Powerful media centre for Macs or Apple TV
XBMC is an excellent free open source media center that has been labeled as a "High Definition Hub" for all kinds of media. It is easy to use, slick, and supported by a large community of enthusiastic users. XBMC can be used to view photos, videos, and listen to music, making it a versatile media center.
One of the standout features of XBMC is its highly "skinnable" interface. This means that the appearance of XBMC can be customized to look radically different based on which skin is used. There are many free skins available, some of which are absolutely stunning and blow Front Row out of the water.
XBMC functions very well as a standard media player, but it truly shines when used as a complete home hub for entertainment needs. It supports a huge range of remote controls and keyboard shortcuts, making it feel like a real entertainment center. XBMC can also be used to stream videos over a network, allowing you to access your multimedia from anywhere in the house or directly from the internet using practically any protocol available. It even supports playing files inside ZIP and RAR archives.
In addition to its media playing capabilities, XBMC can also scan all of your media and automatically create a personalized library complete with box covers, descriptions, and fanart. It also offers playlist and slideshow functions, a weather forecast feature, and many audio visualizations.
Overall, XBMC is a fantastic media center for Macs or Apple TV. However, it does take some time to customize for Macs. If you prefer a more streamlined experience, Plex may offer you a better alternative.
