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 Thanks to the work of Shiretoko212, rowan.border, and all those who contributed in this thread, the previously outdated 360 keymap has been updated and dramatically improved so that now almost any 360 controller, regardless of version, should be immediately recognized by XBMC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.
Great job, team! Can’t wait to test Android.
Can anyone comment on whether the Nexus Q will run XBMC? I see that the Galaxy Nexus appears to be fully compatible, and since they share hardware components, I would assume the same to be true for the Q.
Where do I find the .apk for Android? I checked the download page, but see no mention of it.
Thanks,
Cal.
Oh, and you guys are *%%$’n awesome!!
Thanks,
Cal.
@Cal
I must have just hit the page as you were posting it. I see it’s up now.
Thanks so much,
Cal.
I can’t seem to find a download link for the Android version. Browsing to “http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/android” and clicking the .apk file gives the following error:
“Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /releases/android/xbmc-12.–Frodo_beta2-armeabi-v7a.apk on this server.”
It would be nice to have a source tarball this time :)
Does this version of xbmc android include hardware decoding support for various chipsets? if so, is this achieved by addressing an external player with hardware support or is it done natively in xbmc?
Thx for the great work! I have been a long time fan of xbmc.
@ken
oh nevermind :) took a look at the list.
Waited very patiently for, what feels like years for this.
Awesome work once again to the entire XBMC Dev team. Incredible work as always.
Is there an official location for the Android APK?
Download page only has beta 1 stuff…
You don’t have permission to access /releases/android/xbmc-12.–Frodo_beta2-armeabi-v7a.apk on this server.
I’m getting a Forbidden You don’t have permission to access /releases/android/xbmc-12.–Frodo_beta2-armeabi-v7a.apk on this server error with the .apk
Thanks again for everything you guys do.
Cal.
Um… why is the OSX version defaulting to AirPlay as the Audio Output now?
You don’t have permission to access /releases/android/xbmc-12.–Frodo_beta2-armeabi-v7a.apk on this server.
this is fantastic news!!! I am so excited to play with this… alas, like a few others, I am forbidden from getting the XBMC.APK. Is this the same APK available over at the picosforums? Also, @ken did you find the answer for hardware acceleration? I am assuming it is not included but…
P.S. Thanks Team XBMC for all the hard work. It is not fair that my living room is so awesome @ no charge… time to donate!
Right now, the apk download link in download page has a typo, should be http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/android/xbmc-12.0-Frodo_beta2-armeabi-v7a.apk
“12.0″, not “12.-” .
Great job, about to get testing on several devices in a few minutes, will let you know my remarks. Keep up the great work!
Thanks,
Love the Android version other than my fingers are too big.
Umm, is there still an issue on running XBMC on Android 4.2? Just tried it on my Nexus 7, and it force closes.
Well this is annoying. The xbmcbuntu folks always have to wait. I’m not sure why everything can’t be released all at once.
It would be great if I could run it.
Stuck with Eden on a PowerMac G5.
Any idea when Xbmcbuntu beta 2 will be released?
Great job, one question about 360 controller, I was using it with older XBMC on W7 but there was one major bug.
Moment the controller would go to sleep mode , XBMC was crashing. I hope it is fixed now ?
I am currently running from the wsnipex repro. But I am wondering, since XBMC is supporting XVBA also (?), what are the advantages of the wsnipex repro?
Tegra 2 unsupported :( Looks like I have to buy new tablet..
@necrosis
Just redo the audio settings. They were screwed in beta1 and were not saved in the right way.
Great to see Android supported :)
Now, start working on a WINDOWS 8 APP, for both x86 and ARM! 40 million copies sold as of last week…
Awesome! I have Android 4.2 and still doesn’t work, but I’m sure it will be fixed soon. Can’t wait to have it working on my OUYA (when they begin selling it to “normal” users).
Good work!
aLeX
Hmm tride the betas on my galaxy note. No sound at all, there is only one option in the system audio. Android audio…
Please fix. It worked with the xda ver…
But lags, is there hardware acl. In this build for sammys?
Download should be fixed now.
Works fine On windows 8
People who still have problems with audio in windows, make sure your amp is switched onto the correct input when XBMC loads. DDamian is looking for solutions to this in the future but I doubt it will make it into the final release.
Any chance that H.264 videos will get hardware acceleration on non-NEON devices? Alternatively, that their URLs could be passed along to a player on Android that does support hardware acceleration on these platforms? Then I would be super happy :)
XBMC on the Nexus 7 looks gorgeous, but as you say, video playback is not really usable in the current state with no NEON…
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Fantastic.
Even in beta this release has more functionality than anything else on android
if you release through the play store I will Buy it, for now accept my donation. Its time we all put a few days dollars towards contributing towards arguably the best open source software on the market.
I have installed and can confirm on
Asus Transformer Prime 4.1.1
Galaxy Nexus on 4.1 but not on 4.21 (as the devs have already said)
To fix XBMC on 4.2,
“A temporary solution to get XBMC working on Android 4.2 is to compile it with the gcc 4.4.3 toolchain, rather than the default 4.6″
- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1813089&highlight=compiler&page=125
i get a “App not installed. An existing package by the same name with a conflicting signature is already installed” when i try to install the beta 2, and i just checked the version of got installed already, it’s beta 1 (XBMC 12.0-BETA1 Git:20121118-be2a847)
what to do lol
-Deco
Great news! works good on my Galaxy SIII. but is there any good skin to use? confluence is a little small touch areas and the touched skin seems to have the wrong AR.
@Mikey
you just need to:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
@Ectholian
Mainline XBMC does not support Xvba
@martin AFAIK nexus 7 IS a neon device
I had an alpha build of XBMC running JUST FINE on my TF101. So, to be clear, when I try to install this, it’s going to refuse to run on it now? Seriously?
Love the xbox 360 controller feature. Its amazing how much fast it is to navigate than with a harmony remote. Now if i could only get the chatpad driver to work.
Runs perfect on my MyGica 510B with Amlogic SoC: http://www.myhdplayer.de/Android-TV-Box/MyGica-EnjoyTV-510B-Android-TV-Box-inkl–XBMC.html
The Nexus 7 is a NEON device.
does not launch on Galaxy S3 JB4.1.1
Brilliant work!
Does the android version include the HW accelerated AMLplayer for AMLogic CPUs?
I’ve tried running XBMC beta 2 on the platform Rockchip 3066(MiniX neo G4), XBMC still can not run 720p video smoothly.
@arvid Try Joggler it’s in the WIP skins sub forum.
Windows 7 with Frodo beta 1……… frame rate is 17 – 22 and even on xvid movies and audio has a little lag when is set to full screen on second monitor at 1080p :(
anyway…….i love XBMC :)