Kodi/XBMC FULL

MSRP: $200.00
Chowmain LTD
30 days
Platform:
Version: 20221202
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Overview

This driver is developed for the Kodi Entertainment Center (formerly known as XBMC).

Kodi Entertainment Center is a software based media player that can be installed on Windows, MAC, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Amazon Fire TV, Nvidia Shield, Sony Android TV's and Android STB's. Kodi offers a beautiful simple interface that enriches your playback experience. The Chowmain Kodi Full driver enables us to integrate the Kodi Entertainment Center into the Control4 home automation system with seamless control and feedback.

This driver will allow you to create the most seamless movie experience whether it be in a home theater or in your living room.  It is the most feature packed media player driver available for Control4 to date.

Features

  • IP based communications
  • Library browsing and searching from any Control4 user interface including touchscreens, android application, ios application, PC and remote controls for Movies, Live TV/Radio/PVR, TV shows, Music, Video FIles, Audio Files, Video Add-Ons, Audio Add-Ons, Pictures, Youtube and VEVO
  • Programatic playback of Movies, Live TV/PVR, TV Episode or Video File.
  • Transport controls
  • Numerical buttons act as jump to percentage during video playback or SMS style quick navigation when in navigational modes.
  • Support for PVR (Guide, Record, DVR, Channel Up, Channel Down buttons).  Ability to browse and playback recorded content on your Control4 touchscreen.
  • Automatic Room On (like the music bridge) on playback detection and automatic Room Off on screen saver activate.
  • 2 way feedback via the JSON API for play, pause, stop, screen saver active/deactive, Detected File Type, Video Aspect Ratio, Video Resolution, Video/Music/TV/Radio currently playing, Memory usage, CPU usage, CPU Frequency, System Total Space, System Uptime, System Temperature, Client Platform, Client Version & Client Name
  • Assignable buttons for non intuitive buttons
  • Wake-on Lan functionality
  • Power off options
  • Ability to send custom messages to Kodi Entertainment Center via Kodi Notifications (similar to Control4 Announcements via Navigator).
  • Audio End-Point assignment for line level volume up/down/mute functionality
  • Video End-Point assignment.
  • Support for Android boxes (if XBMC app is closed it will launch upon ON command, also if XBMC exited by user you can navigate and control Android applications).
  • Nvidia Shield and Amazon Fire TV Support thanks to Videostorm's IRUSB dongle (this also adds IR output to Kodi for control of 3rd party IR device).
    • Kodi can run in the background whilst you are using other applications.  Upon selection of media via navigator Control4 will automatically switch to Kodi and playback the selected content.
    • This also adds mini apps for Android based applications such as Netflix, Hulu, Youtube and more.
    • With automatic room on functionality based on audio detection we can also detect when streaming starts from built in software like Google Cast.  This makes for an ultimate experience.

FAQ

Why is this driver called KODI Full?

Initially we wanted to make the best KODI driver around however as we kept working on it our aspirations just kept getting higher and higher.  As such the development efforts and timeframe has expanded exponentially.  To get the driver to market quickly we decided to make two drivers.  KODI Lite and KODI Full.  Kodi Lite is still one of the best media player drivers on the market with exceptional features.  Kodi Full however is THE best media player driver on the market with full library navigation, live meta data, cover art and more.  They are both priced accordingly.  Some people won't want all the features available in KODI Full so we've made KODI Lite which is priced to suit.

What is the difference between KODI Lite and Full?

Kodi Full has everything Kodi Lite has but also has the ability to browse and search Movies, TV Shows, Youtube, VEVO, Video Files, Video Addons, Music Addons, Music Library and Music Files.  This enriches the Control4 Navigator user interface with video browsing and searching capabilities it doesn't normally have.

Can you give us some examples of how we could use this driver?

