The Ins and Outs of XBMC

My XBMC dashboard with one of many custom backrounds

XBMC is a program that originated on the original Xbox.  It gave users with a modded Xbox the ability to turn a mere video game console into something along the lines of a real computer.  With the death of the original Xbox, its developers quickly regrouped and released it as a media center which branches across Windows, OSX, Linux, and can even be run live off of a USB flash drive.  I was lucky enough to experience XBMC during its first incarnation being as I was one of the lucky few with a modded Xbox at the time (I tried to mod my own, failed miserably, and ended up buying one from a friend).  I quickly grew accustomed to its easy to use interface and even scoffed at the features included in it that were absent from the original release of the Xbox 360.  Having recently re-downloaded XBMC and installed it on my windows machine  I can say that I am quite impressed with the way the software carries over to one of the many new platforms it is now available on.


My first step after downloading and installing XBMC was to make the interface resemble that of the old modded Xbox.  I did this by adding the Project Mayhem 3 HD skin to XBMC.  For those who used the original, I am sure they will be familiar with this skin.  There are a number of great skins available with new ones being released very often.  Apart from the skin, the whole interface of XBMC can be easily customized. For example the background pictures used for the video, pictures, and settings tabs can all be changed along with the RSS feeds which scroll along the bottom.  One feature that has always intrigued me about the program are the video, music, and program add-ons available for download.  Some of the really entertaining ones include access to PBS' back catalog along with countless internet T.V. shows available from Revision3.  Another great feature involves the enabling of scrappers.  Scrappers are programs that collect information about your media in the same way that album art work can be downloaded by iTunes.  However, with XBMC this feature is easier to use and can really enhance the visual appeal of your media center PC or just your media in general.  To enable scrappers just right click on the folder where you have indicated to XBMC that you keep a certain type of media (be it pictures, videos, or T.V. shows) and set the content.  The enabled scrappers will then begin downloading in the background and beautifying your XBMC.

I recently installed XBMC on my girlfriend's laptop and came to the realization that it may just be the easiest way for many people to enjoy all of their media.  Programs like iTunes or Windows Media Center can be too confusing and risky for newer users.  In just a click you can lose the configuration of your entire music library and even delete all of your music.  I know for many this may sound a bit impossible but the consequences of a few wrong clicks with your mouse can be amazing.  XBMC resembles more of a shell when compared to other programs that allow direct management of your media.  For this reason, the file path directories might change but your actual files will remain unharmed.  This idea got me to thinking that XBMC and a cheap PC might be the perfect solution for entertaining those who have fallen a bit out of the tech loop such as aging parents or even grandparents.  It is even possible to download new content for their media centers and manage it via remote desktop.  Instead of teaching someone how to use iTunes, VLC, and Windows Explorer, now you could accomplish the same tasks using one easy to manage program.  Another neat thing about XBMC is the fact that there are many apps for iOS and Android that allow you to use a phone or an iDevice over wifi as the perfect remote control.  Overall, XBMC offers many advantages for both the novice and the veteran computer user.

XBMC Main Page