Tag Archives: HTPC

If you tuned into our last article about streaming your HDHomerun Prime through your Plex Server using a channel application called HDHR Viewer, then you will definitely find this article to be bonus material. Having the HDHR Viewer surely makes Plex more robust and far more traveler friendly, but the interface is lacking. What is it lacking exactly? Well, first, it is lacking channel logos. Secondly, it is lacking upcoming episodes; or, an EPG of sorts. With a little patience and a bit of elbow grease, we can make both of those happen.

If you read the title, you may be asking yourself how this is possible. First, we all know Plex is designed to stream video and audio that has already been downloaded and stored. It is not, and was not, designed to stream anything live. Well, today that all changes.

Having been a long time fan of the home theater PC, I have many times experimented with different platforms. These range from XBMC (now KODI), MediaPortal, Windows Media Center, PLEX, and a few others. What always led me back to XMBC, now KODI, was the incredible list of available addons. These addons added a ton of functionality that I couldn't find anywhere else. Recently, I decided to give PLEX another go as some of my family moves towards portable devices and in the interest of preventing another mutiny, I figured I would proactively implement an additional, easy to use, portable streaming solution.

Last year, we covered some of the addons we felt were the best out there for XBMC. Well, this is a new year and with the new year comes a new list... and name (KODI). This list will NOT include the previously mentioned items in last year's list of top addons. Here is my list for the Best KODI (XBMC) Addons for 2015

I am a huge fan of XBMC and have been for quite some time. The application is the forefront of my media center and controls all things entertainment in my home. Many of you may know that XBMC is no longer XBMC. Instead, the application has gone through a name change (Kodi) and the new version 14.0 promises some very exciting new features.

I have been building and using home theater PC’s for as long as I can remember.  However, it seems that recently I have been paying more attention to the quality of things than the quantity of things I do with it.  I remember popping in my BD disc and being blown away by the quality of the image flickering about.  …

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.

It is no secret that I am an HTPC enthusiast. However, not all applications require the use of a PC to be the main ingredient in a home theater setup. In some cases, as much as I would like to admit otherwise, a media streamer can do the job just as well, if not better. To fulfill this need, a slew of manufacturers, from Logitech, WD, Linksys, etc, have created devices that do just this and adding to this list is Pivos. Pivos, a company that promises to change your mind about quality, functionality, and price. Enter the Pivos AIOS HD Media Center.