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One reason we like XBMC so much is because it offers an almost endless array of functionality. Not by default, mind you, but through the use of third-party plugins, which is common to a lot of open-source projects. In this case, there are plugins available that will add streaming NBA content to the mix, stream and download content from TMZ.com, add radio stations, launch desktop applications (essential for getting Hulu to work, which we cover next), integrate Flickr, and a whole lot more. And thanks to an active community of XBMC users, new ones are being added all the time.
Manual Method
The latest release of XBMC supports five different categories of plugins: Music, Pictures, Programs, Video, and Weather. These are all located in XBMC's plugins directory, but to find them, you first need to make sure you're able to view hidden files and folders.
Now that you can view hidden system files, navigate to C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\plugins. You should see all five categories mentioned above. When you download a plugin, it will probably come in a ZIP archive. The first step to installing it is to extract the contents to the appropriate folder in the plugins directory. For example, if you're installing a video plugin, like VideoMonkey, you extract the contents to C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\plugins\Video.
All installed, right? Not just yet--we still need to configure XBMC to integrate the plugin into its menu. Open up XBMC and navigate to Videos (or whichever category plugin you're trying to install). At this point, you might be tempted to click on 'Video plugins,' but that folder's for plugins that are already installed. Instead, click on Add Source>Browse and scroll down to where it says Video plugins. Inside this folder you should see all the plugins that are in the above directory, including the one you just moved. Click on the one you're trying to install and click Ok (and then one more time on the next menu). That's it! You'll now find the plugin by navigating to Videos>Video Plugins from within XBMC's interface.
Automatic Install
In addition to the manual method of installing plugins, you can also use XBMC's built-in SVN Repo Installer or the third party XBMC Zone Installer. The latter is pretty popular in the development community and there are some plugins that require it, so it's a pretty good idea to have this on hand.
To start with, we need to resort back to the manual method to install XBMC Zone Installer. Grab the plugin here and extra the contents to C:\users\[USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\plugins\programs.
There's really nothing more you need to do, at least in terms of configuring the installers to work with XBMC. You'll find them both by opening up XMBC and navigating to Programs>Program Plugins.
XBMC is a bit slicker than SVN because everything is pretty much clearly labeled. Click on XMBC Zone Installer, for example, and you'll be presented with three categories: Latest Add-ons, Plugins, and Scripts. Each of these contains different available third-party goodies, and sometimes they'll be broken down into even more categories, like music, movies, and so forth. Navigate through the menus to see what's available, and to install one of the plugins, just click it and follow the prompts.
The SVN Installer works in exactly the same way. Just click through the menus, wait for the directories to be loaded (like in the pic above), and click on a plugin to install it. Be sure to check the Skins folder if you want to change up the look of XBMC!
Plugin Resources
Plugins for XBMC are scattered all over the net, but there are a handful of go-to sites you should keep in your bookmarks. These include:
Comments are closed on this article
NeilWechsler
February 23, 2011 at 8:48am
This seems to look good. I am curious how is it handling .mkv, .mp4, .ogg and other, not so common, file extensions. Does it run faster than a standard Windows 7? If it does I would definitely install it on my netbook, which I use only for playing media when I am on the move or when I am too lazy to get out the bed.
Welles1941
January 29, 2010 at 5:25pm
That version of FFmpeg is really old. Why not grab a newer one from somewhere like http://ffmpeg.arrozcru.org/autobuilds/? 64-bit Windows builds are also available from there now.
Also, this line seems to create images with a smaller file size and higher quality:
for /r %i in (*.avi) do ffmpeg -i "%i" -ss 5 -f mjpeg -sameq -vframes 1 "%~dpni.tbn"
Trendecide
January 29, 2010 at 3:25pm
Have to agree a HTPC running win7 is superior to XBMC, which is really only good for (are you ready for the surprise) the xbox. As I don't favor the serious noise of the original xbox I'd just assume have a win7 HTPC. Maybe get it to run on a 360 and I might consider it.
Yurn
December 12, 2010 at 10:01pm
An HTPC running XBMC is superior to running Media Center (or whatever they call it now) on HTPC simply because XBMC folk add funtionality which Media Center will NEVER have. Including playing certain exotic file types, or simply playing a rar file (which a lot of content come packed in). Even setting up Media Center to actually scrape the correct information is a hassle in itself because you can't assign a name to Pee-Wee folder as title: Pee-Wee Goe to Town.... you need to actually rename the folder/files etc. But with XBMC you just make an NFO file which can be updated however you choose and it's so intuitive, you can change all sorts of detail to the way YOU want it to be.
JohnP
January 29, 2010 at 3:12pm
I run windows 7 on my HTPC and what am I missing here by not running XBMC? I can do all web sites, so I am left with, what, changing skins?
lazeyjoe
January 29, 2010 at 2:25pm
You guys have got to try Mediaportal. It supports TV recording as well as having a better interface for movies and music.
skhills
January 29, 2010 at 9:12am
If only it supported TV recording. That's the deal breaker for me. Media center is far from perfect, but the only time I need to switch apps on our HTPC to watch anything is for Hulu. I realize most people just pay the man for DVR, so it's probably just me.
NAYRhyno
February 01, 2010 at 4:41am
A nice way to run the HULU desktop app from within WMC: http://www.secondrun.tv/default.asp?action=drawpage&pageid=77
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