[wrxtasy]

Vidon XBMC Pro (KODI)

Would you really trust VidOn ever ever again ?

There is likely to be Open Source Warfare breakout here on the forums if that GPL violating version of VidOn XBMC Pro ever popups its head up on here again. They really have upset too many in the Kodi Open Source community already.

---

What I am missing about Vidon? If they offer full blu-ray menu support, is the new Tronsmart Vega S95 not a good option go with? However, I do see they are using Kodi 14.2?

VidOn are a known GPL violator. They used to be a Kodi Sponsor too. The relationship with the Kodi community became so bad it was bordering on hostile at one stage. The only option left in the end was to not renew their sponsorship. They may have even been banned from the forum.

GPL = General Public Licence:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Why GPL compliance so important to Kodi ?

Simply - Kodi is Open Source Software, its a collaborative project with many thousand of volunteer Coders, Artists, Audio guys, Bug testers and more contributing towards a common goal - to make Kodi the best damn Media Player on the Planet !

Kodi is licensed for distribution under the GNU General Public License, version 2.
Rules have to be followed with this licence, the most important one regarding re-distribution - a summary:

The GPL does not require you to release your modified version. You are free to make modifications and use them privately, without ever releasing them. This applies to organizations (including companies), too; an organization can make a modified version and use it internally without ever releasing it outside the organization.

But if you release the modified version to the public in some way, the GPL requires you to make the modified source code available to the program's users, under the GPL.

The second paragraph here is important, because if modified source code (such as Kodi's) is not shared. It only benefits the one individual or one single company and not the wider Open Source Community. Individuals or companies not sharing are classified as GPL Violators and can actually end up being prosecuted. If everyone did not share modified code to re-distribute and contribute back to the Kodi project, progress would go nowhere.

So now we come back to VidOn, the known GPL Violator with their modified XBMC version that supposedly adds 3D MVC playback and HD Audio passthrough to an AMLogic box. If XBMC / Kodi source code is modified in any way to enable these features, they have to make the code available when end users request it. I doubt they will as Tronsmart will want a competitive advantage over it competitors.

If this occurs, it basically amounts to a Big Fat Middle Finger raised to the entire Kodi and Open Source Community. Most of the code in that version of XBMC / Kodi on that box they are selling comes from Kodi volunteers.
Greed and profit is more important to companies such as these.

***
Note: I believe, if 3D MVC Video and HD Audio Passthrough can be played using some sort of customised Android Media App, called from within Kodi itself (via playercorefactory or similar), then that Media App's source code does not have to be shared.

And then read this:
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=...pid2178727

[wrxtasy]

And if you have not got the message crystal clear yet VidOn also do this:

VidOn does not only violate the GPL license, they also violate the Kodi/XBMC trademarks and copyrights by not fully and completly rebranding their applications.

http://kodi.wiki/view/Official:Trademark_Policy
http://kodi.wiki/view/Official:Trademark_Policy_FAQ
http://kodi.tv/introducing-kodi-14/

Even if they would change their ways and start complying with the GPL they also need to change their usage of the "Kodi" and "XBMC" trademarked names. There for starters the could begin by not calling their software for "VidOn XBMC" and "VidOn XBMC Pro":

http://www.vidon.me/vidon_xbmc.htm
http://www.vidon.me/vidon_box_software.htm
http://www.vidon.me/support_vidon_xbmc/user_guide.htm

Doing this does nothing to help their reputation and respect within the Kodi/XBMC community, never mind the grander open source community.

[setumismo]

Sorry, I do not know anything about VidOn. I do not know his problems with Kodi Open source!

Again not naming!


Just I am looking for a good player!

I will wait to read the reviews about the Tronsmart Vega S95

[wrxtasy]

Tronsmart should be ashamed of themselves selling a known GPL Violating device with VidOn Software, and basically stealing other people's free work for profit. I will actually ask for any reviews of this S95 device to be banned from the forums completely that's how strongly I feel about Open Source Software. Why should we give them free advertising ?

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If you want good support with a 3D / HD Audio passthrough box that is getting a bunch of development work put into it have a look at the MINIX U1. MINIX are also a Kodi forum sponsor and have a close association with the Kodi Android developer Koying. Thats where I would be looking.

