My Top Vista Media Center Add-ons

Recently, I got a great deal on a HP Slimline S3321P PC with Windows Vista Home Premium for the master bedroom that has renewed my interest in Windows Media Center. I have been using Media Center on and off since the early days, but have always gone back to the familiar and stable interface of TiVo for my primary DVR and media interface. But with the Vista version of Windows Media Center and the latest crop of add-on applications, I think Windows Media Center is here to stay. Here is a list of some of the Top Vista Media Center Add-ons….

My Movies 2
MCE movie management – a must have!

Daemon Tools
For Mounting DVD ISOs

MyNetflix
Plug-in for MCE which allows you use your Netflix subscription with a remote control and view watch now videos full screen with remote control

DVRMS Toolbox
Automatically remove Commercials from MCE Recordings

WebGuide 4
WebGuide allows you to remotely view live and recorded TV programs and to remotely schedule and manage your recorded television programs, music, pictures and videos on your Media Center. There is a version for Windows Home Server too

Transcode 360
Transcode 360 enables the playback of unsupported video over Xbox 360 and Media Center Extender devices

Mp3tag v2.40
Mp3tag is a powerful and yet easy-to-use tool to edit metadata of common audio formats that supports database lookups for selected files, allowing you to automatically gather proper tag information and album art for select files or CDs.

If I can convince myself that MCE is the platform of the future for the family, I can get a MCE Cable Card PC, get some extenders, and go the way of some other bloggers like Thomas Hawk and make MCE the centerpiece for all my media and rid myself of the Comcast DVR forever. It is going to take a lot to get that peanut remote for the TiVo HD out of my hand.