The Media Browser gang has continued to evolve their 100% FREE HTPC solution, and definitely well worth a try if you’re looking for something with some extra control over it.

Highlights:

• The Media type is now
  retrieved from locally stored metadata.
• Better support for using MyMovies and Media Browser side-by-side.
  The user can now set the preferred order of local artwork.
• Watched status indicators are working normally again.
• It is now possible to Clear the Cache
  from the Media Browser Configuration Wizard.
• Various sort-order bugs for Media Collections have been fixed.
• Lots of other bugs have been fixed.
• You can use SQLite
  and share playstate settings & display settings.
• Better rotating
  backdrop support. It is now possible to randomize the order in which
  they appear.
• Using the custom entrypoints no longer results in a full library refresh.
• Improved installer interface that can create optional shortcuts to
  Media Browser.
• Overall performance increase due to various changes to the cache
  mechanism.
• Last but not least, Media Browser can now be localized by theme
  developers and the community.

[Media Browser Blog]