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Post by ritalin on Aug 15, 2007 22:18:25 GMT
I'm a completely new to Front Row, never bothered to install or use it on any of my machines. So I'm fishing for advice.
I've retired my TV and will not be buying a new one (that's if my willpower holds out). The BBC can take their threatening letters demanding money and go whistle. So I figure I will put my iMhack to use as a media center in my sitting room (I knew if I built it I would find a use for it eventually). It seems more and more broadcast TV is available on-line, even from the good old money grabbing beeb! I've looked into this, and it's official, you don't require a TV license to watch non-live BBC broadcasts on-line.
I originally thought about installing Apple TV on the machine but it seems that Front Row may be all I really require. Can this be done on a hackintosh and what options are there for controlling the machine. I have an Apple bluetooth mouse and keyboard, but I would like something akin the Apple remote. My phone has bluetooth, and I wonder if it could be employed as a remote for Front Row.
I will look into this over the next few days and will report back.
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Post by aquamac on Aug 16, 2007 4:33:48 GMT
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Post by ritalin on Aug 16, 2007 19:21:31 GMT
Okay, after a little trial and error I have the latest version (1.3.1) of Front Row installed and working on my PowerBook. Next I need to repeat the install on my hackintosh. At present I can control Front Row via the keyboard. I will look into the Salling software and see if it will work with my Nokia. I have to say I'm quite impressed with the Front Row app, it looks pretty cool.
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Post by nikonnut on Aug 17, 2007 5:08:15 GMT
Rit,
Looks like a cool project. I'm stoked to see it work out as it would save me some money on the whole entertainment system deal ;D. Keep up the great work and keep us informed.
Cheers,
Chris
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Post by ritalin on Aug 18, 2007 21:58:52 GMT
What a stroke of luck, the Salling software works with my Nokia 6230. It works really well. You install the Salling software on your Mac and a small client app in the form of a Java MIDlet on your mobile phone. The Salling software comes with client apps for an array of different phones, luckily my Nokia was included. Just pair the phone with the Mac using bluetooth (it can be set to auto connect), launch the Java MIDlet on the phone and I have complete control of the Mac from the phone. It's a cinch to launch and control FrontRow from the phone, and it's as equaly easy to lauch other apps such as Mail. ;D
This is still on the powerbook, I will set it up on the hackintosh maybe tomorrow.
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Post by ritalin on Aug 27, 2007 10:17:43 GMT
Who says tomorrow is always a day away! I've finally got round to installing this on my hackie. It works just the same as on the old faithful PowerBook, which is nice. It controls FrontRow admirably, but the bonus with the phone display is that its just as easy to control applications directly. For example I can launch iTunes and browse my playlist, albums etc.. without being in front of the hackie.
All I need to do now is add a reasonably fast graphic card (it uses the GMA950 at the mo) and I'll have a versatile media centre and games machine! Any suggestions on a suitable card. I'm on a budget so I'm thinking of a Nvidia 7600 or maybe an older 6800. I've been out of the graphic card loop for a while, do the budget 8 series cards work in the hackintosh, and I have know idea what is available from ATI?
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Post by aquamac on Aug 27, 2007 13:27:32 GMT
Hi Ritalin, Yes, the Salling software is pretty amazing and works a treat! As far as graphics are concerned, the 7 series is probably the best bet with a hackie and has good support. These are good and work in a hackie and can even be got working in a Mac Pro (I made a custom rom that boots in both a hackie and a mac pro so you can move cards between the two). Also this would work well also. Any 7900 will work a treat, if it is a 512 card it needs flashing, but it's a cinch, you can be up and running in minutes. Good Luck. |
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Post by ritalin on Aug 27, 2007 21:21:46 GMT
I've just sold some of my old kit on eBay and I've raised £78.53 so now it's just a matter of sniping a bargain. I like the sound of the 7800/7900 it will certainly have the performance. I will have to look at what will physicaly fit inside the tangerine iMac case. If I can get such a card the old machine will have a better GPU than the new iMac. "Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!" Anorexic iMac.  |
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Post by nikonnut on Aug 27, 2007 21:53:26 GMT
Bravo Rit,
Go for the 7900 if you can. They are beasts. I'd recommend a 7950 GT but after my debacle I'm wary at best(i.e., not sure which version of 10.4.10 will support it. That's why I'm still running 10.4.9). However, if you feel game there are few cards that are faster. Think almost 20000 in OpenMark and 90+FPS on the Halo time demo with everything on high. Good hunting ;D.
Cheers,
Chris
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Post by ritalin on Aug 30, 2007 19:57:43 GMT
I've thought about it and I have my eye on a passive cooled 7600GT. The iMhack is almost completely silent which makes it ideal for a media centre. As well as keeping the noise down, the 7600GT is compact enough to fit in the iMac case. I think I may have struggled with 7800/7900 series cards bulk. Plus I spent some of the money on a new seat for my mountain bike. So like I say, I'm on a budget.
In a month or so funds should be more fluid and I will be looking for a GFX for the iHack. I'm hoping the NV 8xxx series will be cracked by then, or maybe the ATI HD 2xxx series.
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Post by ritalin on Sept 11, 2007 19:42:21 GMT
Bravo Rit, Go for the 7900 if you can. They are beasts. I'd recommend a 7950 GT but after my debacle I'm wary at best(i.e., not sure which version of 10.4.10 will support it. That's why I'm still running 10.4.9). However, if you feel game there are few cards that are faster. Think almost 20000 in OpenMark and 90+FPS on the Halo time demo with everything on high. Good hunting ;D. Cheers, Chris I've just taken the 7600GT for a test drive: average frame rate=80.09fps in Halo, 16866 in OpenMark. Not quite a 7950 GT but d**n good I think.  |
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Post by nikonnut on Sept 11, 2007 23:16:02 GMT
Rit, I'll say! Makes me wish I had gone that route and avoided all pain I inflicted on Aqua getting the 7950 running  Seriously, though have you thought back to the FPS and OpenMark scores our old 5200's, 6200's, and 6800 GT's got? I really thought I was hot s@#% running my 6800 at ultra speeds and overheating my poor G4  To think what those cards cost me  Ah well, ain't technology grand? Congrats on the new toy. Cheers, Chris P.S. To stay on topic ;D Just got Salling clicker. What an amazing app! Now I can be an uber couch potato! |
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Post by ritalin on Sept 23, 2007 19:50:15 GMT
Just found another reason to pair my bluetooth phone with my Mac.
If you pair your mobile phone to the Mac. You can send SMS messages via your phone from the Mac Address Book.
First, sync the Mac and the phone using iSync, then all the numbers in the your phone will be available in the Mac Address Book.
Next, open the Address Book on your Mac, and you should see a Bluetooth icon. Click that and connect to the phone. When you want to send a message, right (or control) click on the mobile bit of the address book card, then choose SMS message.
To think I've been fiddling with a numeric keypad when I could have been using the full "qwerty" on my Mac. ;D
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vmah
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by vmah on Oct 13, 2007 9:40:47 GMT
How did you get frontrow working? I install 1.3.1 with pacifist and still nothing. Can you point me to the directions on how to make frontrow work on a Hackintosh? Thanks
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Post by aquamac on Oct 13, 2007 11:22:08 GMT
To activate frontrow, press the cmd & esc keys simultaneously! To dowload the enabler, go here |
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