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Once you have connected your HTPC Media Center to TV you might feel that it is cumbersome to use from the 10-foot distance. Media Center Software feels awkward, the font size is too small, mouse does not work well or your PC is simply too slow in playing the videos smoothly. The following tips can enhance your media experience with your HTPC Media Center.
1. Arrange your HTPC desktop as application launch pad
2. Make the most of your existing devices
3. Choose the best media remote for your needs
4. Store media files to a network hard drive
5. Use Google Reader
6. Use cable organizers
7. Use media manager such as iTunes
8. Adjust font size to make text readable on the couch
9. Setup the wireless network
10. Use iPod Touch to enrich the media experience
1. Arrange your desktop as application launch pad
Top 10 media center software such as FrontRow or XBMC is often excellent in one or two areas, but do not completely satisfy to control all the media. While you want occasionally to enjoy movies, most things you do is listening to music, browsing the web or streaming video clips. Particularly, the combination of web browsing while listening to the music has not been well produced in most of the media centers I have tried in the past.
To my mind, while media center is ok for watching movies, it cannot be the heart of your digital living room. Your desktop can. The trick is to carefully select the few best software that you use for your media and organize the icons to your desktop for easier and quicker access.
Here are some software I find useful for various media:
Music and Internet Radio: iTunes
Photos: Picasa or iPhoto
Videos: FrontRow, iTunes, VLC or Boxee
Internet: Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox
Stay in Touch: Skype or Social Media (Facebook, Twitter etc.)
2. Make the most of your existing devices
Often you do not invest too much to hardware when starting with your digital living room. You already might have a laptop which is sufficient to get started enhancing your media experience. Even, if your computer performance is not the greatest choosing efficient codes can greatly improve your video playback performance. E.g. for HD video in Windows environment, CoreAVC codec can make miracles.
3. Choose the best media remote for your needs
If you use wireless mouse, to ensure maximum range, it is a good idea to get a small usb hub, and mount that with two sided tape under your tv. This will also give you couple of extra usb slots for e.g. usb mobile phone charger if you need to quickly charge your mobile phone.
There are times when you need to use remote (e.g. FrontRow). A good option to remote control is also iPhone or iPod Touch with Rowmote and other similar applications. Of course, you still need a remote control as backup, either apple’s own remote control or e.g. Logitech Harmony Remote Controls are very good.
4. Store media files to a network hard drive
It might be difficult to use network drive with software like iTunes or Frontrow. The trick is to create shortcuts (aliases in Mac) to direct the iTunes or FrontRow with alias to the videos, music or photos on the network hard drive.
5. Use Google Reader
Google Reader is an excellent way to organize your news to one place. It allows you to read news on multiple devices like your laptop, mobile phone or iPod Touch. Most news sites offers a RSS link that you can copy to Google Reader to get started.
6. Use cable organizers
Use cable organizers or surge protectors to hide your cables and plugs. This a key to make your living room more cosy environment.
7. Use media manager such as iTunes
Let iTunes or other music management software to automatically organize your music collection so that you stay consistent in a way how you store files to your music library. Same recommendation goes to organizing your photos with Google Picasa or iPhoto.
8. Adjust font size to make text readable on the couch
Use text zoom option in the internet browser. If possible program a button or gesture into your mouse so that you can easily change the font size while browsing.
9. Setup the wireless network
Wireless network is essential in today’s living rooms, but you should not ignore the cable connection to your main computer and network hard drive. Wireless devices are not fast enough for transferring high bandwidth video over your home network. To maximize the transfer speed, you should choose a gigabit router which start to be very affordable nowadays.
10. Use iPod Touch to enrich the media experience
iPhone/iPod Touch or similar devices are excellent addition to complete your digital media experience. For example while your wife or children are watching their favorite shows from the tv, you can browse your daily news comfortable on sofa. This has a social benefit as well as you do not lock your self to a different room just to read the news. You can also use iPod Touch or iPhone as a remote control for your media center.
Hopefully, these 10 tips have given you some new ideas how to get most out of your HTPC. If these tips were not enough continue reading our popular list of 101 media center tips.
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