XBMC For Android
We have been keeping a little secret.. the kind that is so much fun to share when the time comes.
Today we announce XBMC for Android. Not a remote, not a thin client; the real deal. No root or jailbreak required. XBMC can be launched as an application on your set-top-box, tablet, phone, or wherever else Android may be found.
The feature-set on Android is the same that you have come to expect from XBMC, no different from its cousin on the desktop. Running your favorite media-center software on small, cheap, embedded hardware is about to become a hassle-free reality. And as Android-based set-top-boxes are becoming more and more ubiquitous, it couldn’t be a better time. In fact, primary development was done on a Pivos XIOS DS set-top-box. And that is no coincidence, you will notice that Pivos is now listed as an official sponsor (more on that later). XBMC is stable and works great there, as well as on various tablets and phones. Though with Android, as many of you probably know, that is only the beginning of the story.
Enjoy the stereotypical dev-shot low-quality demo video. More video, including phone/tablet usage in the next post.
So what’s the catch? None… in time. Currently, for most devices only software decode of audio and video is hooked up. We considered waiting until universal hardware decode was ready before making our announcement, but in the end decided that in the spirit of keeping things open and working with our ever-expanding community, it made sense to open up sooner rather than later. We are confident that an OpenMax-based player (similar to the one used for the Raspberry Pi) will spring up very quickly. That said, software playback of most media plays quite well already.
Though, there is one exception. As Pivos sponsored a large portion of the port, we were able to work with their vendors to achieve buttery-smooth hardware-accelerated playback on the XIOS DS. It remains to be seen if such hardware-specific features will make it into XBMC mainline or exist as patches for vendors to integrate.
While, as you can see in the video, the port is fully usable and lots of fun to play with, it’s not quite ready for prime-time. We will begin releasing apks for interested beta testers in the coming weeks. But for those who are up to the task, as you would expect from XBMC, the source code is available. We have decided not to push to Google Play until we are satisfied that users with all kinds of devices get the same great XBMC experience. We ask that our users stay on the lookout for evil-doers trying to cash in on XBMC’s popularity. If you see anyone masquerading as XBMC, please be sure to let us and Google know about it.
There is also the issue of having a proper UI for small-screen devices. Typically, XBMC skins have been designed for use on a TV, so use on a small phone can be clunky. But there is nothing keeping skinners from creating more functional touch-oriented skins, like the included “Touched” skin from Jezz_X. With the community’s help, we’re sure to have a more refined version available for inclusion by the time we release a stable version.
There are still many details left to iron out, mainly related to the wide variety of Android devices in the wild. We have not yet decided what minimum requirements will be set, due simply to the lack of extensive testing on exotic devices.
As for taking advantage of Android itself, we haven’t even scratched the surface. There are so many interesting features that we could take advantage of: launching apps, location awareness, speech recognition, on and on. Once the core port is finished up, you can bet we’ll be exploring many new avenues.
I could write for days about how the port started, how it was accomplished technically, what tricks were used, etc, but I will save that for a (somewhat more personal) follow-up post. There is much to say about the process that would likely bore most readers, but I will try to answer the questions that come up in the comments as much as possible in that post. The port was a big effort with many contributors, many thanks to Davilla, Memphiz, Phaeodaria, Montellese, Topfs2, and everyone else who was involved.
Full disclosure: I have been working for Pivos for the last few months, where I suggested the port-work and XBMC sponsorship. I hope our users join me in a thanking them for supporting XBMC and allowing me to work on the port (among other things) during the day. Be sure to check out the Pivos forums, where discussions and unofficial builds are bound to spring up quickly.
Not work with samsung galaxy tab (p1000). Is-it work only with android 4 ?
This is GOOD news!!!
Excellent job!
Hows about a package for the acer a500?
Is it possible to compile for x86? Want to see this running on gtv!
Awesome! This was the number one reason I picked up an HP TouchPad when they were on fire sale!
Hi, i would like to participate, too.
And if i can assist you in any way, i might help you guys out. (i cannot code or anything, but i can design things ;))
BR
Frank
I am so happy to hear this. Have been waiting for some time to get this news. Thank you for continued active development and thanks to pivos for their support :-) can’t wait to test the beta.
