HTPC Essential and Useful Links

SouperComputer

I have lots that come to mind, just no time to type them right now. Post any links you would like added below and I will edit this post.

It will be broken down into categories, HTPC/media centre software, hardware, calibaration tools, HTPC resources (TGB etc etc), suppiers of hardware.

ideas for categories are welcomed too, im just brainstorming below....

Pre-Built HTPC Suppliers

hush technologies

HTPC Front-end Software

Commercial
Windows MCE 2005
Windows MCE Vista
Pluto
Beyond TV
Elgato (Mac OsX)

Free

MediaPortal
MythTV
GB-PVR
LinuxMCE
VDR


Software for game consoles
Xbox Media Center (XBMC)




Windows MCE Resources
tgb


Windows MCE Addons, Plugins and utils
webguide
ad removal
mymovies


Mac Resources

Calibration tools/Software

Orion

For free MythBuntu is the handiest. It's Ubuntu with an XFCE DE and fully MythTV integrated. Step by step installer.

dingdong1234567

VMC custom themes and skins: http://www.downloads.pcoverhaulers.com/index.php?ind=downloads&op=section_view&idev=1&Itemid=11

MediacemterFX: http://www.downloads.pcoverhaulers.com/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=217&Itemid=2

zt-OctaviaN

XBMC now available multi platform - simply brilliant and free!!

alansweeney100

Has anyone used Mediaportal
Its free

awkward

Boxee is also free and built on XBMC base.

GinjaNinja

fyi
Just giving something back to boardies, I've used Mediaportal,MCE,Myth(different flavors).
But of them all YaVDR (yavdr.org) is the best linux variant that I've used. using it 2+years on my stable main htpc.

Overheal

Based on a problem I just had with a new TV.

DLNA playback on Televisions

Most TVs now support this certification put out by the Digital Living Network Alliance (dlna.org) basically what it is, is standardization of streaming content. So you can have a DLNA set top box access the files on your HTPC or a Network Hard Drive and have fun.

There are normally two ways to do this,

-Pull the content from the DLNA Media Server (PC, HDD) using your TV Controlls
-Push the content from your PC using Windows Media Player (very Feng Shui)

However If you think the Pushing option is cool understand that your choices for DLNA Certified products is more limited. Look for TVs and Receivers that have the Windows 7 logo on them, or view the Product certificate on DLNA.org before purchasing and determine which of several types the product is:

• Digital Media Server (DMS) – which stores content and makes it available on the network
• Digital Media Players (DMP) – which can play content pulled from a Digital Media Server
• Digital Media Controllers (DMC) – which can find content on a Digital Media Server and send it to a Digital Media Renderer device on the network
• Digital Media Renderers (DMR) – which can play content pushed to it from a Digital Media Controller

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/extremewindows/archive/2011/03/28/using-play-to-with-a-dlna-certified-tv.aspx

Most TVs are still currently only DMP, which means that you can use the TV to pull, but can't push from the PC. So far only LG and Toshiba TVs seem to have this feature but this URL should update over time to include any current Push-compatible TVs (DMR): http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Browse.aspx?type=Hardware&category=TV%20Devices&os=32-bit&subcategory=Play%20To%20TV%20Devices&showallcats=true

Something extra to think about when you are planning your next massive Home Theater purchase.

RockyTwoArms

I'm building up a collection of bookmarks related to HTPC, mainly based around XBMC and one server setup.

http://share.xmarks.com/folder/bookmarks/S0Uyye8TCK

In my experience DLNA is a great concept but loading libraries appears to take a long long time and thus is tedious to find things.
DLNA programs used;
Android - all share, dk dlna/upnp, bubbleupnp
PC - windows media player, foobar 2000, xbmc

lmimmfn

XBMC should no longer be under Software for game consoles should be under HTPC Front-end Software