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XBMC audio engine gets big rewrite, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio hit your media hub

Jon Fingas — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:21:00 EST

Fans of XBMC who've wanted their HTPCs to replace the higher-end components of a home theater setup, like Blu-ray players and higher-end receivers, are having their wishes fulfilled through a completely reworked sound system. AudioEngine, as it's called, can processevery stage of audio encoding and decoding, even with 7.1-channel formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. As the code uses more precise floating point math, the improvements can bolster heavily compressed audio and allow for upmixing from stereo to a native surround format. Sound should sync more closely to video and avoid any jarring interruptions from system sounds, too. The AudioEngine update is still limited to experimental nightly builds of XBMC, so don't be surprised if something goes awry, but it's slated as part of the main development track and should be a boon for just about any XBMC media junkie before long.

XBMC audio engine gets big rewrite, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio hit your media hub originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plex shows you how to make your TV shows look great with its new Local Media Agent

Daniel Cooper — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:41:00 EST

Out friends at Plex have shuttled out a new Local Media Agent that'll enable you to make your TV shows look great. The updated software lets you add show and season posters, banners, background art, theme music and individual episode thumbnails to your recorded shows to make each one really, really good-looking. It'll happily handle PNG and FLAC files for those lossless enthusiasts and it'll even overlook a messy file structure to get everything looking great. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to catalog our Community episodes with thumbnails of Dean Pelton's outfits.

Plex shows you how to make your TV shows look great with its new Local Media Agent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eyes-on Brytewerks Model One high-def projector and HTPC combo

Michael Gorman — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:13:00 EST

Back in January, we got our first glimpse of BryteWerks' Model One projector, albeit in render form only. Well, today at DEMO, we finally saw the thing in person and uncovered a bit more info about its innards. It still pumps out 11,000 lumens and throws images on the wall in 1920 x 1200 resolution, but it turns out to have a range of Intel silicon at its disposal: everything from a humble 1.6GHz Atom up to a 3.6GHZ Core i7. There are also multiple storage options, as the Model One comes with an Intel 320 SSD (60 or 120GB) -- where the OS resides to ensure super fast boot times -- and up to a 2TB HDD, so you have plenty of room for all your media. Speaking of the OS, it turns out the projector/HTPC has two: a customized version of XBMC and Windows 7, plus a custom GUI (currently in development) to make calibrating the projector dead simple. Because the projector's 1200-watt metal halide bulb generates so much heat, the internal chassis is built of aluminum and houses the components into four individually cooled chambers. That way, all the PC parts can stay cool on the bottom even while the projector's running full bore.

Gallery: Brytewerks Model One eyes-on

We got to see a hand-built prototype in person, and the Model One strikes an imposing, if elegant figure. It's roughly a foot and a half square cube, with a black brushed metal exterior devoid of any branding or other ornamentation, save for the silver ring around the lens. The power, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 and four RCA connections are situated in the black plastic feet to keep cord clutter to a minimum, and the lens up front is magnetically attached to make swapping it out a simple affair. We got to speak with its creator, Justin Evans, about the genesis of the device, and he informed us that he's but a humble filmmaker who's trying to help out independent theaters, film festivals, filmmakers, and consumers. His goal was to create a projector that's both easy to use and cheap as chips (comparatively speaking) to enable film editing on the big screen and make high quality movie projection available to the masses. Given that the Model One is set to start shipping in six to eight weeks at an asking price of $2999, we'd say he's hit the mark -- assuming the image quality is as good as he says it is, and the build quality of the production model's up to snuff, of course. Here's hoping we get to see the thing in action sometime soon.

Continue reading Eyes-on Brytewerks Model One high-def projector and HTPC combo

Eyes-on Brytewerks Model One high-def projector and HTPC combo originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC Eden officially steps out of beta, available for download now

Joe Pollicino — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:12:00 EST

Been snacking on popcorn with the beta build of XBMC 11.0 Eden since it got released last December? If, you'll be pleased know that the full-on release version is now officially available for download. In case you don't recall, this latest build of the media center house many new features, not limited to Addon Rollbacks (in case you hate their new builds), a plethora of speed-improvements, official "in- sync support" for iOS devices, AirPlay functionality and UI tweaks. There's also good news for Ubuntu users, as XBMCbuntu Final has been officially announced as the successor to XBMC Live. Excuse the pun, but if you're ready to taste the fruit now that it's ripe, you'll find the full details for both and the download link for Eden at the source link below.

