Software
ADD-ONS FOR WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER (MCE)
These applications integrate directly into Windows MCE interface to provide additional functionality.
- MyMovies - Great movies database for your DVD collection.
- TV TOOLBOX - Allows you to edit recordings, convert recordings and define rules to automatically convert just recorded TV shows to a specific format (WMV), also you can remove commercials from recorded shows.
- MCE Zone - Home of several MCE add-ons, including My NFL Scores for MCE, Lottery Results for MCE, In The Movies for MCE, and others.
- WebGuide [free] - allows you to remotely view live and recorded TV programs and to remotely schedule and manage your recorded television programs, music, pictures and videos on your Media Center.
UTILITIES FOR MCE
These are small, but very useful pieces of software, that make MCE experience more enjoyable.
- Crunchie - An utility to convert DVR-MS files to DivX (reqiures DVRMSToolbox).
- DVRMSToolbox - One of the most widely used utilities for editing MCE-recorded TV programs (DVR-MS). It helps in skipping (or cutting out) commercials, converting to other video formats, etc.
MEDIA CENTER ALTERNATIVES
Applications that provide functionality similar to MCE on Windows and other platforms.
- The media center software list
- J. River Media Center - [win, commercial $39.98]
- MythBuntu - [linux, free] Ubuntu derivative distribution designed to simplify the set-up of MythTV-based system.
- LinuxMCE - [linux, free] Open source add-on to Kubuntu including a 10′ UI, complete whole-house media solution with PVR + distributed media, and the most advanced smarthome solution available. It is stable, easy to use, and requires no knowledge of Linux and only basic computer skills.