The majority of Linux distributions come supplied with a wide range of software that lets individuals use their PC to watch movies and television programs, listen to a music collection, and view photos. However, if you are looking for a more harmonious approach, turning your Linux box into a state of the art media center with an integrated easy-to-use interface, media center software will be just the ticket.

In the media center department, Linux has a fairly narrow range to choose from. Fortunately, the software featured in this article ticks all the boxes. We have also chosen to include some distributions which are dedicated media centers, as they significantly simplify the installation process. At the heart of each of these distributions is XMBC.

One media center application that is not included in this article but is worthy of a mention is Boxee. Whilst this application has won many plaudits, it is unfortunately no longer being supported for computers. Instead, the developers of Boxee believe that the future lies with connected televisions and secondary devices.

To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of 6 impressive free Linux media centers. Hopefully, there will be something of interest here for anyone who wants to turn their Linux computer into a multimedia hub.

Now, let’s explore the 6 media centers at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, a screenshot, together with links to relevant resources and reviews.

Media Centers Kodi Award-winning, free and open source digital media hub and HTPC MythTV Home Theatre convergence box Freevo Manage your entire digital media collection XBMCbuntu XBMC software bundled with an embedded operating-system OpenELEC Living room PC for everyone GeeXboX Media center centric Linux distribution for embedded devices and desktop computers

Return to our complete collection of recommended free and open source software including our latest additions.

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