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OpenELEC 8.0 Linux Distro Released For PC, Raspberry Pi, WeTek Hub (betanews.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the Linux-y-goodness dept.

BrianFagioli writes: Today, popular Linux distro OpenELEC reaches version 8.0 stable. This operating system leverages Kodi to provide a well-rounded media center experience. Not only are there images for PC, but for Raspberry Pi, and WeTek boxes too.

'OpenELEC 8.0 release contains a Kodi major version bump. If you are updating from OpenELEC 7.0 or earlier we strongly recommend you perform a full backup before performing a manual update. If you experience issues please perform a soft-reset to clear OpenELEC and Kodi settings,' says Stephan Raue, OpenELEC.

50 comments

  1. Qualifier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Define "popular"

    1. Re:Qualifier by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      "Google has heard of it"

      --
      Support my political activism on Patreon.
    2. Re:Qualifier by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 2

      I run it... Bulletproof

      In the niche you need it for, an embedded, Hands off XMBC/Kodi install that you set once and pretty much forget (meaning you can set it up for your folks and not worry about support calls) it's very popular. Much like Microsoft Windows would be popular with a bunch of PC makers but not so much with cell phone makers. Yeah, it's a niche, but it dominates its niche.

      Or were you being snarky?

    3. Re:Qualifier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well I'm glad that Google has heard of it. Supposedly OpenELEC is popular but I've never heard of it myself. However I don't participate in the makerspace and maybe that's where it is strong?

  2. "Well rounded media center experience" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Only in Linux do they consider a well rounded media center experience including doing a soft reset. For the ultimate in user experience, config files may be manually edited before recompilation.

    1. Re:"Well rounded media center experience" by dreamchaser · · Score: 1

      I don't know about you, but every DVR/Media Center/etc. I've ever owned has required some kind of reset after an update.

  3. DOWN WITH OPENELEC by lucm · · Score: 1

    Long live LibreElec!

    Although I heard rumors about a new fork, SueltoElec, which is even more free.

    --
    lucm, indeed.
    1. Re: DOWN WITH OPENELEC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I've had various problems with libreelec for a while now. Every upgrade seems like a downgrade. Hoping openelec is better but I'm content just sticking with old libre versions for now.

    2. Re: DOWN WITH OPENELEC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      The change from OpenSSL to LibreSSL (in LibreELEC v8.0.1) was causing various problems with add-ons.
      Everyone impacted is waiting for LibreELEC v8.0.2 now :-/

      However LibreELEC is a real open/transparent community project, whereas OpenELEC is basically a one-man-show nowadays.

    3. Re: DOWN WITH OPENELEC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please tell me you guys aren't fucking serious. *searches* Fuck.

    4. Re: DOWN WITH OPENELEC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Honesty the one man show might be better. Libreelec doesn't really offer much anymore except bugs and popularity for no apparent reason than libreelec people hate on openelec. This is supposed to be a simple and fast media player and it's turned glitchy and slow and had features removed, part of which is Kodi's fault with the new interface that is worse for navigation, looks, and speed, basically worse in every way.

  4. Wait, why should I care? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Obscure Linux version gets updated, holy shit!?!?!!?!?

    1. Re:Wait, why should I care? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You really shouldn't. I think we could all let OpenElec die a quiet death and this isn't helping.

      Not only it's obscure, it's a worsened version of it's open-source rival, LibreElec.

  5. Music and screen saver by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can the screen save engage while music is playing?

    It is Linux, right? It can multitask, right?

    1. Re:Music and screen saver by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know about that but with the right plug-in it can show music lyrics while music is playing... imagine that! Lyrics words being displayed at the same time and in sync with the music playing! Just wow... that's multitasking happening before your eyes right there! Great times to be alive!

  6. Site Flagged By Google As Hacked by kamaaina · · Score: 2

    Not sure if it is an over aggressive google check or if they were really hacked, but last time I went there I got a warning.

    1. Re:Site Flagged By Google As Hacked by lucm · · Score: 3, Funny

      if they were really hacked

      Impossible: that website is powered by Joomla.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    2. Re:Site Flagged By Google As Hacked by worf_mo · · Score: 0

      The word "leverages" appears in TFS. There's no way I click on a link when "leverage" is on the same page - that word is a darling to the worst of marketing drones. I hear they kick puppies for fun.

