Xbox Media Center (or XBMC) is an open source media program designed to run on an original Microsoft Xbox game console-- for an open source app designed on a "hostile" platform, it's actually got one of the better media center interfaces around (and it's easy to plug into-- you can even use your iPhone to control it remotely). And so the crew over there has recently been porting it back to work with Linux itself-- all of the Xbox Media Center, none of the actual Xbox.If it's on Linux, it shouldn't be too hard to get it back running on OS X itself, right? At least that's what elan on the XBMC forums thought-- he hacked together a close-to-working XBMC port on Leopard. They haven't released it in any fully workable form yet (if you want to dive in as a developer, you can probably start here, and good luck, you're going to need it), but as a few people say, there's definitely a call for a terrific open source media center for OS X, because Front Row doesn't cut it for everyone.
Thanks, floris!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-03-2008 @ 8:13PM
James Elliott said...
This is fantastic! I used XMBC back in the day, and had it in my car for a while. Brilliant program. I've been looking into front row alternatives recently, and haven't been able to find any good ones. I think this may change that. A combo of RemoteBuddy and XBMC will be very, very, good.
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1-03-2008 @ 8:16PM
Rick said...
Too bad. If they get any momentum this will probably be the nail in the coffin for stuggling projects like CenterStage and iTheater. I was really hoping that CenterStage would get some help. The mockups of their future plans look amazing.
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1-03-2008 @ 8:29PM
2shae said...
I really liked XBMC when I still had my xbox.
If they can make this work on Leopard WITH the Apple remote than that would be really awesome and I won't hesitate ditching the new Frontrow for it.
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1-03-2008 @ 8:36PM
Tom said...
I see more than that: AppleTV XBMC
my god... it's full of stars
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1-03-2008 @ 9:12PM
garion said...
And just as I created a FrontRow plugin.. (not blogspam, no ads, I promise...).. Its just a hello world plugin (written in Python), but it works.. Mainly for programmers right now..
http://garion.tzo.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/python-based-frontrow-plugin/
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1-03-2008 @ 11:20PM
Ed said...
I was just reading that thread last night. I loved XBMC before i got my ps3, but would gladly return to it on my Mac. Wonder if functionality could be coded in for iTunes integration?
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1-03-2008 @ 11:55PM
iGO said...
I'm trying to realize my new PS3 as something of a media center. I've downloaded the demo Eyeconnect software, and it works, sort of. It's just that some media plays and some doesn't. I can't seem to find the common thread. And it's not the formats. The same file will play, depending on the location of the file on my iMac, not on the format. It streams wirelessly very nicely too. Any thoughts or pointers?
1-04-2008 @ 12:10AM
Ed said...
Haven't really messed around with streaming much because my MacBook is not always around my PS3. However, the buzzword to look for, as I remember, is DLNA. Maybe someone can recomend something?
However if you feel like waiting there is an app that is on it's way from the people that make connect360 (an app for streaming media from your mac to 360), and it's essentially the same thing but for PS3. It has iLife integration and the 360 version seems to be well reviewed.
Also, TUAW, fix the commenting! I love the new system, but the email links i get are formated wrong so they aways go to nowhere, and whenever posting a comment on a page with more than one page of comments I get sent to the last comment page, even if I post a reply that would show up on the first page! Otherwise the avatars and reply system and everything are good.
1-04-2008 @ 1:18PM
christapher said...
i just finished my 3 day run at streaming media to my ps3 from my mbp. it was a frustrating, confusing, but ultimately educational and fruitful journey. i'm using mediatomb, which requires fink. the fun part is that neither of them were written for leopard. so its basically me, a bash noob to begin with, feeling around in the dark, breaking and fixing things, giving up, then giving it one more shot and stumbling across the answer.
i plan to do a write up on my experience as i have found there is absolutely no documentation on how to get it up and running on leopard.
1-04-2008 @ 12:10AM
Stephane Daury said...
Technically, there's already an open source media center for osx: CenterStage
http://centerstageproject.com/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/macmediacenter/
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1-04-2008 @ 12:57AM
ramond said...
XBMC on a mac mini is going to be the ultimate set up.
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1-04-2008 @ 2:19AM
StoneRoses said...
XBMC is my favorite media center application. It is a lot better than XBOX 360, PS3 and also Apple TV.
Hope that the dev can put it to work before my 6-year old XBOX dies.
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1-04-2008 @ 2:55AM
freakscene said...
This is the best New Years present a media-lovin' Mac fan could ask for. I used XBMC for a long time as my main media center and it served me well, except for the dodgy support for iTunes (DAAP) streaming. Nowadays I've been using the PS3/TwonkyMedia with limited success, and been strongly thinking about a Mac mini. Was pondering dual-booting Linux for XBMC, so this is perfect.
With an OS X-focused port well under way, hopefully iTunes and iPhoto will gain better support, as well as perhaps a more elegant interface (XBMC's interface is polished and efficient, but it doesn't quite have that Apple sparkle).
Whatever the case, this elan guy knows his stuff and deserves a ton of praise for his efforts.
As for CenterStage, I think there's room for those guys to continue with their vision. Competition never hurts! But they do have a long way to go to reach the maturity of XBMC.
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1-04-2008 @ 6:14AM
melllvar said...
is there a way to use the apple remote with xbmc on xbox and IR Adapter?
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1-04-2008 @ 6:46AM
superted said...
I think i'd have to pick up a Mac Mini if this works all nice, like.
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1-04-2008 @ 8:36AM
basscadet said...
XBMC is pure gold, I'm still using my ancient XBOX for media playing (oh ok, and some emulator sessions).
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1-04-2008 @ 9:34AM
Tony said...
I have four xbox's with xbmc on them. One on each TV. They access my 2TB of movies I have shared on a PC in my office. so all 4 can access any movie/tv show at any time simultaneously. And, you can get used xbox's at gamestop for like $80. Show me another $80 player than do a fraction of what xbmc can do.
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1-04-2008 @ 11:25AM
jlaw said...
@Tony: Obviously you've had some success modding to xbmc. Is there a definitive tutorial out there for softmodding?
1-04-2008 @ 8:31PM
Tony said...
Here's how I do it:
http://www.productwiki.com/microsoft-xbox/article/how-to-go-from-xbox-to-xbox-media-center-in-30-minutes.html
1-04-2008 @ 11:52AM
Erik said...
OMG this was the best news I've heard this year! (har-har)
I'm still running my old xbox with XBMC because I can't find a replacement that work as well. The software is fantastic, and with the XTV-skin (http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?s=d1aa365c09a7f9eb10d26cb0e57122a7&showtopic=583541)
it looks lie front row but with better support for formats and with way better flexibility. However, I do miss the ability to play HD-clips on since the xbox is to weak. A pumped up Mac Mini with this thing running would be the bomb, and would totally kill AppleTV. A wonderful thought, let's just hope they get it to work.
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