[hdmkv]

Koying had mentioned somewhere (can't find it at the moment) that VidOn's 3D solution was their own, and may not be a GPL violation on its own, especially as it was (is) likely an external player solution like with all Android players... but, what are problems with VidOn are using Kodi/XBMC copyrights/trademarks to hawk their products & services, posting on forums with fake names to make VidOn look good, etc.

Tronsmart is advertising VidOn more prominently than what Minix had been doing, while Minix now only mentions "Added Vidon 3D patch (app is not included)" to indirectly offer 3D. So, Minix has kind of distanced themselves, but not fully.

VidOn may not matter if Koying's upcoming MVC hack/patch for AML device opens full 3D support for all SXXX devices.

[movie78]

Tronsmart should be ashamed of themselves selling a known GPL Violating device with VidOn Software, and basically stealing other people's free work for profit. I will actually ask for any reviews of this S95 device to be banned from the forums completely that's how strongly I feel about Open Source Software. Why should we give them free advertising ?

---

If you want good support with a 3D / HD Audio passthrough box that is getting a bunch of development work put into it have a look at the MINIX U1. MINIX are also a Kodi forum sponsor and have a close association with the Kodi Android developer Koying. Thats where I would be looking.

Minix are doing the same thing...

This GPL violation is really a grey area that doesn't have a define set and stones on what is violation and what is not

[wrxtasy]

Read this and its pretty clear cut to me, nothing grey at all. The problem is lack of enforcement.

GPL = General Public Licence:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

The GPL does not require you to release your modified version. You are free to make modifications and use them privately, without ever releasing them. This applies to organizations (including companies), too; an organization can make a modified version and use it internally without ever releasing it outside the organization.

But if you release the modified version to the public in some way, the GPL requires you to make the modified source code available to the program's users, under the GPL.

[RockerC]

What, a full blown java VM? You'd first have to convince Oracle to allow it

BD-J does not require full blown Java VM, as BD-J only requires a Java ME (Micro Edition) or PhoneME platform, which is designed for embedded systems and is GPL licensed:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BD-J
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Platfo...ro_Edition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhoneME
http://java.net/projects/phoneme

As of 22 December 2006, the Java ME source code is licensed under the GNU General Public License, and is released under the project name phoneME.

[Koying]

What, a full blown java VM? You'd first have to convince Oracle to allow it

BD-J does not require full blown java VM, BD-J 'only' requires a Java ME (Micro Edition) or PhoneME platform, which is designed for embedded systems and is GPL licensed:

Oh, is it? That's another story, so it * might * be possible...

[halfelite]

Read this and its pretty clear cut to me, nothing grey at all. The problem is lack of enforcement.

GPL = General Public Licence:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

The GPL does not require you to release your modified version. You are free to make modifications and use them privately, without ever releasing them. This applies to organizations (including companies), too; an organization can make a modified version and use it internally without ever releasing it outside the organization.

But if you release the modified version to the public in some way, the GPL requires you to make the modified source code available to the program's users, under the GPL.

But as has been said if they are using an external solution they dont have to post anything its their code and theirs alone. What part of their code do you think is a GPL violation. The bluray menus and 3d is most likely the same jvm they built for there PC app.

[hdmkv]

⇑ This... so, issues I see (although still serious) are using Kodi player wrapper (UI, controls) on their external player and using Kodi & XBMC trademarks.

[movie78]

Which Amlogic S905 to buy?

Tronsmart Vega s95 Amlogic s905
Or
Minix Neo U1 XBMC

[hdmkv]

Tronsmart includes VidOn pro, though they don't say if 1 year or indefinitely. Minix has better support; expecting a review sample. Also, it's pretty certain DTS-MA will be added to U1, and TrueHD is already there. Not sure about Tronsmart.

Both should eventually be able to offer 3D MVC support via Koying's hack for AML.

[movie78]

Tronsmart includes VidOn pro, though they don't say if 1 year or indefinitely. Minix has better support; expecting a review sample. Also, it's pretty certain DTS-MA will be added to U1, and TrueHD is already there. Not sure about Tronsmart.

Both should eventually be able to offer 3D MVC support via Koying's hack for AML.

You getting a Minix review unit?

You lucky one.....

[wesk05]

VidOn only does Top/Bottom 3D on S905. It can't do refresh rate switching and because of that there will be no 23.976 output. It does have passthrough for Dolby TureHD/Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio and full BD menu.