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OpenELEC 8.0.4 Kodi-Focused Linux Distro Now Available (openelec.tv)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the Kodi-capable dept.

BrianFagioli writes: Unfortunately, Kodi is not its own operating system, meaning it has to be run on top of an OS. Sure, you could use Windows 10, but that is overkill if you only want to run Kodi. Instead, a lightweight Linux distribution that only serves to run the media center is preferable. One of the most popular such distros is OpenELEC. It can run on traditional PC hardware, but also Raspberry Pi, and, my favorite — WeTek boxes. Today, version 8.0.4 achieves stable release. It is a fairly ho-hum update, focusing mostly on fixes and stability.

The team shares the following changes in the release.

- fix crash in WeTek DVB driver on WeTek Play (1st gen).
- enable Kernel NEON mode for RPi2 builds.
- enable some more SOC sound drivers for RPi/RPi2 builds.
- enable Regulator support on all builds.
- enable Extcon support on all builds.
- fix loading for some I2C sound modules on RPI/RPi2 builds.
- fix loading splash screen on systems with Nvidia GPUs.
- fix speed problems on Nvidia ION systems.
- fix problems loading dvbhdhomerun addons.
- fix using user created sleep scripts.
- build PNG support with SSE support for x86_64 builds.
- update to linux-4.9.30, mesa-17.0.7, alsa-lib-1.1.4.1, alsa-utils-1.1.4, kodi-17,3, mariadb-10.1.23, samba-4.6.4.

43 comments

  1. Anyone tried it? by SmaryJerry · · Score: 1

    I'm still on kodi 16.1 on pi 3. Does this make 17 usable? As in, will I be able to play files fine and use typical addons without long loading times and wierd menu bugs? I've tried virtually every Linux distro and nothing seems to 'just work' on kodi 17.

    1. Re:Anyone tried it? by guises · · Score: 1

      If you haven't used OpenELEC: it works... fine? I guess? I haven't seen any weird loading times or menu bugs. These are somewhat lessor issues though - the big thing that you're going to notice is that you can't change the SSH password. It's "openelec" for everyone.

      Given that this is intended for HTPCs, SSH is the primary way you're going to be addressing any bugs you do run into, or any other customizations that you'd like to do (like setting up a remote control, for example). I also found it to be the easiest way to get media onto storage attached to my OpenELEC device. Since SSH can't be secured, this is going to leave you turning it on and off again constantly, any time you want to do something. And forgetting about it, of course, and leaving it on for long stretches.

    2. Re:Anyone tried it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you insert the Bikini Bottom pineapple upside up, or upside down?

    3. Re:Anyone tried it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      To secure SSH, upload your public key into ~/.ssh/authorized_keys like any civilized person would do, fix the permissions, check that you can login using your public key and then turn off password access. Don't be that idiot who keeps using SSH with passwords.

    4. Re:Anyone tried it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, tried OpenELEC 8.0.3 in my RPi3 with berryboot but had to revert to 7.0.1 since they dropped support for LIRC and there is no TVHeadend available for that version either. :(

      Have to find some time to migrate all to LibreELEC that seems to have better support.

    5. Re:Anyone tried it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't take any time at all to "migrate". Just download the latest LibreELEC tar and drop it in the update directory on the RPi3 and reboot. OpenELEC is dead, they haven't even released the one line update to fix the critical subtitle exploit.

    6. Re:Anyone tried it? by jimbo · · Score: 1

      Have you tried OSMC.tv?

    7. Re:Anyone tried it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, may be or may be not. Already wasted several hours with the OpenELEC 7.0.1 -> 8.0.3 fiasco.

      Considering that Kodi 17 migrate all the databases to a new format, and OpenELEC 7.0.1 uses Tvheadend 4.0 which is long obsolete, I don't want to screw all my TV channels and libraries.

      The RPI3 making and recovering from a tarred >10GB backup in SD takes ridiculously forever even with berryboot.

      LibreELEC has both Tvheadend 4.0 and 4.2 addons available but since Tvheadend 4.3 is in prerelease now I'd prefer to at least use 4.2.

      What is certain is that I agree that OpenELEC is dead.

    8. Re:Anyone tried it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are so many idiotic design choices that {open|libre}ELEC made it baffles the mind.

      1) They took the time to write a shell script named "passwd" that does nothing more than tell you they have removed the 'real' passwd utilit, and insult you for even wanting to have some control over your device in the way that you choose.
      2) They loaded the binaries, but then removed all the man pages for said binaries.
      3) They took the time to write a shell script named "apt-get" that does nothing more than tell you they have removed the 'real' apt-get utility, and insult you for even wanting to have some control over your device.

