Windows Media Center vs Universal Media Server

Struggling to choose between Windows Media Center and Universal Media Server? 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, Universal Media Server is a Video & Movies product tagged with media-server, video-streaming, audio-streaming, image-streaming, transcoding, dlna.

Its standout features include Streams video, audio and images to various devices, Supports a wide range of media formats, Transcodes media on the fly, DLNA/UPnP media server, Web UI for remote control and configuration, Supports subtitles, Live TV streaming, Chromecast support, AirPlay support, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux), Lightweight and easy to set up, Supports many devices and formats, Active development and community support.

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


Universal Media Server

Universal Media Server

Universal Media Server is a free open source media server that allows you to stream video, audio and images to devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles, mobile devices and media players. It supports a wide range of media formats and allows transcoding on the fly.

Categories:
media-server video-streaming audio-streaming image-streaming transcoding dlna

Universal Media Server Features

  1. Streams video, audio and images to various devices
  2. Supports a wide range of media formats
  3. Transcodes media on the fly
  4. DLNA/UPnP media server
  5. Web UI for remote control and configuration
  6. Supports subtitles
  7. Live TV streaming
  8. Chromecast support
  9. AirPlay support

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Lightweight and easy to set up

Supports many devices and formats

Active development and community support

Cons

Lacks some advanced configuration options

Not all formats work perfectly

No mobile apps

Some stability issues