XBMC Ported To Android

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Posted by Soulskill on Saturday July 14, 2012 @03:31AM from the xbmc-around-town dept.

New submitter TheUni writes with news that XBMC has been announced for Android. Quoting: "Not a remote, not a thin client; the real deal. No root or jailbreak required. XBMC can be launched as an application on your set-top-box, tablet, phone, or wherever else Android may be found. The feature-set on Android is the same that you have come to expect from XBMC, no different from its cousin on the desktop. Running your favorite media-center software on small, cheap, embedded hardware is about to become a hassle-free reality. And as Android-based set-top-boxes are becoming more and more ubiquitous, it couldn't be a better time. ... We will begin releasing apks for interested beta testers in the coming weeks. But for those who are up to the task, as you would expect from XBMC, the source code is available. We have decided not to push to Google Play until we are satisfied that users with all kinds of devices get the same great XBMC experience."

121 comments

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

In other news by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 03:36 · Score: 1

xbox one gets replaced by a pie.
Wicked by markdavis · 2012-07-14 03:37 · Score: 1

Let me be the first to say: "Wicked!!!" :)
If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by TyFoN · 2012-07-14 03:40 · Score: 3, Interesting

This is it :)
1. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by markdavis · 2012-07-14 03:45 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  $300 for something that could be done for less than $75 with a Pi (which includes case/ps/cables)? Or an old Linux box lying around? Or a used Xbox for $50? For $300, I could put together a complete microATX system with tons of storage and CPU.
  Sorry, I don't see the "Q" fitting into the picture for most people. At least those looking at the price tag. If it were $150, that would change the equation considerably.
2. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 03:56 · Score: 0
  
  The Q is something that does not look embarrassing to have in your living room.
3. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by mwvdlee · 2012-07-14 04:03 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Most others are something you can easily hide from view in your living room.
  
  --
  Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
4. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by wrekkuh · 2012-07-14 04:03 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly what i was thinking. Also, this quote from the submission... "Running your favorite media-center software on small, cheap, embedded hardware is about to become a hassle-free reality." is a little confusing to me because, well, i have a hassle-free installation of my favorite media-center software (XBMC) on small, cheap, embedded hardware already, as many others do as well.
  
  Further to the point, can anyone tell the court what the hardware requirements for compiling Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwich is?
5. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by jo_ham · 2012-07-14 04:07 · Score: 1
  
  You could do it for less with an original Apple TV (before the second gen mini one) and a reasonable amp for less than the Q. It is in fact what people have been doing for some time.
  Adding a native Android version of XBMC is great though, but using the Q puts you in that potentially perilous territory occupied by Apple users: "You are only using that hardware for the name/novelty/etc, you should use [$cheaper_option] that works just as well".
  Still, if you didn't have a dedicated home theatre amp setup, the Q could be good I suppose.
6. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Vahokif · 2012-07-14 04:08 · Score: 1
  
  Spoken like someone who has never tried a Raspberry Pi.
7. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by InPursuitOfTruth · 2012-07-14 04:09 · Score: 1
  
  I love XBMC, and use it a lot as my primary PC driven media platform. The phone could be a way to display it on an LED in the bathroom, my next room to conquer.
8. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 04:27 · Score: 0
  
  I see "you could do this with Raspberry Pi" claim made all the time - so much so that I can't actually find any references which even begin* to explain how, because Google's search results are clogged with the claims. You happen to have a useful link? :)
9. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by TheUni · 2012-07-14 04:51 · Score: 1
  
  Hassle-free meaning: Buy some hardware, take it out of the box, open up Google Play, Search for XBMC, install. That will be the reality soon.
  XBMC on embedded Linux is my preference, and it's where I spend most of my time. But it's hardly that simple.
10. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Lumpy · 2012-07-14 05:03 · Score: 1
  
  Let's see a Pi play all video formats in 1080p perfectly smooth. hell show me a Pi that can do just the Menu UI smooth.
  My $300.00 XBMC pc i built for only using XBMC kicks the crap out of a Pi for media playback. Use the right tool for the right job. Pi is not for HD media center use.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
11. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Lumpy · 2012-07-14 05:04 · Score: 1
  
  it's awefully close. Open box, set up net-top PC on TV. insert XBMCLive CD click yes about 6 times. all done
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
12. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Lumpy · 2012-07-14 05:06 · Score: 1
  
  I prefer a higher resolution than a single LED. the lowest I can tolerate is about 1280X720 led's
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
13. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by cynyr · 2012-07-14 05:11 · Score: 1
  
  does your old linux box have HDMI and enough grunt to play 1080P h264 video? Mine has HDMI, but it is an ATI X1000 and can barly display chrome at 1080P let alone moving video. The 1080P is not going to happen either as the 5 year old low end dual core won't do it.
  The Pi doesn't seem to have an I/O interface that will sustain the 20-30MB/sec needed for high end video and audio. 10/100 ethernet won't, SDcards won't. Also the Pi has minimal codec support.
  
