Media PC Power Kit
Home theatre software

Featuring an electronic TV guide and scheduling utility, CTpvr enables users to watch, pause or record live TV, which they can then manage through the integrated video library or view using the bundled media player. However, it's still in development and has limited hardware support.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.ctpvr.com
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: InterVideo MPEG-2 decoder, Windows Media Player 9.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

Mostly oriented towards viewing (rather than recording), DigitalWatch builds on DigiVision and WinDTV by providing increased customisation options to suit individual watching habits. However, it isn't very user-friendly, doesn't support simultaneous multiple cards, won't play back recorded files and can't scan for channels. Only supports the VisionPlus DVB-T card.

Licence: GNU General Public Licence.
Online: http://home.bigblue.net.au/mulin77/DigitalWatch/
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: VisionPlus DVB-T.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

In the words of the developer himself, DSMyth is "A set of directshow filters that enables playback of MythTV NUV files on Windows."

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://dsmyth.sourceforge.net/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: MythTV.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

Eboxy allows users to create simple GUI interfaces for entertainment PCs, designed to be used on a TV screen with an infra-red remote. It can also be used for many other applications where a simple GUI front-end is required.

Licence: GNU General Public Licence.
Online: http://eboxy.sourceforge.net/
Operating system: Linux.
Requires: libxml2 2.4.19, SDL 1.2, flex 2.5.4, FreeType.

Install instructions: N/A

		Linux

Freevo is an open source home theatre platform based on tools such as Mplayer and Xine. It can be used with a TV/remote control or on a regular desktop computer, and some notable features include a Web interface, multiple themes, the ability to view weather forecasts and music playback.

Licence: GNU General Public Licence.
Online: http://freevo.sourceforge.net/
Operating system: Linux.
Requires: 400MHz CPU, any graphics card, a Video4Linux1/2 compatible board, any OSS or ALSA compatible sound card.

Install instructions: N/A

		Linux

Based on Microsoft's .NET framework, GB-PVR is a fully featured PVR, allowing users to schedule TV recordings and view and pause live TV. In additional to this PVR functionality it also acts as a media centre, enabling you to watch movies, listen to music and view pictures. GB-PVR supports specialist hardware decoders (including the Sigma XCard, Hauppauge PVR350 and Hauppauge MediaMVP), and includes handy features such as a TV guide and weather plug-in.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.gbpvr.com/
Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP.
Requires: Microsoft .NET v1.1 runtime, DX9.0b.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

Girder controls programs like WinAmp and Windows Media Player using infra-red and wireless remote controls so you can enjoy your digital library from your couch. While this feature and more is included with a number of other applications on this CD, Girder is perfect if you're after a simple, intuitive program that turns your PC into a lounge-room media player.

Licence: Shareware (30 days).
Online: http://www.girder.nl/
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: Remote control.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

While InterVideo's Home Theater boasts an almost identical feature-set to freeware software such as CTpvr, MythTV, GB-PVR and Freevo, the fact that the full-version will set you back US$99.95 leaves little reason to purchase this software unless it comes bundled with a TV card.

Licence: Demo.
Online: http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/HomeTheater_Profile.jsp
Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP.
Requires: Pentium 4 1.6GHz, 128MB RAM, video card supporting 800 x 600 in 256 colours, Windows-compatible sound card that supports 48KHz playback, DX8.1.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

iTele is a Mac OS X application that allows you to watch and record Digital TV (including HDTV) on your Mac. It currently defaults to MPlayer for Mac OS X to playback MPEG streams, however you are encouraged to use the alternate internal display code. Notable features include scheduled recording and channel scanning.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.itele.fr/
Operating system: Mac OS X.
Requires: Mac OS X 10.2.

Install instructions: N/A

		Mac OS X

Among MediaPortal's many features are the abilities to record, watch and timeshift live TV, get program information while watching live TV, schedule recording using an advanced TV guide, listen to music, record from radio stations, view pictures and any video that your PC has a codec for, and check the latest weather information. Coupled with a plethora of sorting options, this is certainly one of the most feature-rich programs on the CD.