I wonder if it is time for some sort of tv server to stream tv channels to these devices with little to no expandability.
Oh yeah… I got a TF201 and an HD2 I can help beta test. I can probably test on a GalaxyS2 also.
I got a NAS and a couple uPNP servers delivering all sorts of streamed and direct-played video, etc.
Also, I would love to test the mythTV and Plex DLNA support on it.
I compile and host the mythTV builds for Windows, and would promote this on my web site:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~davco/
You can contact me through my web site if you need me to test. I’m excited to try it out! Great work!
Be sure to get me signed up for regular releases. Newegg has my XIOS on the way already. XBMC is STILL running on my old xbox1 and cannot be replaced in our home or heart until now.
For those asking to ‘beta test’….
There is already a Frodo Alpha v4 version mentioned on this board that you can download and install. It’s running excellently on my Samsung Galaxy S3 and HP Touchpad.
The only issues I can see are already pin pointed in the original news post. Touchscreen and streaming HD Wirelessly to your handset (expected). Simple.
Other than that, the usual features from XBMC are all there and runs great.
My media I am going to make accessible from the internet and try streaming it to my phone by HSPA+.
Well, I built the apk…
Didn’t start on my galaxy s1 but started on a Chinese Telechips M805S TCC892x Board.. Unfortunately software rendering only..
I’ll test it tomorrow on a Galaxy S3.. In the meantime.. enjoy http://goo.gl/3sPS3
Built on a Ubuntu 12.04 x64 box, after install dont’ forget to switch to Touch skin, much more friendly..
this
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-console
plus
XMBC for Android
equals
AWESOME :)
Amazing!!!!! I have a main pc in my room with xbmc and also works as server to a laptop in my living room. I was consedering to build a smaller pc, but due this good news, I have been searching for top set boxes, and found this small one : http://usb.brando.com/mini-x-android-tv-box_p02813c051d15.html. It could be an awesome portable htpc (in special for holidays, jejejeje). Hope that due the limited space in the Nand Flash of most of this tv boxes, the apk of xbmc could be installed in an external sd card ( in special for the database details of our movies, music, etc) like other apk for android.
Also, hope I could modify the config files like xbmc for pc ( I have modify the routes of the items in home menu xlm )
I fell off my chair reading this. Gone for the weekend, coming back – and then this announcement? Holy crap, Team XBMC – you outdid yourselves once again.
I am crying tears of joy right now – this is… so unbelievable. So great.
Yeah, I know – I am all over the place right now, but I can’t hold myself. This is so amazing. The comming weeks will be packed with nothing but awesomeness!
Thank you Team XBMC for expanding XBMC even further to even more platforms. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
video – XBMC on HTC Sensation @ 4.0 http://youtu.be/BrN4BudLOj0
Make the thumbnails look more like they do in plex please.
Thanks pivos & XBMC. Your overpriced XIOS DS device is now justified in my living room! I am sure this is a very good business move. XBMC is ‘the’ media center.
Nice one!
Ran XBMC on the olde XBOX and tried it on USB stick aswell. Legendary stuff.
Can do betatest on :SGS I9000, Ainol Novo 7a2, Zenithink C91 (ZT180), ZTE Light (V9).
//Cheers
Working for me in a Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.1.1
@Anonymous
I totally agree with this!!!
would anyone recommend the xios ds a sub for the atv2 ? i figure cuz he says ” As Pivos sponsored a large portion of the port, we were able to work with their vendors to achieve buttery-smooth hardware-accelerated playback on the XIOS DS ” plus you have everything else on ics but i was just wondering what you guys thought
This is the coolest announcement since… well… since branching away from the original XBOX.
While I see a future of android-based boxes, I will miss my own home-built win7 devices.
But, in the meantime… COUNT ME IN !!!
Just bought a Samsung Galaxy S3, and I’m dying to see how that 4.8″ diagonal screen will look with XBMC.
Oh… of course, that will now mean that SOMEBODY will have to make an easy to use VPN for XBMC… with all these new mobvile devices, we’re going to need a troublefree VPN package to get back to our homes NAS boxes. (and a Wake On Lan via internet too!)
