Impressive: The new XBMC Media Center
Version 9.04 of the multi-platform XBMC Media Center is released. Codenamed Babylon, the software comes with massive and in part, impressive changes.
One of XBMC's most innovative modifications is that thanks to VDPAU, the media player can now use Nvidia's GPU to decode video files. The software also supports new video codecs and formats, including M2TS, M2T, MTS for Blu-ray and AVHCD and EVO (Enhanced VOB) for HD-DVDs. MIDI support via Timidity is also included. On the audio side, Dolby Digital and Dolby TrueHD are among the audio software decoders supported by the new version. And thats not all: the TRAC page lists a further 51 formats that XBMC can handle.
Developers of what was originally known as the XBox Media Center, have also been tinkering with karaoke support. The latest release utilizes CDG data, reads song text files in the formats LRCv1 and LRCv2 and files songs by numbers for easy selection. RAR and ZIP-Archives with karaoke content will play without being opened.
XBMC 9.04 runs on PPC architecture, accepts HTTP directories as source of playable content and the UPNP Media Server conforms to the standards of the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). For the Linux variations, the software now supports Soundserver PulseAudio. Yet its not only the engine that has undergone a revamp. With FanArt and optimized Skinning framework, the software has a sharp, aesthetic appeal. The list doesn't end here. A complete and detailed list of all changes can be found at TRAC.
A live CD is available for download here. PPA packages for various Ubuntu versions and of course the source code can be found in the Subversion Repository. OpenSuse users can also install the software by integrating an external repository. For legal reasons, the XBox version is not available on the XBMC website.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta Released
The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has announced the availability of AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta ("Purple Lion") for all supported devices with significant changes.
-
Gnome 47.2 Now Available
Gnome 47.2 is now available for general use but don't expect much in the way of newness, as this is all about improvements and bug fixes.
-
Latest Cinnamon Desktop Releases with a Bold New Look
Just in time for the holidays, the developer of the Cinnamon desktop has shipped a new release to help spice up your eggnog with new features and a new look.
-
Armbian 24.11 Released with Expanded Hardware Support
If you've been waiting for Armbian to support OrangePi 5 Max and Radxa ROCK 5B+, the wait is over.
-
SUSE Renames Several Products for Better Name Recognition
SUSE has been a very powerful player in the European market, but it knows it must branch out to gain serious traction. Will a name change do the trick?
-
ESET Discovers New Linux Malware
WolfsBane is an all-in-one malware that has hit the Linux operating system and includes a dropper, a launcher, and a backdoor.
-
New Linux Kernel Patch Allows Forcing a CPU Mitigation
Even when CPU mitigations can consume precious CPU cycles, it might not be a bad idea to allow users to enable them, even if your machine isn't vulnerable.
-
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.5 Released
Notify your friends, loved ones, and colleagues that the latest version of RHEL is available with plenty of enhancements.
-
Linux Sees Massive Performance Increase from a Single Line of Code
With one line of code, Intel was able to increase the performance of the Linux kernel by 4,000 percent.
-
Fedora KDE Approved as an Official Spin
If you prefer the Plasma desktop environment and the Fedora distribution, you're in luck because there's now an official spin that is listed on the same level as the Fedora Workstation edition.
no xbox360 for you
NO Xbox 360 support
XBMC would have to be ported to use XNA in order for it to work, in addition to being able to hack the 360 to run unsigned code.
More info...
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9299
Yep
Google is your friend if you know what I mean
xbox360