  • This driver is the only driver in Control4 which will allow you to browse TV shows, video files, photos, youtube, VEVO and more.  No other driver has this functionality.
  • Now with Android support you can purchase Android Set Top Boxes for under $200 that will provide you with the full XBMC experience and Android experience. Play games, surf the web and use XBMC.
  • Create the perfect cinema experience by dimming the lights down when a movie starts, ramp it back up when the movie ends or if the user pauses or stops the movie. Also automatically set the cinema to different masking modes based upon the movie aspect ratio.
  • The driver has the ability to automatically turn rooms on and off. Using this functionality you can essentially turn on your tv and receiver upon airplay or UPnP photos, video or music playback. If you leave the room for too long or fall asleep at the tv the driver will automatically turn the room off (all av devices off) upon detection of screensaver activation.
  • Setup logic to change your LED lightings colour dependant on the movie name. If you're watching something set in the ocean set it to blue.  If you're watching something set in the jungle set it to green or if you're watching something set in the desert set it to orange.
  • It can be very disruptive while watching a movie to have navigator pop up and tell me that someone is at my front door or perhaps i have a new email or something. This driver provides the ability to send Kodi announcements. Like a Control4 Announcement this will pop up a custom message however in this case it will not interrupt the current Kodi activity. It will just pop up in the bottom right hand corner for a few seconds and then hide away.
  • Some projectors have the option of clearing out the black bars in movies (called masking). This driver reports back the aspect ratio of the video it is currently playing as a variable. Using this information we can automate these projection masking modes and as such make the user experience nicer.
  • This driver has feedback on CPU usage, Memory usage and CPU temperature. This information is extremely important for maintaining the health of the hardware platform it is on. Using this information we can automate shutdowns so that no damage can occur on the device.

What hardware will this work on?

This will work on any hardware that KODI supports (Windows, OSX, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android, Amazon Fire TV's, Sony FY15 TV's) running XBMC version 12 (Frodo) & 13 (Gotham), KODI version 14 (Helix), KODI version 15 (Isengard) and KODI version 16 (Jarvis).

We modified more than 100 of the Sony FY15 Android TV drivers to support connectivity to our Kodi driver.  Just update your current driver with the version linked at the bottom of this page.  After a restart of Control4 you will find new bindings to connect the Kodi driver to.  This means every Sony Android TV in your home can now be its own media player.

Download Sony FY15 Android TV drivers with Kodi support

This driver also supports the Videostorm IRUSB dongle.  The IRUSB dongle allows us to integrate our solution into Android based devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Nvidia Shield and Xiaomi Mibox.

Why do you only support OS 2.7 and above?
We utilise methods exposed only to the Control4 OS 2.7 Driverworks software development kit.  It will not work with any lower versions of OS.

Do you offer showroom discounts?
We offer dealers a free showroom licence for demonstration and educational purposes.  See link below for T&C's and signup procedure.

Chowmain Dealer Showroom FAQ

I want to try this driver out before buying it?
All Chowmain drivers for Control4 come with a 90 day trial.  Just add the driverCentral licencing driver and this driver and you're good to go.  No registration required.

Do you offer other drivers?

We have hundreds of drivers.  Many of which are manufacturer sponsored and free.  Please visit our website to view all available drivers including FREE drivers.

http://www.chowmainsoft.com

Version #20221202 - 02-DEC-2022

  • Upgrade to new Diagnostics system with Submit Diagnostics, and automatic troubleshooting

Version #20220207 - 07-FEB-2022

Minor updates and bug fixes
⦁ Removed Zank support

Version #20210119 - 19-JAN-2021
Updated to new Driver Central licensing

Version #20181225 - 25-DEC-2018
⦁ Fixed issue effecting press and hold for IRUSB

Version #20181030 - 30-OCT-2018
⦁ Reverted transport commands to JSON-RPC.  This fixes issues with Kodi 18 Leia

Version #20180730 – 30-JUL-2018
⦁ Fixed IRUSB drivers for youtube, amazon prime.  Added playstation vue.  Note you need to delete and re-add the mini drivers in as updating does not fix them.

Version #20180613 – 13-JUN-2018
⦁ Memory optimisations

Version #20180226 - 26-FEB-2018
Added IRUSB Auto Room On functionality. This is activated when it detects audio output. Useful for chromecast functionality.
⦁ Added sequence for room off for IRUSB. This is to ensure that most apps will quit correctly and not automatic room on again when audio is detected once off.
⦁ Added 2 minute disable for auto room on upon room off command. This is to make sure the room doesn't turn back on again when kodi launches upon room off.
⦁ Changed Play, Pause and Stop commands to make it compatible with Google Play Music.
⦁ Fixed issue causing Kodi crash on room off.

