Windows 8 (and at present 10) no longer comes with Windows Media Center by default. To go it, you can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro and purchase the Media Center Pack. And Windows 10 doesn't take information technology at all.

If y'all're using Windows 8 or 10 and don't want to buy two separate upgrades just to use a program that in one case came standard with Windows, you can endeavor 1 of these alternative media eye applications for your HTPC.

Modern Apps

Modern apps deserve an honorable mention. Apps for Netflix, Hulu, and other media services await clumsily similar to media center interfaces. If yous want an interface to play dorsum streaming video from your couch, these mod apps may be a convenient alternative to a new media center application.

Kodi (Formerly XBMC)

Kodi is probably the most pop alternative to Windows media Eye out there. Kodi was formerly known equally XBMC, and was was originally created for modded Xboxes. Today, Kodi runs on a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac Os X, Linux–fifty-fifty Android and iOS. In improver to interfacing with a TV capture bill of fare for live Tv set and recording, it supports every type of media format you'd want. Information technology tin also stream YouTube, Pandora, and more via add-ons. We've covered installing Kodi add together-ons in the by.

Plex

Plex, based off XBMC, is some other fairly popular media player. It contains two components – the Plex Media Server, which is the backend, and the Plex Media Eye, which is the frontend. With Plex, y'all could make one computer in your house a media server and access it using the Plex Media Middle on your home theater PC. You could also use the apps for iOS and Android devices to stream media to all of your devices from the central server.

Unlike XBMC and MediaPortal, Plex doesn't support watching or recording live TV.

Read more about setting upwardly Plex: How To Stream Video to Both iOS and Android Devices With Plex

MediaPortal

MediaPortal was originally a derivative of XBMC, simply information technology's been completely rewritten. If you lot're not happy with XBMC'southward interface, you might want to give MediaPortal a try. Like XBMC, it contains the standard PVR features for playing, recording, and pausing live Telly, laying DVDs, and watching online video services.

Moovida

Update:This software appears to exist unsupported now.

Moovida is the least well known option on this listing. The Windows installer is packed with spyware and other junk that you're opted into by default. If yous do try this one, exist sure to uncheck information technology all. We honestly wouldn't recommend this option – at that place's no reason to use spyware-packed installers when there are so many other practiced options higher on this list. It also doesn't provide any integrated TV recording, unlike XBMC and MediaPortal.

However, if you're not happy with the above options, you may want to give Moovida a go. It has two different interfaces – ane optimized for file management on a PC and 1 optimized for finding and playing content on a TV. Moovida bills its TV-optimized interface every bit a "3D interface," so information technology can provide some boosted center candy.

Many of these programs volition play DVDs, too. We've too covered some other ways to play DVDs on Windows 8. You don't need the Media Center Pack for that, either.

Which media heart solution practise y'all prefer for your domicile theater PC? Leave a annotate and allow the states know.

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