Archive:Mac FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is XBMC for Mac?

XBMC for Mac is a port of XBMC media center to the Apple's Mac OS X platform. Like XBMC, XBMC for Mac is open source and licensed under the GPL.

What are the goals of XBMC for Mac?

To take the power and functionality of XBMC and get it completely ported to the Mac OS X platform. To offer XBMC in a package that runs on (more) modern hardware that is more "accessible" to the non-expert user. We would like for people to be able to experience XBMC in just minutes - and be as simple as downloading and installing any other application for Mac OS X. Also, as many long time XBMC users know, the legacy XBox platform simply does not have the CPU processing power to play HDTV (720p/1080i/1080p) video content. XBMC for Mac hopes that by targeting an operating-system that's underlying hardware is refreshed on a relativly regular basis will allow the XBMC project to continue to be able to play media as it gets increasingly higher definition and higher bit-rate.

Why Mac OS X, why not just put your energy into the Linux branch?

While almost all Team-XBMC members are Linux users and Linux fans, the team members still has friends and family members that are intimidated by just the mentioning of Linux, or are already happy Mac OS X users that are not interested in building a separate box just for media playing purposes. Additionally, Team-XBMC believes that there is an advantage in that there are limited hardware combinations with the Mac platform. With less combinations of hardware to support we can spend our time making sure the limited number of combinations that are available work very well. It is also no secret that the Team-XBMC (and many in the community) currently view the Mac Mini as an especially attractive HTPC option in terms of appearance, size/heat/noise, functionality and price (and let's not forget Bluetooth, WLAN, built-in IR and the Apple remote).

Doesn't it make more sense to chip in and get the Linux port perfect before embarking on a new platform?

Team-XBMC believe that all ports are very important to the future success and viability of XBMC. By adding Mac OS X as a platform we are attracting new talent and resources to the XBMC project that might not have otherwise been interested. Today, we have had good luck with all platforms beings developed quickly in parallel, so improvements made to the Linux, Windows and Xbox code base often improve the Mac OS X platform and vice versa.

Where can I find more information about XBMC for Mac?

XBMC for Mac end-users forum: http://forum.xbmc.org/forumdisplay.php?f=56
XBMC for Mac developers forum: http://forum.xbmc.org/forumdisplay.php?f=57
XBMC for Mac developers IRC: xbmc-osx on freenode.net

What platforms are supported today?

Currently, we are only supporting Mac OS X 10.5.x (Leopard) on Intel (x86) processors. XBMC for Mac is working quite well on all Intel Macs.

Why is a OpenGL 2.0 compatible graphic-controller the recommended minimum for XBMC?

OpenGL 2.0 is not really the current minimum requirement to run XBMC, as in reality XBMC will today run with only OpenGL 1.4 + GLSL support (everything else has fall-backs to be runned in software on the CPU, slower than GPU hardware though), however to be sure to stay future-proof Team-XBMC have decided that the OpenGL 2.0 is the recommended minimum requirement.

Currently OpenGL 2.0 hardware is only needed for:

• Any deinterlacing that is not linear blending (which FFmpeg does in software)
• Video video post-processing filtering (bicubic upscaling, etc.)
• Non-power of two textures for the GUI (using NPOT saves a lot of texture memory)
• Hardware accelerated YUV 2 RGB conversion (actually GLSL is needed for this, and a few GPU hardware implementations as low as OpenGL 1.4 does provide GLSL as an extension. OpenGL 2.0 guarantees availability of GLSL).

In the future OpenGL 2.0 might also be needed for:

• More video post-processing filters to improve visual quality perception.
• Hardware Accelerated Video Decoding (using the GPU hardware to assist with video decoding)

Will Team-XBMC ever support XBMC for Mac on PPC (PowerPC) processors?

Maybe someday if some new developer(s) voulenteer to do the initial port to PPC on the Mac. It should be note though that while many people might think that it is as simple as "checking PPC" in XCode, it is not.

Will Team-XBMC ever support XBMC for Mac on Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4.x)?

