gistfile1.rst

XBMC

http://xbmc.org/

• Media frontend
• Amazing amount of plugins for tons of various stuff
  • Advanced Launcher, http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=85724
  • Trakt.tv, http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=98582
  • PseudoTV, http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=90738
  • Cinema Experience, http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=87563
• Great looking skins
  • reFocus, http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=75867
  • Fusion, http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=99517
  • Aeon Nox, http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=89151
  • Metropolis, http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=99317

OpenELEC

http://openelec.tv/

• Super tiny Linux distro for an appliance like XBMC

Usenet

Good starter thread with lots of info: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3409898

• Provider
  • http://www.supernews.com/super-special/
  • Great price point, unlimited transfer, SSL
• Indexer
  • http://wiki.sabnzbd.org/nzb-sources
  • A lot of these are great, I use nzbs.org and nzbmatrix personally
• Reader
  • http://sabnzbd.org/
  • The definitive usenet reader these days, nothing else really comes close

Automated Content Acquisition

• TV: Sick Beard
  • http://sickbeard.com/
  • Watches for and downloads all your latest TV episodes
  • Organizes and populates metadata
  • Renames files and gets related media
• Movies: Couchpotato
  • http://couchpota.to/
  • Simple interface
  • Ability to specify quality to get the desired releases
  • Renames files, grabs trailers and other metadata

Frontend Computers

• Raspberry Pi: http://www.raspberrypi.org/
  • Can run OpenELEC and stream 1080p
• Zotac all-in-ones: http://www.zotacusa.com/products/mini-pcs?assembly_configuration=31
• Roll-your-own: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=940972
  • That thread breaks down building your own HTPC, if you want to go this route let me know and I'll give lots more info