media
T H E U L T I M A T E
s y s t e m
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An HTPC and other convergence devices integrate components of a home theater into a
unit co-located with a home entertainment system. An HTPC system typically has a remote
control and the software interface normally has a 10-foot user interface design so that it can
be comfortably viewed at typical television viewing distances. An HTPC can be purchased
pre-configured with the required hardware and software needed to add video
programming or music to the PC. Enthusiasts can also piece together a system out of
discrete components as part of a software-based HTPC
XBMC is an award-winning free and open source (GPL) software media player and
entertainment hub for digital media. XBMC is available for Linux, OSX, and Windows.
Created in 2003 by a group of like minded programmers, XBMC is a non-profit project run
and developed by volunteers located around the world. More than 50 software developers
have contributed to XBMC, and 100-plus translators have worked to expand its reach,
making it available in more than 30 languages.
While XBMC functions very well as a standard media player application for your computer,
it has been designed to be the perfect companion for your HTPC. Supporting an almost
endless range of remote controls, and combined with its beautiful interface and powerful
skinning engine, XBMC feels very natural to use from the couch and is the ideal solution for
your home theater.
Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center, or OpenELEC for short, is a small Linux
distribution built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into a complete XBMC
media center. OpenELEC is designed to make your system boot as fast as possible and
the install is so easy that anyone can turn a blank PC into a media machine in less than 15
minutes.
This script for XBMC gives you the ability to define your own TV channels and watch all of
your media just as you would watch normal cable. Use the electronic program guide to see
what's on, or to start watching anything you see.
Setup your own list of channels by configuring the addon and opening the channel
configuration utility. You will be able to select from a variety of built-in channel types, or you
can select a smart playlist that you've made to be a channel.
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HTPC
XBMC
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Pseudo TV