XBMC has published the largest update for its multimedia interface with the same name in a very long time. XBMC 10.0 was developed under the code name “Dharma” and mainly focuses on the handling of add-ons, but also supports nearly every known video format and of course hawrdware acceleration of the more demanding ones.
XBMC 10.0 can through its new add-on manager add more or less any new function the user wants and beside a new interface there are 11 more bundled to choose from, where you can easily play and preview your various media files.
XBMC is much like Windows Media Center, but through its open source code in constant development and available to most platforms, and through the new add.on manager it will be done even more frequently.
The software supports nearly all known video formats, where Dharma brings expanded support for hardware accelerated video playback with media processor Broadcom Crystal HD (found in many netbooks).
As always, we strive to play all of the current media formats available, including the new WebM/VP8 codec that is the latest buzz. Hardware acceleration has been added in windows (Vista or 7) via DXVA2, CrystalHD has been added for all platforms (best supported in OSX and Linux), VDPAU support has been improved in Linux, and VAAPI support has been added for the hardware that supports it in Linux.
XBMC (Xbox Media Center) currently supports all major platforms, Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. Through the LiveCD you can run XBMC from a CD or a USB stick without installing it. XBMC is also the foundation of Boxee Box that is the popular interface of D-Link’s media player with the same name.
AMD Fusion APU attracts more HTPC solutions
XBMC 10.0 couldn’t have come at a better time since we earlier reported that more than a few component makers will adapt AMD’s new Fusion platform for the desktop market, sporting the processors Zacate and Ontario. With Mini ITX platforms of various strengths and performance the HTPC market can get a strong growth in 2011, even though the competition from dedicated media players and even TVs grows stronger by the minute.
A complete walkthrough of Dharma’s new and updates can be found here, you can download XBMC 10.0 at the official website.
XBMC 10.0
