Absolute best HTPC frontend software?

I still like mediaportal, but it can be a pain to setup. However, if you're trying to play newer audio formats it'll use ffdshow without issue.

I ended up getting rid of it the frontend. I have that lenovo remote and I just click folders and play files manually. The giant UI just ended up slowing me down especially since I manage some of my media on my fileserver from my htpc.

None of them do a good job with music. Mediaportal/XBMC were unsatisfactory. 7 media center just doesn't have the features I'd want.
 
I got XBMC set up last night but I get no audio if it's AAC audio. My 5.1 is working correctly though, because Dolby 5.1 is working. Any ideas?
 
MediaBrowser is what we are usually talking about when we say 7MC. It was also specifically mentioned in this thread.
 
I'm not quite certain what a few of the other posters are talking about with regards to the Media Browser slowness. I have the MB thumbnail cache setup on my SSD, media files are on two Samsung F4's. I'm not experiencing any slowness / lag / stutter when scrolling through the library. The *only* exception is after it's been idle for a while, and that's due to the storage drives having to spin up.
 
Time to throw a name out there which probably no one uses - Meedios. If you think setting up Xbmc is complicated, you have no idea :) It does have a ton of flexibility but I gave up on it due to the complexity.
 
Xonim said:
I'm not quite certain what a few of the other posters are talking about with regards to the Media Browser slowness. I have the MB thumbnail cache setup on my SSD, media files are on two Samsung F4's. I'm not experiencing any slowness / lag / stutter when scrolling through the library. The *only* exception is after it's been idle for a while, and that's due to the storage drives having to spin up.
Click to expand...

1. You have an optimal setup with an SSD.
2. I was one of the people that mentioned slowness, however, I did not say MediaBrowser was slow. I said XBMC was noticably faster on one set of hardware. It is. I also mentioned that MediaBrowser's themes and backdrop support create too much lag on my Xbox. That's an Xbox issue though, and there's no competition to MediaBrowser so it's not like you have a choice anyway, if using an extender.
 
I don't know what you're talking about. There are several plugins that work like media browser but media browser is the best. That's why it's alway mentioned.
 
I don't like the fact that more and more content for MediaBrowser, like plugins, skins, is becoming payware. Everything for XBMC is free, and most of it is open source.
 
MrCrispy said:
I don't like the fact that more and more content for MediaBrowser, like plugins, skins, is becoming payware. Everything for XBMC is free, and most of it is open source.
Click to expand...

This is true. I think it was a $10 "donation" to gain access to CoverArt, Pearl Theme, and....some other plugin...beyond 14 days. It kinda sucks, but I guess to me it was worth the $10 as I ended up paying it. On the bright side, it is a lifetime "license" and can be used on multiple machines.
 
MrCrispy said:
I don't like the fact that more and more content for MediaBrowser, like plugins, skins, is becoming payware. Everything for XBMC is free, and most of it is open source.
Click to expand...

Don't you think the programmers who bring you this cool stuff deserve some little compensation?
 
If you haven't tried it, MediaPortal with ForTheRecord plugin for Live TV is really unbeatable.

Truth is though, that the stock skin really blows, but using StreamedMP (a port from XBMC) or some of the other community skins, really pulls it together. Media Portal is just far more configurable than anything I've used thus far, including XBMC.....

All said, it lets me create the media center front end 'I' want.... and given the same patience, I'm sure you can make it do what you want.
 
griff30 said:
Who makes a backlit keyboard like the Lenova?
Click to expand...

There is a new version of the Lenovo remote that is backlit. It normally costs $80 but it is on sale at the moment for $40 if you use the following code on their website USP1O26678 [Exp. 10/17]

Source:
http://www.dealigg.com/story-Lenovo-Enhanced-Multimedia-Remote-with-backlit-keyboard


N5902_1_470x3301.jpg

N5902_Dark1.jpg
 
dashpuppy said:
What do you guy's use for a remote for your htpcs ?

I was thinking this ..


http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...-category-id=E9ADAEB6787146E29B78400A33E7FE8A
lenovo_multimedia_remote_with_keyboard_by_lenovo.jpg
Click to expand...

That is the old model. There is a new version with a backlit keyboard. It is currently on sale for about $40 if you use the following code USP1O26678

Lenovo Enhanced Multimedia Remote with Backlit Keyboard for $79.99 - $40 off code USP1O26678 = $39.99. Shipping is free.
http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/60540/lenovo.com-lenovo-enhanced-multimedia-remote-with-backlit-keyboard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2-wSl6LR4M

Lenovo-N5902-Multimedia-keyboard-1.jpg

N5902_Dark1.jpg
 
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