XBMC wiil soon be running on PCH

[dljones8053]

Guys I thought I would throw this out to see if some one may be working on a plugin for XBMC to use NPVR. Main reason is XBMC will be able to run on the PCH set top box using the Sigma chip starting with the SMP 8656

I don't want to give up my backend server using GBPVR or NPVR, today I'm using XBMC as a client of course no Live TV and I love it. It is clean and simple to use as a client and with Netflix plugin for Windows and MAC it does really give you all you need on one set top box. XBMC does have a plugin setup for mythTV backend so my question is, are there any plans for a NPVR backend plugin then I would have Live TV and all on 1 box.

Side note: My ZBOX works great running Windows 7 and XBMC for 1080p HD video steaming from my GBPVR or NPVR.

dj

[mvallevand]

Just a correction there is no announced PCH or NMT with XBMC support. Sigma is the SoC maker and they are teaming up with the XBMC to allow the two to work together. There is still no announced manufacture. I suspect this is Sigma's way of getting ffmpeg power onto their boxes legally without do it in firmware.

Perhaps this should be moved to general discussion as I have other comments that aren't really announcement oriented.

Martin

[mvallevand]

Okay thanks to a mod for moving this. Being able to run XBMC does not mean you get the complete implementation of python or the performance you might need for advanced functionality. As an example Ton's python script for GBPVR is not universal on all platforms.

Also today's extenders still aren't even as powerful as the original xbox and I'm not convinced that this Sigma solution will be in any way superior to XBMC on an ION/ION2 class machine.

Martin

[dljones8053]

As I have to agree with you, but with the new chip running what they are calling GLES which I assume is some type of Open GL then I could see this chip handling 1080P video using XBMC.

As the XBMC has move away from the old XBOX Gen1,they only supporting Linux, Windows, and MAC OS's, just release for APTV Gen2, iPAD and iPhone. They are moving fast to support other chips as well. So with what they have done in the past few months have been impressive I'm still concern when other vendors team up with such a great app.

Most of user are concerns as well, questions being ask like all the skins go away and we stuck with just one interface but as I understand GPL they have to release it as is, guess we have to wait and see what is released this year.

Also I have attached when they announced this and you can read more on xbmc.org site.

dj

[mvallevand]

I am a fan of XBMC and what they have done, I run it on my ION with Linux and am very pleased. I was really hoping that I would be able to run XBMC on my Boxee Box as originally intended the Intel chip it uses would have been great, but Netflix has forced Boxee to change direction. Had I known this at the beginning I would have returned it.

As for Sigma, I have little concern that they will be able to meet the required 3D OpenGL and I pretty sure they will continue to have great video playback. My concern is the power of the chip, the 865x is only a 500Mhz MIPS processor so it will be less powerful then the original xbox and even the current NMTs which are pretty slow. Anything that needs software decoding or a script that requires horsepower, possible even scanning files and creating the databases will be low end. It is probably best not wait for the reviews and I don't want to be pessimistic so early, there isn't even an announcement product based on this alliance.

Martin

[dljones8053]

Martin

Since you are a fan of XBMC as well as I, my question is what would it take to connect to NPVR DB like mythTV does on XBMC? Thought I ask since I know you are engage with other plugin's for GBPVR and now NPVR.

thanks
dj

[mvallevand]

Connecting to the DB is easy, but I think Ton's access via Web Services makes more sense and it means a common interface through UJB's work on NEWA.

For media playback I like the XBMC UI but I find the interface to Myth really dated http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=MythTV and I users need more sophistication. There has been several years of discussion on a generic XBMC PVR frontend http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=GSoC_-_Unified_PVR_Frontend but it is a challenging task.

Martin