[split] [XBMC] A Port By ejp. Doubting Thomas's Thread

[extension23]

How is playback handled with this port? Does it use the ffmpeg derivative that xbmc uses or is it using whatever the native playback mechanism is for the NMT? I guess my question really is... will xbmc running on NMT allow playback of DTS-HD MA and Dolby True HD?

This is a very exciting development. I look forward to the time when this comes out of private beta so I can pick up an A200 and try this out.

[voip-ninja]

(05-12-2010 09:52 PM)extension23 Wrote:  How is playback handled with this port? Does it use the ffmpeg derivative that xbmc uses or is it using whatever the native playback mechanism is for the NMT? I guess my question really is... will xbmc running on NMT allow playback of DTS-HD MA and Dolby True HD?

This is a very exciting development. I look forward to the time when this comes out of private beta so I can pick up an A200 and try this out.

XBMC has no native handling of BD ISOs and can't process Dolby True-HD. For DTS-MA I believe just the core DTS track is extracted.

Unless there were some custom kernel type hocus pocus going on I fail to see how any of this will change if XBMC is running on the NMT platform.

[halfelite]

(05-12-2010 10:23 PM)voip-ninja Wrote:  XBMC has no native handling of BD ISOs and can't process Dolby True-HD. For DTS-MA I believe just the core DTS track is extracted.

Unless there were some custom kernel type hocus pocus going on I fail to see how any of this will change if XBMC is running on the NMT platform.

actually ffmpeg now support floating point pcm so it can play true-hd audio tracks. but it cant do DTS-MA

[jasch]

(05-12-2010 07:51 PM)ejp Wrote:  The project's priority is to get XBMC working on the NMT -- no more, no less -- so getting XBMC to work with NMT apps does not look likely.

As far as I know, there are no scrips/plugins to run a usenet or torrent client within XBMC.

I think you misunderstood the original poster question. He wasn't asking for any inter-operability between XBMC and NMT Apps, but if it still would be possible for NMT Apps to continue running in the background while XBMC is running (Usenet, Torrents Client, FTP and SMB Server, etc).

I believe this will still be possible, right?

[voip-ninja]

(05-12-2010 10:29 PM)halfelite Wrote:  actually ffmpeg now support floating point pcm so it can play true-hd audio tracks. but it cant do DTS-MA

Yes, sorry you are correct, it is DTS-MA that is not supported and probably won't be for quite a while.

Also, no BD ISO support any time soon (not that it bothers me I just use .mkv).

[Gunserotti]

(05-12-2010 10:23 PM)voip-ninja Wrote:  XBMC has no native handling of BD ISOs and can't process Dolby True-HD. For DTS-MA I believe just the core DTS track is extracted.

What about BD folder format?

[calvinandhobbes]

XBMC on the PCH would be awesome for us PCH A100 owners. But as for those looking to purchase new equipment, would the low end ION based solutions offer more capability/versatility for roughly the same price?

[ejp]

(05-13-2010 07:54 PM)calvinandhobbes Wrote:  XBMC on the PCH would be awesome for us PCH A100 owners. But as for those looking to purchase new equipment, would the low end ION based solutions offer more capability/versatility for roughly the same price?

You're probably right about that. If you want a perfect XBMC system now, an ION nettop is the best way to go. The only thing is you'll have to pay a bit more.

The cheapest ION nettop I've seen was the Revo 1600 for $110, but it was refurbished and there were literally only a few units for sale. Realistically, you'll have to pay closer to $200.

On the other hand, the popbox is $130. Older eGreats are even cheaper than that. I think there was talk about even getting XBMC-NMT to work on the WDTV (though I don't know too much about them), and they can be had for $50, it seems.

So it really depends on what functionality you really need, then buy accordingly.

[calvinandhobbes]

(05-13-2010 08:34 PM)ejp Wrote:  You're probably right about that. If you want a perfect XBMC system now, an ION nettop is the best way to go. The only thing is you'll have to pay a bit more.

The cheapest ION nettop I've seen was the Revo 1600 for $110, but it was refurbished and there were literally only a few units for sale. Realistically, you'll have to pay closer to $200.

$200 is the number I would use (just ordered one last week after I saw PCH was returning RMA'ed motherboards in padded envelopes, made my ION vs PCH decision easy)

Quote:On the other hand, the popbox is $130. Older eGreats are even cheaper than that. I think there was talk about even getting XBMC-NMT to work on the WDTV (though I don't know too much about them), and they can be had for $50, it seems.

getting this to work on the popbox or WDTV Live would be awesome. The older WDTV's don't have ethernet, so those are out for anyone pulling from a central storage device.

Quote:So it really depends on what functionality you really need, then buy accordingly.

Agreed.

Regardless, my hat is off to you, especially if you turn my old A100 into something like an ION running XBMC. I'm curious to see if you are running something on top of Syabas's coding or if you are replacing it.

[ejp]

(05-13-2010 11:11 PM)moddigi Wrote:  Totally agree, there are cheaper alternatives to the A200/C200 out there if you're intending on running only XBMC, it would seem like a gross overspend otherwise.

On top of what functionality you need, I think this also depends on which stage you are as a (potential) NMT-customer/XBMC-user.

If you have no streaming solution yet, then you might be more inclined on getting an ION.

If you already have an NMT, then XBMC-NMT might keep you an NMT-customer for a little while longer. I also think it will be a serious contender as a GUI/jukebox.

