If you have an unused desktop lying around, here’s a good opportunity to dust it off and turn it into a media center - especially if you don’t already have a media center, and don’t want to spend a ton of money on one.

Kenbushi Pro v7.2 is now available from Lava Software. The free download brings a media entertainment center to your Windows 2000/XP/Vista or Mac OS X computer, complete with personal video recording (PVR), file sharing, and an Internet TV system with over 180 channels of content. Kenbushi Pro gives users access to their stored media – TV programs, music, movies, etc. – and enables playback or browsing on the home theatre TV.

Program subscriptions are required to access the Internet TV line-up, which includes ABC World News, Inside Martial Arts, and numerous other diverse and frequently updated entertainment and educational content. There’s even university lecture series in biology, chemistry, and astronomy available. 

A $24.99 one-year subscription to Kenbushi services includes email support and a monthly newsletter.

Ben Hardy - Contributing Writer

Between watching re-runs of the The Jetsons and convincing his Insteon and Z-Wave controls to get along, Ben Hardy is immersed in the world of home automation, home control, and home networking.