XBMC explained

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Hazelbag

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I recently heard about the xbmc thing and I have no clue as to what it is or what uou can do with it.

All I know so far its a strraming device for movies and so on.

I am currently using netflix and huluplus on my ps4 but would like a bit more options if you know what I mean.

So can someone please explain to me how to get this and get it working, what the costs are and what available channels are available and is there current series showing?

I basically need someone to explain this whole thing to me from start to finish please.

Or would it be better to stick with hulu and netflix only?

Oh and I have a 4mb line if this helps aswell.

Last thing, can you pvr shows and movies on this device?
 
XBMC is a media centre. It is not a streaming service. It aggregates all of your videos into TV shows and Movies, as well as music and music videos, and displays it in the most beautiful fashion of all media centres. It is software that you install. It is not a box you buy, although you can buy some hardware with xbmc preinstalled.

Some addons allow you to stream content, including Netflix and Hulu, as well as some less than legal addons that do it for free. But xbmc does not support illegal content.

You can plug your pvr into it if you have a compatible pvr and service provider, but DSTv refuse to integrate with third party media systems, so it doesn't work in SA.

XBMC is imo the best, and most attractive media centre and media player available. Hands down...
 
Can this replsce my dstv? As I said I have netflix and huluplus and hopefully soon this?
 
Hazelbag said:
Also does the Roku 2/3 work with this service?
Click to expand...

No, you cannot load XBMC onto a Roku at this time. If you are looking for a similar solution for Roku I suggest you look at Plex (www.plex.tv).

Hazelbag said:
Can this replsce my dstv? As I said I have netflix and huluplus and hopefully soon this?
Click to expand...

It all depends on you. Netflix and Hulu alone are the DSTV replacement, if however sports is something important to you I would hold on to the DSTV for now.
 
It is a media player, like Windows Media Player, only it is on steroids, and the good kind.

Netflix and Hulu will replace DSTv and XBMC will be the media centre that you use to watch it, so that you don't have to watch from a browser.

I don't use Netflix or Hulu as my line is not fast enough, but I do use SABNZBD, Sickbeard, CouchPotato and Headphones to automate my downloads, so all of my shows, movies and music automatically downloads as it is released in the US, UK, or whatever it aired, and sends it to my networked central media system, and automatically updates the XBMC clients with the latest information as well as downloading all associated artwork.

So all I do is check my latest episodes every evening and all of my new shows are there. Check latest movies and music and the same applies. And it looks beautiful. The TV show box case posters are downloaded, the banners are downloaded, the actor pics are downloaded, the season posters are downloaded, the thumbnails for the episodes are downloaded, the info for the episodes are download, the clearart is downloaded. The same applies to movies but there I get discart as well, so when I browse a movie, the case opens and the disc spins as well.

All automated. I never have to touch a thing.

XBMC is just a beautiful media library and player with support for awesome skins and addons. In fact with the PseudoTV addon I have created channels from my own media (about 800 movies and 6000 tv show episodes) and can replicate a full TV channel system with channels of my choosing, and content of my choosing...
 
So what channels do you get on the Roku device? Is there a huge difference between the Roku device and devices using XBMC?

I looked at plex and how does thay work, do I load it on the Roku device?

We dont watch any sport channels so no need for sports, the wife only watches series and movies so thats all it is for.

Does either of you stay on the east rand of JHB? Maybe once I get this someone can help with the setup of this? I am not very good with media devices like this and this type of service.
 
Make it easy for yourself, just get a Roku 3, load Netflix and Hulu on it and then you're sorted.

Both Plex and XMBC rely on you having existing media files on your computer and they do require a bit of setup. The Roku 3 with streaming services is by far the easiest solution.
 
But is there any alternative channels on the Roku 3 to watch? If not then there wont be a point of getting this as I have a ps4 and I use netflix and hulu on there.

Whats the difference between Roku and xbmc's channels?

Why do you say I need existing media files?
 
Hazelbag said:
But is there any alternative channels on the Roku 3 to watch? If not then there wont be a point of getting this as I have a ps4 and I use netflix and hulu on there.

Whats the difference between Roku and xbmc's channels?

Why do you say I need existing media files?
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Yes, it's a bit pointless then if you already have a PS4.

You need existing media files because that is the primary purpose of XMBC and Plex. By media files I mean ripped copies of DVDs/Blurays, etc.
 
Can I for instance watch discovery and those type of channels on the roku device without paying a subscription?

Or are these channels available on a xbmc device?

Where can I then get channels like discovery, natgeo, cartoon network, history, comedy central, and so on?
 
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Hazelbag said:
Can I for instance watch discovery and those type of channels on the roku device without paying a subscription?

Or are these channels available on a xbmc device?

Where can I then get channels like discovery, natgeo, cartoon network, history, comedy central, and so on?
Click to expand...

With regards to Roku: yes you
can get those channels i doubt it will be free. There are lots of channels you can subscribe to
"http://mkvxstream.blogspot.com/2013/03/roku-private-channels-2013-roku-channel.html"
"https://www.rokuchannels.tv"

Go through those and see what you can find. XBMX is a mission to setup, i would rather stick with Roku or Ps4 (Neflix and Hulu+ ) for now if i were you. Plus yo dont care much about sport.

