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Interview: XBox Media Center hits the Macintosh scene | 9 to 5 Mac @import "/files/css/a88e55fefc88f9c79b27bc44be660bcd.css"; Industry Intel Apple Inc. News Mac@Work Polls Tips & Tricks iPhone & iPod About Advertising Contact Apple, Ink iPhone 3G code discovered 3G iPhone, June 9th Microsoft backing down from Yahoo purchase? (Updated) Apple does it again. Record Q2 2008 Apple shocks technology world, buys P.A. Semi CPU designers Google Apps are a great choice for small-medium Mac shops more Rumors and Headlines First Customer Receives Psystar Mac Clone iControl iTunes Player for iPhone? Retail Sources Confirm iMac Refresh Black Case iPhone Photo... Just a 3rd Party Cover? 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The XBox Media Center (XBMC) project was started as an alternative OS for the original modded XBoxes in 2002. It has since grown into one of the most functional media center applications out there. Last year it was ported to Linux and it was reborn as one of the best media centers for the platform, doing many things that Front Row/AppleTV and Windows Media center can't do. Recently a team of programmers led by Elan Feingold decided that maybe an OSX version might have a market..as he puts it, "it seems like it's a 9to5Mac: That sounds like a lot of amazing stuff. What functionality are you working on now? Elan: We don't support DLL loading on OS X yet (or linux, that i know of), but we CAN. Note that the Xbox version of XBMC supported Windows codecs through DLL loading for "closed" formats like RealAudio, WMV etc. We can use and enhance the existing DLL loading code which comes from MPlayer. We are also working on full support for the Apple Remote and other popular remotes out there like the wireless XBox 360 controller, etc. We also want to get Python working as soon as possible. As more people join the project, more interesting things get picked up. 9to5Mac: Speaking of other devices, do you have any plans to port XBMC to the AppleTV? Elan: Unless Apple opens up a SDK for the AppleTV, it is very unlikely that our core group will do so. We are all huge fans of Apple and are trying to stay on their good side. We've talked to a lot of people lately who say they went and picked up a Mac Mini for the sole purpose of running the XBMC. Hopefully we are putting some money into Apple's coffers for developing such a great operating system and hardware combination. 9to5Mac: (plays devil's advocate) Why not just put XBMC on a cheap ShuttlePC with Linux and let it be the sole application? XBMC would appear to be almost everything you need in a mediacenter PC. Elan: I happen to think OS X is a much better platform for XBMC than Linux. It's got great OpenGL support and in the long term, desktop Linux (in my opinion) just hasn't stuck. People who love Unix are moving to OS X. My grandmother is moving to OS X...and what better looking HTPC is there than the Mac Mini? Oh, and Linux probably has more OpenGL driver issues. Ultimately, though, as compared to the original Xbox version, I think there is use for an OS. For example, you can install some headless bittorrent client, ssh into it, or put whatever you want there to work along side XBMC. Those little boxes that just turn on and run a media center as firmware are ultimately limiting. 9to5Mac: You mentioned BitTorrent. Are there plans to include other media-centric applications like a Vuze, Sling Client, Joost, or EyeTV support? Elan: I think there are some interesting things going on with Bittorrent in the field right now. I am focussed on Mac support so I can't say specifically what is coming up. Those other applications are great reasons why you want a full OS underneath the media center. Again, it is an open platform, if you want to build it in, you are welcomed to - a bit of Python code later and you've got it. 9to5Mac: That brings us to the XBMC team itself, how have you found the team, the code, and the atmosphere? Elan: It was highly intriguing to be brought into their inner circle. The XBMC code is top-notch, compared to lots of other open source products i've worked with. It's well written by smart people who know what they're doing...and "pike", the project manager boss-man does a really nice job of managing the project - something that's lacking with lots of other open source projects. 