  --
  All of the above was encrypted with a Quad ROT-13 method. Unauthorized decryption is in violation of the DMCA.
14. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by repvik · 2012-07-14 05:22 · Score: 1
  
  No, the Nexus Q can do way more than the RPI. The hardware decoding support on the RPI is abysmal due to licencing costs. While it may play 1080p .mkv just fine, it can't decode most streaming video I've tried. Eg. Norways national broadcaster NRK has most of its programming online, available for streaming, including live TV. On the RPI it's useless. On pretty much everything else I've run XBMC on, it's awesome.
  If the Q work well with XBMC, I'm considering replacing my mini-ITX system with it. And I'd rather use my two RPIs for something they don't suck at.
15. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by repvik · 2012-07-14 05:28 · Score: 1
  
  What kind of high end audio/video are you talking about? Blu-Ray is <40Mbit/sec. Which is no problem with a Class 4 or 6 SD-card. And certainly no match for a 100mbit network.
16. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Oakey · 2012-07-14 05:29 · Score: 1
  
  What the hell is 'the Q'? I don't even know how to start trying to find out.
  Google; Q
  About 12,070,000,000 results (0.19 seconds)
  
  --
  "Dre don't get as high as me.... I'm Cheech and Chong" - Snoop Dogg
17. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by TheUni · 2012-07-14 05:35 · Score: 1
  
  CD? XBMCBuntu does not have an ARM build (yet). We're talking embedded here.
18. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 05:43 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Most folks probably already know as it was one of the things recently announced at the Google I/O conference. However, you are right - if you didn't hear about it already you aren't going to be able to find it without more context than just "the Q" (you could find some pictures of John de Lancie with that search though). Anyway, what they meant was this:
  
  http://www.google.com/nexus/#/q
19. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by drinkypoo · 2012-07-14 06:26 · Score: 2
  
  $300 for something that could be done for less than $75 with a Pi
  $75 for a complete solution
  
  Or an old Linux box lying around?
  That is gigantic and power-hungry by comparison.
  
  Or a used Xbox for $50?
  Gigantic, power-hungry, and limited to 1080i.
  
  For $300, I could put together a complete microATX system with tons of storage and CPU.
  Now that is an excellent point.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
20. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by lister+king+of+smeg · 2012-07-14 06:28 · Score: 1
  
  you could just grab ubuntu arm and then apt-get install xbmc problem solved
  (fallowed by apt-get purge unity)
  
  --
  ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
21. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by cyber-vandal · 2012-07-14 06:51 · Score: 0
  
  I have yet to use a Windows PC that works as well as my Mac. Even the Windows Bootcamp installation on my Mac sucks compared to OS X.
22. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by pjr.cc · 2012-07-14 07:07 · Score: 2
  
  Personally, if theres anything i would be targetting to run this on, its not the q, its the mk802 https://www.miniand.com/
23. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 07:38 · Score: 0
  
  mkv is a container, not a codec, it can contain video encoded in many different formats, not all of which the RPi can play. The Raspberry Pi only comes with codecs for h.264.
24. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Colonel+Korn · 2012-07-14 08:14 · Score: 1
  
  The Q is something that does not look embarrassing to have in your living room.
  I'd say the Q is the most embarrassing-looking electronic device that doesn't vibrate. Actually, it might easily be mistaken for a device that does vibrate.
  
  --
  "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
25. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 08:24 · Score: 0
  
  could be done for less than $75 with a Pi (which includes case/ps/cables)
  So the average consumer is going to be able to set up the ability to browse content on their Android device and make that content instantly start playing on their Pi with the mere click of a button? Nope.
  
  Or an old Linux box lying around?
  The vast majority of people don't have this.
  
  Or an old Linux box lying around?
  How much electricity does that old Linux box pull? And how good is the interface? How easily can it be controlled from my smartphone/tablet? Is it a turnkey solution?
  
