Archive:Mac FAQ
XBMC for Mac specific Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What is XBMC for Mac?
XBMC for Mac is a port of XBMC Media Center software application to the Apple's Mac OS X platform. Like XBMC Media Center for any other platform, 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 10.4.x (Tiger) and 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, (FFmpeg does linear blending in software on the CPU)
- 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.
Does XBMC for Mac run on Mac OS X 10.4.x (Tiger)?
Yes, as of XBMC for Mac 8.10 (Codename: Atlantis) Alpha 3, Tiger support is present.
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
No. There is not yet any C/C++ open source software out there yet capable of fully playing back Blu-ray or HD DVD so we can not add the code from somewhere in any case. FFmpeg (the open source codec-suit that XBMC uses) will probably relativly soon be able to decode all audio and video codecs used in both Blu-ray and HD DVD, but even when that happens you still have to get around the DRM encryptions used by the disc formats and there is not yet any C/C++ open source software library capable of that on-the-fly, nither is there any C/C++ open source software library out there capable of displaying Blu-ray or HD DVD menus. XBMC need C/C++ open source software libraries for all of these things to fully support Blu-ray or HD DVD playback.
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/support with XBMC for Mac
Please use the official XBMC for Mac end-user forum. Please search the forums first.
Apple TV specific questions and answers
Does XBMC for Mac run on Apple TV?
Yes, as of XBMC 8.10 (Atlantis) Beta 1, Apple TV is supported. For more information read the XBMC for Mac on Apple TV article in this wiki.
What happens to original Apple TV software after the XBMC installation?
XBMC is installed onto the Apple TV built-in harddrive but you will still be able you use your Apple TV software as normal, XBMC will only be an extra option that you can launch from the Apple TV's original menu when you want to utilize the extra features and functions that are available in XBMC compared to the original Apple TV software. So XBMC will not replace the original Apple TV software, it instead works as complement the existing Apple TV software.
Is XBMC running nativly on the Apple TV or under an Linux environment?
This installs XBMC for Mac which is a native Mac OS X application, (Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger to be precise), this does not run under a Linux environment.
Will the Apple TV playback 1080p videos encoded with the H.264 codec (like Blu-ray rips)?
No, the Apple TV hardware is only powerful enough to decode 720p videos encoded with the H.264 codec.
Does XBMC on the Apple TV upscale standard-definition and 720p videos to 1080p output?
Yes, XBMC on the Apple TV will upscale all videos to 1080p is that is your output resolution.
Why does my Apple Remote stop functioning after a while?
The default Apple TV screen saver may cause XBMC to not respond when it kick in , (more accurately it causes XBMC to loose control of the Apple Remote). This is due to the way that Apple TV handles its 'wakeup' from its screensaver mode different from an infrared remote event from the Mac OS X computer platform, we will need to make a source code change to the XBMC software change, but until then you can use this workaround to disable the screen saver on your Apple TV, (not from within XBMC, but in the Apple TV's own screensaver).