If you really need something extra there are set-top boxes some of which comes with XBMC installed. Also have a look at NTV,
 
NightCrawlerNic said:
With regards to Roku: yes you
can get those channels i doubt it will be free. There are lots of channels you can subscribe to
"http://mkvxstream.blogspot.com/2013/03/roku-private-channels-2013-roku-channel.html"
"https://www.rokuchannels.tv"

Go through those and see what you can find. XBMX is a mission to setup, i would rather stick with Roku or Ps4 (Neflix and Hulu+ ) for now if i were you. Plus yo dont care much about sport.

If you really need something extra there are set-top boxes some of which comes with XBMC installed. Also have a look at NTV,
Click to expand...

So can you maybe have a look at https://www.roku.com/channels/#!browse/movies-and-tv/by-popular and maybe tell me if I will be able to stream any of these channels to SA?
 
With regards to Roku and XBMC, I would rather get something that is user friendly and easy to setup and start watching. So which of these two will be best?
 
Can I use playon in SA? Cos I see it includes all the other stream channels that we would like to use.
 
Many people are under the mistaken impression that XBMC is purely for pre-downloaded media and not for streaming. if you have a decent connection, (you already have a 4Mb line for streaming netflix & huluplus) XBMC works just as great with streaming. I think I only have about 5 movies on my hard drive as I stream nearly everything, I'm running an 8MB line.

The nice thing with XBMC is that you can test drive it before making any financial outlay. Contrary to popular belief, it is not that difficult to set up. I don't know your technical level. I live in the Primrose area & can assist if need be, just PM me. I have an dedicated machine running XBMCbuntu. For the test drive, I'm going to assume that you are using Windoze.
Download XBMC from xbmc.org - Use 12.3 Frodo as it is stable.
Use the XBMCHUB install wizard - This will install nearly all that you require.

As most of the movies & series are available on demand, there is no real requirement for a PVR for them, it's a case of viewing when you want to. There are certain PVR features but these are still relatively new. Other plugins like FTV & SportsDevil stream live TV covering a lot of the UK satellite channels (FilmOn). To the best of my knowledge there is a Playon plugin also available for it. But I find that the XBMCHUB suite of plugins caters for nearly all my requirements with a couple of other plugins to cater for anything else.
 
patrick123 said:
Many people are under the mistaken impression that XBMC is purely for pre-downloaded media and not for streaming. if you have a decent connection, (you already have a 4Mb line for streaming netflix & huluplus) XBMC works just as great with streaming. I think I have about 5 movies on my hard drive, I'm running an 8MB line.

The nice thing with XBMC is that you can test drive it before making any financial outlay. Contrary to popular belief, it is not that difficult to set up. I don't know your technical level. I live in the Primrose area & can assist if need be, just PM me. I have an dedicated machine running XBMCbuntu. For the test drive, I'm going to assume that you are using Windoze.
Download XBMC from xbmc.org - Use 12.3 Frodo as it is stable.
Use the XBMCHUB install wizard - This will install nearly all that you require.

As most of the movies & series are available on demand, there is no real requirement for a PVR for them, it's a case of viewing when you want to. There are certain PVR features but these are still relatively new. Other plugins like FTV & SportsDevil stream live TV covering a lot of the UK satellite channels (FilmOn). To the best of my knowledge there is a Playon plugin also available for it. But I find that the XBMCHUB suite of plugins caters for nearly all my requirements with a couple of other plugins to cater for anything else.
Click to expand...

Sure it's possible, I just find that these community written addons often are just a nuisance to use (no offense to the people that put their time into it). Often you sit with a broken plugin or a stream that won't play or the site changes it's API, etc.

That's what is nice about the Roku and other devices with official apps, is the fact that it just works (well 99.9% of the time).

I'm not saying don't use XMBC, I'm just saying that it's not as seamless as using official apps on a device like the Roku.
 
Thanks @patrick123 and @drJohnZoidberg but I would like to know, do I need my own shows and series on a loptop/pc to view it on either device or is there show that I can just play?

I saw that the roku device has got the playon.tv app and most of the stuff we watch is there so will it be best for someone that wants to plug and play to use xbmc or roku?
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Sure it's possible, I just find that these community written addons often are just a nuisance to use (no offense to the people that put their time into it). Often you sit with a broken plugin or a stream that won't play or the site changes it's API, etc.

That's what is nice about the Roku and other devices with official apps, is the fact that it just works (well 99.9% of the time).

I'm not saying don't use XMBC, I'm just saying that it's not as seamless as using official apps on a device like the Roku.
Click to expand...

If the person is not technically minded, I agree, I would recommend Roku as that is ideal to simply 'plug n play'. XBMC is definitely more orientated fo a technically minded person or as person who has a technically minded family member. My wife, whom I lovingly call a technological dwarf, is quite happy browsing XBMC and viewing her favourites. Most issues, are quite speedily resolved by the guys on the XBMCHUB forum.
 
My wife will be using it most of the time and neither one of us are that technical so I think best woll be to ise the Roku then.

Where can I find a roku for a reasonable price?
 
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