• Kodi app. KODI, Kore - Small transformation into a large TV theater

    Many users of mobile devices based on operating systems of the Android family want to watch television, collections of clips, listen to music or audiobooks directly on their device. And, as reviews indicate, it is best suited for this universal program Kodi. Setting up Kodi on Android for an unprepared user may initially cause some difficulties. Meanwhile, if you understand the main sections of the menu, there is nothing particularly complicated here. But first things first.

    What is Kodi?

    The Kodi application is a unique media center that can replace a hardware (or software) player, a TV, or a set-top box.

    The program has so many possibilities that the user can not only watch television programs, but also view photos, video clips, listen to music online, broadcast the signal to the TV panel and control television directly on a computer with a stationary analogue installed from your mobile device, as if the user had a remote control in his hands remote control. All the settings may seem somewhat unusual at first, but there is nothing particularly complicated about them.

    Kodi: installation and configuration at the first stage

    First, as expected, the application must be installed by downloading it from Google storage Play. There shouldn't be any difficulties at this stage.

    However, if the installation is performed using an APK file downloaded not from the storage, you should enable the option to allow installation from other sources in the device settings.

    After installation and the first launch of the application, it will greet you with a somewhat unusual interface on English. To avoid translation difficulties, you should first change the Kodi settings in terms of the language used.

    Such actions can be carried out in system partition by going to System > Appearance > International > Language, where you select the required language from the list.

    Setting up Kodi XBMC: Setting text encoding and keyboard options

    The next step is to configure the text encoding. You should pay special attention to this point, since even if you do not have to enter text very often, you can change these parameters only in this section.

    By default, it is offered. It can not be changed, although if you wish, you can select any other of the proposed options in the list.

    Expert mode and advanced options

    After this, many users will be pleasantly surprised that the weather can be adjusted in the parameters (the application can even “predict” it). There is nothing particularly complicated here either. Along the way, in the file types section you need to note what is needed.

    Setting up your screensaver

    But the Kodi settings for the screensaver are a very interesting thing. By default, the user has two preset options: dimming and full blackening.

    However, if you tap on the “More” item, you can refuse to use standard screensavers and install, say, a random change of images from some site on the Internet.

    Also enough interesting options The installation looks like a screen saver for an RSS news feed. In addition, you can use the Video Screensaver function, which allows you to set any video as your screensaver, also offering to download beautiful screensavers with aquariums, falling snow, fireplaces, etc.

    Fonts and sounds

    Now you should pay attention to the cover section. Setting up Kodi in Russian allows you to use standard and non-standard fonts.

    In this section, you can select an enlarged font (it is recommended to use this one, since all controls will be enlarged). Sounds accompanying this or that action can be turned off (similar to how this is done in the settings sound circuits Windows systems).

    Again, the “More” button is used to select the cover, after which you can select something of your choice. Yes, at least set the weather, but from the list of service providers it is better to select Open Weather or Met Weather and at the same time indicate your own location, plus data display parameters (degrees, wind speed, etc.).

    Themes

    For themes, Kodi settings offer you to choose two options from the presets. But the main problem is that additional themes do not support the Russian language, so you will have to put up with this.

    On the other hand, it all depends on the version of the program or even the operating system itself.

    Video options

    Now briefly about the video settings. If you use the advanced mode rather than the basic one, you can find quite a lot of parameters.

    In principle, there is no point in dwelling on them. Everything is clear here. We choose what we need. But there is one parameter that deserves special attention. This is the ability to use a forced 3D effect, or, as it is called in the settings, a stereoscopic image.

    Music

    With music settings, not everything is so simple. It seems that the main parameters are exactly the same as in a regular software player, however, to obtain information about tracks and albums from the Internet (like ID3 tags), it is better to select Universal Scrapper as a source.

    But it is better to disable the setting for preference in receiving information online. The fact is that when loaded, it completely replaces all existing tags.

    In the playback settings there are options for setting rewind steps and setting an automatic volume level not only for a single track, but for the entire album (a very necessary function).

