Smart Home Blog

XBMC just released the first update for AppleTV2 and iPhone/iPad port of its excellent software. The Changelog includes following:

• GUI speedup
• Webserver enabled
• RTMP support
• AC3/DTS Audio Dialogs
• Rotating for the iPhone and iPad
• Black and Dim screensavers working
• Bluetooth Support
• SMB shares with Windows Live Essentials should work.
• Sleep timer works
• Add-on updates now working
• Decrypted ISO playback works
• Thumbnail creation fixed

To get that upgrade on your AppleTV2 just run following commands in the console:
apt-get update && apt-get install org.xbmc.xbmc-atv2
Also the question about output 1080p video was clarified. XBMC can decode 1080p video. But AppleTV2 has either hardware or software restrictions to 720p only.

Unplggd shared their impression about practically using XBMC on AppleTV 2G during one week. Generally it works and this gives a hope for next release which should be much better. The major problem found during the testing is sluggish navigation. Maybe this is IR remote issue or the lack of memory. Also the system crashed when wireless N connection is used instead of wired. In any case XBMC should be adopted for AT2 more accurately. Especially as because there is no any alternative for AT2 stock software. PLEX is still alpha. So, XBMC has good chances to be the best for ARM as well. Also it’d be interesting to have possibility to tun Boxee on AT2 as well.

To summarize Unplggd experience with XBMC on AppleTV 2G I can suggest such solution for experienced users who know how to troubleshooting and recovery system. The rest should wait next release which I hope should be more stable.

Unplggd posted step by step manual to jailbreak AppleTV2 and install XBMC on it. Unfortunately you need a Mac for jailbreak process. It makes hacker’s life harder (for example, I should get Mac from somebody from my friends). But anyway, except that there is nothing complicated. So, use it to build small, quiet, stylish and non expensive media client for your home with power user interface and rich functionality.

Yesterday XBMC team announced a release for ARM platform. That means you may have the best HTPC software running on your jailbreaked AppleTV2, iPad or iPhone4. And if iPad or iPhone4 with XBMC look not seriously for me. The compact and stylish $99 AppleTV2 with 1080p support can be very good options for all who’d like to have their own HTPC with nice features and glorious GUI (demo videos after break).

To install XBMC on your jailbreaked Apple device just follow by those two manuals for AppleTV2 and iPad/iPhone4.
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XBMC team gave us more information about porting its glorious software to the Sigma processors. The first proof-of-concept is based on SMP8670 and run XBMC. It was demonstrated at CES 2011. Sure it’s far from production – GUI is choppy and playback is still not working. But that fact didn’t prevent a significant amount of iinterest from CES attendees.

The Sigma Designs developers are going to work directly with XBMC developers. Also the company takes the GPL seriously. So, the partnerships between XBMC and Sigma Designs will bring not just XBMC to the Sigma-based media players. But also should improve XBMC itself a lot. However, a huge job should be done. That’s why we don’t expect to see a Sigma-based XBMC solution on shelves in the next few months. But when it’ll happen there will be two possibilities to run XBMC – as main user interface or as a application. A decision will be done by manufactures.