2012-04-21, 16:47
I've managed to build XBMC with pvr support, but I'm still waiting for my Raspberry Pi.
(2012-04-22, 18:29)95123321 Wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7qoFfC6nvI
(2012-04-27, 01:41)slicemaster Wrote: I hate to say it but I fear for the Raspberry Pi's future as a comprehensive media player solution. Don't get me wrong, the board has all the hardware to do it all, but the support that we as XBMC users would need for a good fluid experience in HD on this device is unlikely to happen based on what I've been reading. In truth, the real guts of this chip is the VideoCore IV GPU, not the ARM processor when it comes to media applications. The simple reason for this reasoning is that the 700Mhz ARM portion of the SoC can at MOST software decode MPEG2 and other popular codecs, and this I think will be a real deal breaker for many who were hoping to do much much more with this platform. Sure it can hardware decode H.264 at 1080P, but that's about all it can do on the hardware decoding front. Although the BroadCom SoC has the ability do hardware decode everything our community would want, the Raspberry Pi foundation has opted not to license the rest of the codecs supported by the SoC to save a few bucks per unit. From the types of posts i've been reading over there on their forum and blog, it looks as though we're going to be left hanging out in the wind because our need for codec support does not fall inline with the foundations "Core Goals". Some have advocated an end-user CODEC support upgrade package for an additional fee, but based on the types of responses from the folks running the show over there, it doesn't look promising.
That said, I do think the Raspberry Pi is a neat peace of hardware, and I have actually purchased one with hopes of running XBMC on it when a pre-packaged distribution becomes available from either OpenELEC or RasBMC (one of the two should be available by the time i get my Pi as the Pis are back ordered for months), however i do have my concerns over the ability for the relativity weak ARM processor to handle software decoding my SD MPEG2 video streams and handling the UI at the same time with out creating a less than ideal user experience.
In either case, regardless of the ultimate outcome I am definitely looking forward to seeing what this thing can actually do with out the aid of hardware accelerated video decoding.
(2012-04-27, 01:41)slicemaster Wrote: I hate to say it but I fear for the Raspberry Pi's future as a comprehensive media player solution. Don't get me wrong, the board has all the hardware to do it all, but the support that we as XBMC users would need for a good fluid experience in HD on this device is unlikely to happen based on what I've been reading. In truth, the real guts of this chip is the VideoCore IV GPU, not the ARM processor when it comes to media applications. The simple reason for this reasoning is that the 700Mhz ARM portion of the SoC can at MOST software decode MPEG2 and other popular codecs, and this I think will be a real deal breaker for many who were hoping to do much much more with this platform. Sure it can hardware decode H.264 at 1080P, but that's about all it can do on the hardware decoding front. Although the BroadCom SoC has the ability do hardware decode everything our community would want, the Raspberry Pi foundation has opted not to license the rest of the codecs supported by the SoC to save a few bucks per unit. From the types of posts i've been reading over there on their forum and blog, it looks as though we're going to be left hanging out in the wind because our need for codec support does not fall inline with the foundations "Core Goals". Some have advocated an end-user CODEC support upgrade package for an additional fee, but based on the types of responses from the folks running the show over there, it doesn't look promising.
That said, I do think the Raspberry Pi is a neat peace of hardware, and I have actually purchased one with hopes of running XBMC on it when a pre-packaged distribution becomes available from either OpenELEC or RasBMC (one of the two should be available by the time i get my Pi as the Pis are back ordered for months), however i do have my concerns over the ability for the relativity weak ARM processor to handle software decoding my SD MPEG2 video streams and handling the UI at the same time with out creating a less than ideal user experience.
In either case, regardless of the ultimate outcome I am definitely looking forward to seeing what this thing can actually do with out the aid of hardware accelerated video decoding.
(2012-04-27, 11:41)Oddsodz Wrote: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17857189
Watch the news video to the end ;-)
(2012-04-27, 09:29)gimli Wrote:(2012-04-27, 01:41)slicemaster Wrote: I hate to say it but I fear for the Raspberry Pi's future as a comprehensive media player solution. Don't get me wrong, the board has all the hardware to do it all, but the support that we as XBMC users would need for a good fluid experience in HD on this device is unlikely to happen based on what I've been reading. In truth, the real guts of this chip is the VideoCore IV GPU, not the ARM processor when it comes to media applications. The simple reason for this reasoning is that the 700Mhz ARM portion of the SoC can at MOST software decode MPEG2 and other popular codecs, and this I think will be a real deal breaker for many who were hoping to do much much more with this platform. Sure it can hardware decode H.264 at 1080P, but that's about all it can do on the hardware decoding front. Although the BroadCom SoC has the ability do hardware decode everything our community would want, the Raspberry Pi foundation has opted not to license the rest of the codecs supported by the SoC to save a few bucks per unit. From the types of posts i've been reading over there on their forum and blog, it looks as though we're going to be left hanging out in the wind because our need for codec support does not fall inline with the foundations "Core Goals". Some have advocated an end-user CODEC support upgrade package for an additional fee, but based on the types of responses from the folks running the show over there, it doesn't look promising.
That said, I do think the Raspberry Pi is a neat peace of hardware, and I have actually purchased one with hopes of running XBMC on it when a pre-packaged distribution becomes available from either OpenELEC or RasBMC (one of the two should be available by the time i get my Pi as the Pis are back ordered for months), however i do have my concerns over the ability for the relativity weak ARM processor to handle software decoding my SD MPEG2 video streams and handling the UI at the same time with out creating a less than ideal user experience.
In either case, regardless of the ultimate outcome I am definitely looking forward to seeing what this thing can actually do with out the aid of hardware accelerated video decoding.
Ask the PI Foundation to make the additional codec pack available for purchase. When the demand is getting high enough they might work on it.
Tecnical words :
What XBMC can do at the moment :
Video decoing is only done in hardware and we support :
MPEG-4 Part 2 ( Xvid )
MPEG-4 Part 10 ( h264/AVC)
VP8 ( Partial in hardware )
Audio decoding :
All is done in software, expect AC3/DTS passthrough.
With the additional codec pack XBMC could use the hardware decoding to do :
Mpeg2, VC1, DTS, AC3
DTS-HD and TrueHD are not supported by the hardware and the software decoding is to slow.
Personal words :
Everyone have to consider if the PI fit for their needs. You can't say that is no comprehensive media player solution. If the support fit your needs, it is. If not, you have to use another device. That is a personal decision, so you can't speek in general for the whole XBMC community.
cheers
gimli
(2012-04-27, 19:03)slicemaster Wrote: A fare analysis, and i do agree with your statements regarding personal needs. However the very definition of comprehensive includes the idea of all encompassing, just like XBMC video support is more or less all encompassing (whether in software or hardware). That said, I still believe my statements hold true, the platform simply is not powerful enough to offer the comprehensive media experience that a lot of XBMC users are used to on the desktop without better hardware decoding codec support (it just doesn't have the power to software decode much). In either case, I definitely see where you're coming from though. I myself keep all my media in native format (As I suspect many XBMC users do), meaning my entire collection is composed of DVD-ISOs and BD-ISOs...because of the codec support they have decided to offer (in spite of the fact that the chip offers so much more), it would seem as though users like me are going to be left hanging, especially in the HD relm (hopefully the little arm will beable to handle the 480p content of the DVDs).
cheers,
(2012-04-27, 23:19)gimli Wrote: I see it clear that no embeded device will fit your needs. All of them have in one or the other way limitations. Your best choice is an intel i7 which can do all for you. So please let's stay on topic and talk about the xbmc PI port and not your personal frustration that the PI doesn't fit your needs.
thx
gimli