XBMC Eden officially steps out of beta, available for download now originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BeagleBone board boots up XBMC Eden, shows off its media prowess

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:01:00 EST

BeagleBoard isn't letting the Raspberry Pi steal all the glory in the battle for low-cost computing supremacy. The $35 ARM11-based Pi may win on price, but at least the BeagleBone can hold its own in terms of power. After the Model B was demoed pushing XBMC and AirPlay capabilities, some intrepid devs managed to get the second beta of Eden up and running on the ARM A8 dev board. The vid stutters a bit during playback but, overall, it's a respectable performance considering this is a CPU that would get laughed out of most modern smartphones. Head on after the break to see it in action.

Continue reading BeagleBone board boots up XBMC Eden, shows off its media prowess

BeagleBone board boots up XBMC Eden, shows off its media prowess originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC Eden finally makes it to beta, promises HTPC superpowers

Sharif Sakr — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:12:00 EST

Remember that big XBMC update teased back in October? Well, v11.0's multifarious additions are finally ready for a spot of beta testing. These include all-round speed increases, a "vastly improved" default skin, the ability to rollback unpleasant add-on updates, and better hardware support for iOS devices, plus a host of other new features that can only be listed in full at the source link.

XBMC Eden finally makes it to beta, promises HTPC superpowers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VidaBox Media Servers add metadata support for XBMC, Popcorn Hour and others

Richard Lawler — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:46:00 EST

We wouldn't expect for upper-crust aimed media server setups like the ones offered by VidaBox to play nicely with the common rabble, but apparently that's just what is going on. With the click of a check box, its "Drop-n-Rip" Blu-ray and DVD archiving now includes cover art and other metadata compatible with third party streamers including Popcorn Hour, HDI Dune, TViX, XBMC, Sage TV and others. This probably won't drop the cost of a custom installed setup by much, but if you have one and want to bring your own extender hardware (similar to its recent iPad support) into the mix, it should be a simple upgrade.

Continue reading VidaBox Media Servers add metadata support for XBMC, Popcorn Hour and others

VidaBox Media Servers add metadata support for XBMC, Popcorn Hour and others originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC teases new features coming in 11.0 'Eden' release

Richard Lawler — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:11:00 EST

The next version of XBMC isn't ready for prime time yet, but the team behind it is already talking about what's being added and tweaked in v11.0, a.k.a Eden. This is the first major release since the media player app added iPad, iPhone and Apple TV support and as such improved touchscreen support is high on the list. We can also expect a new "Files" view in the video library, a different default skin, improved CPU / GPU efficiency, customizable home screens and other UI tweaks as seen above. Now that the list of features is pretty much locked down we'll be expecting a beta, and eventually final release, but you can hit the source link to dive in early and help test everything out.

XBMC teases new features coming in 11.0 'Eden' release originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sigma Design's 'ultra thin' TV box design promises HD in a tiny package

Richard Lawler — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:22:00 EST

It's not much bigger than many of the wall warts currently filling outlets in your power strip, but this reference design from Sigma Designs could be your next cable box. With HomePlug networking, Z-Wave RF remote control technology and the ability to process multiple 1080p streams at once built in, it only needs to be plugged in to the wall (and connected to a TV via HDMI) to get to work. connect to the network and pull in video from the internet, feeds from an IPTV provider like U-Verse (or Comcast eventually), or multiroom streams from a connected DVR. At its heart is the SMP8670 chip unveiled at CES that's optimized for XBMC, Adobe AIR and Flash which could make it an ideal extender for someone like TiVo or Boxee, if Sigma can get them to bite on the concept. Until then, all we can show you are a few pics of the bare internals in the gallery and a press release after the break.

