MediaPortal left the competition behind (1 Viewer)

[TimmyT]

The Swiss monthly newspaper OnlinePC (German) has compared six MediaCenter solutions in its current June issue. They compared the following solutions:

• MediaPortal RC2
  Sceneo TV Central 2.7
  Nero 7 premium
  Showshifter 3.12
  Cyberlink PowerCinema 4
  Intervideo Home Theater 2 Platinum

MediaPortal received 84 points (max 100) and left the competition far behind (2nd sceneo.tv with 73 points, 3rd nero 7 and showshifter with 59 points, 5th power cinema with 57 points and 6th intervideo home theater with 50 points).

MediaPortal received the following scores:

• 38 (of 45) points in functionality and usability (1st place)
  28 (of 30) points in compatibility (1st place)
  3 (of 10) points in installation, configuration and support (3rd place behind nero and cyberlink)
  15 (of 15) points in stability and licencing (1st place)

Unfortunately the article is not online available yet, they want you to buy the printed edition. It will be available in the online archive by next month, when the next print edition is released.

 

[mPod]

It will be on the homepage in some minutes, we just got the permission to publish it. We even got a certificate from them. :wink:

 

[ASiDiE]

And they were only testing RC2.... I want to thank all the DEV's for working so hard on this project. We need to understand that this is all done in your freetime, where maybe you could be doing other things. I love where MP is now and where it's going to be in the near future!

 

[NLS]

Great news people.

Goof to know there are article writers that actualy do some research with their articles.

 

[Bram]

Fantastic. The more people are going to use MP, the faster it will devop.

 

[mzemina]

Fantastic. The more people are going to use MP, the faster it will devop.

Not exactly true. We really need more core developers.

 

[Ralph]

Yeah, that's really good news! :lol:

I was just wondering why they gave MP a + for DVD-Rippen???
Is there a function I've missed, until now?

Also Archivierung (DVD / andere Formate) MP got a +/+?

I mean I like it if they see it that way, but is DVD burning relly that got, yet? Or did they mixed something up?

Regards
Ralph

 

[ASiDiE]

I have taken the time to cut and paste the whole article from German to English. (I can't read german). Google Translater was used.

6 Media centers in the practice practice

Media center software is the PC living room-suited make. On-line PC newspaper has itself six programs more near outstandingly. We compare functions, control comfort, Compatibility, support and security.

Installation

Before it on its PC a Media Centers install, should have done you on everyone Case an image of your system put on, for instance with Acronis True image (www.acronis.de; approx. 50 Franconias). Also it is advisable, the Media To touch down center on a as freshly as possible installed PC, there many Programs itself at existing filters, Java or DirectX versions disturb. The Media center Showshifter (www.showshifter.de) stands itself for example not with the filter Software Ffdshow. Showshifter destroyed during an installation attempt even the ability of the PC to develop an Internet connection. Only after the connection on one rout was possible the error free installation of the program. The configuration is with many Media Centers a patience play. Already the installation is often a lengthy Affair. Depending upon program, Computer achievement and on-line binding it can up to over four hours last. The reason: During that Installation becomes additional software from the Internet downloaded.

Test winner

Test winner became a free program: the open SOURCE software “Media portal†(www.team media portal.de). Media portal offers that largest function range in things Television, ribs, burning and presentation. With free program extensions leaves itself file manager, Cinema Trailer, radio and more re-tool. Media portal supports most digital with distance TV-maps as well as a great many remote maintenance and TV-maps for analog television. The software makes possible also Surround sound. Differently as at other Media centers are the license conditions with the test winner fair, and the Privatsphäre of the user one does not hurt.