Maybe someday if some new developer(s) voulenteer to do the initial port XBMC for Mac to Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4.x). Tiger support is not a near term goal, but it is a possibility in the future, however it is obviously quite possible to get XBMC for Mac OS X to work on Tiger, but Team-XBMC has determined that it is also non-trivial.

Will you support all remote controls in the future?

Obviously you can already use a wireless keyboard to control XBMC for Mac today. Additionally, you can use a remote control with XBMC for Mac by using third-party software's like Remote Buddy by using it to map your remote's buttons to the keyboard keys. Our current remote control "roadmap" is as follows:

• 1. Support the Apple remote. Get support for the Apple remote so it works right out of the box. The main advantage of this Apple remote is that it comes free with just about every Mac. The downside The apple remote's primary weakness is that it only has 6 buttons, although the Mac has the ability to differentiate a pressed button from a held button giving the user effectively 12 buttons.
• 2. Support Universal IR remotes. We are evaluating a few different ideas of how to allow a universal IR remote control more than 6 discrete features by using macros or something similar. With the ultimate goal of the user to be able to download to load up a Logitech Harmony or URC device profile for XBMC for Mac and the user has all (or more than) the discrete buttons and functionality that the original XBMC for Xbox has.
• 3. Support Bluetooth remotes. This would allow a host of different devices to control XBMC for OS X, the PS3 remote, your iphone, etc. Also, given that the PS3 uses Bluetooth, it is possible we will see BT functionality in more Universal Remotes going forward.
• 4. XBox controllers. Original Xbox USB-reciever, Wired Xbox 360 and Wireless Xbox 360 controller).

What are the keys, how do I use this thing?

You can enable the mouse through the settings, but typically it's better to use the keyboard. The default keys are as follows :

<arrow keys> - navigate
<page up and down> - scroll up and down
<enter> - select 
<esc> - previous menu  
<backspace> - go up back (or up) a directory
<space> -  pause
<period> - Skip Next
<comma> - Skip Previous
<tab> - Minimize Video
<backslash> - Full Screen Toggle
<printscreen> = Screen Shot
<minus> - Volume Down
<plus> - Volume Up
<0 - 9> - 0 through 9

p - Play
f - Fast Forward
c - Context menu
r - Rewind
x - Stop
m - Player controls
s - Shutdown menu
i - Info
q - Queue
z - Change aspect ratio

Will this run on AppleTV?

We believe that it is probably technically possible to get XBMC for OS X to run on Apple TV hardware. The processor would be underpowered for most HD content, and it would probably perform very closely to the original XBox hardware (unless someone figured out how to utilize the onboard h.264 hardware). While it seems to be technically possible, this team has no plans to support XBMC for OS X on Apple TV. We are big fans of both Apple and their technology, so we are not willing to engage in anything that Apple could consider "hacking" or encouraging people to hack. Our official recommendation is you want something like Apple TV, either buy an Apple TV, or spend the extra $200 and get a Mac Mini and be able to do both!

Will there be iTunes/iTunes Store/iPod integration?

This is a high priority for us, and while we have ideas we do not have a concrete approach yet. We'd love for users to be able to buy a movie or a song off of iTunes and be able to play it through the same interface they use with the rest of their content. Again, any implementation we would consider would have to be "Apple Friendly".

Why does the audio sound like static?

You're trying to play digital encoded audio to a system incapable of decoding it. In the Audio Hardware Settings change the mode to Analog.

Where can I get help

User Forum

As always please search the forums first, and keep in mind we are not officially recommending this to be used by anyone that isn't willing to be a bleeding edge alpha/beta tester.

How do I report bugs?

Report bugs through XBMC for OS X trac tickets.

Again please search to make sure your bug has not already been entered.

How do I suggest features?

User Forum

(Did we mention we like it if people search first before suggesting or asking?)

How can I help?

If you are an end user, hit the Donate button! That helps us pay for bandwidth, different Macs and remote controls to test, and of course beer.

If you are a developer, tester, company or other project and would like to chip in and help somehow send an email to cullman+osxbmc at google's webmail.