You might have heard about Kodi. A lot of people swear by the service, as it is open source and gives you access to a myriad of content from players like Netflix and Amazon to a other, more controversial sources. Kodi is rather controversial, to some, but for many it is the ultimate home entertainment system.
Kodi started life inside Microsoft; it was originally intended for the Xbox and was called the Xbox Media Center (XBMC). Over the years, though, Kodi – thanks to its open-source nature – has evolved and grown well beyond its original purpose. Managed by the non-profit XBMC Foundation, Kodi has been shaped and sculpted by more than 500 software developers.
And the net result is one hell of an entertainment system. Kodi gives you access to EVERYTHING and, because its software, it can run on a variety of devices from dedicated boxes, PCs and select phones.
What makes Kodi so special – and controversial – is that it is not held back by restrictive licensing pacts. If you want access to something you simply download it and start viewing, though it must be noted: not everything is, strictly speaking, legal – so, always with things like this, you proceed at your own risk.
The legality of Kodi can be summed up as follows: certain things you can do on there can border on copyright infringement. But this doesn’t make the software illegal, just as searching for a stream of a film on Chrome or Safari does not make Chrome or Safari illegal software. Basically, if you want to stay on the right side of the law make sure you avoid add-ons that appear to be too good to be true (because, put simply, they are).
Kodi: How Does Kodi Work?
At its core, Kodi is simply a media center that pushes content to your HDTV. Like Chromecast and Apple TV. But unlike Chromecast and Apple TV, Kodi is completely open-source and malleable; it is designed to be flexible and it works on all major platforms, including Linux and Raspberry Pi.
Kodi: Running Kodi on Android Phone
More recently, community-led projects within Kodi have brought the service to select smartphones and tablets. Android users can now download and run Kodi from the Google Play Store. Not so long ago, a side-load was required. Apple users can install Kodi on the iPhone, but you will need to jailbreak your phone first.
Kodi: Best Kodi Compatible Devices 2016
Below are some of the most cost-effective and feature-rich options for running Kodi in your home. We mined Amazon for the best prices on each, so just click on each one for the best possible deal.
Kodi: The Best Option For Accessing Kodi 2016?
Simple: Amazon’s Fire TV Stick – it’s cheap, easy to use and it provides a solid, consistent stream. For me, this is the perfect device for accessing Kodi as not only is it already connected to your HDTV, but it also has a remote which comes in handy when selecting what you want to watch.
You can pick up the Amazon Fire TV for £32.99 on Amazon. For the price, Amazon’s streaming device cannot be beaten. Plus, as a bonus, on top of Kodi you get access to things like Netflix and Amazon’s ever-improving Amazon Video services, which includes a ton of great content from TV shows to films.
Kodi: How To Use Kodi
Here’s a quick primer on how to watch videos on Kodi via our sister site, Alphr:
- Clicking on Video gives you two options. To watch media already saved to your hard disk, click Files.
- From there, using Kodi’s built-in browser to search for files will enable you to view your locally stored media in Kodi.
- If you can’t find all the videos on your machine, your best bet is to place them in an easy-to-find folder, and then add them as a source.
- Adding a video source is very similar to adding one for music. After selecting Add Files, scroll down to the folder you made, and save it as a source. We named our source "Car videos", and from there it’s easy to navigate to our video of choice.
- If you’d prefer to stream content hosted on the web, instead click Video Add-Ons, and then "Get more...". The next menu will show you a list of extensions that give you access to even more content.
- After you’ve found one you like, simply click on it and select Install.
- Just like when listening to music, Kodi will provide a set of controls to navigate through your content, and will even display it in the background when you’re on the software’s main screen.
That’s pretty much it. Simple, right? All you need is a compatible device and a few minutes to set Kodi up. Once you’ve done that you will be in streamer’s paradise, swimming in a sea of content.
by rgoodwin via Featured Articles
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