OpenELEC is a Linux-based embedded operating system built specifically to run XBMC, the open source entertainment media hub.

OpenELEC is a Linux-based embedded operating system built specifically to run XBMC, the open source entertainment media hub. The idea behind OpenELEC is to allow people to use their Home Theatre PC (HTPC) like any other device one might have attached to a TV, like a DVD player or Sky box.

Instead of having to manage a full operating system, configure it and install the packages required to turn it into a hybrid media center, OpenELEC is designed to be simple to install, manage and use, making it more like running a set-top box than a full-blown computer.

Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center (OpenELEC) is a small Linux distribution built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into an XBMC media center. OpenELEC is designed to make your system boot fast, and the install is so easy that anyone can turn a blank PC into a media machine in less than 15 minutes.

It's completely free
A full install is only 80-125MB
Minimal hardware requirements
Simple install to HDD, SSD, Compact Flash, SD card, pen drive or other
Optimized builds for Atom, ION, Intel, Fusion and more
Simple configuration through the XBMC interface
Plug and Play external storage
File sharing out of the box

Updates:

Stephan Raue has announced the release of OpenELEC 3.0.1, an updated version of the specialist Linux distribution built around XBMC, the open-source entertainment media hub: "The OpenELEC team is proud to release OpenELEC 3.0.1. Changelog: update to XBMC 12.1.6 (XBMC Frodo 12.1 with many bug fixes which will be released with the upcoming XBMC Frodo 12.2), this includes various fixes for Audio Engine, Raspberry Pi and other; update RPi patches; update to Boost 1_53_0; update to DVB firmware 0.0.33; update to alsa-lib 1.0.27; update to GCC 4.7.3; update to systemd 200; added support for TechniSat SkyStar S2 card with CX24120-13Z front-end; XBMC - readd Hi10p patches; Linux kernel - add ALSA upstream patches, backported from 3.8.7; Linux kernel add network related upstream patches, backported from 3.8.7; fix for issue #1987, the problem exists in the jmicron 1.0.8.5 source...." Here is the full release announcement. Please check the project's download page for a full list of available builds; here is a quick link to the "generic" image: OpenELEC-Generic.i386-3.0.1.tar.bz2 (163MB).

Recent releases:

• 2013-04-16: Distribution Release: OpenELEC 3.0.1
• 2013-03-25: Distribution Release: OpenELEC 3.0.0
• 2012-11-30: Development Release: OpenELEC 3.0 Beta 2
• 2012-11-26: Development Release: OpenELEC 3.0 Beta 1
• 2012-10-17: Distribution Release: OpenELEC 2.0

Download.

OpenELEC Stable - Raspberry Pi ARM 3.2.3

OpenELEC Stable - ARCTIC_MC x86_64 3.2.3

OpenELEC Stable - Apple TV i386 3.2.3

OpenELEC Stable - Generic OSS i386 3.2.3

OpenELEC Stable - Generic i386 3.2.3

OpenELEC Stable - Generic x86_64 3.2.3

OpenELEC Stable - Intel x86_64 3.2.3

OpenELEC Stable - Fusion x86_64 3.2.3

OpenELEC Stable - ION x86_64 3.2.3

OpenELEC Legacy - ION x86_64 2.0.0

OpenELEC Legacy - Fusion x86_64 2.0.0