8 ms·

XBMC For Android

161 points by mmahemoff 14y ago

stcredzero 14y ago
This should result in another surge of OUYA contributors.
- lukifer 14y ago
  This is the primary reason I pre-ordered (which I'm aware is something of gamble). If the OUYA folks are smart, they'll bundle Plex or XBMC.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
- badboy 14y ago
  Yeah, "leaked" is quite a statement here. The full source code is on github. Should be clear that someone will post a debug build of that, right?
  - nolok 14y ago
    The website is named "techiebuzz", leak makes more pageviews than alpha build. Sad state we are in ...
    - Nexus_user 14y ago
      Hi! I am the author of that post. The person who tipped me on the news told me that the APK was leaked, and Not compiled. However, later on, as soon as I found out that the APK was compiled, and not leaked, along with the person who compiled it, I immediately updated the post. Sorry, but this was not about PVs. Getting some 2-3k PVs and destroying the site's image is not going to do any good. I would like to apologize to everyone for the confusion created.
w1ntermute 14y ago
> Currently, for most devices only software decode of audio and video is hooked up. This is a good start, but ultimately, you need hardware decoding. Even if a modern phone or tablet could decode 720p x264 in real time (many cannot), the battery usage would make it entirely untenable.
- stcredzero 14y ago
  Yes, but you could put your tablet on a charger and hook it to the TV. If you then had a remote control app on your phone, that would be perfect. Even better, someone designs a snazzy dock for this function, which may or may not have its own purpose-built remote/controller. Voila, your tablet is now also a media center box. (And could even function as a low-power game box.)
  - elemeno 14y ago
    Or get a Gen 1 or Gen 2 AppleTV, both of which are (very) easily rootable and can run XMBC smoothly and cost less than half the price of the Android tablets I've seen.
    - vizzah 14y ago
      There is no 1080p support on AppleTV before v3 (which isn't jailbroken yet) - a major deal-breaker for me, for a home media player.
    - sandGorgon 14y ago
      But what about the AK802 Android 4.0 micro-pc network player with 1.5ghz Cortex A8, 1GB RAM, 4GB flash, HDMI for less than $70 ? Its the size of s thumb drive, so you could make a keychain out of it. XBMC for Android should make this playable out of the box (no root necessary). Pretty cool.
- patrickod 14y ago
  Is there a list of devices that currently have hardware decoding supported?
watty 14y ago
Will this work with the Nexus Q? Doesn't seem to work on my HP TouchPad.
- jonah 14y ago
  http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4245370 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4245370
CrazedGeek 14y ago
For those more knowledgeable than I: would this run on Google TVs? It looks like it's an NDK app, and I was under the impression that GTV didn't support the NDK.
- dangrossman 14y ago
  If it's an NDK app, then no it won't run. The Logitech Revue (aka Google TV standalone box) has an Intel Atom processor, not an ARM, unlike most every other Android device.
  - hammersend 14y ago
    Since it is an open source app, couldn't you just compile it yourself? Or maybe drop a friendly suggestion to the devs to release an x86 binary.
    - Zigurd 14y ago
      Two more things: 1. It might run. APKs support packaging more than one machine architecture for NDK code in one apk. Currently, there is built in support, in the SDK, for both ARM variants and x86. You can get add-on support for MIPS. Possibly others, IDK. 2. If it doesn't run and you have source access, and if the native code is all in C and C++, you can compile it by adding the option to generate x86 code. It will be packaged in the resulting apk file, and should be installable on Google TV, unless it uses other APIs not available on Google TV.
      - valley_guy_12 14y ago
        Unfortunately, while the Android NDK supports native code on x86, ARM, and MIPS processors, GoogleTV doesn't support the NDK: Does Google TV support NDK? No. There is a pending feature request for NDK support on Google TV https://developers.google.com/tv/faq#ndk It is my understanding that the Intel-based mobile phones are the first x86 Android devices to support the NDK.
donniezazen 14y ago
Ouya makes Android a major gaming platform and XBMC will make it a dedicated media center. Android it truly realizing its true potential.
- Terretta 14y ago
  "makes": Ouya doesn't exist yet.[1] "will make": XBMC is here now, plus has a track record of delivering. The "true potential" of Android isn't about gaming. Its true potential will be realized when it can run on the disposable pay as you go handsets used by the other 5 billion people on the planet as their primary and only computing device. 1. "The reality of the OUYA console doesn’t match the hype: why you should be skeptical", Penny Arcade, http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/the-reality-of-the-ouya-console-doesnt-match-the-hype-why-you-should-be-ske http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/the-reality...
  - netcan 14y ago
