Good media center software, but with a twist

[BLindsay]

Ok so im looking for some good media center software as im going to have all my blu-rays on a server (i know we cant discuss the details of how they are getting there lol)

But i was thinking it would be nice to have software that shows a mini picture of the movie and can just click on it to start the movie, being able to view by different catagories like genre etc would be nice

but here is the twist

I need to be able to select the folder that the software points to for the video files as they will be stored on a central server (i want all my computers in the house to be able to access this central movie location)

[BLindsay]

XBMC was suggested on some other forums that i posted the question

anyone here use that?

[Bizdady]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

XBMC was suggested on some other forums that i posted the question

anyone here use that?

I just installed that this weekend and gave it a shot since I just added a video card with hdmi. I ran a 30 foot hdmi to my receiver and hooked it up to my system. It works pretty good and looks really nice. Give it a shot, I definitely might give it a shot.

A really nice Life Hacker guide
http://lifehacker.com/5536963/the-ul...c-media-center

[rob.sparrow]

I used xmbc for a while but prefer the simpler media browser. Loads of themes and plugins to use and great support network

[brettallica]

I use XBMC, and I use it in exactly this way. All of the media in my house is located on one computer, my server, and all of my client computers on the network connect to it to get it. You can point to a share on a server, exactly to a specific folder on a server, a folder within another folder, or any combination if you wish — so long as your server is set up correctly and the shares/directories/folders have proper access and permissions applied so the software can find it (long story short: just be sure your folders are shared, just like a normal computer network situation). I have several shares on my server, and even within those shares I have more shares and miscellaneous directories. For example, I have a main share that has all of my media, and within that share I have separate directories, some of which are "shares" specifically for access and permission reasons, and some that are just basic directories/folders. One folder in there is "Parents," which contains all of the shows that my wife and I watch. We have the "Parents" folder as one of the menu items in our "Videos" section of XBMC. From there we can go through all of the folders/directories that are in there (Suits, Burn Notice, Franklin & Bash...whatever). We also have a "Kids" section, and it is also linked in the "Videos" section, but it is a separate menu item from the "Parents" section. This keeps the sorting and finding a heck of a lot easier for whoever is watching it.

I am using XBMC as my HTPC software in my master bedroom, and Windows Media Center Edition 2005 in my main home theater (which is a much older HTPC). I'd have to say XBMC is not only way sexier, but it just works better. That's to be expected when comparing brand new software to something that's six-plus years old, though.

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by brettallica

I use XBMC, and I use it in exactly this way. All of the media in my house is located on one computer, my server, and all of my client computers on the network connect to it to get it. You can point to a share on a server, exactly to a specific folder on a server, a folder within another folder, or any combination if you wish — so long as your server is set up correctly and the shares/directories/folders have proper access and permissions applied so the software can find it (long story short: just be sure your folders are shared, just like a normal computer network situation). I have several shares on my server, and even within those shares I have more shares and miscellaneous directories. For example, I have a main share that has all of my media, and within that share I have separate directories, some of which are "shares" specifically for access and permission reasons, and some that are just basic directories/folders. One folder in there is "Parents," which contains all of the shows that my wife and I watch. We have the "Parents" folder as one of the menu items in our "Videos" section of XBMC. From there we can go through all of the folders/directories that are in there (Suits, Burn Notice, Franklin & Bash...whatever). We also have a "Kids" section, and it is also linked in the "Videos" section, but it is a separate menu item from the "Parents" section. This keeps the sorting and finding a heck of a lot easier for whoever is watching it.

I am using XBMC as my HTPC software in my master bedroom, and Windows Media Center Edition 2005 in my main home theater (which is a much older HTPC). I'd have to say XBMC is not only way sexier, but it just works better. That's to be expected when comparing brand new software to something that's six-plus years old, though.

sounds good, thank you.

Still sorting out the hardware end of it, looking at about 16TB initially

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

sounds good, thank you.

Still sorting out the hardware end of it, looking at about 16TB initially

I like the sound of that. I'm right around half of that total presently. Gotta love the ever-reducing price of HDD storage!

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by brettallica

I like the sound of that. I'm right around half of that total presently. Gotta love the ever-reducing price of HDD storage!

yeah i can nab 2TB drives for around 80 bucks each


having issues getting the movies on the comptuer but i know i cant talk about that here

[RickWJ324]

For my HTPC setup, I run Windows 7 64bit w/ Media Center and a free app called MY MOVIES (http://www.mymovies.dk/). I also bought software called TOTAL MEDIA THEATRE for the blu-ray playback.

The MY MOVIES software is SWEEET! It gives you a full menu with box art, actor lists, IMDB summaries, etc, and is sortable by genres, etc, and keeps a really nice database for you. You can install it on one machine as a 'server' and if you have other pc's on your network you can have them as 'clients' and pull from the shared movies on your server. It will read DVD folder structures, Blu-ray Folder structures, and also ISO files. I highly recommend it.

If you have any questions, let me know. I'd be glad to answer them. --Rick

[BLindsay]

in progress but its comming together



my two o/s drives should be here in the next few days and then im just waiting for a deal on a power supply and i should be good to go

[roar]

From any reading I've done XBMC does NOT support HD Audio, if someone can correct me that would be great, but I don't think XBMC is the right solution if you want HD audio... I think you are left with windows media browser which I believe can bit stream it to your AVR, again, I'm no expert in this topic but also looking to get into it.

Edit: I need to correct my own post here. Just found this post on the xbmc forums... which makes it totally sound like you can do the hd audio through xbmc... as long as you are running windows7... since I was hoping to run a mac mini I may not have this option... more reading to do.

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php...ght=bit+stream

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by roar

From any reading I've done XBMC does NOT support HD Audio, if someone can correct me that would be great, but I don't think XBMC is the right solution if you want HD audio... I think you are left with windows media browser which I believe can bit stream it to your AVR, again, I'm no expert in this topic but also looking to get into it.

Edit: I need to correct my own post here. Just found this post on the xbmc forums... which makes it totally sound like you can do the hd audio through xbmc... as long as you are running windows7... since I was hoping to run a mac mini I may not have this option... more reading to do.

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php...ght=bit+stream

thanks but im not too worried about it right now, just about to move into an apartment so sound is gonna take a backseat for a little while due to neighbors