reTHINK Connection, LLC
XBMC FTW!
Having recently upgraded the primary software that runs on my own personal HTPC (Home Theater PC, a computer that serves content to your audio/video system), I felt it's time to put a few words down to describe it and discuss some pros and cons. The "it" in this case is the popular, free, open source media center software known as XBMC. This terrific piece of software aggregates all your digital entertainment files and displays it all in a beautiful, easy to navigate form. Specifically, it is a great way to show off your photo collection, movies ripped to a hard drive, entire digital music library and more. By putting all of this content into one overall system, you gain the benefit of pushing all of it through your big screen TV and audio rig, navigating it with a touch screen, simple remote control or even your mobile devices. In other words, you no longer have to settle for gathering the family around a lap top to view your photos or listen to your music collection through earbuds only.
We started down the HTPC path in 2005 and haven't looked back. Putting all of our content onto a single server and distributing it through the home has radically transformed how we consume movies, TV, music and more. We now navigate through the hundreds of movies we own by cover art, selecting what we're in the mood for without having to sift through endless shelves of DVD cases. Without ever leaving the XBMC "environment", we are able to quickly switch from watching movies to checking the local weather condidtions and then streaming online content from such sites as YouTube, Netflix, FunnyOrDie and, one of my personal favorites, Revision3. If we would rather listen to jazz while viewing a slide show of our photos, it's just a matter of selecting what we're after. We even have multiple seasons of our favorite television programs available for viewing when ever we want. Add to all this choice the high quality of playback through our surround sound system and big screen TV and it is a very compelling option.
Are there any drawbacks to using an HTPC as a "front end device" in our home? Yes. There can be a relatively steep learning curve for the technology neophyte. Building, maintaining and managing a full blown computer can be frustrating for many people. However, XBMC has excellent support options online, is certainly doable for a committed DIYer and, best of all, is free! Free as in it doesn't cost a dime and free as in you are not only allowed to but, encourgaed to share the software with others. Plus, XBMC runs on multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, Mac OSX and even on the Apple TV2.
reTHINK Connection is pleased, after several years of tinkering with XBMC and many installations under our belt, to offer custom HTPC installation, consulting and integration for those who are interested in adding to their A/V arsenal and want more power and capabilities than the standard consumer level streaming device. If this sounds interesting, please feel free to contact us and we can discuss whether an XBMC powered HTPC is right for you and your family.
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