But where it really shines is in its totally skinnable interface and massive codec support, meaning you can watch just about any video and play most audio files  even ones that can’t be played in QuickTime or iTunes. Media can be played from just about any source, whether it be on the hard drive, on an optical disc, on a flash drive or stored on another computer on your network. Thanks to the built-in file manager, accessing those  or rearranging your desktop, if you so desire  can be done easily from the couch.

In the audio department it of course plays MP3 and AAC files but also supports Flac and OGG lossless audio types. So there’s no need to compress those flawless recordings like you would for Front Row or iTunes. OSXBMC could handle just about any video file I threw at it, and perhaps more impressive is its support for 1080P high-definition video content.

The app also features Internet-connected mini-apps, like media center widgets for checking weather or viewing online videos, and an RSS news ticker along the bottom of the main screen. You can navigate using the mouse, keyboard or Apple Remote, and lead developer Elan Feingold says connectivity with other remote controls like the wireless Xbox 360 controller is in the works.

OSXMBC only runs Intel Macs running Leopard, and it looks like it’s going to stay that way, according to the developer’s FAQ. But the future looks bright for the development of the media center with features like Growl notification support and auto-updates on the roadmap. The developers are also working on improving HD playback on low-end Macs, like the 2 GHz Mac mini, which handles 720P content flawlessly but begins to hiccup with more processor intensive videos. That’s a combination that would make the perfect media center hub for any living room.

If you’re looking for a Front Row alternative, download the free software and take it for a test drive. If you’re not convinced, check out a demonstration video of the app with the sleek, Apple-licious PMIII skin installed.

Editor’s Note: This article is a replacement for our previous (erroneous) article on OSXBMC. Sorry for any inconveniences!

Mac OS X seems to think that some of my applications are more useful than others by listing them twice. There has to be an easy way to fix this right?

The first thing you need to know is that the list is automatically generated by OS X. It depends on what applications you have installed, and if those applications can handle particular files. The problem is that it doesn’t update itself very often, and the list can get very bloated if not cleared out every so often. Everything is stored in a single file located in your preferences folder. Take the following steps to delete this file so the list can get a fresh rebuild.

1. Go to your Home/Library/Preferences folder
2. Find “com.apple.LaunchServices” file and trash it (you can back it up if you want)
3. Test it out!

There you have it. The next time you right-click on an item and select “Open With” in the Finder, only current applications will be listed. Some items may return if the application that controls them adds itself back to the list. You can delete the file again if you are having problems.

If you want to, you can create a script to automatically trash this file for you at any interval you desire. Check out this page for help doing that.