  For $300, I could put together a complete microATX system with tons of storage and CPU.
  If that was a legitimate solution for most people, Roku etc. would be out of business. Guess what? It isn't and they aren't. The Nexus Q offers turnkey phone/tablet/media center integration and that's what people will pay for. Just because it isn't for us nerds doesn't mean it isn't a compelling proposition for normal people.
26. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 08:28 · Score: 0
  
  Looks sell. The Q is something people will want to display. I know we're nerds and somewhere between our fanny packs and our pocket protectors we misplaced our sense of style and cool but, trust me, normal people actually care about these things and for them the Q will be very interesting just on looks alone.
27. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by jo_ham · 2012-07-14 08:37 · Score: 1
  
  I have yet to use a Windows PC that works as well as my Mac. Even the Windows Bootcamp installation on my Mac sucks compared to OS X.
  Ditto, but I'm just heading off the argument at the pass. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, and in this case the Q is the hardware on the premium side of the line in comparison with other products.
  Whether that premium is worth it is another discussion entirely (for me, the decision to go for an iMac made sense, it may not for someone else).
28. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 08:41 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  The Pi is a fantastic piece of kit for what it is but it truly astounds me how people try to use it for things it clearly was not intended for. If you want a media center, you are going to want to watch videos at 1080P, you are going to want Netflix, you are going to want Hulu, you are going to want http://www.tubeplus.me/ you are going to want to transcode DVD's you rent at redbox, you are going to want to rip blu-ray's, you are going to want to store TB's of data, you are going to want to play AAA games on the TV set with a controller, and on and on. The only answer to do everything is a PC running an x86/x86_64 processor and as much as I hate to say it Windows or OSX as the operating system. Period. Anything else invites frustration and wistful longing for the real thing.
29. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by cyber-vandal · 2012-07-14 09:14 · Score: 1
  
  Can't say for the Nexus Q. It's well-designed and cool-looking which is one selling point of Apple devices. Whether it's worth the money remains to be seen. I'm just saying that this particular Apple device, for all its higher cost compared to say a Dell XPS, was worth every penny. I discovered that it comes with Apache and PHP installed last night. No fucking about with finding and configuring them, it was a piece of piss. A consumer device with all sorts of developer tools and a full Unix is just brilliant.
30. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 09:31 · Score: 0
  
  $75 for a complete solution
  In case someone is seriously considering the tablet, you can get upgraded versions (running 4.0) for the same price right off Amazon. Being my first tablet, I find it really really good.
31. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 10:12 · Score: 1
  
  It was my impression that the Pi was specifically meant to be used for things it was never meant to be used for.
32. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 10:28 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Indeed, and for anyone who is wondering what Vahokif is talking about, I have tried using XBMC on a raspberry pi, and while it isn't awful, it also isn't a great experience.
  Problems that can be solved:
  * I'm using OpenELEC and it has a fixed root password! Seriously, in this day and age.
  * I was amazed to find that there is something called CEC that lets you use your TV's remote to control XBMC. Unfortunately the CEC daemon runs as a separate process and controls XBMC through its web interface, which you cannot set a password on (if you want CEC to work)! Not exactly secure.
  Problems that can't be fixed:
  * Mainly, it's very slow. XBMC was obviously designed to run on hardware that is 2-3 times more powerful.
  * Not enough USB power to run an external hard disk.
  * No mounting holes on the PCB. I mean, I understand not providing a case, but it doesn't exactly make it easy to build our own.
33. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by kramulous · 2012-07-14 10:29 · Score: 1
  
  Grab the Intel Compiler (non-commercial free for linux) and recompile the codecs. Make sure that '-O2 -xHost' flags are there. Experiment with the '-parallel' flag as well. Mixed success with '-ipo' flag.
  My old chip (machine turned off so can't get you /proc/cpuinfo, but is a core duo) was suddenly able to play h264 1080p .... barely, but could do it.
  
  --
  .
34. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by drinkypoo · 2012-07-14 10:54 · Score: 1
  
  In case someone is seriously considering the tablet
  What are you talking about, I didn't link a tablet. DX *does* have ICS with IPS and A10 for around $200 though...
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
35. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 11:05 · Score: 0
  
  You're 100% correct. I've tried every little box on earth and every one of them wont do at least one major thing. Google tv doesn't have hulu or hulu plus or any network running its own show site. Roku won't do HBO GO if you're a directv subscriber and its iffy on playing rips. Several small form factor atom based PC's were just too slow and annoying.
  So I gave up completely and made room for a mid tower next to the tv with a celeron G630, 4gb of ram, an M4 SSD and windows 7. Everything works, but the UI sucks since you need to do everything in a browser window.
36. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 12:13 · Score: 0
  
  Watch for a new product called Pivos Xios XS. It should arrive with a native build of XBMC. Rumor has it, it will be on top of Linux rather than Android on top of Linux. The rumors were started by a Pivos employee directly and Pivos is not officially an XBMC supporter. They currently have an Android offering in the space space. If priced like the Android offering, it should be in the $100-$125 dollar range. The rumor started June 14th and was stated the hardware is very near than of the DS. So hopefully the XS offering will follow very shortly as they also stated the understand the market pressures in this space.
37. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by amiga3D · 2012-07-14 13:13 · Score: 1
  
  My Dell D630 running Mepis Linux with 2ghz core2duo and Nvidia Quadro 135m is pretty old but runs 1080p video pretty well.
38. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by amiga3D · 2012-07-14 13:15 · Score: 1
  