Gallery: Sigma Ultra-Thin set-top box

Continue reading Sigma Design's 'ultra thin' TV box design promises HD in a tiny package

Sigma Design's 'ultra thin' TV box design promises HD in a tiny package originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plex Media Server launches client for Roku

Michael Gorman — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:01:00 EST

Plex has been serving up streaming video for more than a minute, bringing content to Macs, iDevices, and even jailbroken Apple TVs (not to mention apps for all sizes of Android). For those who are neither Apple aficionados nor dedicated 'droid users, the company has rolled out a client that runs on Rokus. It's currently in beta and only supports video, but Plex plans to provide picture and music management in the future. Plex's XBMC secret sauce paired with Roku's ample streaming content buffet? Sounds delicious.

[Thanks, James]

Plex Media Server launches client for Roku originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plex plays nice with your Honeycomb slate after app update

Michael Gorman — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:04:00 EST

We've praised Plex in the past for delivering us box-free XBMC and for it's prodigious media streaming proficiency. Problem is, its app wasn't optimized for the Honeycomb OS and the upsized screen real estate of Android slates -- until now. With the updated code comes tablet-friendly layouts and fast-scrolling in all grid and list views so you can zip through your large local media library. It also includes direct play and internet streaming sans-transcoding (just like the recently revised iOS app) for sating those right now vid cravings. The improvements serve smaller Android devices as well, which makes the newly egalitarian app more enticing than ever before. Best of all, it's still only five bucks.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Plex plays nice with your Honeycomb slate after app update originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola NYXboard surfaces from the dead, XBMC reclaims it (update)

Sean Hollister — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:05:00 EST

Seven months ago, Motorola unveiled a dual-sided, QWERTY-laden TV remote control: the NYXboard. It was never heard from again. Today, we've learned why -- the open-source community will be selling a version specially redesigned to control your XBMC rig. The folks at Pulse-Eight -- a startup with roots in the XBMC community dedicated to designing hardware -- tell us they actually talked Motorola out of bundling the remote with set-top-boxes in favor of a nefarious plan. Simply put, they want you to be able to purchase an IR and RF remote that natively supports XBMC for a penny under $60 this June.

While we don't have any real pictures of the unit quite yet -- just the renders you see above and below -- developers say it will work with installations on Mac, Windows, Linux and the original Apple TV on day one, and will actually turn off the side of the remote that's face down to avoid accidental inputs. You'll find the NYXboard up for pre-order now at our source link, with the first shipments slated for around June 27th. Then again, you might want to wait, as we're told there are more surprises in store: a second version that can control the Apple TV 2, and a secret method which would allow the remotes to control your home entertainment center without pesky line-of-sight infrared. The best laid plans and all that... but it sounds like Logitech's Harmony may finally get some competition.

Update: The situation's a bit tricky, but the XBMC Foundation (a non-profit entity) wants you to know that hardware vendor Pulse-Eight (a for-profit venture) isn't actually part of their group -- Pulse-Eight was founded by an XBMC team member and produces hardware targeted at the XBMC community, but apparently isn't funded by (nor directs funding towards) the XBMC foundation itself.

Gallery: Motorola NYXboard Hybrid renders

Motorola NYXboard surfaces from the dead, XBMC reclaims it (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget HD: What's the cheapest media streamer that plays MKVs?

Richard Lawler — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

Our friend Nathan is a simple guy with simple needs. He just wants to stream MKVs from a DLNA server to watch on his HDTV and he doesn't want to pay a lot or do a lot of work to do it. We'll let him break down the situation:

I was about to buy an Apple TV for $99 with the express purpose of hacking it (jailbreak) to put XBMC on it -- to play MKV files from my DLNA server. And then it occurred to me, maybe there is a cheaper solution, that doesn't require a hack, for this purpose? What are the pros and cons of going with such an alternate?

