While the setup and customization features aren't as convenient as Kodi's, being that you have to adjust the settings in a separate interface, the design is already aesthetically appealing out of the box. The sleek and customizable interface makes it easy to play and record music, television, video files and even songs from online radio stations.
MediaPortal is a popular open source media center software that offers everything you'd expect from a good WMC replacement and more. Like many of its competitors, Emby can be used to quickly stream content from your media library onto multiple devices on your network, and with support for Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and re-encoding capabilities the software ensures that every video or audio file can be accessed and played on any device.
In addition to Chromecast, Emby also supports other TV apps and services, including Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. With an awesome interface that shares similarities with Plex, support for live TV streaming services, comprehensive media management features, automated mobile/cloud syncing, built-in parental controls, and even support for Chromecast, Emby is perhaps the emerging underdog in the competition.Īs an added perk, Emby can also re-encode files and convert them into formats that are compatible with the device you're using to access the media, provided your PC has sufficient operating resources. Emby comparison to learn more about which one might be better for your needs and preferences. If you're still curious about the differences between the top 3 WMC replacements, check out our thorough Kodi vs. With that said, if we had to pick an editor's favorite it would probably be a combination of and Kodi, depending on what you're trying to accomplish. Thus, even though has more online and remote streaming capabilities, we listed Kodi (XBMC) at the top spot because it is the most similar to the old Windows Media Center.which was not cloud-based. The primary difference between and Kodi is that streams media from an online server, which provides web access to your local media library, your friend's media libraries, and other online channels and services, whereas Kodi is mainly used to manage local media libraries on a specific device.
While offers the added benefit of being a cloud-based service (allowing remote playback across all devices anywhere you can connect to the web), it can also be used locally in Windows 10 as a fully capable alternative to the now discontinued Windows Media Center. is an online media streaming service that lets you stream content from your local media library and the media libraries of your friends, as well as content from online channels and services like Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, etc., to any device via the internet. That is, unless you'd prefer a cloud-based service that can stream and manage a media library over the web from any device, in which case you might want to keep reading. If you're in search of a software that can do everything WMC could do and more on a Windows 10 device, there's really no need to look further than Kodi/XMBC. Kodi can also run on most smart TVs, and even on the first generation Apple TV. Linux fans will be happy to know that there's even a variant of Linux that was built specifically for running Kodi - it's called OpenElec.
In addition to running in Windows 10, Kodi also supports Intel and ARM processors and several versions of Mac OS X and Linux. It is also compatible with most third-party TV tuners and can therefore be used as a DVR with a variety of streaming services. The latest version of Kodi can play almost any media file, and can be customized extensively through the use of a library of skins, plugins, and extensions. The software began as a hack to get around the limited confines of the original Xbox, and has since morphed to support virtually any platform or file format. The old Xbox Media Center (XBMC), which has recently been renamed Kodi, is undoubtedly the most popular and feature-rich alternative to WMC. With that said, there's no need to fret about the discontinuance of WMC in Windows 10, because below we'll introduce you to 5 perfectly suitable alternatives: Indeed, the popularity of WMC had been on a steady decline in the past 5 years, as streaming services, game consoles, and cloud-based alternatives have crowded the home entertainment space with options that are more convenient and capable than Microsoft's now-discontinued Windows Media Center. Back in May, Microsoft's Gabriel Aul confirmed via Tweet that Windows Media Center would not be a part of Windows 10 due to “decreased usage.”
While some Windows Media Center enthusiasts were still waiting for an update to the archaic WMC ever since its development ceased back in 2009, it has since become apparent that such an update will never arrive.