Functions and operation

None of the tested Media centers leaves itself completely by remote maintenance steer. At the latest with that Configuration are mouse and keyboard essential. Even Sceneo TV Cent ral von Buhl DATA makes here none Exception, although the program for computers meant is exclusive, as Multimedia Settop Box to be used. With the test winner Media portal must the writing pedantically on one at the television screen readable size to be adapted. Automatic transmitter search: The automatic search for television and Radiosendern control all tested Media center up to intervideo Home theatre is it with all programs possible, the transmitter list arbitrary to arrange. With Media portal leave itself transmitters even in categories of themes arrange. With Sceneo TV cent ral is only pedantic the radio function to configure. The rough frequency organization and the small number of the transmitter places reduced in the test the comfort. Electronic program magazine: One of the comfort advantages of Media Center software is that access to one electronic program magazine, also EPG (electronics Program Guide) mentioned: Over the television signal or by Internet gets itself the Media center software information to the contributions, about transmitting time and short description. A EPG the program search simplifies and photograph programming substantially: Around a transmission for the admission to note, is sufficient click on their EPG entry. Well the free EPGProgramm Xmltv (http://membled pleased us. com/work/apps/xmltv). It becomes un Sceneo TV cent ral: Films leave themselves also with the remote maintenance cut. ANNOUNCEMENT 6 Media centers in the practice practice more ter different one in the programs Media Portal and Sceneo TV cent ral assigned. Videotex offer only half the test candidates. Nero put off in this regard to the next Program version. Surround sound: With the Surround Sound, that together with the digital TV is radiated, scored Test winner Media portal, Nero 7 Premium, Showshifter and power Cinema. Media portal supports thereby the integration of free AC3-Filtern. AC3-Filter permit it, the sound of videos with AC3-encodiertem Surround - for instance AVI, MPEG 2 and DVD - to play. TV cent ral granted Surround sound only also expensive auxiliary software. Film cut: Is the film up , then it applies for the PC, before archiving on DVD or CD the advertisement to remove. In this discipline Sceneo TV cent ral with one scores Cut function. Music Player: Media centers are also music as comfortably as possible show. TV cent ral points here a serious deficiency up: It does not support Playlisten. Besides becomes the listing file not in alphabetical order indicated. With Nero 7 Premium one finds music pieces many more comfortable: The data base Nero Scout leaves itself a display screen keyboard query. CDs ribs and burn: Clear one Achievement differences show the tested Media centers, if it therefore , CDs goes to ribs and compresses to store. With only three power lands selectable WMA stages Cinema of Cyberlink on that last place. Burning music CDs folds with Media portal and TV cent ral best. With Nero 7 Premium must the user in addition those Control surface of the Media center left.

Compatibility

Before the decision for a Media Center is advisable it, itself on that To inform Websites of the manufacturers, whether the own TV-map and remote maintenance from the program supports become. Independently of it as broad a pallet of supported hardware as possible is in each case an advantage - about, if one that Computer reequips. The compatibility to DVB T maps is with the test winner Media portal best. Those best support for digital cable and satellite-to-receiver telecasting offers TV cent ral. A Media center should of house control out as much as possible formats and besides with new filters or codecs expandable its, thereby itself also contents with new formats to play leave. Test winner Media Portal is a true format artist: With the “Media Player Classic†and additional free codecs such as Ffdshow (http://x264.nl) plays Media Portal as well as each film off. A very good support for Audio formats offer test winner Media Portal, TV cent ral and Nero 7 Premium. With the usual display formats nearly no software had Problems.

Stability and License agreement

Media centers should if possible few restrictions for that Users with itself bring. Of more crucial Meaning is in this Connection the license Agreement - also EULA (end User Licence Agreement) mentioned. Behind it hide themselves in many cases general trading conditions, the pitfalls for that Users contain. With Nero 7 Premium and Showshifter forbid the license regulations, a copy of the manual to provide. Cyberlink puts in the license regulations of power Cinema as area of jurisdiction a private court in Taiwan firmly. Most favourably for the user programs are like the test winner Media portal, those under the license GPL (general Public License) stand. Here none usually lurk Traps. The Privatsphäre of the user only the test winner protects Media Portal. The other programs give partially automatically and in Background by Internet data over the user and its use behavior further.

Support

With the support none convinced us the programs. All offer Manufacturer various support options like forums or Hotlines on. But the response time leaves to be desired frequently. If one in forums advice , is missing competent assistance in many cases searches or leaves for a very long time for itself wait.

Result

Our test winner is the free open SOURCE program “Media portalâ€. It offers from all candidates the largest function range. Those Probability that the Media center supports the own hardware, is highest with Media portal. The most comprehensive control comfort offer with the remote maintenance “Sceneo TV cent ral†of Buhl DATA for 62.50 euro (approx. 97 Franconias) as well as the “Home theatre Platinum†of intervideo for 70 dollar (about 85,50 Franconias).

 

[mPod]

Media centers should if possible few restrictions for that Users with itself bring.

LMAO! That sounds a bit like Yoda from starwars now. :lol:

 

[tklon]

Nice article. New swiss users we welcome...

:wink: