Comments on: Release 0.1.2: Meep meep! http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:27:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeroen http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-670 Jeroen Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:32:16 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-670 Pretty cool, this project. I'm considering a Mac Mini as a HTPC for my living room, and I know XBMC from a friend of mine happily running it on his Xbox. So this combo makes me very happy! Keep up the good work! Pretty cool, this project. I’m considering a Mac Mini as a HTPC for my living room, and I know XBMC from a friend of mine happily running it on his Xbox. So this combo makes me very happy!

Keep up the good work!

]]> By: eduo http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-642 eduo Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:35:58 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-642 Jarkko: If XBMC gives the option, in the future, to use the native's video subsystem (WM in Win, QT in Mac) then this would help both in places where the drivers take advantage of hardware acceleration and with highly-optimized platform-specific codecs like the one you mentioned. In the same vein, being able to plug into quicktime might mean being able to play DRM'd files (I'm not sure about that, I assume it does). Jarkko: If XBMC gives the option, in the future, to use the native’s video subsystem (WM in Win, QT in Mac) then this would help both in places where the drivers take advantage of hardware acceleration and with highly-optimized platform-specific codecs like the one you mentioned.

In the same vein, being able to plug into quicktime might mean being able to play DRM’d files (I’m not sure about that, I assume it does).

]]> By: Jarkko Laiho http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-640 Jarkko Laiho Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:22:53 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-640 The FAQ says this about the "fast video, no audio" problem: "If you have a video (such as an MKV) with AC3 or DTS audio, you must use passthrough mode and connect the digital output to a surround receiver. In Setings -> System -> Audio Hardware, make sure Audio Output is set to Digital, and enabled both passthrough options." I've done that on 0.1.2 (it was the default), and still the problem persists. I didn't actually connect the machine to a surround receiver yet, but that shouldn't matter as far as the fast video is concerned? The file in question is a 1-minute sample of a Ratatouille 1080p Blu-Ray rip, x264/LPCM-FLAC. Any idea about this? Otherwise, looking pretty sweet even on a 2GHz C2D Mac Mini, which I hope will suffice for 1080p video some day... Also, the fans are oddly louder than normal when idling in the menus, even though the CPU usage is below 10%. Someone else seemed to have this problem, too. BTW, some japanese guy has written a wickedly fast avc/h.264 decoder for Quicktime: http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/mycometg3/ It's open source, so while XBMC doesn't rely on QT, maybe it could be of some help to people trying to tweak ffmpeg? The FAQ says this about the “fast video, no audio” problem:

“If you have a video (such as an MKV) with AC3 or DTS audio, you must use passthrough mode and connect the digital output to a surround receiver. In Setings -> System -> Audio Hardware, make sure Audio Output is set to Digital, and enabled both passthrough options.”

I’ve done that on 0.1.2 (it was the default), and still the problem persists. I didn’t actually connect the machine to a surround receiver yet, but that shouldn’t matter as far as the fast video is concerned? The file in question is a 1-minute sample of a Ratatouille 1080p Blu-Ray rip, x264/LPCM-FLAC.

Any idea about this? Otherwise, looking pretty sweet even on a 2GHz C2D Mac Mini, which I hope will suffice for 1080p video some day…

Also, the fans are oddly louder than normal when idling in the menus, even though the CPU usage is below 10%. Someone else seemed to have this problem, too.

BTW, some japanese guy has written a wickedly fast avc/h.264 decoder for Quicktime: http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/mycometg3/ It’s open source, so while XBMC doesn’t rely on QT, maybe it could be of some help to people trying to tweak ffmpeg?

]]> By: Johan http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-639 Johan Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:33:41 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-639 This is a pretty cool app for Iphone which might help with the remote issue :) http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/21/touchpad-turns-your-iphone-into-a-remote-trackpad/ This is a pretty cool app for Iphone which might help with the remote issue :)

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/21/touchpad-turns-your-iphone-into-a-remote-trackpad/

]]> By: Mr T http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-638 Mr T Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:29:22 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-638 Thats it. Its probably releated to Aeon theme. Thats what Im using. Ill try with a different theme. Thanks for pointing that out. Thats it. Its probably releated to Aeon theme. Thats what Im using. Ill try with a different theme. Thanks for pointing that out.

]]> By: Amir http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-637 Amir Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:33:04 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-637 @ Mr T i get the same problem sometimes. It will always happen though if i switch to Aeon theme and want to switch back to any other screen. It will Black Sceen of Death requiring a reboot. @ Mr T

i get the same problem sometimes. It will always happen though if i switch to Aeon theme and want to switch back to any other screen. It will Black Sceen of Death requiring a reboot.

]]> By: Mr T http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-636 Mr T Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:23:52 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-636 Got a nasty defect. Everytime I exit XBMC on my C2D Mac Mini I get a black screen and nothing more. I have to reboot the mini everytime. Anyone else have the same problem? Got a nasty defect. Everytime I exit XBMC on my C2D Mac Mini I get a black screen and nothing more. I have to reboot the mini everytime. Anyone else have the same problem?

]]> By: Tufty http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-634 Tufty Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:41:31 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-634 @elan Thanks for your reply. Your project is truly awesome and girlfriend friendly! :) I can't wait for osxmbc to be 100% solid. Any testing you want, let me know. @elan Thanks for your reply. Your project is truly awesome and girlfriend friendly! :)
I can’t wait for osxmbc to be 100% solid. Any testing you want, let me know.

]]> By: Anonymous Coward http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-633 Anonymous Coward Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:31:07 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-633 XBMC on OS X does not use MPlayer, it uses FFmpeg, but MPlayer also uses ffmpeg, so does Perian and VLC. So all their range codec support should be similar, however performance might be slightly difference depending on which FFmpeg tweaks are enabled inside each of those softwares. Meaning it is really FFmpeg that is the swiss-army knife of the free codec world :) Project using FFmpeg: http://ffmpeg.mplayerhq.hu/projects.html XBMC on OS X does not use MPlayer, it uses FFmpeg, but MPlayer also uses ffmpeg, so does Perian and VLC. So all their range codec support should be similar, however performance might be slightly difference depending on which FFmpeg tweaks are enabled inside each of those softwares. Meaning it is really FFmpeg that is the swiss-army knife of the free codec world :)

Project using FFmpeg: http://ffmpeg.mplayerhq.hu/projects.html

]]> By: jms_uk http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-632 jms_uk Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:23:25 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-632 @Krux Mplayer *seems* to offer a good solution on the surface, but when you start throwing more and more .mkv content at it, it simply isn't upto scratch (DTS passthru is one area I know its still weak in) - if it worked as well playing .mkv as people are expecting there certainly wouldn't be continued interest in XBMC, Perian 1.1, the latest VLCs or Coreplayer.. Truth is, at this time, and from first hand experience XBMC and VLC are really the most mature options out there at this time (CorePlayer Pro *could* change all that but no one knows yet) :) FWIW, Perian 1.1 doesn't quite fulfil on its promises either (check out forum posts on other websites to see what I mean) Nope, the action's here with XBMC at the moment.. a LOT of fingers are crossed that Elan and his team can continue to deliver on the excellent promise show so far :) @Krux

Mplayer *seems* to offer a good solution on the surface, but when you start throwing more and more .mkv content at it, it simply isn’t upto scratch (DTS passthru is one area I know its still weak in) – if it worked as well playing .mkv as people are expecting there certainly wouldn’t be continued interest in XBMC, Perian 1.1, the latest VLCs or Coreplayer..

Truth is, at this time, and from first hand experience XBMC and VLC are really the most mature options out there at this time (CorePlayer Pro *could* change all that but no one knows yet) :)

FWIW, Perian 1.1 doesn’t quite fulfil on its promises either (check out forum posts on other websites to see what I mean)

Nope, the action’s here with XBMC at the moment.. a LOT of fingers are crossed that Elan and his team can continue to deliver on the excellent promise show so far :)

]]> By: krux http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-631 krux Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:33:57 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-631 @jms_uk well nitotv also uses mplayer which is apparently working well with mkv's / HD. although i haven't tried perian 1.1 yet, so i have lots of different things to test when i get home tonight. @jms_uk well nitotv also uses mplayer which is apparently working well with mkv’s / HD.

although i haven’t tried perian 1.1 yet, so i have lots of different things to test when i get home tonight.

]]> By: jms_uk http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-630 jms_uk Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:11:06 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-630 Doesn't that (nitoTV) just provide a front end to existing codec solutions (perian etc)? In which case it's still restricted to the playback limitations those solutions have (which are many, and the chief reason why we're all getting so excited about XBMC because its playback engine is still being written - witness the 0.12 enhancements for example) :) Doesn’t that (nitoTV) just provide a front end to existing codec solutions (perian etc)? In which case it’s still restricted to the playback limitations those solutions have (which are many, and the chief reason why we’re all getting so excited about XBMC because its playback engine is still being written – witness the 0.12 enhancements for example) :)

]]> By: krux http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-2/#comment-629 krux Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:48:50 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-629 i guess i will have to try nitoTV in the meantime. heard it's got good mkv-HD support.. Will come back to XBMC though when the kinks have been sorted. cheers i guess i will have to try nitoTV in the meantime. heard it’s got good mkv-HD support..

