Air Media Server is the server application required in order to use Air Media Center for iOS. Air Media Center is a multi-platform mobile media center that lets you effortlessly stream your music, videos and photos from your Mac or PC to your mobile device. Air Media Server automatically transcodes your media collection on demand when necessary.
So you want to bring the whole home theater experience to your desktop, eh? There are quite a few options to choose from in the way of media centers, but the average entry-level entertainment hub just won’t cut it – you’re looking for a highly customizable, feature-rich solution to all your video streaming needs. Well search no longer – here are a few of the most popular free media center apps available for your Mac.
XBMC Media Center
I’ve been a die-hard XBMC user since the glorious days of original Xbox modding – a simpler time before media center apps were a dime a dozen, and Microsoft was still relatively new to the world of console gaming. Now fast-forward to nearly a decade later and XBMC Media Center is among the most prestigious, advanced and elegant solutions to providing a high-quality entertainment center experience. There’s even an entire Xbmc OS based on Canonical’s Ubuntu – XBMCbuntu, but we’ll save that for another time.
There is a seemingly endless array of plugins and scripts for this behemoth of a media center, ranging from content aggregators like Navi-X to full-fledged TV simulation scripts like PsuedoTV. Scripts are essentially mini apps, (written in the Python scripting language) which run exclusively on XBMC. Plugins are also written in Python but are much simpler and lighter on resources; rather than using their own interface, they present themselves as a basic XBMC menu.
Aside from the massive selection of add-ons, Xbmc is highly themable and skins are effortlessly downloaded and installed through the app itself. Unlike a lot of media center apps – or even open source programs in general – Xbmc has a huge assortment of beautiful and practical themes that completely morph every aspect of the UI and give it a whole new feel.
There’s also a free remote app available for Android devices, developed by the official XBMC team. With XBMC Remote, the entire media center can be controlled via your Android handset or tablet over WiFi. I’ve had some trouble getting it to work on my ancient Xbox but it’s always worked flawlessly on my MacBook, although a remote isn’t very useful with such a small display.
XBMC is a great platform for just about everyone. From the computer-illiterate folks to the most tech-savvy geeks, this media center will cater to all your multimedia needs.
You can download the most recent version at XBMC.org
Plex
Like nearly all open source media centers, Plex is based on XBMC. To be completely honest, I was pretty disappointed with this one. From my experience it should be called something along the lines of “YouTube Media Player”, considering its main function but we’ll get to that in a bit.
Of all the media centers I’ve tinkered with, Plex wins the award for being the most bland and least user friendly. Best instagram app mac os x 2017 free. The default theme is a stripped down version of XBMC’s Mediastream – and by stripped down, I mean they took the same theme and just removed the background images and anything else that would make it look appealing.
Plex gives the impression that the developers know just enough about coding to change around a couple minor things and pass it off as something different than XBMC. It’s different all right – different in the sense that your cursor can’t reach the bottom quarter of the screen and you’re forced to use the keyboard to navigate most menus. Different in the sense that the only real feature is the search bar – complete with next-generation, mind blowing features such as searching YouTube and… Oh wait – that’s all it does. I suppose it can search your library as well, if you could figure out how to import any media, that is.
At this point, those of you who know (and love?) Plex are probably thinking I’m just some idiot who didn’t take the time to figure out how it actually works – and you’re partially correct. How user-friendly the app is plays a key role in my evaluation, and Plex was definitely lacking in that area.
To populate the media library, you have to download some additional software: Plex Media Server. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems kind of redundant to stream media from your desktop, to your desktop. It just seems to me that there are some unnecessary steps in there that could have been easily avoided.
For the most part, Plex isn’t all that great. But when you take a few hours to read the documentation and get the media server up and running, it’s almost up to par with the early versions of XBMC or Boxee. The most accurate description of this app would be a less functional, bug-ridden clone of XBMC.
You can get the latest version here.
Boxee
Boxee is also based on XBMC, but is proprietary software originally developed for the Boxee Box by D-Link. I haven’t actually got my hands on one of the devices, but luckily there is a desktop client as well.
Boxee feels a lot like XBMC but with more bells and whistles as well as a few extra features. This app does have a built in Web browser, but I’ve found it to be somewhat of a waste of time with most Web 2.0 based sites. It’s just a bare-bones browser, and the Boxee team doesn’t even encourage use of it; it’s more or less “something to fall back on,” as they put it.
