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OSX Media Application CenterStage Merges With Plex
Posted by Matt Hickey at 11:30 AM on July 19, 2008
CenterStage, the great Media Center-like UI for OSX, has merged with the Plex project, an alternative interface in hopes of creating a de facto product for any Mac user looking for more functionality that Apple TV currently affords. The application can play back many formats the Apple TV, and even iTunes, can't, like XviD, AVI, Video_TS, and others, straight through your HDTV. It also has additional features like streaming Internet radio and built-in game emulators. The excellent Plex UI will mix with the what Centerstage already has built, the end result being a universal application for Mac-centric Media Centres that's easy to use. Check out the new UI demo and screen shots after the jump. [CenterStage]
Tags: apple | apple tv | media centres | os x | software
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
SuperCollider
Posted 11:53 AM 19/7/08
Built in emulators sounds really nice!
SuperCollider
coketown
Posted 11:41 AM 19/7/08
It's pretty slick. Occasionally it gets really cluttered on screen, which isn't a huge negative but is still something you don't see on Macs too often. The only real downside for me would be the artwork-dependent menus. I rip the majority of my music from disc and never kept up on grabbing the artwork, so 90% of the menu would be without an image. Fiddlesticks.
coketown
tvasser
Posted 12:34 PM 19/7/08
of course this is "better" than Apple TV.. You'll be using a mac to get the job done. Wake me when they port this to the apple tv please.
tvasser
Kingteddybear
Posted 2:08 PM 19/7/08
I'll (gulp) ... even buy a copy of this!
Kingteddybear
Kingteddybear
Posted 1:59 PM 19/7/08
I need... I want... this!
Kingteddybear
Ryan H
Posted 2:19 PM 19/7/08
So, I just browsed both sites involved and they have a f-all as far as actual information is concerned. So, to save all of us not already familiar with the projects from having to search the forums for hours, would someone who knows more please answer a couple questions?
1) Is this meant to replace Front Row? If so, does it actually replace Front Row in the sense that I can drop the app somewhere in OSX or change some settings and then any time Front Row would be opened (through the remote, etc) this opens instead?
2) Is this ready for use on any level or are we talking public alpha build? I could find some download links though both sites but no sense of if this was something people were meant to use and test out or if it was just a public display of what was happening and not actually meant for public consumption.
Ryan H
DW
Posted 3:36 PM 19/7/08
Apple will buy them out. (The same as they did Coverflow.)
Mark my words. It's just a matter of time.
DW
jayhawk11
Posted 4:46 PM 19/7/08
@Ryan H: It can be used in that respect (replacing Front Row), but its really geared more towards people that want an alternate solution for an HTPC. Think of it as AppleTV on steroids. Hence the comment above about "wake me when its ported to AppleTV".
As for the public use...this particular version isn't ready (still alpha). I'm sure Plex is available still though, and should be for some time. They just renamed it from XBMC (this all started as a project for turning the original Xbox into essentially an HTPC) to "Plex" to prevent any copyright concerns. Now Center Stage, which was more or less a UI skin for Mac OS X, and Plex have decided to work together to make it more user friendly...think Media Center on XP. Thats sorta what they are shooting for, just on a a Mac.
Hope that helps
jayhawk11
l337virus
Posted 4:47 PM 19/7/08
the UI is real sexy if they bring out the UI to the apple TV and also have the XviD, AVI, Video_TS and also WMV i would actually buy a apple tv
l337virus
oo0cyst0oo
Posted 9:10 PM 19/7/08
According to FSJ, this is what "Freetards" do in the wild. Real Jobs'll sweep this up later, put a prettier face on it and call it some other one word title. All in a days' work.
oo0cyst0oo
Djoyo
Posted 12:46 AM 20/7/08
Apple works with ATT on the iPhone; Apple also needs to work with ATT and make Apple TV decode Uverse Television and be an optional set top box/Airport Basestation. Then with their new found partnership they can take over the world and start building that death-star Gizmodo is so fond of.
Djoyo
drgonzo2k2
Posted 3:21 PM 20/7/08
Yeah, but does it group compilations when browsing?
drgonzo2k2