This page sums up the state of the art on the Linux Media Center subject.

This will allow the Ubuntu Media Center Team to have a clear vision for the software choice.

Functional analysis

Nb : (p) means the feature is available with an additional plugin.

Detailed analysis

Elisa

=> Based upon GStreamer and Python

• shares a lot of common aims with UMC,
• openGL 3D User Interface, and many effects available,

• not yet feature complete, but moving quickly,

• well tied in / consistent framework (not a patchwork of many apps),
• focused on usability and expandability (ie for both users and developers),

• supported by an important and expert player in the FLOSS A/V systems (Fluendo),

• UPNP support (through Coherence),

• DAAP support,

• has contacted us to work on the rewrite (architecture and UI) and to propose resources,

• applies advanced computer engineering principles (UML, design patterns, Object Oriented language),

• is the origin why ArnaudQuette (re)launched the UMC project: the most promising Media Center out there!

Entertainer

Very similar to Elisa, based upon GStreamer and Python. Not as many features or as much integration yet.

Fundamental technical difference: Based on Clutter, a very similar project to Fluendo's Pigment which Elisa is based upon. There is an interesting blog entry as to why.

They are working on a component/plugin infrastructure to accelerate development.

Freevo

=> Based upon Xine, Mplayer, SDL and Python

• is a well known MC software,
• old fashioned UI (Windows MCE like),
• features complete,

GeeXboX

=> Based upon Mplayer for v0.x and v1.x, upon Freevo starting from v2.x

• Embedded Linux distribution which boots in short time, no x-server,
• Runs on very old configurations (pentium-class x86 computer...),
• Supports LIRC,
• Configurable before installation, with the use of generator software to create a customized iso image (LIRC, TV standard, Language,...),
• Releases prior to v2.x rely only on Mplayer, but neither TV recording nor EPG,

• Starting from v2.x, GeeXboX will be based on Freevo software for a new LiveCD/distro.

KnoppMyth

=> Based upon MythTV and Knoppix

• A Linux distribution attempting to simplify the installation process of MythTV.

LinuxMCE

=> Based upon PLuto, Xine, Mythtv, Asterisk and C++

• LinuxMCE is more than just a Media Center. It can manage your whole house (Pluto part). So that's also a problem cause the installer comes with all its stuff (to manage the whole house) and, at the end, you're lost in all those functionalities ( and the software becomes unusable ).
• shares a lot of common aims with UMC,
• is more a patchwork / glue tiding various apps together. This is both pros and a cons,

• See http://plutohome.com/support/index.php?section=mainDownload&package=0 to have an overview of every package installed by LinuxMCE¹. The dependencies are hell ! To me the most interesting things is the Pluto Core Programs section. If Pluto is the software we choose, we should get in touch with their developers to get help developing a lighter version and to use the maximum of Ubuntu capabilities, not to have drivers packages installed by Pluto.

My Media System (MMS)

=> Based upon Xine, Mplayer, C++

• also have a kind of plug in approach. It wraps existing players and supports LIRC. However, it doesn't do a special job apart being an interface to existing players. I didn't find a way to select set up the player. It's easy installable and testable. I propose you do.

MythBuntu

=> Based upon MythTV and Ubuntu

• A project like UMC, with MythTV the MythBuntu project,

• More a "big" script than a new distro

MythTV

=> Based upon Xine, Mplayer, Mysql and C++

• Is a well known MC software,
• Old fashioned UI (Windows MCE like),
• Features complete,
• Has a nice web interface to let you select programs to record remotely or configure mythTV software,
• Heavy software, outrageously difficult to configure for a newby,
• Can have backend and frontend software on different machines,
• Supports for multiple tuner cards and multiple simultaneous recordings,
• Wraps existing players (you can choose what player you want, Mplayer, Xine, Ogle, ...) and supports LIRC,
• Provides UPNP support.

VDR

=> Based upon Mplayer and C++

• VDR is primarily a (dvb) Digital TV Recorder -- it is meant to be used with a remote like a Tivo,
• There are not that many features included (this is as designed). However, what VDR does, it does incredibly well. Stability and ease of use are second to none (including commercial digital video recorders),
• The plugin system is fairly nice and there are plugins for images, music, DVD, etc.
• Installation is often not straight-forward or easy. There are some live-CD distros based on VDR that try to overcome this.

XBMC

• Linux port of the XBMC project,

• http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=XBMC_Features_and_Supported_Formats/Codecs

Notes

• non FLOSS software have been discarded:

  • SageTV

Useful external links

• WikiPedia

• Media Center test (french)

• A spec definition of a Media Center

• Want to test Xbox Media Center on Linux ?[fr]

CategoryUbuntuMediaCenter