So what is it: Roku, WDTV, the hacked Apple TV he was already planning to go with, or something else? Let us know what you'd recommend and why in the comments below.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Ask Engadget HD: What's the cheapest media streamer that plays MKVs? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xtreamer Ultra HTPC hands-on -- and Prodigy eyes-on

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:31:00 EST

First, the good news: Xtreamer has its lovely little Ultra HTPC out and hooked up here at CeBIT. Now, the bad: the considerably more beautiful Prodigy streamer is under lock and key, and they won't be doing any demos. Ah, well -- may as well make the best of the situation, right? In brief, the Ultra might be the baddest little HTPC we've seen here at the show -- Xtreamer seems to have nailed the equation with the small size and the price point. It doesn't look cheap, either; we imagine it's a little overbuilt-looking with those faux heat sink fins for some living rooms, but you can plug in an IR extender and bury the actual box in a cabinet if you like. The company's staying very media platform-agnostic, shipping with Boxee and XBMC among others on a 2GB USB flash drive that houses the entire operating system. And at a shipping price of €200 (about $277), it puts the hurt on the Boxee Box. Look for it in early April.

Turning our attention to the Prodigy, this thing is seriously gorgeous for one reason: a large curved sheet of metal covering the top and sides. Functionality is another matter entirely, though, and as we mentioned before, Xtreamer isn't demoing it here. On paper, at least, it should take care of business thanks to USB 3.0 and AirPlay support along with an internal 3.5-inch hard drive bay -- and the company is currently taking pre-orders for €50 (about $69), which seems dirt cheap for what you're getting. Like the Ultra, Xtreamer expects to ship it in early April.

Gallery: Xtreamer Ultra and Prodigy hands-on at CeBIT 2011

Xtreamer Ultra HTPC hands-on -- and Prodigy eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC comes to the iPad

Sean Hollister — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:07:00 EST

We were politely asked to keep quiet about this until today, but here's the truth: XBMC now runs on the Apple A4, period. As in, there's no reason why you can't install that shiny new Apple TV 2 version of the media center software on your jailbroken iPad or iPhone 4 too. Find instructions at our more coverage link... then give the hackers and developers a cheer.

XBMC comes to the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC comes to the new Apple TV, we go hands-on (video)

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

So you jailbroke your new Apple TV, only to realize that there's not all that much to do at the top of Everest except rest and enjoy your accomplishment, eh? No need to trek back down the hill -- there are a great many minds at work to leverage your new-found power into something truly useful. Like what, you say? Take a gander above. An second-generation Apple TV appeared at our doorstep this weekend with XBMC on board -- decoding our 1080p HD content, complete with hardware acceleration, on Apple's ARM silicon, and with only occasional choppiness.

If your sense of self-entitlement is wondering what took so long, don't. We're told that this isn't a simple port, as the new Apple TV doesn't share much with its older brother, and is an entirely different animal to develop for. The bulk of the work has been done, though, and as you can see in the video above, once you launch XBMC from the new Apple TV it is the same great experience you've come to love. The difference is, this time, the hardware you're running it on costs just $99. This tiny box is finally beginning to feel magical... now, we're just waiting on a simple installer so we can load it up ourselves.

Update: And just like that, the wait is over. If your jailbroken second-gen Apple TV is ready and you have the foggiest idea what "apt-get" does, you can install XBMC right now. Find instructions at our more coverage link below.

Gallery: XBMC now on the new Apple TV

Continue reading XBMC comes to the new Apple TV, we go hands-on (video)

XBMC comes to the new Apple TV, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sigma Designs announces direct XBMC support for wild next-gen streamers

Nilay Patel — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST

XBMC might be most famous for spawning Boxee, but the original project is still going strong -- and it just got a big boost from Sigma Design, which will support it directly on its new TV streamer SoCs. Sigma chips are already used in streamers like the Popcorn Hour and WDTV Live, so we'd expect to see similar products make use of XBMC directly in the future -- just another sign that the connected TV space is growing by leaps and bounds. Sigma's demoing its XBMC port here at CES, we'll let you know when we go check it out. PR after the break

[Thanks, Chris]

Continue reading Sigma Designs announces direct XBMC support for wild next-gen streamers

Sigma Designs announces direct XBMC support for wild next-gen streamers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video)

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:12:00 EST

We've seen plenty of Kinect hacks over the last few weeks -- trouble is, beyond the initial wow factor they're just not very useful on a daily basis. That situation just changed, however, with the release of KinEmote, a free public beta that lets Windows users navigate XBMC and Boxee menus using nothing but hand gestures. Better yet, the software is built around OpenNI and NITE middleware from PrimeSense, the company behind the Project Natal reference gear. It certainly looks impressive in the video after the break. Good enough that we suspect many of you will hit up the source link below instead of finishing up your last minute holiday shopping -- hey, Santa can wait, this is progress!

