Throughout the shift from Windows 7 on Windows 8, there were many things that transformed – not just its design but lots of other things too! additional prominently, over most recent version, Microsoft removed some other elements, which completed really turn built-in for Windows 7. In spite of the fact that it might have been good to some aspects, we lost a ultra-useful tool around — Windows Media Center.
[ad type=”square”]Windows Media Center, often known as WMC, might have been An media hub to your PC, letterset printing you watch motion picture & music files from Different sources for example, such that files and DVDs to example, record television and so on. Know these assignments would interconnectedness in a way that you can access it in any other Windows-based device clinched alongside your home network.
Very much sadly, Windows Media Center has been discontinued; you require should search for some alternatives be it Windows 8 or Windows 10. Likewise, if you need aid utilizing Linux or mac and need a Windows Media Center-like solution to use as a media hub, you too need to check out alternatives
In this post, we’ve created a list of 7 best Windows Media Center alternatives that would definitely help you in the long run.
1.Kodi
At you’re looking for a Home Theater software, Kodi should be the first option you have to go for! This Free & Open Source software was earlier known as XBMC and was famous since its launch. Kodi can let you do a many things such as playing local storage files, streaming web media content from services like YouTube, Spotify and Pandora Internet Radio etc. It also arises with PVR — recording TV Programmes using corresponding hardware which makes Kodi a superb and passable alternative for Windows Media Center. Another factor that attracts users is that you can create use of Kodi for playing Python-based mini games.
Separately from media hub-based features, Kodi is pretty customizable in terms of looks and productivity. Availability of its skins can help you create Kodi look like you wish, the large collection of Kodi add-ons and plugins make management of your media quite easier. For example, you can stream content from other services by installing suitable add-ons & other stuff. It has to be noted that Kodi requires a PC with efficient graphics-based configuration to give you the best media experience. As of now, Kodi is available for Windows, Linux, Android, Macintosh and iOS as native applications that you can use quite safely. Altogether, Kodi is an awesome Windows Media Center alternative.
- Price:Free
2.Plex
Basically, Plex is a Media Center solutions with a few limitations — you can’t record TV or watch it live! Regardless of these two confinements, Plex is a wonderful programming to keep your media sorted out while having support for an extensive variety of media configurations. One of the conspicuous elements of Plex is organizing, which gives you a chance to get to in practically every device you have, regardless the platform. Plex additionally accompanies sharing choices, including a group for those media-lovers. In this manner, Plex is a sense-making decision when your prerequisite is a Home Theater PC which can be extended to different devices of yours.
Basically, Plex can be utilized as an average media player in the front-end while the back-end works as an answer for get a simple to-get to gathering of your media files. Additionally, with regards to online media gushing, Plex offers a kind of incorporated approach, with support for YouTube, Vimeo, CNN, TedTalks and so on. Plex is accessible for Windows, Mac and Linux, alongside gushing focused applications for Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Windows 8. Thus, in case you’re searching for a Windows Media Center option with less demanding association techniques, Plex makes sense, we accept. It’s to be noticed that Plex additionally accompanies an amazing User Interface that is in the meantime usable.
- Price:Free, Premium Subscription available
3.MediaPortal
MediaPortal is so far another HTPC (Home Theatre PC) Media Center that can be a outstanding alternative to Windows Media Center. MediaPortal lets you do a many things such as watching and recording Live TV, playing normal kind of media files from storage as well as DVDs & Blu-rays, listening to music files as well as radio, stream media files to PCs or HTPC devices that are in your network. When these components are combined with the excellent User Interface and the easy-to-access society method of MediaPortal, the tool shows to be an passable WMC alternative. Talking of the online streaming section, you can install corresponding plug-ins to stream content from famous services.
But the MediaPortal is depends on Kodi, in spite of the fact that you won’t judge so by looks! Important one among the features of MediaPortal is the capability to control the software using a multitude of methods like PC remote and Kinect. Nevertheless, MediaPortal is available to Windows only, though open-source and free! However, in your Windows PC, MediaPortal can do just magic, with all its user-friendly features. Altogether, MediaPortal is a typical & impressive WMC alternative, given that you need it just for your windows PC.
- Price:Free
4.Emby
Emby is also called the open media software and we will need to repeat the saying if we are to check out excellent features, provided by the free Windows Media Center alternative. With native apps and supported-apps for famous platforms, Emby is a dependable solution when you want to store and establish your media as well as to access it from a multitude of devices. Emby was formerly known as Media Browser and it had limited features and capabilities back then. Now, after the update, Emby has got many features like Cloud Sync and Folder Sync, features that improve viewing experience, playback improvements etc.
Different components of Emby include availability of parental controls, features to recognize DLNA-based devices and a variety of dedicated applications that can give you a chance to take media anyplace. Accessibility of Emby can be grouped into three — its Emby Server, TV Apps and Mobile applications. Emby server is available for Windows, Linux and Mac while the TV Apps offer an extensive variety of bolster including Android TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV and so on. Discussing versatile applications, you can discover applications for Android, iOS and Windows Phone. At last, we would state Emby is fairly a smooth Windows Media Center option you can discover.
- Price:Free
5.Universal Media Server
Universal Media Server is a incredible software program to keep your media contents properly-prepared in a manner that you can have get entry to your films, track or whatever else from various devices together with television! as a consequence, popular Media Server may be a superb alternative while the outstanding intention of yours is to circulation your media to different kinds of devices you’ve got. UMS gives support for any DLNA-like minded device accessible; however, if there may be no DLNA aid, you could use the web-based interface to transport on.
Talking approximately extension of productiveness, well-known Media participant offers many plugins to select from! for instance, it is feasible with a purpose to use an extension for outside services which include Google Play music. Additionally, there’s a plugin that helps you to discover data from IMDB whilst you are looking media content. Universal Media server helps excess of devices consisting of xbox 360, playstation three, Roku three, and so on.
- Price:Free
6.OpenELEC
OpenELEC can do plenty of component including film organisation, tv show management, track participant, photograph browser and the capability to file tv programmes and different stuff. when blended with the massive collection of add-ons, it’s genuinely Christmas with OpenELEC. And, sure, OpenELEC is virtually a extra developer-orientated opportunity, best for the people who’ve a pc to spare for media management — setting up OpenELEC is a venture of 15 minutes, through the manner.
- Price:Free
7.OSMC
we’re actually glad to make this listing an Open-supply list and here comes the final member of list. OSMC believes inside the minimalistic approach towards layout and it’s just tremendous to be with OSMC if you have Tv shows, videos, music and other varieties of media to play. Another component that we cherished about OSMC is the provision of an App shop that lets you customize OSMC as in line with your needs, through installing required plugins and all. also, there’s a wide variety of help for media files, meaning which you could be capable of play almost every type of popular media formats you come upon.
Further, OSMC comes with a flagship tool which could expand media experience to a new degree — Vero, it’s referred to as! OSMC is now to be had for home windows, Mac OS X and Linux; and it has aid for Raspberry Pi, Apple television and Vero. In quick, we just cherished OSMC — even though ultimate in listing, it’s pinnacle in our favorite-list. And, what we cherished maximum in OSMC is the minimum yet stylish consumer Interface design that makes experience in the long run. So, you need a smooth alternative — simply cross for OSMC.
- Price:Free
Well, do you think any other Windows Media Center alternative deserves space in this list? If so, do let us know! We are waiting for your comments.