What's Up With Xbox Media Center

May 24, 2005

WWW in Xbmc On The Horizon?

linksboksIt looks like someone has started a nice little project to allow Xbmc to browse the web. Its not a python script, its part of Xbmc itself. Its been checked into the CVS, but hasn't been merged into the official Xbmc codebase. Theres a big discussion over on the developer forums about it.

The question arises in the discussion about bloatware. Is this a necessary feature for Xbmc? Will browsing the web on a tiny Tv screen even work? I'm a huge fan of ease of use and the restriction of bloatware. When I was on a PC i never wanted to switch to Mozilla, even though it had its advantages, because of its bloat. It simply did more than I needed it to. This is where the python plugins for Xbmc come in, just like Firefox's extensions. Each user is then able to regulate his or her own bloat/features.

What do you think? Do we need web browsing in Xbox Media Center?

posted by Jon at Tuesday, May 24, 2005

22 Comments:

  • I would MUCH rather see a Python port of CDisplay, the comic book reader - this is much more at home in a media center than a web browser (hell, even an IM client would be better).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:34 PM  

  • I'm surprised it took so long. I think if it remained an optional feature, it could be a popular add-on.
    I've been waiting for a reason to use my XBox keyboard adapter. ;)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:29 PM  

  • Pointless, it's a Media Center...
    I think it is cool that they've developed a browser, but just not useful. If i want to browse the web, I'll go 5 feet to my computer.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:52 PM  

  • I couldn't agree more.

    By Blogger Jon, at 10:53 PM  

  • I thing its a nice solution. I have been using Linkbooks for a while now

    By Blogger Nicklas, at 5:14 AM  

  • You may discuss whether browsing the net makes sense for a media center, but giving access to multi-media content (movies, photos, trailers, music, internet radio) from within the media center and playing this content makes a lot of sense. You now see many scripts being developed to view the content of specific Web sites. They need to adapted and changed very often.
    A generic browser that 'digests' any WEB page would be far more practical. So far Linksbox does not allow for accessing 'any' media. If it could access any media then it would definitively be good to have it in XBMC.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:56 AM  

  • I agree, I don't want to browse the net with my TV. Resolution is poor, handling is not convenient and even if you take the compatibility and security-issues aside, it would be a very huge project (just have a look on firefox development).

    But I would love to have a good RSS-Feed-Reader installed. An RSS-Ticker, that's even on top of music visualization or video playback. The python scripts for specific websites like Apple QT-Trailers, ooba or iFilm do rock. These scripts under one application would be great. Maybe it would be possible to add new sites as plugins, directly from within XBMC. Just my 2 cent...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:38 AM  

  • I agree, I think that individual scripts that access the individual media is in order.

    As for RSS, I have created a Bloglines plugin that will get all your feeds for you. Check it out here: Bloglines

    By Blogger Jon, at 9:09 AM  

  • What if you don't have a *tiny* TV? I'd love to be able to browse the web directly in XBMC on my 60" HDTV. I use linksboks, but it would be cool if it were integrated in... think of the powerful scripts that could be written if there were built-in www rendering functions in XBMC!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:42 PM  

  • could flash be link into xbmc in someway to make flash files work?

    becasue isnt the latest linksbooks support flash in some way?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:02 PM  

  • I think this is a great idea.

    Would make watching web media files that much easier.

    Thumbs up from me.

    Jason
    http://www.xboxsoftmods.com

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:04 PM  

  • XBOX MEDIA CENTRE needs a browser

    yes bloatware = bad
    web browser with media playback = good


    all the types of media that existed b4 the internet

    now all exist on the internet!
    sight, sound, words, images!

    XBMC needs a browser.
    ilovexbmc

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:06 AM  

  • the more functions we can give the xbox, the better.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:55 AM  

  • This is good because it opens up another avenue for extending the box. Bringing a solid XHTML browser to XBMC will let the dreamweaverers play with the box too.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:13 AM  

  • Hmm, let me see, what could possibly be more important than providing a front end for XBMC to access the largest repository of media on the planet. A comic book reader? Get real. Nobody wants to read lots of text on their tv, but there really is no better way of finding media than on the web. By the way - it should support sending torrent links to ABC as well.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:48 AM  

  • 24-1-06
    Coach potatoes love IPTV as long as they do not have to sit upright behind their PC.

    IPTV will be the killer appplication for ADSL (2+).

    In the Netherlands sites like 'tvopjepc.nl' have an enormous content and quality is very acceptable.

    XBMC is very promissing but python scripts get outdated very quickly and have no flexibility (I'm sorry BakMan).
    So, unless these scripts become much smarter a HTML browser is needed.

    happydude

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:37 PM  

  • The xbmc with web browser could be the final evolution of tv-computer integration. I believe that a web browser and aim capability would put the xbmc directly into the living room and make it the "pc-tower" of the Television. It is the future, might as well embrace it. I agree size is an issue. ;)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:11 PM  

  • Pessoal eu sou brasileiro e preciso muito de um navegador de internet no meu console por que meu pc estragou e tambem pq so falta isso no xbox pra ele ser completo eu sei q brasileiros aqui é difissel mas se alguem puder me dizer se existe ou nao ficaria agradecido meu e-mail é jean_738@msn.com

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:06 AM  

  • i think it will be great due to the fact it enables full orb browsing over the net through the mobile interface due to links plugin limitations but hey its ORB

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:04 AM  

  • I have two xbox's running xbmc one connected to a 40" plasma in my lounge and one conected to a digital projector in my bedroom, and whilst I have two pc's connected to the net in my lounge, I dont want one in my bedroom, so yes someone please incorperate web browsing into xbmc.
    cheers

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:03 PM  

  • Yes, it's a good idea.
    I want to read the news on my tv. it should be cool

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:06 PM  

  • Definately needs a web browser. Doesnt the internets contain a hell of a lot of media? then why would a MEDIA CENTER not need a web browser??

    By Blogger Jack, at 10:42 AM  

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