XBMC 12 Frodo - Beta 2 Now with Android!
Update: The permissions error on the Android download link has been fixed.
We are excited to announce Beta 2 of XBMC 12 today, as it brings with it many fixes and one long awaited major update. As you know, XBMC currently supports OSX, Linux, Windows, iOS, and the ARM-based Raspberry Pi. That’s a great list, but anyone paying attention could tell you that a massive, critical platform is still missing. Well, Scott Davilla and Cory Fields (theuni) have been working tirelessly to bring one more platform to the fold. And we’re all excited to say that we are finally ready to release the very first beta of XBMC for Android.
To run this beta, you will need a fairly modern Android phone, tablet, or other device. We have determined that any Android device that doesn’t include the NEON extension is simply going to run too slowly to be useable. If you are uncertain whether your device is supported, feel free to visit the XBMC for Android compatibility list.
Alternatively, you can simply install the XBMC for Android apk. If your device is not supported, XBMC will post a warning when you try to launch the app and exit out. If it is, and it isn’t included on the compatibility list, feel free to add it.
One Android issue worth mentioning: at present XBMC is likely to load fairly slowly on the first run as it unpacks itself. This is expected behavior. After first run, it should load quite a bit faster.
Update 2: Users should be aware that an update to Android 4.2 appears to have temporarily broken XBMC support for all you Nexus and Cyanogenmod users (and anyone else running 4.2). Beta3 should be right around the corner, and we hope to have a fix in place by the time that rolls out.
Controller Support
Without a doubt, one of the most popular controllers for PC at present is the Xbox 360 Controller. It is invariably the most supported controller for all AAA title Windows games (along with numerous games being ported for Steam for Linux), so it was undoubtedly time for the controller to become fully plug and play compatible with XBMC. Thanks to the work of Shiretoko212, rowan.border, and all those who contributed in this thread, the previously outdated 360 keymap has been updated and dramatically improved so that now almost any 360 controller, regardless of version, should be immediately recognized by XBMC assuming a driver is in place. For those interested in using their 360 controller to control XBMC, check out this 360 button map to show what all the buttons do in XBMC.
Audio Fixes
Easily the number one reported issue with Beta1 was a lack of sound in Windows. This issue was relatively simply resolved by switching from WASAPI to DirectSound as the default output. Users who prefer WASAPI can still easily switch back in System->Audio Output.
Other Fixes
Needless to say, there were numerous other fixes, including fixes to nodes and smartplaylists, the volume range of Airtunes in Windows, a speedup of EPG data importing, solving a minor files issue, and others. To see all the changes, feel free to refer to the Beta2 Git Changelog. Additionally, there are several other issues still being worked on, and more will likely crop up during Beta testing. If you would like to report an issue, please search for the issue in our forums first and report any verified bugs in Trac.
Conclusion
But enough of all that. Now is the time to get to downloading.
Let us know what you think of the changes in the comments below, or, if you like, via the donation button at the top of the page.
And if you have any problems, don’t hesitate to post about them in our forums and report verified bugs in Trac.
@tbar
ICS, updated recently to 4.0.4. Waiting for 4.1 that seems to be near…
confirmed works on Samsung Galaxy (vibrant) SGH-T959. This is fantastic.
I have installed on Transformer Prime T201 (4.1.1) and have found the GUI to be very smooth. Local 420p movies will play at 24fps. CPU averages during playback as follows:- CPU0 70%, CPU1 25%, CPU2 0% & CPU3 0%, dcpu, acpu and vcpu all 0%. I will test more later today streaming from my NAS. All looks and works great though. Well done Dev Team.
No work mouse-XBMC on Android 2.3.6 (Samsung Galaxy S 2) – work on all app, No work FullHD on mhl.
http://xbmc.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=2753
This nightly apk is confirmed working on N7 running 4.2.1:
http://xbmc-android.googlecode.com/files/xbmcapp-armeabi-v7a-debug-2012-11-27-full-neon-f7031c8bd6328ed072b1b765a1d395cdadb01ff8.apk
Doesn’t work on Mele a2000, just loads and goes blank
Android NDK Revision 8c was released a few weeks ago, anyone looked its bug-fixes for XBMC?
no workie on galaxy tab 10.1 damn :(
I’m still having issues with audio when it first starts up. When I try and play a TV episode I have no audio, until I do a reboot and then its fine. This is happening with Beta 1 & 2.
Works well but video streaming is really slow.
The Windows version seems a LOT better than Beta 1, which on my machine (Acer Revo) was practically unusable. I’m a big fan of the way XBMC is going, faster with improvements to almost all features and some interesting new ones.
beta 1 and beta 2 xbmcbuntu does not work with my radeon hd 3850 agp …
In livecd without installation, at the time of startup of xbmc image flashes then I get the user selection …
Android working on my HTC Flyer running Android Honeycomb (3.2) – no hardware acceleration though, 720p playback is choppy and 1080p is near impossible :)
@BrulSmurf
Maybe I should do some reading beforfe I post – no hardware acceleration available yet :)
HDMI over MHL not working on Android 4.1 with a Samsung galaxy note 2
No problem installing but it doesn’t run at all. Samsung Galaxy Nexus running 4.2.1. I only get the massage “Unfortunately, XBMC has stopped”
Xbox 360 Controller Support!!!! OMG finally!!
When, if ever, can we expect to see a port that is compatible with the Vizio Co-Star? I have a few of them and would love to start using XBMC instead of Plex or GTVBox.
http://xbmc-android.googlecode.com/files/xbmcapp-armeabi-v7a-debug-2012-11-27-full-neon-f7031c8bd6328ed072b1b765a1d395cdadb01ff8.apk
Works on 4.2.1
Thanks sjur
Looks like Beta 3 is up (just go to the Android download link). Works on my Nexus 7 running 4.2.1. Thanks
@philip what did you do to get it to work cuz I get a message “package parsed” please hhelppp
crashes on start on my sony google tv NSZ-GS7
Nice that we have it finaly, thanks!
But… Weather is only in fahrenheits? Why? And side meny is impossible to access on touchscreen, so big screen tablets are crippled… I expected some problems with library, access to network files and so, but basic functionality…well, hope for better.
Please fix KARAOKE always crushing…thanks
Can I use this on my xios pixos as opposed to flashing it to Linux?
XBMC is developing fast, sad that they are not put so much effort in making skins, the community are not doing anything and it has been the same skins for couple of years now, one big reason i am not using XBMC
Ok. Yesterday I checked work XBMC on Android 4.0 on this device from DealExtreme – http://dx.com/p/ak802-mini-android-4-0-network-media-player-w-wi-fi-hdmi-tf-usb-black-4gb-1gb-ddr-iii-143431
It is great, but I see render bugs – lines on the screen, and all screen updating after different actions.
Second is a crashing somtimes – i see only one frame and can’t do anything – don’t know why, maybe this is hardware…
All great, hope final version will good work on my device too! ;)
Hey Jonny; What else are you using instead of XBMC?
@Last Boy Scout
I`ve gotten it to work, you need about 100mb free space in DATA for the install, then another 50mb+ for the setup. Also I installed the chainfire 3D driver since the last time I tried. Not sure if it`s making the difference.
Just letting everybody know I have it working on the Xperia Play, latest OS release from sony. Chainfire 3D driver also installed, not sure if it makes the difference or not.
I had to free up a ton of space in data to make it work, about 100mb for the install, another 50mb+ for the initial cache.
Point is it works, but it’d be great if we could install to the sd card.
Speaking of. Xperia Play + XBMC + 64GB microsd = WIN!