  What about running VLC? Has that been ported to arm?
39. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by amiga3D · 2012-07-14 13:18 · Score: 1
  
  Honestly I am so in love with my Western Digital TV Live HD. It plays damn near everything. I hooked up a 1TB external hard drive to one of the USB ports and loaded it up with 1080p quality movies and tv shows. It's the best 99 dollars I ever spent. It's rare it wont play something.
40. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 13:28 · Score: 0
  
  Well played good sir.
41. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Chrontius · 2012-07-14 13:52 · Score: 1
  
  I prefer this model, but I think that's mostly because I'd want the Boxee remote, twice the ram, and Ice Cream Sandwich.
42. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 14:48 · Score: 0
  
  Friends don't let friends use Intel's compiler. Every hear about how Intel screwed over developers with their "special" CPU detection routines? You can Google all about it. The more you know...
43. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 15:00 · Score: 0
  
  But if you wanted to pay too much for something stylish you get Apple hardware...
44. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by bartoku · 2012-07-14 15:02 · Score: 1
  
  Was the vibrating thing a dildo reference or a smartphone reference?
45. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 15:23 · Score: 0
  
  For $250 you could buy an ASUS Eee nettop. That is far more useful than the Q.
46. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 18:33 · Score: 0
  
  Does that run XBMC well? HW decoding? Does it run straight XBMC or does it require one of the odd ball ports?
47. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 18:40 · Score: 0
  
  $75 for a complete solution [dealextreme.com]
  Does that run XBMC well? HW decoding? Does it run straight XBMC or does it require one of the odd ball ports?
  Thanks.
48. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by drinkypoo · 2012-07-15 01:15 · Score: 1
  
  http://liliputing.com/2012/07/mini-x-tv-box-runs-android-linux-for-under-100.html
  You can supposedly run ICS but that won't help with the RAM of course.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
49. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-15 01:36 · Score: 0
  
  I hope it is more it, than the fake xbmc that haunts google play and gives the real xbmc a bad name
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zappotvxbmc
50. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by poltsy · 2012-07-15 01:55 · Score: 1
  
  I think you meant 20-30Mbit/s. 10/100 ethernet is plenty for HD video.
51. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Lumpy · 2012-07-15 05:17 · Score: 1
  
  I have a XBMC pc in a nice Media Center enclosure. and on top of that is a Panasonic Bly ray that does all the Paid DRM encrumbed media sources.
  Two devices, brain dead easy to use with a decent programmable remote.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
52. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by drinkypoo · 2012-07-15 07:42 · Score: 1
  
  Does that run XBMC well? HW decoding? Does it run straight XBMC or does it require one of the odd ball ports?
  No idea but if they're not supporting the A10 they're wasting their time.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
53. Re:If anyone wondered what to use the Q for by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-16 03:55 · Score: 0
  
  You left out the AppleTV.
  Probably one of the best little boxes to throw XMBC on at the moment. It works better than Apple's software. For 100 bucks you get a tiny, power sipping machine that can do high def and has wifi N. Not sure about expandability though, as in hard drives, optical and such. But you can easily stream it from the network.
And XBMC is? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 03:44 · Score: 0, Informative

XBMC is an award-winning free and open source (GPL) software media player and entertainment hub for digital media.
YAY by bobstreo · 2012-07-14 03:44 · Score: 3

who do I throw money at to thank them?
1. Re:YAY by SScorpio · 2012-07-14 04:10 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  You could always just donate to the project.
  http://xbmc.org/contribute/donate/
2. Re:YAY by godrik · 2012-07-14 05:57 · Score: 2
  
  Thanks to you, I just gave them 5 bucks!
3. Re:YAY by 0100010001010011 · 2012-07-14 10:07 · Score: 2
  
  I've donated a few times. Usually after something like this where I think to myself "I wonder what this would cost coming from a company." I've been with XBMC since near the beginning. ~2004ish. It has come an incredibly long way. Everything is hosted on NFS now. I can press a button on youtube and send the current video to the TV. My iPod touch will stream video and music to it. It looks gorgeous and there is a theme out there for everyone's personal taste.
  I'm running it on a 1.8 gHz celeron that chokes on HD content but thankfully Nvidia and VDPAU exist and I've played even the highest bitrate blueray rips without even a stutter.
  Major props to all involved.
oh and by bobstreo · 2012-07-14 03:47 · Score: 1

When can I put it on my logitech revue?
1. Re:oh and by malakai · 2012-07-14 04:28 · Score: 1
  
  ditto this. My Logitech Revue has been pretty glitchy lately, would love to just run XBMC to do 99% of what I want Revue for.
  