    In file lists, you can specify how information about them will be displayed. For karaoke and CD reading, all parameters can be left unchanged (it is unlikely that most users will want to connect a drive to mobile device, since this is completely impractical and difficult). Well, if you want to sing, that’s optional.

    TV

    Finally, a few words about how to configure the Kodi TV module. Most users install the application mainly just to watch its main purpose).

    In the Kodi application, TV settings are performed in the corresponding section of PVR modules. You don't need to use all of them. In or regular online broadcasting, it involves the use of only one module - PVR Simple Client, on which you need to tap and turn it on. The rest can be safely disabled.

    In the programs section everything is simple, but it is advisable to increase the update to about 700 minutes, which will allow you to use battery power somewhat more economically.

    But it’s better to activate the last channel playback option. Then, when you log into the application, you can watch TV, even if you are just going to listen to music.

    Next, you can configure the channel switching delay time. This is useful when quickly scrolling from one channel to another, and not when selecting desired channel by pressing the number buttons. You can also set the recording of the selected channel, although with playlists and Torrent TV this clearly looks irrelevant.

    Add-ons

    So, we've sorted out the media. Now let's look at what is offered as add-ons. The very first and most important thing is to turn on automatic update, because functionality applications are constantly expanding and adding new modules.

    You can install module updates immediately from the repository. True, it is completely English-language, so you can download Russian versions, and then use the installation tool from the ZIP archive. But you can use Sippius as a repository.

    By the way, all add-ons are sorted by category. For example, if you want to use audiobooks, you just need to select the appropriate item and click on the install button.

    Everything is simple with video too. Many users prefer the Ukrainian resource FS.UA or the Russian portal MY-HIT.RU. You can find almost anything on them. Torrent TV is set up right away.

    It is better to choose “Kinopoisk” as a source of information. Additionally, you can use photo add-ons that allow you to download and view images from social network"VKontakte".

    For videos, you need to indicate your preferred category (clips, films, TV series, etc.) of your own free will.

    For television, you also need to specify the path to the source of playlists and channel tables. A good choice would be to activate the link to the EDEM.TV resource. Unfortunately, it is not possible to paste copied addresses into the settings fields, so all data will have to be entered manually.

    After completing all the settings and installing add-ons, the application must be restarted, although you can do it much easier by unchecking and re-checking the TV item.

    For more comfortable channel switching, you can additionally install Kore ( virtual remote control Remote control via Wi-Fi). However, when installing the add-on, you will have to create an account with a login and password, and also select computer system for management (for example, if the desktop Kodi program is installed on the laptop). In addition, when connecting to the Internet, you must first test by clicking on the corresponding button. The interface of the program itself is quite simple, the main Kodi application is in perfect harmony with it, and all the main buttons, playlists, etc. are displayed on the screen. Thus, even outdated TV models can be turned into real SmartTV panels, and computer equipment- in multifunctional media players.

    And of course, it is simply impossible to describe all the parameters and settings of Kodi, so only the most basic points have been touched upon here. If you want, it won’t be difficult to figure out everything else.

    How to set up Kodi on Android. Kodi is an application for the Android operating system, but at the same time, it has almost all the properties of an independent operating system. XBMC is an outdated name for Kodi, or rather Kodi is a rebranding of XBMC, which means that starting from a certain version, XBMC began to be called Kodi. Before starting work with Kodi, I would like to talk a little about the organization of its work. Let's compare Kodi and Android from a user's perspective. On Android, users use applications such as: YouTube, Twitter, VKontakte, etc. In Kodi, instead of the term “application”, another term is used – “add-on”. As a rule, the user installs Android applications from Google Play, or directly from application developer sites or pirated resources. In Kodi, Google Play and developer sites are Repositories. These are a kind of collections of additions. After Kodi installations On a smartphone or set-top box, as a rule, a certain number of such repositories are already connected. The term "connected" in Kodi means that the user can "enable" add-ons from connected repositories. Consequently, a certain two-level system is obtained - first you need to connect the repository in which the required add-on is located, for example, fs.to, and then enable this add-on fs.to, finding it in the already connected repository.