[pmcd]

(05-13-2010 11:11 PM)moddigi Wrote:  Totally agree, there are cheaper alternatives to the A200/C200 out there if you're intending on running only XBMC, it would seem like a gross overspend otherwise.

Well you can get a Zotac for around $2xx but you then have to add an OS, find a reliable remote control solution ( I know there are millions, but on ewants on ethat works out of the box without hacking away...), ...

I have a Mac Mini running XBMC. It's great. But I then got into the media player things and fa prefer them to a computer attached to a TV. I don't want windows or OSX running things. XBMC is wonderful, and I hope you get it running on my C200, but one of these days the media player companies will come out with a decent GUI.

I also have an Apple TV running on the same TV as the Mini and PCH-C200. I prefer it (the ATV) and PCH-C200 to XBMC on a computer. In fact I even prefer XBMC on the ATV. When you have a computer running things it's always in the back of your mind that it is a computer....

The Zotac MAG HD compute makes for a great XBMC platform. Unfortunately there is that remote issue...

philip


philip

[pmcd]

(05-14-2010 01:50 AM)tux99 Wrote:  The ATV is a computer, and even the PCH is a (limited) Linux computer.
You don't need OSX or Windows on a PC to run XBMC, you can use XBMC Live which is XBMC on top of a minimal Linux OS just like the PCH (which also has a minimal Linux install inside).

The issue is not a technical one. I am quite aware of what is powering what. It is more of a psychological thing as well as having all the pieces fit together properly in a home theater setting. The technically oriented folks seem to have trouble with the notion that looks, convenience, etc...matter more when it comes to items that are meant for entertainment. I don't want to hack my way to looking at a program, search the web for a bluetooth adapter and remote or whatever, and I certainly don't want to have to read a guide on how to install XBMC on Ubuntu. I want to push a button and have things work. I really don't want to start worrying and answering support calls from home about why the remote won't wake up the TV ( thinking here of the issue of remotes not waking up the Zotac MAG).

5 years ago I used to find these things fun. Now they are not. To each his own. My family probably doesn't know the Apple V is a computer and I prefer it that way. Same with the PCH-C200.


Yeah, just use XBMC Live. I can jut hear it.... Try to imagine how much is actually required just to understand that. It may be simple to you but it's not to 98% of the population.

I get that XBMC is wonderful. I've been using it for ages. I also get why people are excited about devices like the Boxee Box which will hopefully simplify it.

philip

[Legolas2]

(05-14-2010 06:43 PM)lordy Wrote:  EJP has done great work here. (esp if he has kids and is not retired - then triple kudos ).. but after a certain level a lot of development is a combination of

1) time. - the deal breaker.
2) knowledge
3) And last but not least http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_on..._of_giants

As in EJPs firs post, XMBC is built on 7 years of development , and the XMBC being developed under a typical opensource model.
EJP is free to play cards close to his chest, esp if he doesnt want someone to then jump in and take credit (but that would be quite hard now), or any reason whatever reason (focus/distractions etc). But is it a general approach that got XMBC where it is today? But thats not taking away from what he has done here. Certainly not. Excellent work. Just a little perspective.
Still, I'm very impressed. Seriously. If it is stable and worked with NMT apps (or some equivalent) , it would be "game over", and "all that she wrote" as far as jukebox is concerned from my perspective.

---

Having said that, the thing that impresses me the most is that EJP stepped outside of the box. and the ingrained thinking that XMBC is over there and NMT is over here. Though by users and experts alike. Making that first mental leap and pursuing it. That is impressive.

Hi Lordy
I see where you are coming from, from what I gather EJP does plan to make this XBMC port open-source. The way I see it is that his release is the 1st step in a long process, and then others will continue developing what he has done. A few pages back, there was also a XBMC developer who wants to make the NMT port a part of XBMC's foundation.

XBMC is part of GPL, and all derived work by definition needs to be under GPL (XBMC GPL)

---

(05-14-2010 08:42 PM)ejp Wrote:  I honestly don't know at this point. As much as I love doing this, it really isn't my job (though I wish it was) -- so I can't set deadlines. I'd love to say by Summer Solstice, but that might be too ambitious.

Cool. 21/Jun is not that far away

[lordy]

Just for the record I wasn't making any insinuation that ejp was not going to honour any respective licenses
I think we are all driven a little for recognition and ejp has certainly earned it, even at this stage, and, to be honest, if I were in his shoes, I'd probably hold out a little to avoid being beaten to the punch by some upstart coder taking advantage of my bright idea. (not saying that's his reason )

[accident]

I wasn't really going to say anything but give the people working on this a little benefit of the doubt and some room.. They are taking on the work to make it run on a system without opengl to the best of their ability.. ejp mentioned earlier that it took 2 months for what you see in that video to work so its an early preview I think we can do it video..

For those who aren't into stand alone players, some of the answers are really simple like the players.. there is no way a 300mhz mips computer will run a software codec for high def.. its just not going to happen not to mention all the work around making the video and audio play correctly with the hardware decoders and the licensing for some features like bluray disk playback on the 200 series it makes no sence to not use the built in players.. maybe that kills some overlay stuff on the video but I'm not sure what xbmc has available in this area...

As far as all the you need 3d hardware acceleration to pull it off.. why? there is minor hardware acceleration in the sigma chips, albeit not 3d but the advances in directfb lately for a lot of different devices, phones, etc do help out this situation...

He got the ground work started.. I'm assuming its compiled to some degree, its showing the menus without opengl, the players will just have to be called but that work is done and its just a matter of calling it.. It's a really great start