XBMC is a powerful HTPC front end, but you never truly realize its potential until you start exploring ways of extending its functionality.  Addons are what extends XBMC’s functionality bringing you new ways to enjoy your HTPC.  Given the large number of addons out there… here is MY list of the top 5.

Pandora

Website: Click Here
Addon Repository: Click Here

The Pandora Script from spbogie is the best Pandora addon that I have found.  The interface is clean and configuration is simple.

Free Cable

Website: Click Here
Addon Repository: Click Here

Free Cable is just as the name implies.  It allows you to browse the content of various streaming sites.  The addon is conitinuously adding new stations.  The interface is clean and quick.  Much better, in my opinion, than NAVI-X

1. A&E
2. ABC
3. ABC Family
4. AMC
5. Bravo
6. CBS(& startrek.com)
7. The CW
8. Food Network
9. History Channel
10. Lifetime
11. MTV
12. NBC
13. Oxygen
14. Spike
15. SyFy
16. TV Land
17. USA
18. VH1
19. Biography Channel
20. The WB
21. Game Show Network

SportsDevil

Website: Click Here
Addon Repository: Click Here

SportsDevil is a video addon for live sports and highlights, blogs and TV. It’s based on VideoDevil, so big thanks to the developers. SportsDevil scrapes and resolves embedded streams from websites so that they can be played with XBMC. It dynamically parses cfg files that contain regular expressions used for scraping.  This, by far, is the best Addon I have found for streaming live sports.

 

CDArt Manager

Website: Click Here
Addon Repository: XBMC Repository

The cdART Manager makes finding artist, album, and CD Images easy.  It scans your library and snatches whatever it recognizes.  The software is powered by MusicBrainz and fanart.tv.  There are a number of configuration settings that can leave your original library in tact, or update it with artwork / MusicBrainz IDs. This Addon is featured in my favorite XBMC Skin Aeon MQ3

XBMC Library Auto Update

Website: Click Here
Addon Repository: XBMC Repository

The XBMC Library Updater will update your music and/or video libraries according to times specified by you.  This method of update allows you to have your library updated while the system is idle.  This method of updating your library proves to be better than having XBMC scan your library for changes on Start.  With a large library, you will have to wait some time on startup…  You can still manually update XBMC through the settings menu.

What are your essential plugins? Let us know in the comments below.