Kodi

The opensource software known as Kodi used to be called XBMC, which stood for Xbox Media Center, and it has often been praised for its "High-Definition Hub." You have access to all types of media with this software. Kodi has become known as the multimedia hub for the PC, but some users prefer the modified Plex. Even still, Kodi is actually the original base that Plex was built upon. Whether you prefer Plex or Kodi depends on the type of media center that you want. Kodi has a large, enthusiastic community that supports it.

You can watch movies, listen to music and stream live TV with this software. Kodi has a clean-cut design that functions well, and it can be used as the standard media player because it is the complete home hub for entertainment. Kodi supports a broad range of keyboard shortcuts and remote controls, and it has real value as an entertainment center.

Kodi can also be customized for personality and individual taste. The look changes based on the skins chosen. By default, you use the confluence skin that greets you at the installation, but you can swap it over to any of the many free skins that look sleek. The setup for Kodi is simple, and the instructions are straightforward. You can set up Kodi as the sole video player, or you can stream videos just over the network. The coolest aspect of this is how you can stream multimedia from anywhere inside the home that has an internet connection. In addition, you can use almost every protocol like DVDs and CDs to scan to the disk. Most of the popular video formats will work with your hard drive, and you can even use RAR and ZIP files.

With Kodi, all your media can be scanned into a more personalized library that has descriptions, box covers and fan art. Lastly, you have a playlist and a slideshow function that will give you the weather forecast and numerous audio visualizations. Despite the positive side of Kodi, the negative is that sometimes the navigation of the various features can be tricky. It can take some time to get used to, but after a while, it becomes secondhand nature. While Kodi has more customized features, not everyone wants to take the time to customize their software, and if that is you, then you may want to opt for Plex instead.

You also need to be aware of the potential security vulnerabilities in Kodi and protect yourself. Luckily, you can avoid the risk easily, and anyone can download Kodi for free. The Kodi platform can be customized for a variety of circumstances. In 2014, Lifehacker gave Kodi, at that time called XBMC, the award for "Best Media Player."

Pros

• Customized and Easy to Use
• Watch Movies, Listen to Music and Stream Live TV
• Supports Broad Range of Keyboard shortcuts
• Software That Has Won Awards

Cons

• Some Features are Hard to Navigate
• Kodi Does Have Some Security Vulnerabilities