  --
  -Malakai
  A Dragon Lives in my Garage
2. Re:oh and by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 06:01 · Score: 0
  
  I too hope the Revue gets XBMC, but will XBMC have an x86 Android build?
3. Re:oh and by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 06:03 · Score: 0
  
  Just checked TFA and from the comments it seems that the available test packages are not compatible with the Revue yet.
Not quite a release by AlphaWolf_HK · 2012-07-14 04:05 · Score: 1

It's source only, so not quite where end users will be able to use it yet.

--
Careful with names containing L slashdot.org/~AiphaWolf_HK slashdot.org/~AlphaWoif_HK slashdot.org/~AiphaWoif_HK
1. Re:Not quite a release by bobstreo · 2012-07-14 04:12 · Score: 2
  
  There's already some (beta YMMV) apks out for mk802 and mini x
  https://www.miniand.com/forums/forums/1/topics/136
2. Re:Not quite a release by Picass0 · 2012-07-14 05:24 · Score: 1
  
  Binary runs on my Samsung Galaxy S2. Everything works great but no audio.
  Great start. Nice GUI. I'll be keeping an eye on this.
3. Re:Not quite a release by ichthus · 2012-07-14 09:36 · Score: 1
  
  Runs on my GS2, but I have the T-Mobile variant (Qualcom micro, instead of Exynos). I get audio, but it's choppy -- like audio frames are sacrificially dropped to maintain smooth video performance.
  
  --
  sig: sauer
4. Re:Not quite a release by ichthus · 2012-07-14 10:01 · Score: 1
  
  ...actually, standard def stuff plays fine. Anything 720P and above is where it starts to choke. Very promising.
  
  --
  sig: sauer
To Bob van Loosen, XBMC developer... by Mister+Liberty · 2012-07-14 04:06 · Score: 1

Thanks!
bjd
Oooh-Ya by yotto · 2012-07-14 04:10 · Score: 3, Interesting

I wonder if it'll run on the Ouya, or Oooh-yah. Or whatever that new console is named.

--
Pulp Audio Weekly - Geek News and Reviews
What in the Sam Hill is XBMC? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 04:11 · Score: 0

Neither the summary nor the bloody article explains it! Idiots!
1. Re:What in the Sam Hill is XBMC? by Latentius · 2012-07-14 04:32 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  The article also does not explain what Android is, or what jailbreaking is, or what source code is.... If you don't know these things already, it either doesn't matter for you, or you should go Google them.
  And for the record, it says right in the summary that XBMC is "your favorite media-center software." Seems pretty obvious that it's software that allows you to organize and watch all of your digital media.
2. Re:What in the Sam Hill is XBMC? by gtbritishskull · 2012-07-14 05:12 · Score: 2
  
  Seriously... google "xbmc" and click on the first result. Is this your first time using the interwebs?
3. Re:What in the Sam Hill is XBMC? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 05:18 · Score: 0
  
  What in the Sam Hill is XBMC?
  Something to make you ask questions.
4. Re:What in the Sam Hill is XBMC? by zephvark · 2012-07-14 07:02 · Score: 1
  
  And for the record, it says right in the summary that XBMC is "your favorite media-center software."
  Clearly it isn't. I'd never heard of it either. Considering the submission is obviously product advertising written by a marketing droid, the little detail of what the heck the product is might have been mentioned at some point.
5. Re:What in the Sam Hill is XBMC? by oakgrove · 2012-07-14 07:09 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Considering the submission is obviously product advertising written by a marketing droid
  Yeah, that's the one thing open source projects are well known for. Advertising and marketing...
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
6. Re:What in the Sam Hill is XBMC? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-15 01:32 · Score: 0
  
  What in the Jez Gleeben is a Sam Hill?
7. Re:What in the Sam Hill is XBMC? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-16 03:25 · Score: 0
  
  Actually, Cory is really good at marketing XBMC.
OMG Thanks by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 04:14 · Score: 0

To whomever is responsible for waiting until Saturday morning to spring this on me, thank you for not doing so on a Monday morning. I know what I'm doing today!
And tomorrow...
I wonder when this will make its way to the gtv by Cute+Fuzzy+Bunny · 2012-07-14 04:20 · Score: 1

Be nice to run this on my sony google tv box. See if someone ever compiles it for the intel chip and gets it on the google tv's version of Play.
Despite the poor quality of the video... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 04:35 · Score: 0

The app itself looks pretty cool. My own solution has been to have a DVD player (just a DVD player) sitting by my TV, hooked up to it, and a Case-Logic DVD case full of DVD's. Then I pop one in and watch it. It works well enough, but does require changing discs after every 4th or 5th episode of House...
I may have to get one of those little funky boxes with the green robot on it, and download this software... that way I wouldn't have to fire-up my PC (also hooked to the same TV set) to listen to music. Of course, I do also have a stereo that plays MP3's on CD-R's... and have CD-R's full of compressed music copied from CD's I've bought a copy of, that requires neither my TV, NOR my computer to be turned on to listen to... so maybe I don't need this after all.
Still looks pretty cool, though.
1. Re:Despite the poor quality of the video... by danomac · 2012-07-14 04:52 · Score: 1
  
