I believe HTPC’s (Home Theater Personal Computers) are being more widely used across the world due to a few factors…
One – Software requirements aren’t out of this world. You can run most new HTPC applications on 3-4 year old machines. This makes building your own HTPC pretty cheap.
Two – With so much content being online having a PC connected directly to your TV is a must. Until “web tv’s” are made with much more sophistication an HTPC will be the only alternative.
Three – Besides just being able to watch movies from the HTPC they can offer so much more depending on what your goals are. You can use the machine as a DVR, Game Machine, Workstation, Web Browser, and whatever else you can think of.
Below is the big list of HTPC software that you can acquire for yourself.
Have fun 
1 – DVR - Windows
- Windows XP Media Center Edition link
- Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate link
- Meedio 1.41 and Meedio Ultimate (free) link
- MeediOS – an updated version of Meedio link
- SageTV (Windows, Mac, and Linux) link
- ShowShifter link
- SnapStream Beyond TV (I use this) link
- GB-PVR (free) link
- MediaPortal (free) link
- AverMedia Center (for use with AverMedia card) link
- Yahoo! Go TV (free) – disountinued
- Nero LiquidTV™ | TiVo® PC link
- PowerCinema 6 link
- Windows 7 MCE - link
2 – HTPC Software (without DVR) - Windows
- Nero 9 link
- Xlobby link
- Got all Media (free) link
- Beyond Media link - DISCONTINUED
- WinDVD Media Center link
- iMEDIAN HD(also known as iMon) link
- Elisa – compatible with windows, mac and linux (Now Moovida)
- Moovida - link
- XBMC link - compatible with windows, mac and linux (I use this for front-end)
- J. River Media Center link
- Tvedia link
- DivX Connected link
- AMD Live! link
3 – Linux
- Entertainer (in development) link
- Mythbuntu link
- Mythdora link
- GeeXbox link
- KnoppMyth link
- LinuxMCE link
- MythTV link
- Freevo (Python) link
- Piren link
- MegaBOX link (PPC & PS3)
- Ear OS link
- Element Media OS link
- Morphine.TV link
4 – Mac
5 – Video/DVD Players - Windows
- MPlayer Link - New
- Zoom Player link
- VLC (I use this for streaming media) link
- Windows Media Player link
- DivX Video Player link
- RealPlayer link
- Power DVD link
- InterVideo WinDVD link
- TheaterTek link
- AVS DVD Player link
- Media Player Classic link
- The KM Player link
- Gom Media Player link
6 – Blu-Ray and HD DVD Playback - Windows
- Powerdvd link (older version will play HD-DVD)
- ArcSoft TotalMedia™ Theatre link
- WinDVD 9 Plus Blu-ray link
7 – Remote Control Software and tips
- Girder
- Eventghost
- Hauppauge 45 button remote - tips on programming for different apps
8 – IPTV or Internet TV - There are many Internet TV sites out there. Here are the most poplular.
9 – OTA HD/Digital Sources
- QAM tuner explanation link
- Antenna Web link - maximize your television reception
- HD/Digital Channel Lookup link - find your local HD/Digital channels
- Digital TV Transition link
10 – Codecs
Codec Packs and Codecs
- K-lite link
- fddshow link
- Divx link
- DScaler link
- CoreAVC link
- Xvid link
- FLAC link
- OGG link
- Haali Media Splitter link
- Shark007′s Vista Codecs link
- Combined Community Codec Pack link
11 – Streaming Software
- TVersity link - stream audio, pictures, music, rss feeds to you Xbox 360, Wii, PS3….etc.
- Orb link - enables users to remotely access all their personal digital media files including pictures, music, videos, webcams and television.
12 – Smart Phone HTPC Control
Android
- RemoteDroid – Located on Android Market – Free
- GRemotePro-multi remote – Located on Android Market – Free
IPhone
- Logitech Touch Mouse link
XBMC – Android
- XBMC Remote 1 link - I’ve used this one and like it.
- XBMC Remote 2 link
- Boxee/XBMC Remote – Located on Android Market – Free
Boxee – Android
- Boxee Wifi Remote – Located on Android Market – Free
- Boxee/XBMC Remote – Located on Android Market – Free (Same as one on XBMC)
13 – Home Entertainment Server Systems – Expensive
- Axonix MediaMax - link - Retail Price for 75 DVD 1 Room System -$8300
- Kaleidescape - link - Retail Price for 75 DVD 1 Room System -$18,500
- AMX® Max - link - Retail Price for 75 DVD 1 Room System -$27,400
14 – Gaming
15 – Other
- DPC Latency Checker - Link - New - try this if your video/audio is stuttering
- Media Browser - link - Media Center plug-in.
- Media Control - link - A plugin for Microsoft Media Center that adds lacking features such as : fast forward/rewind for any video format, resume video, switch between audio/subtitles streams, sets brightness/contrast, improves picture quality.
- AnyDVD HD link - Allows you to watch movies over a digital display connection, without HDCP-compliant graphics card and without HDCP-compilant display.
- This can be your submission.. POST BELOW!
