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I think Beyond Media looks great.
Like many here I use BTV in connection with myHTPC, and it works fine. I'd be willing to pay some amount, however, for Beyond Media. Here's why:
-- A consistent UI (that also includes a consistent interface on a remote client like the MediaMVP).
-- Ability to play video files using BTV's video playback engine, which I think is superior to any of the the myHTPC plugins I've used.
-- Having multiple professional developers that are continuously working to add new capabilities to the product and cut deals with third parties to broaden the reach of the product. (Pablo's efforts on myHTPC have been great, but there's only so much one guy can do!)
-- I'd love a nonproprietary alternative to MS Media Center (the new version of which looks really good!).
-- The setup of the current incarnation is kind of a pain. Granted, that's mostly due to my trying to use it to integrate about five different apps, but if Beyond Media really enabled me to reduce the number of apps I'm integrating my life would be that much easier.
All of this being said, the more flexible and customizable Beyond Media is, the more of the current HTPC enthusiasts it will appeal to. Based on my trip to CES on Friday, accessing digital media from PCs and using appliances was the one theme that completely dominated the show. The things that have the potential to make one solution stand apart are the following:
-- Ability to use nonproprietary formats
-- Ability to customize functionality (through plugins) and appearance (UI options)
-- Well designed used interface
Good luck.
Doug
On a side note, I applaud Snapstream for allowing all of these mentions of myHTPC in their forums. I recently made a complimentary mention of that product on J River's Media Center forum and had the paragraph in which I did so deleted without any type of notice. But that's another story...
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