Video Performance

[macscooby]

The video performance from the internal player is very good, but using apps like xbmc and archos video playback it is not so good dropping frames here there and everywhere! Would appreciate any help as I use archos most of the time.

[futeko.com]

Hi,

Performance in the pre-installed XBMC should be identical to the HiMedia player in Android because that version of XBMC uses the HiMedia player for playback.

In later versions of XBMC / SPMC performance should be very good because support for the Mali450 is built into these later versions of XBMC (so performance is the same as MiniX X8 / Xtreamer Wonder. etc - all with same GPU). Try the latest Kodi beta (14.0 RC1 here: http://kodi.tv/download/) or SPMC 13.3.3 (http://spmc.semperpax.com/).

For other apps which rely on their own software video decoding performance will be less because these apps aren't optimised for the GPU hardware. It sounds like Archos is one of these. What sort of files are you having trouble with? Even though it's using software decoding the Q5 should have enough grunt to play nearly anything. It's only on high bitrate (i.e. full res BD rips or 7.1 audio) files that there should be any trouble. For these files you'll need to use the HiMedia player or an app with built in hardware decoding.

[macscooby]

[PeterFalk]

As mentioned pre-installed XBMC 13.1 has major problems with plugins. The recommendation from here is to replace it with Kodi 14.0.
It is stated that "should be very good..."  in deed it's not good for SMB shares at least. It is not possible to stream even 720p video from an other PC via LAN. The video is stuttering all the time. Even from USB hard drive the HD video does not play as smooth as it should with Kodi.
If I use ES File Explorer and play same video with MX Player then it is working fine. For me it looks like the recommendation to use latest Kodi on the Q5/Q10 is just wrong at least in case of streaming.
Is there any work around making Kodi play HD video SMB shares in a proper manner? MX player runs very good but for SMB shares it needs support from ES File Manager. Are there other video players with intgrated SMB access?
Anyhow, I hope very strong to get the Kodi with internal Q5/Q10 player asop. Without it the device looks a bit poor due to the lack of proper software. 

[steved]

I also have the same video problem with Xbmc 13.1 that comes pre-installed and the latest Kodi 14 builds.
The first main problem is that xbmc by default uses the software DVDPLAYER this then produces a video picture that has the bottom half blanked by  a green screen..  selecting the option 'Play Using...' then selecting HIPLAYER (the Q10 internal player) this then works okay and the green screen is gone the video also starts in 3d if its frame packed 3d video which is superb. BUT the video is very choppy to the point it cannot be watched..??

playing around with the internal player using SMB and NSF shares has produced similar results in both native external player mode and XBMC mode..

XNMC / KODI mode nothing I try solves the choppy play which is disappointing because the I use this software to provide an all round front end for my Home Cinema Setup..

Native External Mode works all the time with smooth playback but only when accesed using the device native file manger....howerver if I use another file manager like ES File manager this then gives the same results as XBMC / KODI..

this is telling me the problem may be the FILE MANAGER in XBMC / KODI that for some reason is causing the choppy playback.  btw if I access a local drive mounted in the drive bay this gives the same choppy playback so the problem is not due to smb/nfs lagging from the server.

Does anyone know if its possible to invoke the native file manager from within XBMC as I feel this may solve the problem ??

[luvoo]

Try disable software decoding from Kodi/XMBC - Settings > Video > Playback, then test some video.

Also go to Setting > System info, view the CPU usage, to see if something hogging the CPU. If there is, might need to investigate further.

[steved]

I am actually using the hardware decoding option and even swapping between the two makes no difference..

I have managed to clean up the judder by using the advancedsettings.xml and adding buffer options but its still no where near as good as playing with Himedia native player whilst not in XBMC..

One thing I did forget to mention is that the video judder is only present when viewing 3D movies using the frame packing type (ie: iso's).   Also invoking FPS info whilst viewing by pressing the letter O shows that the playback is at 98 FPS ? surely this cant be right esp as the Quad cpu usage only max's at 25% each .