Continue reading KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video)

KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC 10.0 'Dharma' now available to download with improvements galore, add-on manager and Apple TV support

Sean Hollister — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 13:08:00 EST

You may have gifts for every family member under your Yuletide tree, but we're willing to bet you haven't given much thought to your trusty media center PC. Thankfully, the open-source community once again has a ready-made present, ready to be loaded right now -- the 10.0 release of XBMC, filled with goodies and toys. It's available for Windows, Linux, Mac and even the original Apple TV, and brings a brand-new add-on manager that lets you extend functionality and improve appearance right from the UI. There's also hardware acceleration for every platform, including special consideration for nettops sporting NVIDIA ION 2 or Broadcom Crystal HD chips, and even the underpinnings of support for Windows 7 touchscreens, ARM processors and OpenGL ES 2.0. The catalog of improvements is honestly rather staggering, so rather than read them all here, you can follow our source links to the full changelog and download pages, while we try to spread the Christmahanukwanzaakah cheer.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

XBMC 10.0 'Dharma' now available to download with improvements galore, add-on manager and Apple TV support originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect Hacks Daily, Episode 47: Kinect taught to control XBMC through hand gestures

Paul Miller — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:32:00 EST

One of our favorite parts of Kinect, at least theoretically, was the idea of controller-free and remote-free control of the dashboard and media playbook. Sure, it's never going to be as optimized and snappy as those tried-and-true digital buttons, but it's a great party trick, and we're all about the party tricks. Well, now you can get some of that gesture mojo going on with your XBMC setup -- and we're guessing eventually you'll be able to control just about anything else you'd use basic "left, right, click" actions for navigation. Our only suggestion? Get some of that Dance Central-style menu navigation going on here. That goes for you, too, Microsoft.

[Thanks, Joshua]

Kinect Hacks Daily, Episode 47: Kinect taught to control XBMC through hand gestures originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC bids farewell to its progenitor: the original Xbox

Sean Hollister — Mon, 31 May 2010 03:13:00 EST

After seven years of development, the Xbox Media Center team says they'll no longer support the console that gave the project its name. We can't blame 'em: the writing's been on the wall for years now, and 733MHz will only carry you so far. If you can't live without your chunky horizontal monolith, don't despair -- you'll still find lingering threads of code being woven at our more coverage link, and you can always lend a hand yourself if updates aren't as quick as you'd like. Don't let that keep you from pouring out your sorrows in comments, though. We're sure Boxee, Media Portal and Plex already have a tear in their eye.

[Thanks, bgjz]

XBMC bids farewell to its progenitor: the original Xbox originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 May 2010 03:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hacker gets XBMC running on his PS3, tells you how (video)

Tim Stevens — Sat, 15 May 2010 10:20:00 EST

Sony's disabling of Linux on the PS3 has made many people very angry, some more so than others, but for an enthusiast named madshaun1984 it was something of a call to arms. He didn't file a lawsuit or whine about it in forums -- oh no. He sat down to get XBMC working and has succeeded, albeit slowly. Right now the CellSDK that this build relies upon is not up to snuff performance-wise, so just scrolling through media is somewhat less than fun and you can forget about playing it. But, the hope is to improve that and to turn the PS3 into a proper media-streaming Linux box... so long as you don't update the firmware, anyway. Full instructions on how to do this are at the source link, but be prepared to spend the better part of an afternoon at it if you want to try yourself. For those not ready for that kind of commitment (or anyone who already has the latest firmware) you can just enjoy the video proof after the break.

