Smart Home Blog

A few days after Ubunru 8.10 was released the Mythbunru 8.10 came out. The main features of that release are following:

• Mythbuntu-log-grabber - This app grabs specific log files into a single area and can upload them to pastebin for easy troubleshooting
• Auto Partitioner now creates a XFS filesystem for recordings
• Mousepad, a GUI editor is now installed by default (similar to gedit)
• Wubi now supports Mythbuntu
• Apple trailer plugin is now packaged and available
• Website now has link to Mythbuntu in the news
• New Mythbuntu-testing PPA at https://launchpad.net/~mythbuntu-testing/+archive (contains some packages for gutsy, hardy, and intrepid)

The full release note for the Mythbuntu 8.10 is available here, download instructions here, bugs can be reported here.

Personally I don’t use MythTV (my favourite PVR software is VDR). But I see that it’ll have at least two competitors in the nearest future: XBMC and Boxee. Both look very attractive. The only one important missed feature is PVR. But it’s gonna be implemented soon.

[via MythTV News]

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It seems that LinuxMCE development team is ready to release 0710. The first (and last) release candidate was announced today. I didn’t find the distribution anywhere yet. But when RC will be available for downloading I won’t be able to test it. Because tomorrow me and my wife Maria go to London for four days. So, I’ll install the stable version I hope when we return back.

You can see the full change log between 0704 and 0710 here. The most important things are support for amd64, support for 1080p, adding the latest MythTV packages, integration with VDR 1.6.0, Telecom refactoring, upgrading Xine and nVidia drivers.

To monitor the LinuxMCE 0710 RC news check that forum topic.

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Finally LinuxMCE beta 3 is available for downloading via Torrent. There are a version for AMD64 (I’m gonna test it on my 64bit box). It includes the latest Xine and MythTV, VDR, FreeBPX (replaced AMP), latest nVidia drivers etc. Full changes can be found here. Post your feedback here.

There is a way to upgrade existing installation (0704 or 0710) because installation for DVD will remove everything. Just will keep setting (but it’s better to do backup before upgrade). I thought upgrade my Beta 2 but finally decided install from DVD 64bit version. So, tonight I’m gonna be very busy (if DVD will be downloaded fast, of course).

Also, it’ll be possible to get test builds which will be created every six hours. So, now it’ll be much easily to test new versions.

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A new update is available for LinuxMCE 0704. It includes a few fixes for Update Media, MythTV Plug-in and the Launch Manager. As usual the system should detect the update automatically and ask you to download and apply it. Personally, I like that approach of LinuxMCE development team to give updates with bug fixes between releases. It makes integrators life easier.

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Yesterday a new version of OS2007 Hacker Edition for Nokia770 was released. Bad news: Skype, Adobe Flash 9 and support of flash memory more than 2Gb are not included there (developers explained that fact by difficulty to port those software to Nokia770 hardware). Good news: device works more stable and much faster. I re-flash my Nokia yesterday. Visually it boots faster and all applications are lunched faster as well. Good work, guys! The new OS2007 Hacker Edition can be downloaded here.

I didn’t install Plutohome or LinuxMCE Orbiter yet. I’m going to upload all its dependencies to the Maemo Extras repository first. I hope it’ll make a process of Orbiter installation much easier. So, after I install the Orbiter and test it I’ll write my impressions here. Stay tune!

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