Kodi project recently announced the latest version Kodi 18.2 'Leila'. If you don't know what Kodi is then let us tell you some words about this media center. It is an open-source, free and cross-platform multimedia center, it is considered an ideal solution for home theater and can be used in various situations.
Kodi has wide support for audio and video formats. Another interesting feature is it allows you to do network playback, so you can stream your multimedia from anywhere in the house or directly from the internet using practically any protocol available. You can play CDs and DVDs from the disc or image file, also supports almost all popular archive formats from your hard drive, and even files inside ZIP and RAR archives.
Kodi can scan all media and automatically create a personalized library complete with covers, descriptions, and art. There are playlist and slideshow functions, a weather forecast feature and many audio visualizations.
Kodi has wide support for audio and video formats. Another interesting feature is it allows you to do network playback, so you can stream your multimedia from anywhere in the house or directly from the internet using practically any protocol available. You can play CDs and DVDs from the disc or image file, also supports almost all popular archive formats from your hard drive, and even files inside ZIP and RAR archives.
Kodi can scan all media and automatically create a personalized library complete with covers, descriptions, and art. There are playlist and slideshow functions, a weather forecast feature and many audio visualizations.
Changelog of 18.2:
- Added support for a generic DRM/KMS implementation using GBM to create surfaces and V4L2 for video acceleration
- Added support for Mir windowing system (Mir 1.0) for Kodi[153] and added support for VAAPI on Mir using DRM
- Added support for the middle mouse button on embedded platforms
- Added support more yuv420p bitwidths for direct rendering on Linux
- Added support for using VAAPI hardware video decoding with OpenGL ES
- Added support for build Kodi with imx support using CMake
- Moved the CMake build system to the top of the code tree (moved to root)
- Improved support for UltraHD decoding / 4K resolution output when hardware supports it
- Improved ARM processor architecture
- Improved OpenGL ES and EGL support
- Improved VAAPI (Video Acceleration API) support (requires VAAPI compatible hardware and drivers)
- Improved VDPAU (NVIDIA) Hardware Video Acceleration (requires VDPAU compatible hardware and drivers)
- Improved XvBA (AMD/ATI) Hardware Video Acceleration (requires XvBA compatible hardware and drivers)
- Improved dedicated AMLCodec hardware accelerated video decoding support for Linux on Amlogic devices
- Removed the unused and unmaintained OpenMAX video decoder from Kodi's VideoPlayer
- Removed support for autotools based build system for Kodi and binary addons (in favour of CMake)
- Added player process info dialog to Kodi's default skin
How to Install Kodi 18.2 Leia in Ubuntu/Linux Mint/derivatives:
Kodi 18.0 Available for Ubuntu 19.2 Disco/18.10 Cosmic/18.04 Bionic/16.04 Xenial/Linux Mint 19/18/other related Ubuntu derivatives, Kodi 17 is available for Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty/Linux Mint 17To install Kodi 18.2 in Ubuntu/Linux Mint open Terminal (Press Ctrl+Alt+T) and copy the following commands in the Terminal:
Addons (such as PVR) available for Kodi, use package name with sudo apt-get install command to install addon.
| PVR Package Name | Description |
|---|---|
| kodi-pvr-dev | Kodi Media Center (PVR Add-on Dev package) |
| kodi-pvr-argustv | Kodi PVR Addon Argustv |
| kodi-pvr-demo | Kodi PVR Demo Addon |
| kodi-pvr-dvbviewer | Kodi PVR Addon Dvbviewer |
| kodi-pvr-iptvsimple | Kodi PVR Iptv Addon |
| kodi-pvr-mediaportal-tvserver | Kodi PVR Addon Mediaportal Tvserver |
| kodi-pvr-mythtv | Kodi PVR Addon MythTv - Cmyth |
| kodi-pvr-nextpvr | Kodi PVR Addon NextPvr |
| kodi-pvr-njoy | Kodi PVR Addon Njoy |
| kodi-pvr-tvheadend-hts | Kodi PVR Addon TvHeadend Hts |
| kodi-pvr-vdr-vnsi | Kodi PVR Addon VDR Vnsi |
| kodi-pvr-vuplus | Kodi PVR Addon Vuplus |
| kodi-pvr-dvblink | DVBLink PVR |
| kodi-pvr-filmon | FilmOn PVR |
| kodi-pvr-hts | TVHeadEnd PVR |
| kodi-pvr-pctv | PCTV PVR |
| kodi-pvr-stalker | Stalker PVR |
| kodi-pvr-vbox | VBox Home TV Gateway PVR client |
| kodi-pvr-wmc | WMC PVR |
| shairplay | Free portable AirPlay server implementation |
Kodi is also available for Android.