60 replies to this topic

[winstano]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone had seen the (bloody exciting) developments for the Raspberry Pi project? http://www.raspberrypi.org/

It seems that all's gone a bit quiet on the XBMC front for it, but just wondered if anyone here would fancy giving it a go to get a Plex client running on one? Obviously there's a way to go (including getting the devices out there), but it's going to run Fedora, Debian and ArchLinux at launch, with a possible future ability to run Ubuntu as well.

Unfortunately, I have zero coding experience so don't have the foggiest idea where to start! However, would a client be possible on this little box? Imagine this behind your TV, plugged into your network, pulling 1W of power to play back full 1080p content... Dribble-worthy!

[RogerIrrelevant]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone had seen the (bloody exciting) developments for the Raspberry Pi project? http://www.raspberrypi.org/

It seems that all's gone a bit quiet on the XBMC front for it, but just wondered if anyone here would fancy giving it a go to get a Plex client running on one? Obviously there's a way to go (including getting the devices out there), but it's going to run Fedora, Debian and ArchLinux at launch, with a possible future ability to run Ubuntu as well.

Unfortunately, I have zero coding experience so don't have the foggiest idea where to start! However, would a client be possible on this little box? Imagine this behind your TV, plugged into your network, pulling 1W of power to play back full 1080p content... Dribble-worthy!

It's something which has crossed my mind as well - given its power though (700MHz ARM processor), it will only really be suitable for Transcoded content loaded from an existing Plex Server. Not that I consider that a bad thing, but it's definitely going to be a limitation. Still, the entire project is an interesting prospect, especially since it still has CO-AX output, and could be very useful for old tellies as well. Let's wait until they're out there, and then experiment!

[gewalker]

It's something which has crossed my mind as well - given its power though (700MHz ARM processor), it will only really be suitable for Transcoded content loaded from an existing Plex Server. Not that I consider that a bad thing, but it's definitely going to be a limitation. Still, the entire project is an interesting prospect, especially since it still has CO-AX output, and could be very useful for old tellies as well. Let's wait until they're out there, and then experiment!

If it'll run ARM linux it might be possible to build the linux client for it. We've had it running on all manner of stuff at this point. There are already a lot of conditionals in the build scripts for arm architectures, so it might be easier to get working than you thing. I shudder at the idea of compiling this beast on that machine, however.

[Willl0u]

Why not build a version of PMS and a client for it ?
It can decode 1080p content with no problem : http://www.youtube.c...h?v=KGUIePe32Bo
But I'm not sure for transcoding

[winstano]

They've just posted a link showing XBMC off, so it looks like it could be possible! As a client, at least

http://www.raspberry...rg/archives/571

[aristidesflplex]

For 25$ and with 1080p output this is one of the most attractive client platforms..

[Jowl]

Just read about xmbc and AirPlay running on it.

Would love to have one of these running a plex client. Be great for the kids rooms too. Hope my PM'S will cope with running 4 clients at once

[Willl0u]

interesting video

[Redth]

I'm really hoping that the linux client can be made to run on this device. I'm not sure why there's not a LOT more excitement over this... This has the potential to make a less than $50 client for Plex.... Granted the Roku is a pretty cheap option too, but this would be able to do so much more yet

[Agresvig]

I agree, this is very exciting. Being dependent on PMS transcoding isn't a con if you ask me, it makes sense to have a powerful machine act as server and this little thing as a thin client. However, it looks like it has no problem with 1080p, which is very amazing.

We need an embedded Plex/Unix distro that can run on one of these things! I'd be happy to contribute with development to such a project!

[aristidesflplex]

being that it can decode 1080p, is it possible to use one of these as server for other devices as well?
a few usb HDD and would be perfect fanless cheap solution

[rdb4133]

I'm interested in this little device as well! I think the $35 one should be available to order now or pretty soon. It might be worth a try just to mess with!

[Migaroez]

being that it can decode 1080p, is it possible to use one of these as server for other devices as well?
a few usb HDD and would be perfect fanless cheap solution

Decode, yes. But transcode to other players? No, absolutly not, so running these things as a server, hell no.

[aristidesflplex]

why can it decode but not transcode?

[Tony Hoyle]

why can it decode but not transcode?

It decodes by offloading the work to the GPU, so it'll do h264 1080p with minimum CPU usage (note due to licensing the Pi can *only* do h264 this way, not other codecs).

Transcoding can't be done like that (without low level access to the GPU, which isn't going to happen), and the CPU just doesn't have the power to do it in real time.. much better to have a proper plex server feeding the Pi with an h264 stream. Same way the android and ios clients work.

Tony

[aristidesflplex]

so even using Pi as client, it would require a server capable of transcoding 1080p to handle non h254 videos?

[unisonruss]

What a cool product, I will follow the project once it's launched and people start consuming it. If it could theoretically run the Laika client, it will be the best client option by far. People just need to make sure their computer running their PMS is powerful enough to serve up the content to the client, and I bet most people here will not have a problem

I was getting on the Google TV fan-bus, but now this seems more appealing. An entire desktop computer (with mouse and keyboard) to connect to your HDTV, playback of all plex content via myPlex including 1080P content, all for $25 (although I would probably go with Model B for $35).

Incredible. Plex, please look at this as a possibility. And I'm sure they would be willing to talk to you guys, since they have already worked with the XBMC team.

[dadrepuS]

This looks great and I hope they continue but no-one has mentioned sound. How will surround sound be handled? Is it capable?

[unisonruss]

The unit has HDMI, so any receiver that has HDMI in/out will work.

[Tycho91]

So you'll need a server with a decent graphics card?