Right – this is about the media center, not the next bleeding-edge Web browser. One thing that I really liked about Boxee was its method of streaming video. If you have a DSL or lower-bandwidth cable connection, HD streams won’t do so well with XBMC. Boxee, however, buffers until it knows you’ll be able to enjoy the movie without interruption – which might take a while in some cases, but at least you can enjoy the movie without worrying about random buffering every 10 minutes.
Like XBMC, Boxee also has “scripts,” but they’re referred to as Apps on this platform. Some of the most useful include Netflix, YouTube and Navi-X Remix. Netflix support is a big plus for Boxee, considering the shockingly impractical Web-based client Netflix itself provides. YouTube is pretty self-explanatory, and Navi-X Remix – the XBMC version’s more attractive cousin – is probably one of my favorite Boxee apps. With Remix, you can search nearly every video streaming site on the Web, as well as browse the Navi Xtreme Media Portal which has a ridiculous amount of user-submitted content.
Another great feature of Boxee is its seamless integration with social networks. On the left panel of the home screen is a stream populated by uploaded media from your Facebook, Twitter and YouTube newsfeeds – this app truly makes for a complete social-entertainment experience.
Development on the Boxee desktop client appears to have ceased but the most recent version still works great, and is available for download at MacUpdate.
In the end, each platform has its pros and cons, with the exception of Plex – that one’s mostly cons. Boxee provides a more elegant, social experience while XBMC provides more freedom and community support. XBMC is much more frequently updated than Boxee, but both are pretty solid platforms and it’s really all about personal preference.
Which one do you prefer? You can let us know by leaving a comment in the box below.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The commission help keep the rest of my content free, so thank you!
Kodi has been around for more than a decade now. It has been known to be one of the best reliable media centers for millions of households. The software is available to almost all platforms including but not limited to Kodi for Android, Kodi for iOS, and Kodi for Windows PC.
How to Install Kodi
Once you’ve downloaded the app from the button above, follow the steps below to install.
Discover more about Kodi in this site. We also provide articles like Kodi build, Kodi no limits, and guides on how to update Kodi.
Kodi Features
Webpage screenshot app mac. If you think you already know about all the free multimedia software on the internet but not heard about Kodi, then you are missing something big. But since you are here, let us tell you all you need to know about the app and how you can take advantage of all its features.
Kodi Runs on Everything
Kodi is cross-platform compatible. It can run on Android, Windows PC or laptop, Windows Phone, Kodi for Roku, iPhone, iPad, Kodi for Mac devices, Raspberry Pi, and Kodi for Linux based distributions.
Basically, if you own any device which can play videos, there is a very good chance that you can download the app on it.
Free Mac Apps DownloadsAwesome Add-ons
There are some Kodi awesome add-ons to choose from. These add-ons can make the software perform more tasks and even customize the overall look and feel.
There are some Kodi awesome add-ons to choose from. These add-ons can make the software perform more tasks and even customize the overall look and feel.
Customize How you Like
Speaking of customization, you can organize all your media files according to its genre, alphabetical order, date of release, and even popularity. This makes using the software much easier than most multimedia centers available online.
We are very confident that you will love Kodi tv for sure.
It’s Open Source
The open-source community makes this software free for all to download and use. And with its popularity, many developers are working closely behind this project.
Also, this software receives constant updates that fix present bugs or add more features and functionalities within its core.
Watch Anything & Everything
Kodi can connect to internet servers and websites to stream their content to your device. While this is possible within the software, some restrictions must still be in effect. Many people like to use Kodi best VPNs.
The XBMC Foundation does not allow media or any content piracy. So user’s discretion is advised.
Play Any Type of Video
It can play most video formats especially those on H.264. The H.265 has support, but that would require hardware that can render that type of media.
Aside from videos, the app can also run music with some of the popular formats such as OGG, MP3, and AAC.
Is Kodi Legal?
Kodi in its very core and basic form is legal. The fact that this open-source software is still here and being supported by a huge community says a lot about its integrity. It is as legitimate as any web browser that you know and currently using.
The notion that the app is illegal because it is being used as a platform to deliver pirated content is wildly being misinterpreted. As mentioned earlier, Kodi comes as a software and as a multimedia box. You are the one to decide to put and play any media content on this software as much as you like.