Continue reading Hacker gets XBMC running on his PS3, tells you how (video)

Hacker gets XBMC running on his PS3, tells you how (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 May 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marusys MS630S and MS850S set-top boxes stream straight to your iPhone

Tim Stevens — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:42:00 EST

If you didn't already have enough ways to get content onto your iPhone, Marusys is adding two more to the pile with its MS630S and MS850S set-top boxes. Said to be PVR-ready, these boxes are designed to serve up content in all sorts of ways, with composite, component, and HDMI video outputs on the back and, inside, the ability to run Linux-based media players like XBMC. Both rock a Magnum DX6225 media chip, enabling on-the-fly transcoding of content into a variety of formats, including the hallmark feature of these devices: streaming straight to the iPhone over WiFi. It's not exactly clear how this will work as Marusys itself doesn't explain this functionality on its site, but Magnum certainly talks it up in the press release after the break. No word on price and availability of either, or when we might get more info on how this whole thing fits together, but you can be sure you'll know as soon as we do.

Continue reading Marusys MS630S and MS850S set-top boxes stream straight to your iPhone

Marusys MS630S and MS850S set-top boxes stream straight to your iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modder trims the fat, turns chubby original Xbox into svelte XBMC machine

Tim Stevens — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:59:00 EST

The original Xbox has been cracked six ways to Sunday, giving us the distinct impression that those consoles still in use are, at this point, providing services very different than its designers intended. XBMC is largely responsible for that, turning the original big black box into a more than respectable media machine, and now modder Richard Wileman has given it a redesign to suit its functionality. He's replaced the original, full-sized HDD with a 2.5-inch model, performed a DVDectomy, and wedged everything into a svelte, aluminum case. There's even an IR port on there for remote control and a wee LCD for checking playlists without turning on the TV. It's less than half the size of the original and, by our count, more than twice as attractive.

Gallery: XBMC customized Xbox

Modder trims the fat, turns chubby original Xbox into svelte XBMC machine originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1080p support coming to the Apple TV

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:19:00 EST

The crew over at XBMC have made the Apple TV a little more useful in our eyes. Up until now the Apple TV has failed to playback any 1080p content because its internal chips weren't up to the challenge -- a limitation that not even the most efficient codecs could fix. With a little help from the Broadcom Crystal HD BCM970012 PCIe Mini Card, XBMC can now play back 1080p videos with ease. The bad news is the little card sells for $69 and requires the same space as the built in 802.11N WiFi adapter, but as long as you don't mind dropping the cash and Wifi, this seems like a pretty solid solution. We can only assume that thanks to close ties between XBMC and Boxee, that Boxee will be next, but in the meantime give this a try and let us know how it works out.

1080p support coming to the Apple TV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC 9.11 'Camelot' now available for download, huge changelog in tow

Darren Murph — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:19:00 EST

Frankly, we haven't heard much noise coming from the XBMC camp in quite some time. All that changes today, as the project has just launched its latest major update in v9.11. The so-called Camelot build is now available for download on Windows, OS X and Linux, with the most notable changes including a revamped user interface, DirectX support by default in Windows, a "complete reorganization of the settings menus, automatic video information extraction, and smoother video playback." You'll also find updated scrapers, expanded remote control support and updated codecs. Tap that source link for the download and condensed changelog -- though, we should caution you that the live installer seems to be causing issues for some, so try and stay positive, okay?

Update: We've been informed that a live-repack has been released, so those install issues should be long gone.

XBMC 9.11 'Camelot' now available for download, huge changelog in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC ARM port teased, will manage HD playback from pocket-sized Beagleboard (video)

Tim Stevens — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:05:00 EST

There was a time when the X in XBMC stood for Xbox, but now just look at it. The open source project is showing up on everything from MIDs to Apple TVs and soon will be in the wild running on ARM-powered devices, with the development team posting a teaser video of the software running quite well on a tiny 600MHz Beagleboard. It's a fraction of the size of most HTPCs and, at $150, a fraction of their cost, too. Right now the software seems to be struggling a bit with what looks to be 480p wide content, but the devs promise proper HD playback in the full release -- though they're not saying when that full release will be.

