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This article was taken from the July 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
Fancy an alternative to a streaming-content home-theatre setup? You can convert the Raspberry Pi into a media centre -- and you don't need to learn how to code.
1. Source your parts
You'll need: a Raspberry Pi Model B with 512MB RAM, 8GB SD card, micro USB power supply, USB keyboard and mouse, HDMI and Ethernet cables and a network connection.
2. Download the media centre
You can set up your Raspberry Pi as a media centre with XBMC, an open-source media player. Just download a Pi-<span class="s1">compatible version of XBMC to your SD card from raspbmc.com.
3. Connect to your TV, and install
Connect the Pi to the TV via HDMI cable. Plug in the keyboard and mouse. Connect the Pi to the router with the Ethernet cable. Pop the SD card into the Pi's card reader and turn it on.
4. Set up your tv and library
Set the TV's video resolution to 1,920 x 1,080p and 60Hz. Set the audio output to HDMI. Adjust the XBMC settings, then set up a media library. (Go to wiki.xbmc.org to find out how.)
5. Use your phone as a controller
For Android, download the Yatse app; for iPhones, the Official XBMC Remote (both free). Connect the phone to your network, run the app, and hit "find" to automatically sync.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