But if a user decides to distribute his personal collection of copyrighted videos and music through the app, then that turns it into a different story. Like what we have said, the appis as legal as any web browser. That means as long as you use your web browser to visit legal sites like Netflix to watch TV shows, then that is legal. But you can also use your web browser to stream pirated videos, and that puts you in control of your decision.
So to the question, if the app is legal, the answer is a resounding “Yes.” It only becomes a tool for piracy depending on the user’s actions. If you want the app as a legal platform, put legal media content in it. Or use your personal media collection in it and never distribute it for other purposes other than private consumption.
Is Kodi Safe?
Kodi is safe in its original form. Like any other software created to help and improve the lives of its users, the Kodi software is to provide entertainment in its simplest factor with simple controls.
Mac Media Player Download
The software only becomes unsafe when someone modifies it and turns its purpose into a different and ill-intent focus. There are some people that take advantage of the popularity of Kodi and exploit it for their own gain.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that you get the app from a legit source like from this website. If you download it from shady sites, you could end up with a malware-infested smartphone or something similar to that.
Enjoy Kodi on different streaming devices. You can also install Kodi on Chromecast, Firestick, and Roku.
What Can Kodi Do?
How to code a multitasking app for mac. Kodi had evolved a lot from when it was just a part of an Xbox device’s media manager back in 2002. It has turned into a simple media center into a full-fledged all-around media station.
To give you a better view of how much you can do on a Kodi environment, we have listed some of its most popular usages. See if some of these uses and functionalities fit your needs.
Check out for more articles about Kodi. We also prepare guides on installing Covenant Kodi, Fusion Kodi, and Exodus Kodi.
FAQWhat is Kodi?Kodi is open-source software that allows you to access various content like videos and music. Simply put, it is a media player. You can run this software on any device like your TV, laptop, phone, tablet, and others and on any OS like Android, iOS, or Windows.How to Download the appVisit Kodivedia and click on the download link. The file will instantly save into your device.Is the app safe? Kodi is safe in its original form. Like any other software created to help and improve the lives of its users, the software is to provide entertainment in its simplest factor with simple controls.Mac Apps DownloadIs the app legal? Kodi in its very core and basic form is legal. The fact that this open-source software is still here and being supported by a huge community says a lot about its integrity. It is as legitimate as any web browser that you know and currently using.How to install the app-Once the download finishes, go to the default download folder or in whichever folder you saved the file and look for the Kodi installer-Click on the file to launch the installation welcome page -On the Welcome page, click “Next.” Doing this brings you to the setup. -Click “Agree” to agree with the terms and licenses. -Choose the folder that you want Kodi to install, or just let it save in your Windows default Program Files folder. -Your installation proceeds and once done, you will be prompted to click “Finish;” just do so. -You may now start using the app.Can the app Stream Live TV?Yes, Kodi has a personal video recorder function that allows you to record and store live content. However, to get that working, you must connect the PVR to a backend TV server so you can stream live television and record content over the Internet. The app runs on many PVR backends, so you can choose the right one for the OS of your device.Can the app Replace Cable?Yes. Kodi has several features that can replace your cable box. It can stream and record live TV, and it can house the content you’ve downloaded. Just remember, though, that it does not have an on-demand content outside the box, so if it is your concern, then the app might not be the best solution.How to Setup the appKodi comes with a Wiki that provides you with a step-by-step guide on how to use it. One significant upside of the app is that it is designed for living-room use, so you can also set up your remote control to work with it. You must link the remote control to the app for this to work.
Kodi is developed by good people with the intention to bring the best user experience for all its users. It was never intended to cause harm, do illegal stuff, or make the lives of other people bad. We can prevent that from happening by using the Kodi ecosystem responsibly. It is us, the users that define what a Kodi is as a tool. So if you decide to make the app as your all-around entertainment station, make sure to only use it as intended and designed.
Media Center Mac App Installer
So what do you think about Kodi? Do you think this is the entertainment center that you have been looking for? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section. We would be happy to learn what you guys think.
Media Center Mac App Download
If you have other questions, you may ask it by leaving your messages in the comment section. We will try the soonest possible to answer all your queries. We will be more than happy to assist you in guiding your way to using Kodi in your personal lives or your homes.
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