WMI=interval: 60,text:Battery,namespace:root\cimv2,query:WIn32_Battery,display:%EstimatedChargeRemaining%% (%battery%BatteryStatus%%) # page 1 date/time PAGE= 1 PAGE-TITLE=Home PageĬOMMENT=color:%white%,style:w,font-face:BahnSchrift,font-size: 140%,text:Desktop InfoĬMD=text:Time,interval: 60,code-page: 65001,file:python.exe,parameters:get_tz_datetime.py,display:% 4 TIMEZONE=interval: 60 UPTIME=interval: 60,display:% 1 d % 2 h % 3 min My widget settings desktopinfo.ini is this, where I edited desktopinfo-advanced.ini. Despite having 64-bit Windows, DesktopInfo64.exe does not visibly run. Then I create a Shortcut to C:\DesktopInfo290\DesktopInfo.exe at shell:startup (Copy then type shell:startup at the Location bar then Paste Shortcut). Which is much much better than Widget Launcher, where you can find in Windows Store, if you go by the keyword "widget".įirst, I extracted DesktopInfo290.zip to C:\DesktopInfo290. You don’t need the Media Center Pack for that, either.Luckily, Windows has a worthy equivalent of Conky, DesktopInfo. We’ve also covered some other ways to play DVDs on Windows 8. Many of these programs will play DVDs, too. Moovida bills its TV-optimized interface as a “3D interface,” so it can provide some additional eye candy.
It has two different interfaces – one optimized for file management on a PC and one optimized for finding and playing content on a TV. However, if you’re not happy with the above options, you may want to give Moovida a go.
It also doesn’t provide any integrated TV recording, unlike XBMC and MediaPortal. We honestly wouldn’t recommend this option – there’s no reason to use spyware-packed installers when there are so many other good options higher on this list. If you do try this one, be sure to uncheck it all. The Windows installer is packed with spyware and other junk that you’re opted into by default. Moovida is the least well known option on this list. Update: This software appears to be unsupported now. Like XBMC, it contains the standard PVR features for playing, recording, and pausing live TV, laying DVDs, and watching online video services. If you’re not happy with XBMC’s interface, you might want to give MediaPortal a try. MediaPortal was originally a derivative of XBMC, but it’s been completely rewritten.
Read more about setting up Plex: How To Stream Video to Both iOS and Android Devices With Plex Unlike XBMC and MediaPortal, Plex doesn’t support watching or recording live TV. You could also use the apps for iOS and Android devices to stream media to all of your devices from the central server. With Plex, you could make one computer in your house a media server and access it using the Plex Media Center on your home theater PC.
It contains two components – the Plex Media Server, which is the backend, and the Plex Media Center, which is the frontend. Plex, based off XBMC, is another fairly popular media player. We’ve covered installing Kodi add-ons in the past. It can also stream YouTube, Pandora, and more via add-ons. In addition to interfacing with a TV capture card for live TV and recording, it supports every type of media format you’d want.
Today, Kodi runs on a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux–even Android and iOS. Kodi was formerly known as XBMC, and was was originally created for modded Xboxes. Kodi is probably the most popular alternative to Windows media Center out there. If you want an interface to play back streaming video from your couch, these modern apps may be a convenient alternative to a new media center application. Apps for Netflix, Hulu, and other media services look awfully similar to media center interfaces. Modern apps deserve an honorable mention.