9to5Mac: Cool, that really comes through in the buzz around the project and the quality of the product. One last thing. The name. It seems like it would be a big turnoff for Mac-heads and even Linux people. You've moved pretty far away from the XBox, any chance we'll see a catchier name in the future? Elan: There has been talk around the water cooler. Nothing yet to report on that. 9to5Mac: Thanks for your time Elan! We'll let you get back to work. Or you can eat breakfast while we go to sleep... If you wish your Mac could do a lot more and/or want an alternative to Apple's iTunes/AppleTV/Front Row, check it out: Download Although, it is only version 0.1, you can already see the awesome potential that this system has. From the site: XBMC Project Background See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XBMC OS X Port Background Goal: To provide the best media platform for the best computing platform. While XBMC has been the platform of choice for hardcore mediaphiles for many years, the fragile, underpowered, and discontinued (!) Xbox platform running unsanctioned code is driving the desire for new and more open platform support. The power and media-friendly nature of OS X combined with the powerful, attractive and affordable Apple hardware that is available make XBMC on OS X a truly perfect match. The current crop of commercial and open source media center options for personal use are either simply too difficult to use, lacking critical features, completely proprietary and closed, or simply too immature to be attractive for today's living room and personal media enjoyment. The port is initially focused on core XBMC functionality, including rich video, music and photo support. The port is currently targeting only Leopard on Intel hardware The port will eventually add features that OS X users have come to expect from quality Mac applications, such as support for auto-updates, Growl integration, the Apple Remote, and many other features under consideration. 12 December 2007: OS X Port first announced. 4 February 2008: First drag and drop DMG package available with core features in a mostly working state (v.1). Community Interest Official XBMC OS X User+Dev Forums: 50,000+ views since 12/12/2007 Official OS X XBMC Port homepage: 20,000 page views since 1/16/2008, now averaging around 2,000 vs Current Status (Working features) Working sitings on current (Intel) Mac Mini, iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook Pro (X3100 graphics hardware DOESN'T play video). Audio MP3 OGG AAC FLAC MPC Project M support for audio visualization Playlists Videos Playing (AC3/DTS digital passthrough is supported, analog downmixing is not working) Full-screen support (XBMC with 1080P support that just works!) Photos Viewing, browsing, slideshows XBMC Core App Full UI working (minus on-screen keyboard weirdness) Networking Full-screen Video thumbnails, IMDB, AllMusic lookups Next Milestones Port of Python scripting support Add official OS X port remote control options/support AC3/DTS mixdown support Port of XBMC Virtual File System features (SMB, FTP, UPNP, etc.) Contact Info Official XBMC homepage: http://www.xbmc.org Official OS X XBMC Port homepage: http://www.osxbmc.com Official OS X XBMC Port wiki: http://dn-0.com/xbmc-trac/wiki OS X Port Contact: Elan Feingold (elan@xbmc.org) Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Facebook Google Yahoo Technorati 36136 reads ( Filed Under: Industry Intelligence Tips and Tricks ) After downloading the file Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 05:30. After downloading the file from the link it won't mount for me? Is anyone else having this problem? reply I got it mount, but I didn't Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 06:34. I got it mount, but I didn't know it was intel only. That sucks. reply Try reading the article. Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 23:16. Try reading the article. Which bit of "The port is currently targeting only Leopard on Intel hardware" did you not understand? If you think it sucks then join the project and make it do what you want, or else just shut up. reply You all should check out the Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 07:28. You all should check out the new AEON skin for XBMC. http://aeonismine.com reply Can you install the Submitted by Ilias (not verified) on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 01:53. Can you install the aeon-skin also on the osx-version? Because I don't seems find a map where the skins are located. reply If you are having mout Submitted by yankeu (not verified) on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 17:22. If you are having mout problems it may be caused by Safari that is saving the file as a .dmg.bz file. Instead of unzipping it, just rename it to just .dmg and mount it. reply The mac mini does not Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 23:42. The mac mini does not officially support playback of 1080p (1920x1080) HD video. See http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/faq_core/mac-mini-core-h2... reply The video hardware in the Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 01:29. The video