    Installing Kodi

    Various set-top box manufacturers install different versions Kodi with different connected repositories. So, in order not to understand each specific case how to properly configure one or another version of Kodi, simply remove the pre-installed Kodi, and then install it from Google Play or from our website. You can delete in different ways. Below is one option.

    From the Android settings menu.

    Follow the list down and select Kodi

    Open your desktop and search on Google Play app Kodi or download

    The process of installing Russian/Ukrainian language in Kodi

    System- setting- appearance- international- language

    Follow the list down and select the desired language.

    Installing a playlist

    Before you start installing a playlist with the m3u extension, you need to place it in the console’s memory using any file manager. While connecting the flash drive to USB port V automatic mode ES Explorer is launched, which also allows you to do this. Let's return to Kodi.

    SystemTVGeneralOn.

    You need to change the playlist location from the remote path to the local path.

    You must specify the path to the playlist.

    Now you need to exit Kodi and log back in for the changes to take effect. To turn off you need to go to home screen Kodi.

    Press the power off button.

    And agree to leave.

    Launch Kodi. A new section will appear on the main screen - TV; by going into it, you will be taken to the playlist.

    By selecting the desired channel, you can expand the image to full screen. Switching channels is done using the remote control in one “click”, and for this you do not need to leave the playlist. If you use the mouse, the playlist will be displayed by clicking on the icon shown in the screenshot below.

    The public first became aware of Kodi as the app at the center of a remarkable court case. A seller from Middlesbrough has become the first person in the country to be accused of selling a television set-top box, which allows you to stream movies and football matches for free. The trial will begin this month.

    Set-top boxes provide access to a program called Kodi, which allows viewers to view copyrighted content without paying a subscription.

    Cut Price Tomo's TV manager Brian Thompson has been charged with three offenses against the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

    Kodi - What is it?

    There is a heated debate going on as to whether it is legal to use the Kodi media center. So what is Kodi and how does it work?

    What is Kodi?

    Simply put, Kodi is publicly available, completely free software designed specifically for home theaters.

    Originally created for game consoles Microsoft Xbox and called Xbox Media Center (XBMC), the software continued its development and grew into a separate product with a separate development team.

    Unlike services like Chromecast or Plex, the Kodi project is run by a non-profit organization, the XBMC Foundation. Kodi is continuously modified and updated by a team of hundreds of programmers from all over the world.

    Since its inception in 2003, Kodi has been developed by a team of over 500 software developers and 200 translators.

    What does Kodi do?

    At its core, Kodi turns any computer, smartphone or tablet into digital set-top box or media player, allowing users to stream content from the Internet.

    Designed to work with computers and home servers connected to home theater, the Kodi program streams content directly to your living room screen.

    However, new products from the Kodi development team indicate that the program is now compatible with certain models of smartphones and tablets.

    Unlike other TV media players like new Apple TV, Chromecast 2 and Amazon Fire TV Stick, Kodi does not require a license or use of a special application store, and therefore allows you to download many applications and watch whatever you want. Moreover, specialized user interface Kodi makes it easy to view your content.

    Kodi software features what the developers call "10-foot UI", which means content can be easily viewed from up to 10 feet away. And thanks to the built-in code, users can view videos, photos and podcasts quickly and easily.

    When used with small devices Kodi offers similar options with the ability to connect to big TV to view content in big screen mode.

    Kodi is available for almost every device you can imagine. The media center software is available for free download and is compatible with operating systems. Windows systems, OS X, Linux, Android, and even Raspberry Pi microcomputers.


    For those who use operating system iOS, the situation is somewhat more complicated - before downloading the program, iPhone users must make sure that their phone is “unlocked”.

    Is it legal to use Kodi?

    The answer is striking in its simplicity: yes, legal. In its original form, Kodi is streaming software designed for viewing content on a range of devices, which means that the program is completely legal.

    However, just like any browser, torrent client, or any other tool, Kodi can also be used for less trivial purposes.

    The public availability of Kodi software means that you can download a number of extensions. It is worth noting that some of the most popular program extensions encroach on prohibited territory.