    First, we don't know what Android's "true potential" is yet because it hasn't realized it yet.. unless it has and its what its doing now, but we still don't know that its not more than that. Maybe its true potential is that after Windows takes over all phones Android will power the UI to your car, who knows. Anyway, Android is moving down the chain and inasmuch as smartphone economics look like mobile phone V1 economics, they should be getting too at the <$1000pa earners within a few years. Incredible when you think about it. Mobiles went from stock brokers and movie stars only to sustenance farmers in the worst run countries on earth in only a decade. People who haven't been reached by things like electricity, piped water or paved roads. A half a generation old technology has, in some cases, better market penetration than things so old we can't even think of them as technology. Things like literacy & money.
  - donniezazen 14y ago
    You, me and Penny-Arcade are all subjective.
    - Terretta 14y ago
mmanfrin 14y ago
This is wonderful news for OUYA preorderers.
hu_me 14y ago
i think this plus the fact that nexus q has been hacked to run apps might be a boon for nexus q. [1]http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/10/nexus-q-hacked-to-launch-apps-gets-remote-control-web-app/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/10/nexus-q-hacked-to-launch-...
kgutteridge 14y ago
Syncing up with the repo, it will certainly be interesting to see how this runs on the NexusQ that I received from I/O
- kgutteridge 14y ago
  Got it up and running, choppy on the NexusQ but it certainly looks very promising, now to roll up the sleeves and help out https://plus.google.com/109944805317147383619/posts/gnzpC8HETpP https://plus.google.com/109944805317147383619/posts/gnzpC8HE...
jsz0 14y ago
What about Plex? IIRC it's a fork of XBMC and has been available for both iOS and Android for the last 6 months or so. Nothing against XBMC but Plex is probably a better choice right now if you want something stable.
- ZoFreX 14y ago
  Unfortunately, Plex is very slow - it requires much more powerful hardware than XBMC does (the PC version, that is - haven't tried the iOS version, and I couldn't get the Android version to work)
- hapless 14y ago
  Plex is closed source. An XBMC announcement is more exiting just by virtue of its open and non-proprietary nature.
- Feanim 14y ago
  Plex for iOS and Android is just a front end, you need the server-side of the software to convert video. XBMC can convert video on-the-fly, to do this on iOS it uses private API for hardware acceleration (and that's why you need to jailbreak your device to install it)
losethos 14y ago
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14&version=NIV http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14... CWinApp theApp; using namespace std; unsigned long cnt=0; void ThreadProc() { while (TRUE) cnt++; } int _tmain(int argc, TCHAR* argv[], TCHAR* envp[]) { unsigned long i,nRetCode = 0; CreateThread(0,65536,(LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE)ThreadProc,0,0,0); while (TRUE) { printf("Press <ENTER>\r\n"); getchar(); i=cnt; printf("Line:%20u %6u\r\n",i,i%100000); } return nRetCode; } God says... 12:25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 12:26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. 12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. 12:28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; 12:29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem. ---- Talmon http://i.imgur.com/gbxfP.jpg http://i.imgur.com/gbxfP.jpg ---- What did 2nd century Chinese poets write about? Ying/Yang? God says... 9:24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 9:26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 9:27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 9:28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 9:29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died. ---- Reagan and Pope John Paul? They think I'm communist. Ironic since they won't let me fight against competitors in the market. ---- God says... 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. ---- I worry about God, they about man. Do human brains taste good, God? You want some? God says... first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 13:5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. ---- You don't always catch me when I fall, huh. (Circus performer on radio.) God says... 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
drivebyacct2 14y ago
Remember all of the cheap, hardware decode capable ARM devices we've seen lately? This is awesome, awesome, awesome. XBMC is an impressive piece of software. uPNP AV/DLNA, AirPlay, can play from every network sharing technology I've ever heard of.
- emehrkay 14y ago
  I always say that its the best software I've ever used and I've been using it since the OG xbox ~2005. It is perfect for a television and somehow they manage to constantly improve it. Inexpensive set-top hardware coupled with xbmc is a definite win
te_chris 14y ago
Awesome, I've been thinking about building an HTPC, but beginning to balk at the power cost compared to some sort of streaming device and low power storage unit connected over N wifi. If there's box that has spdif out I'll buy it straight away (for high quality DA audio conversion).
- nobleach 14y ago
  Check into the ZOTAC Z-Box. The power consumption is pretty decent compared to a full Micro ATX or ITX. It has optical and HDMI audio. Wireless N... I'm running OpenElec on mine and it's very responsive.
beefsack 14y ago
There's a built APK up on Miniand: https://www.miniand.com/forums/forums/1/topics/136 https://www.miniand.com/forums/forums/1/topics/136

