We are happy to release our next bugfix release:

OpenELEC 1.0.2 is released! Many thanks to all users for testing and contributing.

We are happy to release our first bugfix release:

OpenELEC 1.0.1 is released! Many thanks to all users for testing and contributing.

After more than two years of constant development and a year of open beta testing, the team of the OpenELEC Project are pleased to announce OpenELEC Version 1.0

OpenELEC is an embedded Linux distribution that aims to allow people to use their Home Theatre PC (HTPC) in the same manner as any other device attached to your TV - like a DVD player or Sky box. Turn on your box, and OpenELEC is ready and waiting in less than 10 seconds - as fast as some DVD players. A simple remote control is all you will need. On top of that, one need not worry about updating OpenELEC, as the software will self-update automatically when connected to the Internet and an update is available. Installing OpenELEC takes less than 5 minutes and requires zero Linux experience. After that, one need merely add one’s media files and preferred addons, and OpenELEC will “just work.”

We are happy to release our next release candidate

RC 7 is released! Many thanks to all users for testing and contributing.

Connecting to your OpenELEC.tv running Mediacenter would be easyer! We have created some new default Samba shares. Now you can use the shares for music, videos, pictures, screenshots, tv-shows and downloads.

Yesterday we have added initial VAAPI support to OpenELEC.tv.

"This API is intended to provide an interface between a video decode application (client) and a hardware decode accelerator (server), to off-load video decode operations from the host to the hardware accelerator at various entry-points." http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/vaapi

"A new video acceleration API is being developed, in an effort lead by Intel. This new API supports more complete offload (VLD) as well as iDCT+MC, and can support acceleration of MPEG4, H.264, VC-1, as well as MPEG-2."http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/XvMC

The "VA API" and "libVA" can also be read about here: "The end user impact is improved performance of H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video playback with media players that use the new API compared to playback using a pure software implementation." https://wiki.ubuntu.com/mobile-hw-decode

Cowbalt of XBMCFreak.nl wrote a very beautiful dutch installation guidance, how to install OpenELEC.tv on an USB stick. You can find this HowTo here:

http://www.xbmcfreak.nl/howto-openelec-tv-vanaf-usb-stick/

Many thanks, Cowbalt!

We have added an function to automatically mount not mounted partitions from internally drives (for example SATA/IDE drives). This improves the usage when booting from USB drives without configuring anything.

We have now an automatic update manager! 

OpenELEC.tv looks around 30 sec. after starting xbmc for updates. If it finds an updated version:

• With the default settings: you will be informed about the new update.
• If you have enabled automatic updates: you will be informed about an new update. The Updatemanager downloads and extracts the update. After that you will be informed an second time that you must reboot for completing the update process.

There are an update.conf in /storage/.config (or in the samba "Configfiles" share). If you set AUTOUPDATE to "auto" (default are "manually") you enable the automatic update.

There is also an cronjob, so the updatemanager looks every 6 hours for an update. If you dont reboot after the updatemanager has downloaded the new version the cronjob does nothing more up to the next reboot (to prevent downloading the same update every 6 hours). It is not necessary to do an reboot direct after downloading the update - so you can finishing watching your videos etc... - after the next reboot you will have the new version.

Please report bugs and issues about new functions to our bugtracking tool!

Thanks to Mark we have now initial LCD/VFD and IRTrans remote support in OpenELEC.tv! The VFD and remote can now setup in the configfile under /storage/.config/remote.conf and /storage/.config/lcd.conf. You can also use the samba share to change the settings in the config files. If there is a need for more supported hardware please post in the forum or report on our bugtracker.