      For me, it was 3 strikes & you're out...there are probably plenty more poor design choices, but after I encountered these, I moved on to the raspbian lite distro...Simply 'apt-get install kodi', then set the pi user to auto-login, and add a call to kodi at the end of the ~/.profile & you're set with a much more sane "minimal" OS on which to run kodi...

    9. Re: Anyone tried it? by Flymo2 · · Score: 1

      +1. OSMC works very well on my Pi 3 (must say I use default Kodi skin rather than OSMC one). It pretty much just works.

    10. Re:Anyone tried it? by Budenny · · Score: 1

      There are so many idiotic design choices that {open|libre}ELEC made it baffles the mind.

      1) They took the time to write a shell script named "passwd" that does nothing more than tell you they have removed the 'real' passwd utilit, and insult you for even wanting to have some control over your device in the way that you choose. 2) They loaded the binaries, but then removed all the man pages for said binaries. 3) They took the time to write a shell script named "apt-get" that does nothing more than tell you they have removed the 'real' apt-get utility, and insult you for even wanting to have some control over your device.

      For me, it was 3 strikes & you're out...there are probably plenty more poor design choices, but after I encountered these, I moved on to the raspbian lite distro...Simply 'apt-get install kodi', then set the pi user to auto-login, and add a call to kodi at the end of the ~/.profile & you're set with a much more sane "minimal" OS on which to run kodi...

      Similar experience but worse. I tried openelec and librelec. They both boot from usb, both install just fine, then after a short time when you start them up, they start to flicker and the system freezes with this uninterruptible flickering. Its probably due to a wrong resolution setting, but you cannot get into the resolution settings.... because of the frozen flickering! There is no command line. Nothing. Only think to do is stop wasting time, clear it all off and find another way. Its ridiculous really. They have taken out everything you might need to fix it if it goes wrong. Null points!

  2. Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would be nice if the summary gave some hint as to what this is.

    1. Re:Kodi? by present_arms · · Score: 1

      used to be called XBMC ;)

      --
      http://chimpbox.us
    2. Re: Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Kodi is an open source media playing system that is frequently used for piracy, especially in things like illegal streaming devices. That is why Android-based Kodi devices aren't welcome on Amazon and can no longer be sold on Facebook. Hope that helps.

    3. Re: Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so is a web browser.

    4. Re:Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Fuck off. There is not a single bit of code in Kodi to enable or promote piracy. It's an open system. If you add stuff to it to use it for piracy, that's on you and not on Kodi.

    5. Re: Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      in the 90s amazon was a new startup operating at a loss and selling below cost in an 'obtain market share at any cost' mode.. if they were any larger back then and had any amount of clout, they would have banned the VCR, dialup modems, and CD burners by that same logic that says 'ban kodi'.

    6. Re:Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's what they're gonna start calling PCs. From inside a walled garden, everyone on the outside looks like hoodlums.

    7. Re:Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right, and bittorrent is mostly for Linux distributions...

      You and everybody here knows that Kodi is mostly used for pirated content. It's not like what people say on Slashdot really matter for anything, so why be disingenuous about it?

    8. Re:Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, you THINK it's like that, probably because you're a pirate.

    9. Re:Kodi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not the Kodi to blame.
      It's the operative system allowing Kodi to run, and the hardware allowing the operative system to run, and the user allowing using the hardware to power on.

    10. Re: Kodi? by furry_wookie · · Score: 1

      ACTUALLY Kodi is one of the best front end players for MythTV for making your own whole house DVR, LiveTV system.

      Combine that with the ability to play your video own library of videos/DVD's and its a great media center.

      That is what I use it for.

      --
      -- Given enough time and money, Microsoft will eventualy invent UNIX.
  3. WeTek vs RPi3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can anyone share/comment on their experience using the WeTek boxes, especially if you've compared them with the RPi3 (running OpenELEC)?

    1. Re:WeTek vs RPi3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I run LibreELEC on a WeTek Play 2 and it's a nice device. It's not quite as robust in software as the RPi3 due to the older kernel but it plays all the content I have with ease and is quite stable (at least my kids don't break it). The WeTek Hub runs the same codebase (only changes are for device tree and remote config) so it should be the same. I wouldn't recommend older WeTek devices as they are stuck on an ancient Android derived kernel whereas 64-bit platforms can potentially update to a mainline kernel later this year (and LibreELEC devs are working on this). I would not recommend OpenELEC for WeTek devices because the developer likes to bump packages in the OS without testing things first and long-working functions have been crippled in his 8.0 releases as a result of some odd design choices made. I guess when you work solo and only have yourself to discuss ideas with they all sound great :)

  4. true enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    its not a is but it is basically a limited de/wm. i use it in its own tty somtimes not even starting a propper wm in a separate tty though as long as you start a network automatically you do not need to mess with that( though personally i do not but have aliases for known networking and there are console programs for it for easily connecting).