XBMC For Android

161 points by mmahemoff 14y ago

stcredzero 14y ago

This should result in another surge of OUYA contributors.

lukifer 14y ago
This is the primary reason I pre-ordered (which I'm aware is something of gamble). If the OUYA folks are smart, they'll bundle Plex or XBMC.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

badboy 14y ago
Yeah, "leaked" is quite a statement here. The full source code is on github. Should be clear that someone will post a debug build of that, right?
- nolok 14y ago
  The website is named "techiebuzz", leak makes more pageviews than alpha build. Sad state we are in ...
  - Nexus_user 14y ago
    Hi! I am the author of that post. The person who tipped me on the news told me that the APK was leaked, and Not compiled. However, later on, as soon as I found out that the APK was compiled, and not leaked, along with the person who compiled it, I immediately updated the post. Sorry, but this was not about PVs. Getting some 2-3k PVs and destroying the site's image is not going to do any good. I would like to apologize to everyone for the confusion created.

w1ntermute 14y ago

> Currently, for most devices only software decode of audio and video is hooked up. This is a good start, but ultimately, you need hardware decoding. Even if a modern phone or tablet could decode 720p x264 in real time (many cannot), the battery usage would make it entirely untenable.

stcredzero 14y ago
Yes, but you could put your tablet on a charger and hook it to the TV. If you then had a remote control app on your phone, that would be perfect. Even better, someone designs a snazzy dock for this function, which may or may not have its own purpose-built remote/controller. Voila, your tablet is now also a media center box. (And could even function as a low-power game box.)
- elemeno 14y ago
  Or get a Gen 1 or Gen 2 AppleTV, both of which are (very) easily rootable and can run XMBC smoothly and cost less than half the price of the Android tablets I've seen.
  - vizzah 14y ago
    There is no 1080p support on AppleTV before v3 (which isn't jailbroken yet) - a major deal-breaker for me, for a home media player.
  - sandGorgon 14y ago
    But what about the AK802 Android 4.0 micro-pc network player with 1.5ghz Cortex A8, 1GB RAM, 4GB flash, HDMI for less than $70 ? Its the size of s thumb drive, so you could make a keychain out of it. XBMC for Android should make this playable out of the box (no root necessary). Pretty cool.
patrickod 14y ago
Is there a list of devices that currently have hardware decoding supported?

watty 14y ago

Will this work with the Nexus Q? Doesn't seem to work on my HP TouchPad.

jonah 14y ago
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4245370 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4245370

CrazedGeek 14y ago

For those more knowledgeable than I: would this run on Google TVs? It looks like it's an NDK app, and I was under the impression that GTV didn't support the NDK.

dangrossman 14y ago
If it's an NDK app, then no it won't run. The Logitech Revue (aka Google TV standalone box) has an Intel Atom processor, not an ARM, unlike most every other Android device.
- hammersend 14y ago
  Since it is an open source app, couldn't you just compile it yourself? Or maybe drop a friendly suggestion to the devs to release an x86 binary.
  - Zigurd 14y ago
    Two more things: 1. It might run. APKs support packaging more than one machine architecture for NDK code in one apk. Currently, there is built in support, in the SDK, for both ARM variants and x86. You can get add-on support for MIPS. Possibly others, IDK. 2. If it doesn't run and you have source access, and if the native code is all in C and C++, you can compile it by adding the option to generate x86 code. It will be packaged in the resulting apk file, and should be installable on Google TV, unless it uses other APIs not available on Google TV.
    - valley_guy_12 14y ago
      Unfortunately, while the Android NDK supports native code on x86, ARM, and MIPS processors, GoogleTV doesn't support the NDK: Does Google TV support NDK? No. There is a pending feature request for NDK support on Google TV https://developers.google.com/tv/faq#ndk It is my understanding that the Intel-based mobile phones are the first x86 Android devices to support the NDK.

donniezazen 14y ago

Ouya makes Android a major gaming platform and XBMC will make it a dedicated media center. Android it truly realizing its true potential.