Licence: GNU General Public Licence.
Online: http://mediaportal.sourceforge.net/
Operating system: Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: Pentium 4 1.6GHz, 128MB RAM, video card supporting 800 x 600 in 256 colours, Windows-compatible sound card that supports 48KHz playback.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

Multi-Median allows users to browse storage devices attached to their PC such as hard-drives, DVDs, digital camcorders/cameras and TVs in search of media files. These can then be stored in a media folder and viewed in full-screen mode. The interface is intuitive and elegant, however, it's not as feature rich as programs like MythTV and MediaPortal.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://imon.soundgraph.com/contents/e_204.html
Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: Pentium 4 1.6GHz, 128MB RAM, video card supporting 800 x 600 in 256 colours, Windows-compatible sound card that supports 48KHz playback.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

A highly customisable, menu driven application that allows you to launch external programs and browse collections of almost any type of media stored on your hard drive. There are numerous plug-ins available for MyHTPC, with the most useful enabling users to watch and record TV. Couple this with the fact that the interface is incredibly easy to use, and it's one of the best Windows-based HTPC interfaces on this CD.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://myhtpc.net
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: GDI+, MSXML 4, Windows Script 5.6.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

A homebrew PVR project for Linux that includes basic live TV functionality, support for multiple tuner cards/simultaneous recordings, RTJPEG video compression, complete automatic commercial skipping and picture-in-picture support. It also has the ability to display basic program information, edit/play video, rip DVDs and easily record shows using the Electronic Program Guide. As if that wasn't enough, users can even rely on MythTV to display weather information and newsfeeds.

Licence: GNU General Public Licence.
Online: http://www.mythtv.org/
Operating system: Linux.
Requires: Reasonably fast computer, xmltv, MySQL, FreeType, QT, LAME.

Install instructions: N/A

		Linux

Like InterVideo's Home Theater, SageTV is a shareware application. However, it's a much more attractive alternative and, conversely, may be worth your money. It's by far the easiest to install and setup, and boasts many handy functions including personalised TV scheduling and recording, commercial skipping, multiple tuner support, advanced search options and the ability to access files across a network. The only downside (and it's a biggie) is that the integrated program guide is only available to those in the US.

Licence: Shareware (15 days).
Online: http://www.sage.tv/
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: 600MHz CPU, 128MB RAM, TV tuner card, DX9.0b. Java Runtime Environment 1.4.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

ShowShifter allows you to watch, record and time-shift (pause) TV on your PC, providing the ultimate entertainment experience.

The latest version of ShowShifter is available in two flavours, ShowShifter 3 or ShowShifter DVB. Both come with a host of new features including full radio support and greater compatability with TV tuner cards. The radio module, accessible through the main page interface, lets you listen to any of the current 500+ radio stations available. Users can enjoy the plethora of functionality ShowShifter already offers through its TV module such as the ability to schedule favourite programmes, record, and time-shift live broadcasts.

ShowShifter DVB has all the features of ShowShifter version 3, plus support for a range of DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) cards.

Be sure to check out the special upgrade offer to ShowShifter 3 or ShowShifter DVB.

Licence: Shareware (30 days).
Online: http://www.showshifter.com/
Operating system: Windows 98/Me, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP.
Requires: 800MHz CPU, 64MB RAM, 300MB HDD space, DirectX-compatible sound card, DirectX9.0b, Windows Media Player 7.1.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows

Video Disk Recorder (VDR) is a digital satellite receiver program using Linux and DVB technologies. It can record MPEG-2 streams, as well as output the stream to TV. It also supports plugins for DVD, DivX, or MP3 playback and more.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://www.cadsoft.de/vdr/
Operating system: Linux.
Requires: 400MHz CPU, 128MB RAM, any graphics card.

Install instructions: N/A

		Linux

A Windows front-end for MythTV (also included on this CD). Expert users need only apply, as it's very difficult to install and setup.

Licence: Freeware.
Online: http://winmyth.sourceforge.net/
Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP.
Requires: A MythTV back-end running allowing remote hosts to use it, Microsoft .NET Framework, an MPEG-4 decoder, an MPEG-2 decoder.

Install instructions: N/A

		Windows