Home Theater

In the last few iterations of my home theater PC, the rig has been getting faster and faster. Many would not consider this an issue, but in my case, when my HTPC starts, XBMC starts faster than Windows 7 can get networking up. This means that XBMC cannot reach my NAS for media folders or for the MySQL databases I have configured. I tried everything I could think of from batch files to delay start to running a scheduled task after Windows starts. Then I found it. I found how to delay XBMC start without have to use any crazy batch files or jumping through any hoops.

I will admit it. I am usually a hold out. In this particular case, I held out as long as I could in fear that an upgrade wouldn't work the way I liked it to. For a long time I had been using a combination of WMC (Windows Media Center) and XBMC to front end my Home Theater PC. WMC handled my Live TV streaming with a cable card and an HDHomerun Prime, while XBMC did everything else. To be honest, XBMC had some level of PVR functionality built-in to handle live TV... but it was crap in comparison and a major headache to configure with my setup.

XBMC is a powerful HTPC front end, but you never truly realize its potential until you start exploring ways of extending its functionality. Add-ons extend XBMC’s functionality bringing you new and incredible ways to enjoy your HTPC. Given the large number of add-ons out there… here is MY list of the top 5 for 2014 so far.

I have always had an HTPC as my home theater's centerpiece. The flexibility that an HTPC brings simply can't be matched by the likes of WD TV Live, Apple TV, or any Roku. I have the ability to spin a disc, play my enormous library of music and movies, and watch live TV. The only thing that had been holding my HTPC back from being adopted as the primary solution by my fiance was a keyboard and mouse. In order to rid my self of our cable box, I had to find a solution that anyone could use, including my technophobic fiancé.

Having recently reviewed the SilverStone Grandia GD08 and loving it, I was looking for a way to satisfy the one need SilverStone left me with.  The case design didn’t allow for a standard 5.25 inch bay device to be used due to the flip down panels incorporated to conceal your optical drives.  This, in turn, meant that installing the coveted …

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.

If you have a large multimedia library you have probably been looking for a good way to keep everything organized. There are a number of software packages out there that can help, but which ones are the best? Hopefully, we can help clear up some of the confusion by shedding some light on some of the software packages that can …

Recently, we featured an article on sharing your playstate and watched status with MediaBrowser for WMC.  One of my main reasons for using the software was the shared library features.  Today, with XBMC you are able to perform the same functions.  The process is a bit more difficult, but well worth it.

Lately, it seems that my HTPC has been getting most of my attention. With the changes in front end software, I have finally settled, for now, on XBMC. One of the best features is the ability to skin XBMC to your liking.  After hours of searching for the perfect skin, I have rundown what I think are the best available.

Lately, I have been experimenting with various types of front ends for my HTPC from the likes of PLEX, XBMC, MediaPortal, and more.  For some reason though, they all seem to fall short, in their own ways, of Windows Media Center.  After tons if installs and uninstalls, I settled on using the MediaBrowser Plugin for Windows Media Center… but there …