Will come back to XBMC though when the kinks have been sorted.

cheers

]]> By: jms_uk http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-628 jms_uk Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:32:18 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-628 @Elan, playback looking sweet however I noticed that under the System Settings - video hardware, there is the option to switch aspect ratio ("Widescreen", "Letterbox" etc.), however the value always seems to revert/default to "Letterbox" and on video playback the aspect ratio isn't quite right when playing the same file with say, VLC (there are larger black bars on the XBMC version) Is this normal behavior? @Elan, playback looking sweet however I noticed that under the System Settings – video hardware, there is the option to switch aspect ratio (“Widescreen”, “Letterbox” etc.), however the value always seems to revert/default to “Letterbox” and on video playback the aspect ratio isn’t quite right when playing the same file with say, VLC (there are larger black bars on the XBMC version)

Is this normal behavior?

]]> By: Anonymous Coward http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-627 Anonymous Coward Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:52:33 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-627 @eduo, your idea sounds good in theory, next question then though is how the skin version control should be handled, as currently the skin versions are only updated when the XBMC core code is changed enough to require chnages to the skin which has only been about once every 6-months or so to this date you also have to remember that there are a whole lot more skins out there than the default PMIII @eduo, your idea sounds good in theory, next question then though is how the skin version control should be handled, as currently the skin versions are only updated when the XBMC core code is changed enough to require chnages to the skin which has only been about once every 6-months or so to this date

you also have to remember that there are a whole lot more skins out there than the default PMIII

]]> By: elan http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-626 elan Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:53:39 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-626 @Tufty, InStim and None. Check the FAQ, I just added the answer to your problem. @Tufty, InStim and None. Check the FAQ, I just added the answer to your problem.

]]> By: evan http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-625 evan Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:53:11 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-625 All I can say is awesome work. I have been using XBMC for years and knew I would need an alternative soon for playing my HD content - this is the answer! I have been running it on my older Macbook Core 2 Duo and it works awesome - eagerly awaiting each new update. I tried some 1080p content - it seemed to work well, I'll be donating soon I promise! All I can say is awesome work. I have been using XBMC for years and knew I would need an alternative soon for playing my HD content – this is the answer! I have been running it on my older Macbook Core 2 Duo and it works awesome – eagerly awaiting each new update.

I tried some 1080p content – it seemed to work well, I’ll be donating soon I promise!

]]> By: None http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-624 None Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:04:37 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-624 My playback is 2x aswell. So it's unusable at the momemt, but hey it's a beta :) My playback is 2x aswell. So it’s unusable at the momemt, but hey it’s a beta :)

]]> By: InStim http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-623 InStim Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:26:42 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-623 @Tufty I am running into that issue as well. I have two MKV files H.264. One plays back at proper speed, but the audio is just rhythmic static. The second plays back at a very fast rate. Then if I go back to try the first MKV file again that one plays at a fast rate as well. The first files frame rate is fine as long as I don't try that second file. 2.33 MacBook Pro @Tufty

I am running into that issue as well. I have two MKV files H.264. One plays back at proper speed, but the audio is just rhythmic static. The second plays back at a very fast rate. Then if I go back to try the first MKV file again that one plays at a fast rate as well. The first files frame rate is fine as long as I don’t try that second file.

2.33 MacBook Pro

]]> By: Tufty http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-622 Tufty Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:09:53 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-622 Is anyone else experiencing double/triple speed playback? H.264 MKVs files play way too fast on my 2ghz C2D Mac Mini. Any suggestions? Is anyone else experiencing double/triple speed playback?

H.264 MKVs files play way too fast on my 2ghz C2D Mac Mini. Any suggestions?