[Via Hack A Day]

Continue reading XBMC ARM port teased, will manage HD playback from pocket-sized Beagleboard (video)

Filed under: Media PCs, Media streamers

XBMC ARM port teased, will manage HD playback from pocket-sized Beagleboard (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC ARM port teased, will manage HD playback from pocket-sized Beagleboard (video)

Tim Stevens — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:05:00 EST

Continue reading XBMC ARM port teased, will manage HD playback from pocket-sized Beagleboard (video)

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs, Software

XBMC ARM port teased, will manage HD playback from pocket-sized Beagleboard (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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boxee for Windows alpha previewed

Richard Lawler — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:34:00 EST

Looking for another Windows Media Center complement / alternative? Download Squad's taken a look at the currently in private alpha Windows version of boxee and found the interface a breeze to operate with a standard Windows Media Center remote, not surprising since it was originally designed with Mac remotes in mind. Of course, without Media Center's DVR underpinnings it's not a full replacement, but with a slick video browser and often updated sources, it could find its niche as a way to navigate both locally stored and online streaming video. Hit the read link for more impressions if you haven't been invited to the party (now open to all on Mac or Ubuntu) yet.

Filed under: Media PCs, Media streamers, Internet

boxee for Windows alpha previewed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulu comes to XBMC

Steven Kim — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:46:00 EST

If you've been dying to get Hulu integrated into your HTPC and the Boxee experience isn't your cup of tea, now you can give the Boxee's older cousin, XBMC, a whirl. Hit the link for details on how to get rolling, and lest you blanche at the idea of retrieving the latest XBMC source from Subversion, there's a merciful link to a compiled installer. After getting your XBMC install squared away, simply add a script and away you go! Based on the one comment in the link, it sadly sounds like Xbox ~~360~~ owners might not be able to join in on the fun just yet; but if you give this one a go, let us know how things pan out.

Filed under: Media PCs, Internet

Hulu comes to XBMC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC caught running on Compal's Jax10 MID

Darren Murph — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:45:00 EST

Mmm, do we like where this could go. Some engineering soul has managed to get the open-sourced XBMC onto a MID -- Compal's Atom-powered Jax10, to be precise. In theory, at least, this combination would make for a decidedly incredible portable media player if the price of these Mobile Internet Devices were to hit a reasonable level. Sure, many of the Cowon / iriver / Archos units support just about every file format out there, but you're still limited by whatever ecosystem comes loaded in. Have a look at the demonstration vid after the break, but don't blame us if you suddenly get the urge to buy a MID.

[Via Slashdot]

Continue reading XBMC caught running on Compal's Jax10 MID

Filed under: Handhelds, Home Entertainment

XBMC caught running on Compal's Jax10 MID originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC spinoff Media Portal reaches version 1.0, five year countdown to MediaPortal 2 begins

Richard Lawler — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:05:00 EST

It's been five long years, but the devs behind MediaPortal have decided their Windows Media Center / SageTV / BeyondTV competitor is worthy of exiting beta, finally reaching version 1.0. A long way from its roots as a Xbox Media Center port for Windows, it promises easy access to music, movies and more from a full screen display, along with support for watching and recording live TV. DownloadSquad mentions MediaPortal 2 is now on the way, with the open source project looking to add media streaming to / from various devices to the mix. Certainly seems worth a look if waiting on a boxee invite isn't your cup of tea.

[Via Download Squad]

Filed under: Media PCs

XBMC spinoff Media Portal reaches version 1.0, five year countdown to MediaPortal 2 begins originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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boxee alpha opens up on Mac, Ubuntu January 8; Windows invites to follow

Richard Lawler — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:21:00 EST

Six months and 150,000 signups later, boxee is preparing to move from alpha to beta status, ready to drop any unsent invites on all interested parties by the 25th ahead of the open alpha period starting January 8, 2009. While OS X / Apple TV / Ubuntu have been the required attire so far, Windows users won't be out in the cold much longer, as CEO Avner Ronen revealed in comments on the boxee blog that the Windows alpha program will start "early 2009" with thousands of invites sent out every week. That enough to pique your interest in this media streaming set-top box software?

