Kodi
XBMC aka XBox Media Center is a free cross-platform media player software and entertainment system application framework for Linux, Mac, and Windows. XBMC is capable of playing back and streaming all popular video, audio, and picture formats out-of-the-box.
Update 2004: XBMC is now known as Kodi. Actually it was first called Xbox Media Player, then XBox Media Center, and now Kodi.
Kodi is managed by the non-profit XBMC Foundation, and it's constantly being modified and upgraded.
Kodi needs a 3D capable graphics hardware controller for all rendering. Powerful 3D GPU chips are common today in most modern computer platforms, including many set-top boxes, and XBMC, now Kodi, was from the start designed to be otherwise very resource efficient. It runs well on what are relatively underpowered systems and with older OpenGL 1.3 , OpenGL ES 2.0 or Direct3D (DirectX) 9.0 capable systems. When software decoding of a full HD 1080p high-definition and high bit-rate video is performed by the system CPU, a dual-core 2 GHz or faster CPU is required.
Operating System
Kodi can run on several operating systems. Kodi can be installed on many platforms to create a great HTPC. Operating systems include: Linux, Micro$oft Windows, Macintosh OSX, Android, and iOS. Kodi can run on a number of devices besides the personal computer including mobile devices and tablets.
There are some specific operating systems built for direct support of KODI, which are typically Linux based. Some examples include:
- LibreELEC
- OpenELEC
- OSMC
- Xbian
Addons
Legitimate Addons
The most common addons are for the purpose of viewing streaming content. Many Addons are for providing legal and copyright free streaming video or audio and is available in the Public Domain.
- Crackle - (video, movies) now owned by Sony, has some good legal content
- iPlayer WWW.
- SpotiMC / Spotify - (streaming music)
- TuneIn Radio.
- FilmsOn.TV.
- Twitch - (gaming content)
- Plex
- YouTube - (video)
- PopcornFlix - (video)
Pirate Addons
Endorsement or encouragement of copyright infringement is not encouraged here. This information is for educational purposes only.
- Exodus Redux - movies
- The Magic Dragon