Windows Media Center vs Kodi

Struggling to choose between Windows Media Center and Kodi? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Windows Media Center is a Media & Entertainment solution with tags like media-player, video-playback, music-playback, photo-viewer, dvr, program-guide.

It boasts features such as TV tuner functionality, DVR capabilities, DVD and CD playback, Photo viewing, Music library, Media streaming, Remote control integration and pros including Intuitive interface, Seamless Windows integration, DVR functionality, Media streaming capabilities.

On the other hand, Kodi is a Video & Movies product tagged with opensource, media-center, video-player, music-player, podcast-player, local-storage, internet-streaming, customizable-interface, wide-format-support.

Its standout features include Media library for audio, video and photos, Supports a wide range of media formats, Add-ons for streaming services and online content, Customizable interface with different skins, Remote control app for mobile devices, Live TV with DVR capabilities (with add-on), and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Highly customizable, Great community support, Plays almost any media format, Available for multiple platforms.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center is a digital media player and recorder developed by Microsoft. It allows users to play and view videos, music, pictures, and recorded TV on Windows PCs. Features include a program guide, DVR, DVD playback, and media streaming.

Categories:
media-player video-playback music-playback photo-viewer dvr program-guide

Windows Media Center Features

  1. TV tuner functionality
  2. DVR capabilities
  3. DVD and CD playback
  4. Photo viewing
  5. Music library
  6. Media streaming
  7. Remote control integration

Pricing

  • One-time purchase

Pros

Intuitive interface

Seamless Windows integration

DVR functionality

Media streaming capabilities

Cons

No longer supported by Microsoft

Limited to Windows PCs

Requires specific hardware

Steep learning curve


Kodi

Kodi

Kodi is an open-source media center application that allows users to play videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files from local storage or the internet. It provides a customizable interface and supports a wide range of formats.

Categories:
opensource media-center video-player music-player podcast-player local-storage internet-streaming customizable-interface wide-format-support

Kodi Features

  1. Media library for audio, video and photos
  2. Supports a wide range of media formats
  3. Add-ons for streaming services and online content
  4. Customizable interface with different skins
  5. Remote control app for mobile devices
  6. Live TV with DVR capabilities (with add-on)

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Highly customizable

Great community support

Plays almost any media format

Available for multiple platforms

Cons

Can be difficult to set up

Some add-ons have broken over time

Some stability issues

Not as user friendly as commercial media centers