The primary alpha model of Kodi 22, code-named “Piers,” has simply been launched. The updates got here with an enormous audio/video improve to FFmpeg 7, new Blu-ray help for multi-episode discs, and a redesigned Film Variations/Extras part. There are additionally some main enhancements for PVR.
One of many greatest elements of this replace is the video and audio part, which has been upgraded to FFmpeg 7, a step up from Kodi 21’s FFmpeg 6.0. That ought to lead to higher media help and efficiency, however FFmpeg 8 was simply launched, so Kodi continues to be a bit behind. There’s additionally some new Blu-ray help for multi-episode discs, which implies now you can get a brand new episode choice menu and even get your Blu-ray episodes to have their very own progress, media data, and paintings.
Together with this, the library import and export perform now additionally handles Blu-ray episodes, and episode ranges are supported and proven within the library. The brand new Film Variations/Extras part additionally obtained a full redesign, and now you can set data and paintings for Film Units.
There are additionally a whole lot of enhancements to the PVR (Private Video Recorder) part. You will discover new options like a Just lately Added Channels part with a brand new widget, a brand new Suppliers window (which can want pores and skin help), and new Customized Timers. Different PVR-related options have additionally been improved, together with channel teams, saved searches, and recording performance. The EPG (Digital Program Information) search has been improved as nicely, and it now helps a 1-minute EPG decision, however this may even require pores and skin help to work. You may as well count on improved mouse and keyboard help, which ought to make the entire expertise of utilizing Kodi for video games quite a bit higher.
The interface has additionally seen some main modifications aimed toward enhancing efficiency. The builders have decreased reminiscence utilization for single- and dual-channel textures, and improved efficiency and reminiscence utilization on OpenGL and OpenGLES. There has even been a push to enhance the picture high quality of huge textures whereas nonetheless protecting good efficiency on slower units. A front-to-back rendering for higher efficiency on OpenGL(ES) was additionally applied.
On the networking aspect, the workforce has improved the SMB (Server Message Block) GUI settings and added help for SMBv2.0 units that don’t have SMBv2.1 options like “massive MTU.” The builders additionally fastened a bug that forestalls customers from connecting to Home windows SMB servers that do not have a password. Maybe most significantly, the corporate has drastically improved efficiency when itemizing massive SMB directories, which is nice for anybody with large media libraries.
There are a whole lot of platform-specific enhancements, too. Home windows and Xbox customers will get preliminary Home windows ARM64 desktop help, Python 3.13, and XAudio2 sink for Home windows desktop. It additionally has a greater Video Tremendous Decision function with 10-bit SDR help for Intel and Nvidia and HDR10 for Nvidia.
Android customers are getting upgraded to Android 15, with file sharing to different apps, improved channels on the house web page, and help for 16KB web page measurement. The minimal Android model is now 7.0. LG webOS customers will get a brand new unified media pipeline, and Linux customers will now have HDR passthrough on OpenGL and help for the Wayland Colour Administration protocol.
After all, because it’s an alpha launch, there are some points. In case you’re keen to attempt the Alpha, you possibly can set up Kodi 22.0 Piers from the Kodi downloads page or the repository of your alternative. You will discover the Alpha within the Prerelease tab after selecting your system, and Android customers should sideload it as a result of it probably will not come to the Play Retailer till it is on the complete launch.
Supply: Kodi