Terretta 14y ago
"makes": Ouya doesn't exist yet.[1] "will make": XBMC is here now, plus has a track record of delivering. The "true potential" of Android isn't about gaming. Its true potential will be realized when it can run on the disposable pay as you go handsets used by the other 5 billion people on the planet as their primary and only computing device. 1. "The reality of the OUYA console doesn’t match the hype: why you should be skeptical", Penny Arcade, http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/the-reality-of-the-ouya-console-doesnt-match-the-hype-why-you-should-be-ske http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/the-reality...
- netcan 14y ago
  First, we don't know what Android's "true potential" is yet because it hasn't realized it yet.. unless it has and its what its doing now, but we still don't know that its not more than that. Maybe its true potential is that after Windows takes over all phones Android will power the UI to your car, who knows. Anyway, Android is moving down the chain and inasmuch as smartphone economics look like mobile phone V1 economics, they should be getting too at the <$1000pa earners within a few years. Incredible when you think about it. Mobiles went from stock brokers and movie stars only to sustenance farmers in the worst run countries on earth in only a decade. People who haven't been reached by things like electricity, piped water or paved roads. A half a generation old technology has, in some cases, better market penetration than things so old we can't even think of them as technology. Things like literacy & money.
- donniezazen 14y ago
  You, me and Penny-Arcade are all subjective.
  - Terretta 14y ago

mmanfrin 14y ago

This is wonderful news for OUYA preorderers.

hu_me 14y ago

i think this plus the fact that nexus q has been hacked to run apps might be a boon for nexus q. [1]http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/10/nexus-q-hacked-to-launch-apps-gets-remote-control-web-app/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/10/nexus-q-hacked-to-launch-...

kgutteridge 14y ago

Syncing up with the repo, it will certainly be interesting to see how this runs on the NexusQ that I received from I/O

kgutteridge 14y ago
Got it up and running, choppy on the NexusQ but it certainly looks very promising, now to roll up the sleeves and help out https://plus.google.com/109944805317147383619/posts/gnzpC8HETpP https://plus.google.com/109944805317147383619/posts/gnzpC8HE...

jsz0 14y ago

What about Plex? IIRC it's a fork of XBMC and has been available for both iOS and Android for the last 6 months or so. Nothing against XBMC but Plex is probably a better choice right now if you want something stable.

ZoFreX 14y ago
Unfortunately, Plex is very slow - it requires much more powerful hardware than XBMC does (the PC version, that is - haven't tried the iOS version, and I couldn't get the Android version to work)
hapless 14y ago
Plex is closed source. An XBMC announcement is more exiting just by virtue of its open and non-proprietary nature.
Feanim 14y ago
Plex for iOS and Android is just a front end, you need the server-side of the software to convert video. XBMC can convert video on-the-fly, to do this on iOS it uses private API for hardware acceleration (and that's why you need to jailbreak your device to install it)

losethos 14y ago

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14&version=NIV http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14... CWinApp theApp; using namespace std; unsigned long cnt=0; void ThreadProc() { while (TRUE) cnt++; } int _tmain(int argc, TCHAR* argv[], TCHAR* envp[]) { unsigned long i,nRetCode = 0; CreateThread(0,65536,(LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE)ThreadProc,0,0,0); while (TRUE) { printf("Press <ENTER>\r\n"); getchar(); i=cnt; printf("Line:%20u %6u\r\n",i,i%100000); } return nRetCode; } God says... 12:25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 12:26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. 12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. 12:28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; 12:29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem. ---- Talmon http://i.imgur.com/gbxfP.jpg http://i.imgur.com/gbxfP.jpg ---- What did 2nd century Chinese poets write about? Ying/Yang? God says... 9:24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 9:26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 9:27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 9:28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 9:29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died. ---- Reagan and Pope John Paul? They think I'm communist. Ironic since they won't let me fight against competitors in the market. ---- God says... 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. ---- I worry about God, they about man. Do human brains taste good, God? You want some? God says... first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 13:5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. ---- You don't always catch me when I fall, huh. (Circus performer on radio.) God says... 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

drivebyacct2 14y ago

Remember all of the cheap, hardware decode capable ARM devices we've seen lately? This is awesome, awesome, awesome. XBMC is an impressive piece of software. uPNP AV/DLNA, AirPlay, can play from every network sharing technology I've ever heard of.

emehrkay 14y ago
I always say that its the best software I've ever used and I've been using it since the OG xbox ~2005. It is perfect for a television and somehow they manage to constantly improve it. Inexpensive set-top hardware coupled with xbmc is a definite win

te_chris 14y ago

Awesome, I've been thinking about building an HTPC, but beginning to balk at the power cost compared to some sort of streaming device and low power storage unit connected over N wifi. If there's box that has spdif out I'll buy it straight away (for high quality DA audio conversion).

nobleach 14y ago
Check into the ZOTAC Z-Box. The power consumption is pretty decent compared to a full Micro ATX or ITX. It has optical and HDMI audio. Wireless N... I'm running OpenElec on mine and it's very responsive.

beefsack 14y ago

There's a built APK up on Miniand: https://www.miniand.com/forums/forums/1/topics/136 https://www.miniand.com/forums/forums/1/topics/136