[mythtv-users] MythTV vs XBMC

[Thomas Mashos]

On Wed, May 7, 2014 at 2:27 PM, Paul Harrison <mythtv at sky.com> wrote:
> With all the talk of users preferring to use XBMC my question is simple.
>
> What needs to change to make you want to use MythTV again?
>
> Paul H.
> _______________________________________________

I really didn't mean to start a holy war, honest.

You're going to get a bunch of different answers to this questions,
but for me there are a few things. Unfortunately, you're probably
going to get a lot of requests for things that are already in XBMC.

1) Good android app - I want an app that I can browse my media
(quickly) and select content to view on any of my frontends.
2) Separation of content - Movies that I recorded or have ripped from
my collection should be in the same spot. Similarily, TV shows that
I've ripped from my collection should be in with my recordings. TV
shows should not be in with recordings (or if they are, you should be
able to select them
3) Theme animations - Even with the MythUI rebuild that happened
around 0.21 or 0.22, Mythfrontend still looks dated. This could be the
fault of the themers (eg. me), but I've not seen one really great
theme in this area.
4) Plugin support - As previously mentioned,

There are a number of solutions to these issues. Ideally, Mythfrontend
can add this functionality and you've got two really good competing
media centers. Realistically, Mythfrontend won't be able to add this
functionality quickly due to developer time. As briefly discussed in
the other thread, XBMC is a much more popular media center (probably
because it's had windows support and a much larger user base for
longer), which in this case makes it better (many more developers to
do the work).

1) This is obviously being worked on by non-mythtv developers and is
coming along.
2) I've heard the reasoning behind why it's done the way it currently
is, and I still disagree with it. IIRC, it is because it comes from
different sources, one is archived media, and the other is recorded
watch and delete media. The issue with that is I don't go to my media
center and say "hey, I want to watch some archived media", I say "hey,
I want to watch a movie".
3) I'm not sure what it would require to do this, but probably a
fairly large rewrite again. Even then, you're still playing catch up
with XBMC.

I think what most people want (judging by the other thread) is for the
MythTV developers to develop and maintain the MythTV plugin for XBMC.
The currently plugin there works, but is lacking features. (the fact
that people are willing to use that plugin in XBMC rather than native
mythfrontend for media says a lot). Whether that means no more
mythfrontend or both continue to get developed IDK.

Thanks,

Thomas Mashos