I did also manage to invoke the Himedia player from within XBMC by using the Playercoresettings.xml but now XBMC reports 'EXTERNAL PLAYER ACTIVE....PRESS OK WHEN FINISHED' but the playback never starts...





 

[luvoo]

One thing I did forget to mention is that the video judder is only present when viewing 3D movies using the frame packing type (ie: iso's).   Also invoking FPS info whilst viewing by pressing the letter O shows that the playback is at 98 FPS ? surely this cant be right esp as the Quad cpu usage only max's at 25% each .

I found out this, it is Kodi limitation > http://kodi.tv/kodi-14-0-code-name-helix-enters-feature-freeze/

In comments area, someone ask about Kodi 3d capabilities

marcos - Sep 11, 2014 - Someone nows if in this version the Kodi can play 3D FULL (ISO BD)??
nickr - Sep 16, 2014 - Short: no
Long: ffmpeg does not support MVC and therefore neither does XBMC/Kodi.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In other issue, I found Kodi/XBMC couldn't play files size more than 2GB, there is discussion / development about this also.

I guess we have to look forward to future Kodi releases with new / fixed features.

[steved]

yes thanks for the info and links...

I have for now decided to just watch 3d movies with the device player which is obviously optimised for frame packing 3D play (although normal 1080p movies look great too.

and maybe keep checking when the new updates are brought out..thanks

[PeterFalk]

At the German webpage of myhdplayer I've got the link for XBMC/KODI-HimediaWrapper (20141214) http://www.mediafire.com/download/e4bsdvi42lhw44b/KODI-HimediaWrapper.zip
From then I am able to play my HD-Films from SMB share. That was a really good surprise for me.

Install instruction is simple. Just install latest Kodi, quit Kodi, then run the apk. This program will install a playercorefactory.xml into the user folder of XBMC/Kodi. I have installed XMBC and Kodi the same time, so I had to move the file from XMBC folder to the Kodi one. I am not sure if everything is fine if only Kodi is installed.
The playercorefactory.xml will take care that Kodi does not use the Kodi-Player but HimediaPlayer (press y during watching film). I don't know if it is good enough for all HD-Video since I have only 720p, but for me it is all I need!

One strange thing, here at Futeko the lates firmware available dated 17. January is named "final". At  myhdplayer the same (?) firmware is named "beta"...

[futeko.com]

At the German webpage of myhdplayer I've got the link for XBMC/KODI-HimediaWrapper (20141214) http://www.mediafire.com/download/e4bsdvi42lhw44b/KODI-HimediaWrapper.zip
From then I am able to play my HD-Films from SMB share. That was a really good surprise for me.

Install instruction is simple. Just install latest Kodi, quit Kodi, then run the apk. This program will install a playercorefactory.xml into the user folder of XBMC/Kodi. I have installed XMBC and Kodi the same time, so I had to move the file from XMBC folder to the Kodi one. I am not sure if everything is fine if only Kodi is installed.
The playercorefactory.xml will take care that Kodi does not use the Kodi-Player but HimediaPlayer (press y during watching film). I don't know if it is good enough for all HD-Video since I have only 720p, but for me it is all I need!

One strange thing, here at Futeko the lates firmware available dated 17. January is named "final". At  myhdplayer the same (?) firmware is named "beta"...

We have a thread for the XBMC/Kodi fix here: http://www.futeko.com/newforum/index.php?topic=40.0

HiMedia told us that the 1.0.7 version we have sticky is final 1.0.7. It doesn't make much difference though if the next version is another 1.0.7, 1.0.8, or something else.

[steved]

Thanks Peter...I have indeed used the link which was supplied here on the futeko and I can confirm it now works like a dream..

I did post  a replay but maybe in the wrong forum..

thanks again for your help in looking it anyway..