Media Center Solutions in Linux?

[Visti]

Hi guys, I was wondering what media center solutions there actually are available for Linux. I'm looking for something to replace my LinuxMCE which is a bit sluggish in th UI and which, for some reason, can't be set to overscan correctly. I need something that I can set to output to my TV through S-video as standard (As in, my box won't be connected to a proper screen as it runs or maybe even during installation, if that works) and I'm very little interested in television playback of any sort. I just need to play video from my HD to my TV.

I'd love it if there was a standalone install or with an installer that optimally installed both, so I don't need to first install a distro and then a Media Center solution on top, but I can probably compromise there.. In fact, I'm a bit confused as to how the media center would even run with a solution like that? Choose it at the login screen?

What I've found so far:

Elisa - Looks amazing, but is a little early in development
Geexbox - The interface seems cumbersome, but the nvtv drivers gave my TV the right overscan out of the box after months of trying with LinuxMCE
Oxine - Also looks good, but haven't tried it yet as it needs to be installed onto a distribution
MMS - Same as above
Freevo - Very attractive interface, am going to try this one later today..

Also, most of the time I won't have a keyboard connected to the box, so there's another thing I'm having trouble with. Although that would be easily solved by me getting a better remote. The one I have now doesn't use LIRC, instead it's detected as a USB keyboard and needs remapping in X to work.. Pff.

Anyway, do any of you have any experience with these or others and what do you use if any?

Thanks in advance,
Emil Visti

[kaivalagi]

Any reason why you don't have MythTV listed?

There are several distros out which incorporate it, mythbuntu being the one based on ubuntu, currently version 7.10

I have just started setting up a HTPC with MythTV, after getting over most of the hardware hurdles I am now starting to learn about it.

I have a long way to go, but it certainly looks worth playing around with...

[jpmswiss]

Count me in to follow up on this one. While i like linuxmce - not everything is working...mythtv (also 2 channel sound), docs (pdf/doc).

Is mythbuntu or freevo better or more reliable?

Other solutions?

[madjr]

I'm very little interested in television playback of any sort. I just need to play video from my HD to my TV.



why u need a media center for this ?

why not just use "Nvidia-settings":

connect to your TV

type "Nvidia-settings" in terminal.

detect displays.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_Xc3ug-O4s-g/Rnf8lGbAURI/AAAAAAAAANs/kycMs0_2hWM/s400/screenshot-nvidia-settings.png

no need for media center unless you are building a dedicated box for it.

don't over complicate your self in you just want to view a few vids on the TV

http://useopensource.blogspot.com/2007/06/gui-to-configure-dual-monitors-nvidia.html

[PCFascist]

But that would be near impossible to use a remote with. The mouse doesn't work so well on the sofa.



why u need a media center for this ?

why not just use "Nvidia-settings":

connect to your TV

type "Nvidia-settings" in terminal.

detect displays.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_Xc3ug-O4s-g/Rnf8lGbAURI/AAAAAAAAANs/kycMs0_2hWM/s400/screenshot-nvidia-settings.png

no need for media center unless you are building a dedicated box for it.

don't over complicate your self in you just want to view a few vids on the TV

http://useopensource.blogspot.com/2007/06/gui-to-configure-dual-monitors-nvidia.html

[encompass]

Once you get your screen cloned. You can use elisa to play your videos with a remote. But you need a remote or a keyboard.
I personally use ganyremote and my bluetooth java enabled cellphone.
PM me and I can help you through it.

[Paqman]

But that would be near impossible to use a remote with. The mouse doesn't work so well on the sofa.

I use a wireless keyboard that has a trackpad (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-MINIKB) for watching video files on my TV. Dead simple.

[_sAm_]

Check out XBMC, its a program to install on top on a distro(like (x)Ubuntu). You can make it autostart when you turn the pc on(and do turn of the login screen).

Its very fast, can play all sorts of files(even ISO files, try that in MS Mediacenter), and looks good.

http://xbmc.org/

Just add the repositories to Ubuntu and install it from Synaptic.
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?p=185738

Looks like they will come with there own distro soon(my guess its Ubuntu with it).

[wipeout140]

i would go with xbmc aswell, a excellent program been using it on the xbox 1 aswell on ubuntu 8.04

[god0fgod]

I can't install it. Even after adding the repository.

[Patrick793]

You can't install what? XBMC?

What's going on with it that you won't install?
I thought it was just a Media Center made for the Xbox, and I never knew there was a Linux/Mac/Windows version. I'm installing it now with no problem.

Pretty obvious, but did you remember to sudo apt-get update?

[god0fgod]

Well it works now. I think the server was off-line. It said it couldn't find the package but I tried again a little bit later and it worked.

[wolfen69]

i find mythbuntu to be awesome.

[_sAm_]

I can't install it. Even after adding the repository.
It worked just fine for me. Did you run sudo apt-get update after adding the repository?

[billgoldberg]

Try out Boxee.

Video link:
http://blog.boxee.tv/2008/08/04/boxee-reviewed-by-tekzilla/

I am using it and it is great.

You will need an invite.

PM me and mention your email adress and I'll send you an invite.

[fh_scott]

Hi guys, I was wondering what media center solutions there actually are available for Linux.

have you looked at the networked media tank (http://www.networkedmediatank.com/) devices?

it's a linux-based dedicated media player. the devices are marked under brands like istar and popcorn hour with various features derived from the oem standard.

I have an istar (http://www.istarhd.com) and it's a lot of fun to hack around with.

It comes with myIhome (or something like that) which enables media sharing across your lan. java based and works with linux.

-scott