  5. WeTek in the USA ? by kjhambrick · · Score: 1

    The WeTek Play Box looks pretty nice but ...

    I can't tell ... does it even work in the USA ?

    Thanks.

    -- kjh

    1. Re:WeTek in the USA ? by swimboy · · Score: 2

      Yes, the built-in tuner supports ATSC, which is what is used in US network broadcasts. If you're expecting to use it in lieu of your cable box you'll be disappointed, however.

      --
      Ask me how the Heisenberg Principle may or may not have saved my life.
    2. Re:WeTek in the USA ? by kjhambrick · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the info swimboy !

      Not looking to replace Cable but to augment it with internet content.

      -- kjh

    3. Re:WeTek in the USA ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Make sure you get the Play 2 (S905) and not the older Play (8276MX) device. There's a huge (positive) difference in software support for the newer device.

  6. Unfortunately? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Unfortunately, Kodi is not its own operating system, meaning it has to be run on top of an OS.

    Unfortunately? What possible reason could anyone have to consider that to be a disadvantage?

    --

    How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    1. Re:Unfortunately? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately? What possible reason could anyone have to consider that to be a disadvantage?

      The summary mentions it quite clearly. To run a single self contained media centre. Who thinks it's an advantage? The OpenELEC team. The LibreELEC team. And all the users who think a flash to an SD card and play with no more than a TV remote is preferable to installing an OS, installing an app on top, and then spending the best part of a month optimising it.

      A small PCB under the TV the size of a credit card powered by a System on a Chip demands a Software on a Stick. Being just an app is a major disadvantage and I would happily wager there are more users out there of pre-built special purpose media centre OSes than there are people downloading and installing Kodi on a traditional OS.

    2. Re:Unfortunately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then you could install systemd on top of Kodi?

    3. Re:Unfortunately? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 2

      The summary mentions it quite clearly. To run a single self contained media centre. Who thinks it's an advantage? The OpenELEC team. The LibreELEC team.

      But OpenELEC and LibreELEC don't turn Kodi into its own operating system. They provide an OS that is suitable for running Kodi. There's a difference.

      The fact that the Kodi developers focused solely on creating a media player, not an operating system, is "fortunate", not "unfortunate."

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    4. Re:Unfortunately? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Yes so "fortunate" that it is rarely used by itself and instead is attached to other people's effort who then write specific OSes for running the app.

      Unfortunately in this context is perfectly true. Kodi itself is quite useless as a media centre. Fortunately some people took this work and bundled it in a usable way.

    5. Re:Unfortunately? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 1

      .... you do realize that there are tons of people using Kodi already without using these specialized distributions, right? It's pretty damn obvious that it doesn't have to be bundled with a specialized distribution to be "usable."

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    6. Re:Unfortunately? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      You do realise their usage is dwarfed by box sales bundled with special OSes.

      The hacker community is good and live but it none the less remains a small community. Installing a media centre app on a desktop OS and plugging it into a TV is a worst of all worlds attempt at frustration that would only suit the kind of person who has a keyboard and mouse along side their 20 remote controls in the living room.

      Kodi's primary user base is ... simpler.

  7. Windows 10 IoT works better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tried to use kodi on linux, it was crashing left and right on my pi. Instead, i use it on windows 10 IoT. It just works. And doesnt skip or crash left and right.

    1. Re: Windows 10 IoT works better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Pffff. Always used Linux with KODI on Pi and it is rock solid. You probably had a corrupted fs, falty SD or were using buggy addons.

  8. Hurray, a few bug fixes. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    Seriously, this is the kind of maintenance release that auto installs without anyone noticing. Not to dis a project which I love and use daily (or used to anyway since I'm using LibreELEC at the moment) but why is this news?

    Even the official announcement didn't bother to even check itself (hint: the I2C interface is too slow to carry sound. RPi sound cards use the I2S interface).

  9. Don't upgrade from Jarvis to Krypton... by suss · · Score: 1

    You will get an unwanted UI change, broken samba, and glitchy/broken menus when you switch back to the Confluence UI.

    And for some reason, it turns from snappy to sluggish.

    Aren't these things properly betatested anymore?

    1. Re: Don't upgrade from Jarvis to Krypton... by Flymo2 · · Score: 1

      Don't recognise these problems with OSMC.tv on Pi 3.