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

Freevo

MythTV

MMS

LinuxMCE

• See http://plutohome.com/support/index.php?section=mainDownload&package=0 to have an overview of every package installed by LinuxMCEFootNote(From time to time, we'll use the name '''Pluto''' referring to the GPL part of Pluto which has be entirely copied by LinuxMCE project). 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.

GeeXboX

Notes

• non [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOSS FLOSS] software have been discarded:

  • SageTV
• GeeXboX teams up with freevo for LiveCD/distro.
• LinuxMCE is more than just a Media Center. It can manage your whole house. 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 ).
• My Media System (mms) also have a kind of plug in approach. It wrappes 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.

Useful external links

• [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_center WikiPedia]

• [http://www.homemedia.fr/articles-tests-guides/65-6-logiciels-Media-center-testes-lequel-choisir-0.html Media Center test] (french)

• [http://wattazoum.fr/spip.php?article56 A spec definition of a Media Center]