@Zebraitis NAS via VPN? Have fun with that.
Guys, does software decoding works for you on high end devices? If yes, which one?
It doesn’t play well even 720p on my Galaxy S3 and doesn’t start on S1..
Of course this is a ultra alpha and this is to be expected, still I am going to say.. GREAT WORK..
Thanks a lot
Niki Iv nope, HD stutters on Samsung galaxy S2. SD plays supersmooth though. I am already happy with it for watching SD stuff.
I’ve noticed a few bugs though, wonder if I can report them somewhere or they want to hold off for now. I know it’s brand new.
How will it work with compressed files? The comp. vers. of xmbc can playback files that are compressed like .rar/.r01..r95 is it possible to get this working on the android vers. aswell? Would be awsome to have the possiblity to playback all the files on the nas/ftp..
I got an HTC One X, HTC Desire and an flytouch 3 to test xmbc android on :)
AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!
Will Android XBMC support centralized xbmc mysql db? I am already running NAS + XBMC on two PC’s sharing a common MySQL database, would we be able to use the remote mysql db? Is mysql support compiled in?
I own a Samsung Galaxy SII but more likely to be used is my AC Ryan Veolo. The last one is a Android based set top box. I would like to use it on that device. Is there a way i can test the APK?
Great news and great job! Congratulations.
I’ll try to compile in the next days to see how it works…
What wonderful news!!
Now I’ll be selling my (so far) useless ATV3, no point in waiting around for a jb to make it work the way it should have from the beginning.
Hope you’ll make sure that the hw acc. works on other devices too, vendor specific code or not, great video experience – that’s what XBMC is all about.
Keep up the great work!
This video is private?! FAIL!
awesome, I would like to helpout with beta testing: Samsung Galaxy s2 and Sony Ericsson X10i
I’d love to try this.
Been using XBMC for a little over a year now and have dreamt of it being on my Android tablet for ages
Got a Samsung S3, HTC Desire (which would probably die trying) and Acer A500 Tablet.
Great initiative but requires ‘Read sms/mms’ permission. Why?
@Alik
Oh, a client and not remote control. Nice. I hope it won’t need the ‘Read SMS/MMS’ permission as well.
Is it so hard to actually read a few comments before you post yours?
DejaVu said it:
For those asking to ‘beta test’….
There is already a Frodo Alpha v4 version mentioned on this board that you can download and install. It’s running excellently on my Samsung Galaxy S3 and HP Touchpad.
There is nothing to achieve through asking again and again to be a beta tester.
Well… I retract everything I said – from the official FAQ:
APKs
XBMC for Android is still in early development.
We ask you to not post private build APKs. Once all is set up we will start release to official build APKs for testing.
There will be an announced when this will happen.
So – asking to be a beta tester is meaningless. You will get your hands on the official beta-apks as soon as everyone else.
You guys made my day. Awesome news. Keep up the good work.
@henryford
Yeah ! … next thing I’ll be expecting a man to reach the moon, or XBMC on an android !!! :)
Hi everyone,
I have been using XBMC for the last 4 years on my TV and it is great but I don’t get all the excitment about the android port because I don’t understand how you are supposed to use XBMC on a phone or a tablet as you won’t be able to store more than 10 movies and it will just be slower than any basic player like MX. I am clearly missing something ! Could you explain ?
Thanks
I nearly dropped my laptop when I saw the news feed.
I went to check out the video, and it’s set as private. I was curious to see how, primarily, how it compared to Plex’s Android client. I expect it to be quite similar overall.
Where? May be I am blind or can’t search properly … is it possible for you to please publish the link, so that I (and everyone else) can download and install it on Android devices?
After a quick run-through, I can’t beleive that no one posted any dealxtreme links. I’ve not used them for much, but they almost always have that odd niche device. So depending on if this has enough horsepower, how about this little guy?
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ak802-mini-android-4-0-network-media-player-w-wi-fi-hdmi-tf-usb-black-4gb-1gb-ddr-iii-143431
If nothing else, they do have their larger model
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/google-android-2-2-hdmi-tv-set-top-box-72086?item=2
Yay!!!
I’ve been waiting for this one year!
Thanks you so much!
BB10/Playbook support next?