  7. OSMC is better by AncalagonTotof · · Score: 2

    OpenElec is a PITA to upgrade.
    OSMC is based on Debian, thus performs upgrades through apt-*. The interface takes care of checking for available upgrade. I recently got a massive one that brought Kodi 17.x.
    IR configuration is easier, although still not for the faint of heart.
    And if you need something more from your box, just login and apt-get install the packages.

    --
    Totof
    1. Re:OSMC is better by jimbo · · Score: 2

      I really enjoy OSMC for the reasons you mention here, as well as the friendly and helpful community. I use it with a RPi2 and a Vero 4K that mains media center but doubles as a small server for various purposes.

    2. Re:OSMC is better by Orgasmatron · · Score: 1

      I just burn a new SD card and/or USB stick, power down my PI, swap the storage and plug it back in. The script I use even drops in my database credentials, network map, configuration values and even a plugin or two that I like.

      Of course, I detest the metadata plugins in Kodi, so I upgrade my office PI first, then I spend a few days checking and updating the list of maps that my scripts use to translate my crappy fields like "movie_title" and "episode_summary" into intuitive Kodi fields like "c01" and "c14". When that is done, then I can upgrade the PI that runs the TV my girlfriend uses.

      Hmm. Actually, that is a bit of a pain in the ass, now that I think about it.

      How much improved is the IR stuff? I gave up a few versions ago and just got one of those MCE USB IR receivers that sends keystrokes. Much easier to teach my learning remote the MCE IR codes than to teach Kodi anything.

      --
      See that "Preview" button?
    3. Re:OSMC is better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Well, on LibreElec IR is even easier I guess? I do absolutely nothing for it to work with my Harmony controller (no, it isn't using CEC as my TV doesn't support it).

      OpenElec deluded people really should try LibreElec.

  8. I hate Kodi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe it's just me, but I hate Kodi. The interface is Fisher Price style, combined with horrible Windows file selector style dialogs popups appearings. It's unintuitive but worst of all, it's hard versioned, so every time I run it, some plugin is incompatible and cannot be used.

    Even when everything is up to date, it just doesn't work half the time.

    I'm spoilt, I usually run Up TV, or Synology Video player, and they are far more solid and professional than Kodi.

    Isn't it time someone replaced Kodi?

    1. Re:I hate Kodi by Harold+Halloway · · Score: 3, Informative

      Well the beauty of Kodi is that if you don't like the interface, you can change it. There are dozens of alternative ones out there. And if you are describing the Confluence skin then that's now been dropped in favour of a more modern looking skin.

      But if you are simply looking for a straight video player and don't need the addon or library functions in Kodi then you are probably better off using a straight video player app.

    2. Re:I hate Kodi by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      And if you are describing the Confluence skin then that's now been dropped in favour of a more modern looking skin.

      Yeah, a less-intuitive one that doesn't work as well. Winning?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:I hate Kodi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Man... if you are in fact happy with Up TV Synology or whatever, just use it then. The fact you are still angry with Kodi (and want it to be replaced?) tells something about the real effectiveness of your alternatives.

      I use Krypton everyday and it does what I need it to do without significant effort on my part. For movie viewing, 95% of the pop-up you mention can be managed with direct remote commands. I don't see where the problem is.

      You may not like it, but it works.

    4. Re:I hate Kodi by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      The interface is Fisher Price style

      It's interesting to see someone complain about an interface for a system that is incredibly customisable and has quite a rich bank of alternate interfaces.

    5. Re:I hate Kodi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are at least 4 skins.

    6. Re:I hate Kodi by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I don't want it to be replaced. I want it to be easily usable, not just by me but by my lady who also uses it. I want them to hang a GUI on the library sharing functionality, too. And I want a pony.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    7. Re:I hate Kodi by wisnoskij · · Score: 1

      Their PC app really does not make sense. Kodi has its roots as a controller based interface on low res screens and is still great at that. It is not ideal for keyboard and mouse use, for sitting right next to a decent res screen. But as a OS and media library and player you can control from your couch with your remote it is pretty amazing.

      Been using it since it was XMBC, and it was freaking amazing, it was revolutionary. Now their are alternative, but with Openelec, a full made to order OS, it again is pretty revolutionary. It's not just Ubuntu with Kodi pre installed, it is the OS.

      --
      Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
  9. systemd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    but does it require systemd

    1. Re:systemd by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Irrelevant. If you have any interaction with your init system then your media centre is outright broken and it belongs in the bin.
      Actually I say the same thing about Linux booting in general.