  I think the possibility of XBMC being extremely portable is awesome. If you have a phone or tablet you can literally bring your entertainment with you to any room in the house.
  I plan to try it with my Nexus 7 and Galaxy S phone. The tablet will probably better due to the larger screen. Couple it with the audio dock Asus is talking about and it gets even better!
  Being able to browse and view my media content wirelessly anywhere in the house is an excellent idea!
2. Re:Despite the poor quality of the video... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 05:01 · Score: 0
  
  You can use it with the ipad, so it is already portable, but adding android to the list definitely broadens the capabilities.
3. Re:Despite the poor quality of the video... by Daengbo · 2012-07-14 17:23 · Score: 1
  
  Well, aren't you the hipster?
  
  --
  Put identity in the browser.
Hrm. Not out yet. by BenJeremy · 2012-07-14 05:01 · Score: 0

Just hopped on Google Play Store, and downloaded something purported to be the "XBMC Media" app. It required me to sign in (WTF?) and seems to be related to something called "ZappoTV".
In short, it sucked. It went on an endless loop trying to access my DLNA media server, which even other Android media player apps can read.
Hopefully, this "full" XBMC will fully support MKV containers. I'm also looking forward to getting the "real" VLC Media player.
1. Re:Hrm. Not out yet. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 05:34 · Score: 1
  
  You didn't even read the summary, did you? They said it's not in the store... You have to download the APK.
2. Re:Hrm. Not out yet. by lister+king+of+smeg · 2012-07-14 06:42 · Score: 1
  
  the real vlc has a beta and it seems to work fairly well with mkv i have had some artifacting on my dvd rip of red-dwarf i dropped on my kindel fire, not sire that is my rip or the beta software though
  
  --
  ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
This is what android needs! by ZosX · 2012-07-14 05:09 · Score: 1

More applications that replicate desktop functionality are a must. Even using my tablet still feels like using a giant phone. Especially when older/poorly designed apps flip orientation and my screen is docked. Awkward. Chrome is pretty nice but asides from some ok games (even the games aren't great yet imo) that look kind of pretty, I haven't found anything all that awesome to do with my tablet. Photo editing software that didn't suck would be nice. Photoshop touch is just too limited. I have a quad core cpu running @ 1.5ghz with 1gb of ram and the most ps can process is a 2048x2048 picture? Lame. The ecosystem is getting there. Final Fantasy III was a nice touch and some of the new games coming out look pretty amazing....its still nowhere near the ipad unfortuantely.

--
zosxavius photography
1. Re:This is what android needs! by lister+king+of+smeg · 2012-07-14 06:48 · Score: 1
  
  more desktop apps being ported are a must, i cant find a desent free ftp app that isn't full of cruft i don't need and adds. what i would like is filezilla port, a libra office port, pidgen port, transmission bit torent port, and calibre library port. vlc (beta) port is already on my tablet. oh and a air-crack-ng port would be nice too.
  
  --
  ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
2. Re:This is what android needs! by ZosX · 2012-07-14 07:15 · Score: 1
  
  So much wasted potential at the moment. I'd kill for a gimp port.
  
  --
  zosxavius photography
3. Re:This is what android needs! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 08:00 · Score: 0
  
  ES File Explorer is a decent file manager and supports FTP. Maybe you consider it to be full of cruft because it does more than just FTP, but it works well and doesn't have ads.
Yey... Finally another use for the HP Touchpad by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 05:13 · Score: 0

Yay!... Now I can make use of the wifi only HP touchpad that has Android 4.0 on it.. The TP has the charging dock so it works well as a display in the kitchen... :-)
XBMC = No DVR? Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 05:45 · Score: 0

Why anyone would want/use a "Media Center" that doesn't play/record HD TV is beyond me. How is it exactly a media CENTER exactly? I'l stick to WMC.
1. Re:XBMC = No DVR? Seriously? by 0123456 · 2012-07-14 06:14 · Score: 1
  
  Why anyone would want/use a "Media Center" that doesn't play/record HD TV is beyond me.
  Uh, because you use MythTV for that. Xbmc is a MythTV front-end as well as a media player.
2. Re:XBMC = No DVR? Seriously? by lister+king+of+smeg · 2012-07-14 06:52 · Score: 0
  
  windows media center is abominable. it is slow and unresponsive and screws up the organization of my media, by not letting me put things where they belong and periodically uninstalls the netflix extension
  
