This guide will take you through the various options available for a home media center (also known as home theater personal computers or HTPC ). More and more people are switching to the cutting lifestyle. abandoning traditional TV networks for streaming services and alternative methods of watching live TV.

This guide should help you replace your outdated TV boxes, as well as expand the functionality of your TV — smart or otherwise!

Why do you need a home media center?

A good home media center is an extension of television but provides much more functionality. They can:

• Let you keep watching live TV.
• Provide access to various streaming services such as Netflix. or Amazon Prime Video
• Allow playback from external hard drives or networked computers.
• In some cases, allow you to play computer games from the couch!
• Allow access to social networks such as Instagram and Facebook.
• Allow playback of DVD, CD and Blu-ray discs.

Exactly how much of the above features you end up with depends on how much you’re willing to spend, and what level of customization complexity you’re willing to deal with. Whatever your budget or tolerance for working with things, there are options.

What you need

Before getting into the details of the options, it’s worth considering what you really need in a media center. Do you basically just want to watch Netflix, TV and sometimes DVDs? Have you bought an Ultra HD Blu-ray scam? Are you looking for the latest 4K HDR for the sharpest picture possible?

Are you already using Apple products and want to keep your technology in the same room? Are you itching to create something completely new from scratch? The answer to each of these questions may help you choose one of the following options:

• Smart TV: TV has gotten a lot smarter since media serving machines came along, and many of them provide the basics of HTPC in one box. If you’re just looking for a good picture and access on-demand services like Netflix, then this is the option for you.
• Wireless multimedia device. They come in many forms, but the most common are the Roku Box/Dongle, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Chromecast. All of these options work with all major streaming services as well as the Plex media server. In almost all cases, either one will meet your needs for less money than a dedicated media center. Since most of these devices now support 4K, it’s worth checking out these services before you start building an HTPC to see if you can save some money!
• Apple TV: Apple TV is a standalone device that connects to an already purchased TV via HDMI and connects to Apple’s streaming services through your home network. There are alternatives to Apple TV such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick that provide a similar service. If you’re an Apple lover through and through, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better solution than the Apple TV for your needs.
• Media Center Extender. While these devices are much rarer these days, they bridge the gap between your PC and your pre-existing TV. This allows you to play media from your computer, such as downloaded videos and music. While standalone solutions have all but disappeared, Xbox One and PS4 can provide the same services.
• Create a custom HTPC: this option is the most flexible and the most complex. By building a personal computer for your media needs, you can customize it exactly the way you like it, and even add your game library to your living room. This is the most flexible way in terms of budget, as modern lower range PCs are more than capable of HD playback. The more you’re willing to spend, the more functionality expands with the ability to integrate 4K HDR into your setup. There are also many options in terms of built-in software to give you a truly personalized experience.
• Repurposing an old computer. Finally, reusing an old computer can be the perfect way to remove an old workhorse and put it to good use. With a few modifications, most older computers will be able to provide many of the features of a modern media center, and unless you have a huge 4K TV to hook up, quality shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Of course, it all depends on the characteristics of your old car.

Apple TV

Apple TV has evolved significantly since its introduction in 2007. What started out as a box to sync files between your computer and TV has grown into a fully featured multimedia system.

The Apple TV is fully integrated with all other Apple products, although it will also play well with a PC for media sharing via iTunes. HomeKit Users can also control his smart home with his Apple TV, and with the new release of Apple TV 4K, he’s capable of delivering the highest quality media with minimal effort.

The benefit of this setup for Apple users is clear; all your iTunes purchases are available from the cloud, with local storage available also in case of internet outages. All your Apple devices are also compatible, making it easy to transfer media between your TV, iPhone, and iPad.

With the addition of channels, you can watch live TV using the pay-per-view approach as needed. This bridges the gap between on-demand services and live television, which many people consider on-demand to be non-existent.

Apple TV is only enough to play DVD or Blu-ray discs. Since most media is currently purchased on demand or purchased digitally, this may not be an issue for you, but if you already have a large collection of physical media, this may not help you.

Plex users can also access their library using the Plex app available on the App Store, though Plex doesn’t yet support full 4K HDR functionality. Recently, Apple has also made inroads into the realm of gaming with many games available to play on the device, including Minecraft. although these games are exclusive App Store apps or game updates available for Apple handheld devices.

If you’re already familiar with Kodi, you’ll be pleased to know that it can be used with an Apple TV. as well as. We’ll cover both Kodi and Plex later in this guide.