Tag Archives: HTPC

Show Channel Logos and Upcoming Shows in Plex HDHR Viewer

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.

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How to install the PLEX Unofficial App Store

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.

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Kodi (formerly XBMC) 14.0

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.

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How to Delay XBMC Start

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.

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How XBMC is Keeping Me Alive

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.

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pivos AIOS HD Media Center Review

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.

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