  --
  ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
3. Re:XBMC = No DVR? Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 06:53 · Score: 1
  
  Myth, VDR or probably best, TV-Headend which is far better suited for this end.
4. Re:XBMC = No DVR? Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 08:05 · Score: 0
  
  It manages and plays your media, obtaining the media is left as an exercise for the user.
5. Re:XBMC = No DVR? Seriously? by 0100010001010011 · 2012-07-14 10:09 · Score: 2
  
  What is this "Recording" of TV you do? What purpose does it serve? My shows just show up 1-2 minutes after they have aired automagically.
6. Re:XBMC = No DVR? Seriously? by Daengbo · 2012-07-14 17:25 · Score: 1
  
  Who has cable or OTA TV anymore? Why would anyone want that? ;)
  
  --
  Put identity in the browser.
Question by BetaDays · 2012-07-14 06:00 · Score: 1

What is that little Andriod box that they show in the begining? I can't make out the name.

--
Paul: Father... father, the sleeper has awakened! - Dune
1. Re:Question by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 10:32 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  its the Pivos AIOS DS. Pivos sponsored and supported the android port.
2. Re:Question by BetaDays · 2012-07-14 12:22 · Score: 1
  
  If I had the mod points I'd give them to you. Thank you very much. I just ordered one.
  
  --
  Paul: Father... father, the sleeper has awakened! - Dune
The average user doesn't know about this by tepples · 2012-07-14 06:04 · Score: 1

set up net-top PC on TV
And there's the problem. The average user (who is not the kind of geek who reads Slashdot) either A. owns an SDTV, B. doesn't know that a PC can use an HDTV as a monitor, or C. isn't aware of the advantages of an HTPC running XBMC over dedicated video streaming hardware such as the Roku. How can each of these three be fixed?
1. Re:The average user doesn't know about this by damien_kane · 2012-07-16 01:55 · Score: 1
  
  set up net-top PC on TV
  And there's the problem. The average user (who is not the kind of geek who reads Slashdot) either A. owns an SDTV, B. doesn't know that a PC can use an HDTV as a monitor, or C. isn't aware of the advantages of an HTPC running XBMC over dedicated video streaming hardware such as the Roku. How can each of these three be fixed?
  Boxee has done a great job of it.
  through word-of-mouth from her friends she and her husband bought one (no interaction with me whatsoever on the topic), however as a port of XBMC (at least originally), it does everything they need it to do, which was to play videos she had on her pc in her living room on their tv/projector.
  The same can be said of XBMC now, once our community finds a suitable OTS nettop to play it on (that is supported by things like harmony remotes)
Download link by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 06:05 · Score: 1

http://dl.miniand.com/miniand/xbmc-android/xbmcapp-armeabi-v7a-debug-20120714.apk
Thin client is not a bad thing by DCstewieG · 2012-07-14 06:18 · Score: 2, Informative

I have to think that while something like Plex would be better for a lot of people, XBMC still gets used on name recognition alone. If you have more than one device that you watch media on (TVs, Roku, tablets, phones, whatever) why wouldn't you want a central server managing the library, downloading metadata, saving watched flags, holding resume times, and serving up video to the devices? I turned a friend on to Plex from XBMC and he's amazed at how often he stops watching in one room and resumes in another. I love it too. I can't count the times that I've started watching something on the iPad in the kitchen while cleaning up and then going into the bedroom to finish on the TV. That's a way bigger feature to me than getting "the real deal" running everywhere I need it.
The people above wanting this for Google TV...check out Plex, it may be exactly what you're looking for.
Sorry to not gush for XBMC, I know it's the best solution for many people and I truly appreciate the heritage and the fact that it's the foundation for Plex, but until they have a centralized server (if ever), I can't even consider it for myself. And no I'm not going to jump through hoops to get it.
1. Re:Thin client is not a bad thing by drinkypoo · 2012-07-14 06:31 · Score: 2
  
  I have to think that while something like Plex would be better for a lot of people,
  Why?
  
  XBMC still gets used on name recognition alone
  No, it gets used because I've been using it, I'm familar with it, it works great for the most part (except for some plugins) and it runs on everything I want to run it on and plays everything I want to play with it.
  
  If you have more than one device that you watch media on (TVs, Roku, tablets, phones, whatever) why wouldn't you want a central server managing the library, downloading metadata, saving watched flags, holding resume times, and serving up video to the devices?
  I would, but I'd also like a fully open-source solution, and I'd rather have multiple media libraries (which does involve some overhead, but only significantly when a new player is brought online) than have a closed-source component hanging out in the middle of everything. As well, you can use PS3MediaServer to deliver content to XBMC, so you can get much of the functionality with XBMC.
  