    Streaming extensions that allow users to watch a range of movies are usually frowned upon, but it's important to remember that such use is the same as using Safari browser or Chrome to search for a movie or sporting event.

    Generally, if you assume that an extension provides overly tempting content or a very good movie library, there's a good chance that's exactly what it is.

    What is the current position of Kodi?

    As you might have guessed, Kodi software developers are trying their best to protect themselves from the murky world of extensions. However, while maintaining its original purpose, the program does not violate any law in the same way, like, for example, any Internet browser.

    A misconception about the program is brewing and developing among users, provoked by some sites and people selling HTPC devices with XBMC pre-installed. All this is often accompanied by extensions that we have nothing to do with and that we have no intention of supporting technically. We will not make the names of these extensions public.

    However, if you're tempted by the possibility of watching certain content (movies and TV shows) for free, you might want to consider whether what you're doing is legal. In some countries, these actions are considered completely illegal.
    It is a very sad fact that the best media center has been overshadowed by such developments. These people are spreading a misconception about what XBMC is and what principles it stands for. These people are tarnishing the name of the product. We want to remind everyone that XBMC should be viewed as a media platform for which you provide the content yourself.

    We hope that we will be able to stop any speculation and restore our good name, for which we have worked so long and hard. As always, the only official source for XBMC news and releases is http://xbmc.org/about/. We kindly ask you to help us spread the word about the true purpose of XBMC. We thank each and everyone for their assistance.

    As a conclusion, I would like to note that Kodi in its unmodified form remains completely legal software, but certain extensions really muddy the waters.

    If you are already watching streams on sites like Putlocker, then using Kodi with certain extensions no longer makes any sense.

    Before you start setting up the Kodi media center, you need to download it from the developer’s website http://kodi.tv/. In the Downloads section you can find versions for various platforms, but for now we are interested in Windows.

    1 Configuring system settings

    Via "System | Settings | Appearance | International | Language" select the Russian language, and in the "Language and Region" section set the region and keyboard layout. Browse the Settings | System" and, if necessary, configure the "Video" and "Music" sections to match your hardware.

    2 Connecting catalogs


    To add movies to your Kodi collection, go through “Video | Files | Add Video" to the "Browse" button and find the directory on your computer or network drive. If you want to connect several sources at once, click on “Add” and select the appropriate location.

    Now set a title that suits the topic and click on “OK” to move on to the next step.

    3 Classify content to extract metadata


    In the next menu, set the source content type (Movies, TV Series, or Music Videos) so that Kodi can retrieve metadata from the Web. If your files are located in folders whose names correspond to the names of films, select the appropriate item additionally.

    In Settings, tell Kodi to use "ru" (Russian) as its preferred language for displaying movie information, and also set age restrictions. Close the configuration window with three clicks confirming your selection.

    4 Viewing information about multimedia


    You can get to your video files either through “Video | Files | [Title in library]”, or by selecting the appropriate content type on the main screen (Movies or TV Series). By default, you get information about a movie by right-clicking on an entry and selecting this item.

    You can also bring up the menu on the left side of the screen and configure “View” so that Kodi shows the information directly, without a context menu.

    Advice: Kodi's media center can be expanded with countless add-ons (YouTube, media libraries, web radio, etc.). We recommend checking out Watchdog, which automatically and economically scans your collection for changes every time you launch it. You will find this add-on under “System | Add-ons | Install from repository | Services".

    5 Converting movies for viewing outside the home


    Watching movies on tablets and smartphones can be optimized using HandBrake, unless, of course, the sources are protected from copying. This free video The converter uses the x264 library to compress video using the H.264 standard and offers suitable profiles for many devices, including iPhone and iPad.

    Thanks to presets, control is very simple. To transcode files, you just need to select a source, define a preset, configure audio tracks and subtitles if necessary, set the destination directory and start the process. The converter can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website https://handbrake.fr/.

    Coding MKV file 6 GB in size, containing a two-hour film, took up our Core computer i5-2500K about 20 minutes and created final file MP4 1 GB in size.

    Photo: manufacturing company