[Via A VC]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

boxee alpha opens up on Mac, Ubuntu January 8; Windows invites to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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boxee alpha opens up on Mac, Ubuntu January 8; Windows invites to follow

Richard Lawler — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:21:00 EST

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Others, Internet

boxee alpha opens up on Mac, Ubuntu January 8; Windows invites to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxee / XBMC now available on Apple TV

Darren Murph — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST

If you were curious as to why Boxee suddenly became available for OS X 10.4 users, here's your sign. The underpinnings of the Apple TV are indeed based on Tiger, thus paving the way for Scott Davilla, a developer for the aTV-bootloader project, to announce that Boxee and XMBC can now be installed on Apple's set-top-box. In order to take advantage, you'll need the aTV Flash bootloader on a bootable USB drive, an Apple TV and the software in the links below. Currently, things are setup to run on Mac only, though PC / Linux versions are promised for next week. After signing up for a Boxee invite, jump on past the break for the step-by-step guide to getting this going.

Gallery: Boxee / XMBC now available on Apple TV

Read - ATV Bootloader site
Read - Boxee Alpha signup

Continue reading Boxee / XBMC now available on Apple TV

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Boxee / XBMC now available on Apple TV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxee / XBMC now available on Apple TV

Darren Murph — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST

Gallery: Boxee / XMBC now available on Apple TV

Read - ATV Bootloader site
Read - Boxee Alpha signup

Continue reading Boxee / XBMC now available on Apple TV

Filed under: Media streamers, Apple

Boxee / XBMC now available on Apple TV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxee opens its doors for OS X 10.4 "Tiger" users

Darren Murph — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:33:00 EST

Boxee, the open-source media streaming software that launched this summer, has always had a soft spot for Mac users. So soft, in fact, that it has just launched a new version that's completely compatible with OS X 10.4 (Tiger). The update also improves performance of multimedia library browsing and makes a few other minor changes / fixes sure to make heavy users smile. If you're still holding onto Tiger and want to know what the buzz is about, today's your lucky day.

Filed under: Media streamers

Boxee opens its doors for OS X 10.4 "Tiger" users originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft planning La Veuve de Media Center?

Richard Lawler — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:25:00 EST

Our friend Chris Lanier's sources report a potential headless Media Center-powered CE appliance is under development. The current implementation on desktops and laptops gives it exposure, but the possibility of a more focused device could help potential users understand just what the package is for. On the other hand, competition from entrenched STB manufacturers and service providers could squeeze prices too low for whatever system is being cooked up in Redmond, which clearly considers our preferred "throw bags of money at the XBMC dev crew" strategy unsound. Barring convict redemption ideas cribbed from obscure French romance flicks released early this decade, what do you think Microsoft should do next?

[Picture courtesy of Thomas Hawk]

Filed under: Media PCs, Set-top boxes, Others

Microsoft planning La Veuve de Media Center? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC 'Atlantis' landing in around two months

Darren Murph — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:49:00 EST

No sooner did we ask the audience which PVR application was best than the XBMC team reveals the next major installment of XBMC Media Center. A post over at the official website informs us that Team-XBMC "has hit a feature freeze in anticipation of an upcoming stable release of XBMC, codenamed Atlantis." The software is set to be released for Windows, Linux, Mac and Xbox simultaneously in around two months, and the crew is asking for your help in discovering bugs early in order to get a stable release out the door in short order. So, you planning to pitch in?

[Thanks, Michael]

Filed under: Misc, Media PCs, Apple

XBMC 'Atlantis' landing in around two months originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxee launches for Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04

Darren Murph — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:28:00 EST

Surely you remember Boxee, right? After launching in June on the Mac with the promise of a Linux distro (and Windows, too) not far behind, this open-source media streaming application has finally gone live on Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04. The creators reckoned that by covering Gutsy Gibbon and Hardy Heron users, most everyone interested would be covered, and we have to say we agree with that assessment. It should be noted that said software still has potential kinks, and there are currently a number of alpha testers toying with it in order to send in feedback and get things ironed out. More intriguing here, however, is the possibility for this version to slide into set-top-boxes or standalone players that are built on Linux-based platforms, but for now, why not hit the read link and give it a go on your very own machine. Let us know how it turns out, alright?

Filed under: Misc, Media streamers

Boxee launches for Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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