    2. Re:systemd by pak9rabid · · Score: 2

      Irrelevant. If you have any interaction with your init system then your media centre is outright broken and it belongs in the bin

      Not necessarily. I needed to setup an NFS mount for my to access my ROMs remotely via RetroArch, which is used entirely outside of Kodi. The old, pre-systemd way (on OpenELEC anyways), was to write an autostart.sh script that gets executed at boot time to do the mount. The problem is, in order to ensure that the NFS mount will actually get mounted at boot is to do some hacky shit like sleep for 30 seconds, which obviously increases boot time by that much.

      With systemd, I just create a unit file to do the mount for me, telling it that it depends on on the networking service first so that the mount isn't even tried until the network is up & running.

    3. Re:systemd by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Yes necessarily. Your example is outside of the scope of a "media centre".

      But I ask you this: Should a user be expected to play with their init system to get the ability to connect to a network share working on a system designed to play media from a network share?

  10. Obama by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is a communist Muslim from Kenya.

  11. There no LIRC support anymore, totally useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    From release notes:

    LIRC support removed, LIRC was always installed as a enhancenment to the Kernel RC drivers, and was only used for very old IR Hardware like classic XBox remote and others - which support is now dropped.

    Thanks openelec!!!

    1. Re:There no LIRC support anymore, totally useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Phew! Was just going to upgrade my 2 rpi, that both use LIRC for input which works great with IR remotes, but I think that will skip this one. :(

      The kodi remote android app or the ugly web interface via wifi is just too cumbersome when you only need a simple IR remote to navigate the menus.

      Was too much trouble to keep LIRC? What are they thinking?

  12. So what are the benefits? by petes_PoV · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I have read the information on the release page
    It contains a long list of various stuff that has been updated from one version to another.
    It adds some new drivers for a few bits and pieces
    It changes from one database to a different one.

    But nowhere does it tell me what wonderful new functions I would benefit from using if I installed this "feature" release. In fact, it doesn't mention any "features" at all. Just support for new hardware, which wouldn't be useful to people upgrading on their existing hardware.

    If I (assuming I hadOpenElec installed on anything) was going to upgrade to this version, I would want to know what new things I would be able to use it to do. I would want to know what worked better, or faster. I would want to know how I would be more entertained, or find things easier, or become richer, or taller.

    But these things, which I expect to be important, are not mentioned. Should I assume that there are some persuasive reasons to upgrade, or is this just a new release for its own sake?

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
    1. Re: So what are the benefits? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How is a libreelec link an answer to an openelec question? They may have a kodi base, but they are not the same.

    2. Re:So what are the benefits? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is what you are looking for:

              https://libreelec.tv/2017/02/libreelec-krypton-v8-0-0-release/

      Do follow the link to Kodi v17.0 release notes mentioned.

      systemd?....checks....yup....
      not a benefit
      not the answer..

    3. Re: So what are the benefits? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, not the same. It would be an issue if OpenElec was actually better than LibreElec... but it isn't the case.

      So, just thank the guy. He's doing you a favor.

  13. Is there still no browser? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does OpenELEC still lack a browser and any ability to install one?

  14. Not sure about the negative comments by k2r · · Score: 1

    I have a satellite dish and receiver (gigablue) on one side of the house distributing DVB-S(2) signal by LAN/WiFi to two TV-Sets, each with a RaspberryPi 3 and Openelec.
    It works very well, is easy to use for my MSO and I'm not aware of any other product capable of doing this.
    I'm looking forward to what the update will bring.

  15. No hardware accelerated h264_omx encoding enabled by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Still no hardware accelerated h264_omx encoding enabled in FFMpeg for the RaspberryPi.

  16. Honest question--no fanboy flaming please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why would I run OpenELEC instead of Kodibuntu? I only messed with the former a few years ago over a weekend, and have run the latter since.

    1. Re:Honest question--no fanboy flaming please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because since at least 2 years ago, "Kodibuntu is not supported anymore. Therefore Kodibuntu is not available anymore at the download page"?

    2. Re:Honest question--no fanboy flaming please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh crap. I just installed it (15.x I think) last night. That sucks.

  17. Automatic Update? by wisnoskij · · Score: 1

    I have had my openelec PI for a while now. Will it have updated itself to this newest version, or do you need to do that yourself.

    --
    Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.