hardware in the Mac Mini is capable of displaying at resolutions of 1920x1080. I know, because my Mini is displaying 1920x1080 right now on my 1080p Panasonic Plasma TV. Yes, it is beautiful. As for video playback... it depends on the codec. Divx works fine at 1080p. It rarely tops over 20% CPU usage on my Mini, which I upgraded to a 2.00GHz Core2Duo from a 1.66GHz Core Duo. H.264 on the other hand drops significant sections of video at regular intervals when using 1080p recordings. When I went from a 1.66GHz Core Duo to a 2.00GHz Core2Duo, the 1080p/H.264 video performance improved but it still drops portions of the video at regular intervals. Given that an increase in processor speed improved the video performance, the problem does not appear to be with the Intel G950 integrated video in the Mini. Increasing my RAM from 1.0GB to 2.0GB made no difference at all. 1080p/H.264 video playback is not memory limited in any way by 1.0GB. Don't bark up that tree thinking it will improve your H.264 performance. One day I had a look at the CPU usage when playing 1080p/H.264 video. It was there that I found my answer. H.264, be it Quicktime or VLC, only uses one core of my dual core CPU. I believe that H.264 playback will work on the Mini if an H.264 decoder is developed which uses multithreading so that both cores of the CPU are utilized for playback. Otherwise, I have heard that Minis with CPUs above 2.1GHz play 1080p/H.264 flawlessly, but those CPUs are so overpriced that I won't be trying it on the basis of hearsay. I'm banking on the codecs to be improved, since the whole world is moving towards multithreading. reply thanks for the reply. yea, i Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 23:27. thanks for the reply. yea, i knew the mac mini's are able to physically display 1080p, but thanks for clearing up how it handles different codecs like h.264... i didn't know that it only utilizes one core. in the end i think i'd prefer running xbmc on linux, so i can create my own system specs and not have worry whether or not the mac mini would be able to play any video file i throw at it. reply I wish they'd port XBMC to Submitted by nhasian (not verified) on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 00:53. I wish they'd port XBMC to PPC. I believe it only compiles on x86. If we had a PPC version we could run it on our Linux PS3's. reply Yeah, apparently this won't Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 01:58. Yeah, apparently this won't work on PowerPC based Macs? Bummer. I was really excited. reply if you want media from your Submitted by Caleb (not verified) on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 03:27. if you want media from your mac to show up on your xbox, you can download 360 connect. this will enable your xbox to find your computer in the network and alow you to select the media you want to be shared. you do need to register for this program, but you could probably find a key somewhere if you wanted. heres the link http://www.nullriver.com/downloads/Connect360.zip reply Hey 9 to 5 mac why don't you Submitted by Zack (not verified) on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 03:55. Hey 9 to 5 mac why don't you call people like this out when they say things like the Apple TV doesnt support 1080p! It does support 1080p and you should say "Hey Linux nerds do some research before you open your mouths." reply Apple TV can only output Submitted by Anonymous Coward :) (not verified) on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 06:25. Apple TV can only output 720p. So regardless of what you give it, the output to a display is 720p reply If you guys are bummed that Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 11:31. If you guys are bummed that this won't work on a PowerPC-based machine, imagine owning a souped-up non-Pro Macbook and finding no support for it. * sigh * reply I cannot get it to start. I Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 18:56. I cannot get it to start. I saved it in my applications but it wont launch. I have an intel mac pro. Any ideas?? reply This is great especially if Submitted by dmesh (not verified) on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 01:49. This is great especially if they get it to work on the Apple TV. That thing is about as useful as an IPod without MP3 support. Having used XBMC on the original xbox I am really looking forward to it. reply barkley ftw!! Submitted by carebear (not verified) on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 17:49. barkley ftw!! reply Post new comment Your name: E-mail: The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Homepage: Subject: Comment: * Input format Filtered HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.Allowed HTML tags: