Having been a Mac user since 2006, there have been features that have been introduced, then removed, and then retrieved in a different way, such as widgets.
However, a feature that was available for free on macOS devices up to version 10.7 Lion was called Front Row, an application that allows you to use an Apple Remote to turn your Mac into a media center and easily select your content into one. only place.
While AirPlay and Apple TV have obviously replaced it, it’s a feature I’ve felt has had legs to get back to iPadOS in a new way.
With WWDC in a few days, let me explain why I’d like to see this return to iPadOS 16 or as an update later for the iPad line.
Find the best row on your iPad
The Mac has gone from being the center of an entertainment center to being a device for productivity and, to some extent, entertainment. But as the iPad and AppleTV grew, there was no need for Front Row to exist on macOS.
However, for some, the iPad is primarily seen as a content-consuming device: for reading, listening to music, and viewing content.
This is where a new Front Row could work perfectly on Apple’s tablet line. Imagine putting an iPad on your nightstand and instead of having to walk around, or ask Siri to play something and wait for it to comply, use an Apple Remote and Front Row will take over the screen.
You can quickly select your Apple TV Plus programs, your Apple Music, or third-party applications that may allow you to use Front Row, so you can view your playlists on Spotify or catch up with Obi- Wan. Kenobi series through Disney Plus, for example.
The iPad has seen a new entry before
In 2020 with the advent of iPad 13.4, the trackpad was introduced as a way to use the mouse cursor on the iPad, along with Apple introducing a Magic Keyboard accessory that had a built-in trackpad.
There’s nothing wrong with having the Apple Remote gain functionality on your iPad as well. The tablet has always been seen as a modular device, as a way to move between different uses to help with means, work and more. Front Row and Apple Remote may be another way to add it.
However, this may be a feature that is left as a bittersweet memory, as Apple may have other plans for the iPad on how to facilitate access to content. But Front Row was a simple and elegant way to use your content in a great way, and for the iPad, it seems obvious to add it in the future.