  Sorry to not gush for XBMC, I know it's the best solution for many people and I truly appreciate the heritage and the fact that it's the foundation for Plex, but until they have a centralized server (if ever), I can't even consider it for myself.
  Sorry not to ride Plex's dick, I'm sure it works fine for you, but until it's fully FOSS I'm not interested.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
2. Re:Thin client is not a bad thing by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 08:08 · Score: 0
  
  Umm, I do that now with XBMC without a problem! I setup an SQL server on one machine and pointed my clients to it. I can pause on one and resume elsewhere easily. I also have my metadata shared and my watched flags tracked this way....
3. Re:Thin client is not a bad thing by avgapon · 2012-07-14 08:13 · Score: 2
  
  Sorry, but I couldn't find Plex for FreeBSD or Plex Source Code on their download page.
4. Re:Thin client is not a bad thing by Colonel+Korn · 2012-07-14 08:21 · Score: 2
  
  I have to think that while something like Plex would be better for a lot of people, XBMC still gets used on name recognition alone. If you have more than one device that you watch media on (TVs, Roku, tablets, phones, whatever) why wouldn't you want a central server managing the library, downloading metadata, saving watched flags, holding resume times, and serving up video to the devices? I turned a friend on to Plex from XBMC and he's amazed at how often he stops watching in one room and resumes in another. I love it too. I can't count the times that I've started watching something on the iPad in the kitchen while cleaning up and then going into the bedroom to finish on the TV. That's a way bigger feature to me than getting "the real deal" running everywhere I need it.
  The people above wanting this for Google TV...check out Plex, it may be exactly what you're looking for.
  Sorry to not gush for XBMC, I know it's the best solution for many people and I truly appreciate the heritage and the fact that it's the foundation for Plex, but until they have a centralized server (if ever), I can't even consider it for myself. And no I'm not going to jump through hoops to get it.
  Plex transcodes and the resulting video looks pretty terrible. XBMC plays video natively.
  
  --
  "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
Bad timing on my part... by MMC+Monster · 2012-07-14 06:20 · Score: 1

Figures. I just spent $400 on an ASUS nettop.
That being said, the Google Nexus 7 is looking pretty damn good at $200.
I hope that XBMC on the Nexus 7 will give Apple some impetus to allow the XBMC app into the appstore.
Of course, knowing Apple, they'll try to litigate themselves out of this. And before you say I'm an Apple basher, my family and I own 4 iPhones and a MacBook. I just don't like this patent litigation route that they've gone recently.

--
Help! I'm a slashdot refugee.
What's so hard about displaying a webcomic... by jeffb+(2.718) · 2012-07-14 06:47 · Score: 1

...on a platform that's already got a perfectly reasonable browser?
Seriously, it took me the better part of a minute to realize that I wasn't seeing "XKCD" in the headline. I was still puzzled afterward, as I'd never heard of XMBC, but not as puzzled.
Does it support 10-bit h.264? by SpankyDaMonkey · 2012-07-14 10:38 · Score: 2

Like everyone else I'm going to be stuck waiting for the first build to try out. Key for me will be whether it supports the new 10-bit h.264 encoding. Seems like almost every player has issues - the only one that consistently works for me is mPlayer - and the softsub support support on that player still needs some work to bring it up to a desktop standard. Nice to see a release at least, especially considering that after the announcement that VLC is being ported to Android we're still to see a stable official VLC build on the store.
1. Re:Does it support 10-bit h.264? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 19:27 · Score: 0
  
  You'll need at least a desktop CPU for Hi10P. No hardware video decoders exist for it, and none will be made (it's an old profile that was only meant to be used by pros). Anime groups are the only ones using it so far, and they're incredibly stupid for doing so. They have no concept of compatibility, and believe an 8 year old profile is the "future" (it's not. H.265 is)
  In other words, no Hi10P for anything running an ARM processor.
2. Re:Does it support 10-bit h.264? by negge · 2012-07-14 21:06 · Score: 1
  
  The latest nightly builds support Hi10P playback, although like someone already mentioned, all decoding takes place in CPU.
Depends on the device unless you stream remotely by DCstewieG · 2012-07-14 13:00 · Score: 1

On a local network, nothing will transcode with a PC/Mac client, nor anything a device supports (and everything does h264 these days, and most do XviD). It remuxes if it has to but leaves the streams alone. Also over a local network the transcoding can have a huge bitrate and look fine. Admittedly it requires a beefy server. Remote streaming obviously gets a lower bitrate but you're trading quality for quantity with the ability to browse terabytes of media.
Look, I'm aware it isn't for everyone. I'm not going to respond to everyone here, but I guess "I know it's the best solution for many people" wasn't a good enough disclaimer.
XBMC Server by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-14 13:49 · Score: 0

If you only want audio...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hogdex.XbmcServerFree&hl=en