Version #20180214 – 14-FEB-2018
⦁ Kodi's JSON-RPC commands don't bring the nvidia shield out of screensaver mode and you can't disable the screensaver on the shield! Set it up so that IRUSB mode now sends certain IRUSB keypresses to take the shield out of screensaver.
⦁ Changed IRUSB and LANMOTE behaviour so that on room off it will relaunch Kodi. This will ensure that you can still browse the library from Control4 navigators whilst the room is off if you were on a different application.

Version #20171122 – 22-NOV-2017

Added support for VideoStorm IRUSB.  This adds IP control for android devices like Amazon Fire TV and Nvidia Shield along with IR output to control another device.  Note you need to purchase the device to use it.

Version #20170710 - 10-JUL-2017
Migrated to driverCentral.

Version #20160606 - 06-JUN-2016
Fixed Return to Onscreen Navigator

Version #20160317 - 17-MAR-2016
Driver will now hide the virtual switcher automatically.
Will also hide the mini driver's from watch/listen depending on what mini driver it is. Eg music will now only appear under listen. TV shows will now only appear under watch.

Version #20160308 - 08-MAR-2016
Implementex fix for Czech.

Version #20151230 - 30-DEC-2015
Fixed issue with Video Playback Mode
FIxed Live TV/Radio Mini Driver not displaying notification when Kodi is offline.
Added OS 2.8.1 icon for Kodi Control satellite driver.

Version #20151221 - 21-DEC-2015
Added ability to map skip fwd/skip rev functionality to BIG_STEP_FWD/REV or NEXT/PREV buttons. With recent builds of Kodi this is more logical.
Number buttons will now input numbers upon Radio or TV Channel playback detection. Useful for quick jumping to specific channel during playback.

Version #20151111 - 11-NOV-2015

Added Kodi Full Live Radio mini driver.
Can browse, playback & record Live Radio Channels.
Can view Guide data
Can browse and playback Recorded content
Can browse Scheduled Content.
The Following has not been implemented due to a lack of API from KODI
Record Show from Guide
Delete Recorded Content
Delete Scheduled Content
Changed Live TV and Live Radio to support pagination. Will assist with speed on large channel listings.

Version #20151107 - 07-NOV-2015
Improved error checking for PVR mini driver.

Version #20151028 - 28-OCT-2015
Added ability to programatically playback channels

Version #20151026 - 26-OCT-2015
Added ability to programatically change Audio Channels, Audio Passthrough, Video Resolution, Video Refresh Rate, Video Windowed Mode. Should assist with various matrixed setups.

Version #20151020 - 20-OCT-2015
Made improvements to licencing algorithm. Should resolve issues on OS 2.8 systems with intermittent internet connections.

Version #20151015 - 15-OCT-2015
Fixed Shuffle and Repeat Commands to work with not only audio but video as well.

Version #20151009 - 09-OCT-2015
Added Kodi Full Live TV mini driver.
Can browse, playback & record Live TV Channels.
Can view Guide data
Can browse and playback Recorded content
Can browse Scheduled Content.
The Following has not been implemented due to a lack of API from KODI
Record Show from Guide
Delete Recorded Content
Delete Scheduled Content

Version #20151007 - 07-OCT-2015
Recently Played Episodes now show date/time of when episode was played.

Version #20151003 - 03-OCT-2015
Added additional debug logs for return to navigator on stop
Fixed issue where return to navigator would only work if Kodi Control has been selected.

Version #20150918 - 18-SEP-2015

Fixed episode browsing in TV Show mini driver for languages other than english.

Version #20150911 - 11-SEP-2015
Fixed XML Escape issue effecting T3 touchscreens and file browsing (effects Photos, Video Files, Audio Files, Youtube, VEVO, Video Addons, Audio Addons).
ADDED - If the Folder image is not set it will default to a default folder image located on the controller.

Version #20150909 - 09-SEP-2015
Fixed issue effecting selection of seasons in language other than english.

Version #20150907 - 07-SEP-2015
Implemented Suspend functionality
Implemented Select Onscreen Navigator on Stop command
Implemented "Disable Room Off when windowed". This is useful for when you are maintaining Kodi in a windowed state "\" or utilise an addon that changes it to a windowed state so that it can start another program.
EXPERIMENTAL - Implemented Audio Announcement functionality. Driver should return the room to the previous state after the announcement has finished.

 

Version #20150831 - 31-AUG-2015

  • Initial Release
https://drive.google.com/a/chowmain.co.nz/file/d/0B2DdGt-HhMn7azdyTDdDZHg2dFE/preview