]]> By: metronet http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-621 metronet Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:25:50 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-621 Forgot to mention that DTS and AC3 pass through works great on the Gigabyte DS3 on board SPDIF output. Sound is just amazing on my SONY receiver when playing 1080p .MKVs Forgot to mention that DTS and AC3 pass through works great on the Gigabyte DS3 on board SPDIF output. Sound is just amazing on my SONY receiver when playing 1080p .MKVs

]]> By: metronet http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-620 metronet Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:23:38 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-620 Version 0.1.2 running great on an overclocked e6300 @2.8Ghz & DS3 v.1 mobo with 2GB of ram (Leopard 10.5.2 + EFI) with the cheap eVGA 8400GS vcard. Highest variable bit rates played are ~7000kbits/sec, tested on both VC1 & H.264 and the CPU was ~65% each. Great work guys! This is the best media center ever! Version 0.1.2 running great on an overclocked e6300 @2.8Ghz & DS3 v.1 mobo with 2GB of ram (Leopard 10.5.2 + EFI) with the cheap eVGA 8400GS vcard.

Highest variable bit rates played are ~7000kbits/sec, tested on both VC1 & H.264 and the CPU was ~65% each.

Great work guys! This is the best media center ever!

]]> By: jms_uk http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-619 jms_uk Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:32:03 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-619 @Eduo, cheers bud.. cleared that little mystery up :) @Eduo, cheers bud.. cleared that little mystery up :)

]]> By: Will http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-618 Will Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:29:56 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-618 As an avid fan of XBMC running on 2 Xbox's I am thrilled to see this project moving along. Any news on when ISO and IFO playing will be available? Thanks! As an avid fan of XBMC running on 2 Xbox’s I am thrilled to see this project moving along. Any news on when ISO and IFO playing will be available? Thanks!

]]> By: eduo http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-617 eduo Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:54:09 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-617 @jms_uk: "Anonymous Coward" is a generic phrase, pioneered by Slashdot many, many years ago for anonymous users unwilling to register. A lot of people have adopted as a way to clearly state they want to be anonymous. @anonymous Coward: One option would be to mimic OSX's behaviour. A version of PM3 may be always included in OSXBMC but the user's directory be checked. If a newer version is found then that is used, if the user has a different skin defined then that is used. The "stock" skin is always included in the package as a fallback. This is the way directory domains work in OSX and it's pretty smart, to my eyes. @jms_uk: “Anonymous Coward” is a generic phrase, pioneered by Slashdot many, many years ago for anonymous users unwilling to register. A lot of people have adopted as a way to clearly state they want to be anonymous.

@anonymous Coward: One option would be to mimic OSX’s behaviour. A version of PM3 may be always included in OSXBMC but the user’s directory be checked. If a newer version is found then that is used, if the user has a different skin defined then that is used. The “stock” skin is always included in the package as a fallback.

This is the way directory domains work in OSX and it’s pretty smart, to my eyes.

]]> By: Mac HTPC - The Mac Mini HTPC http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Mac HTPC - The Mac Mini HTPC Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:55:24 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-616 [...] software and custom Apple TV’esque skins for the project have already surfaced. First about that 0.1.2 update, it includes better dual-core support allowing for much smother 1080p playback with MPEG4 [...] [...] software and custom Apple TV’esque skins for the project have already surfaced. First about that 0.1.2 update, it includes better dual-core support allowing for much smother 1080p playback with MPEG4 [...]

]]> By: Anonymous Coward http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-615 Anonymous Coward Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:20:12 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-615 the skin/skins may sometimes have to be updated so I am not sure how wise it is not to keep the skin with the rest of the XBMC application, plus one skin should be able to be shared between multiple users :/ @jms_uk, no, I am a other anonymous coward the skin/skins may sometimes have to be updated so I am not sure how wise it is not to keep the skin with the rest of the XBMC application, plus one skin should be able to be shared between multiple users :/

@jms_uk, no, I am a other anonymous coward

]]> By: fpoil http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-614 fpoil Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:48:01 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-614 one suggest : is it possible to move de skin folder from the application to user/library/application support/xbmc/user data ? each time I download a new release I forgot this fact and erase my xtv skin..... one suggest : is it possible to move de skin folder from the application to user/library/application support/xbmc/user data ?

each time I download a new release I forgot this fact and erase my xtv skin…..

]]> By: Muratje http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-613 Muratje Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:11:54 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-613 Thanks for the update :D I'm gonna test it! Thanks for the update :D
I’m gonna test it!

]]> By: jms_uk http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/comment-page-1/#comment-612 jms_uk Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:53:16 +0000 http://elan.plexapp.com/2008/02/17/releae-012-meep-meep/#comment-612 Anonymous coward of "The Register" infamy? ;) Anonymous coward of “The Register” infamy? ;)

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