What is Windows Media Center?
Windows Media Center is a media player application developed by Microsoft for Windows XP Media Center Edition and later Windows client operating systems. It was first introduced in 2002.
Media Center provides an integrated entertainment experience on the PC by combining TV viewing, video recording, DVD playback, photo viewing and music playback functions into a unified interface. Key features include:
- Live and recorded TV viewing with an interactive program guide, DVR functionality and Media Center Extenders support.
- Support for watching, recording and streaming video content.
- Music and audio CD playback and rip music to local libraries.
- Photo viewing, slideshows and support for multiple photo services.
- DVD and video file playback with DVD menu support.
- Gaming via integration with Microsoft Xbox.
Media Center also offers plugins and addons to expand functionality such as online content streaming, Blu-Ray playback, YouTube streaming, weather forecasts and more. Skins allow users to customize the look and feel.
Over the years, Media Center gained adoption as an easy to use home theater PC software, though it faced competition from alternative media center applications and streaming devices. Support was discontinued in Windows 10, however it still remains popular for some home theater PC enthusiasts.
Kodi, Infuse, Plex, Emby, Universal Media Server, OSMC, MediaPortal, MiniDLNA, Serviio, PS3 Media Server, JRiver Media Center, OpenELEC are some alternatives to Windows Media Center.