IPTV Kodi setup. Initial Media Center Configuration

Kodi is a complete platform for video and music playback, TV viewing, IPTV and even streaming that can be installed on various devices from PC to Raspberry Pi or Android. This is a very powerful and multifunctional environment, and new users may not immediately understand what and how to do and configure.

In this article, we'll cover how to use Kodi, how to get started with the program, how to install it on your system, and everything you need to know before using it. But let's start with a little introduction.

Imagine a world where you can watch all your favorite TV shows, shows, sports and movies anywhere, anytime, in a program with a beautiful interface. And all this is completely free. It's real, that's exactly what Kodi provides.

Kodi, formerly XBMC, is software or an application that performs the functions of a media player. The program is open source, so you can download it completely free of charge. Kodi can play all kinds of digital media and all media formats. It is also possible to listen to music and even manage photos. Next, we will look at how to set up kodi and install it on the system.

1. Install Kodi

You can get the program from the official website. There are versions for all supported platforms.

For Windows, you can download the installer, and for Linux, you can find installation instructions in various distributions. For example, to install the latest version of the program in Ubuntu, you need to run the commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install kodi

You can also install kodi from the official repositories of most distributions by simply installing the package of the same name. Immediately after installation, you can use Kodi. The program can be launched from the main menu or via the terminal:

2. Interface setup

After the first launch of the program, you will see a beautiful interface, but on English language. But I would like the language to be Russian. To enable the Russian language, click on the gear in the upper left corner:

Then select the item "Interface Settings":

Just select the desired language from the list, for example, Russian. Immediately after clicking on the menu item, the language of the program will be changed.

3. Watch videos in Kodi

Most often, people want to use Kodi to watch videos, since the program presents a single and user-friendly interface to watch videos, TV shows and movies. The program can open videos in two ways. You can watch locally stored videos or view recordings from the Internet. Let's take a look at how to set up Kodi for video. To open a video that is saved in your file system, select the menu item "Movies", "Serials" or "Video", then open the files:

The program will display known folders with files, you can select one of them. For each video file, detailed information about him:

If the folder with your files is not yet known to the program, then you can add it by simply selecting "Add video":

This will open a file system viewer where you can select the desired folder. At this stage, you also need to indicate that the video is in the folder and enter the name of the source.

After that, it will appear in the list and you can see the video that is in it. The answer to the question how to watch kodi video is very simple, double click on it:

If you want to open a video from the Internet, the process will look a little different. You need to choose not "Files", a "Additions" from the main menu and then go install the add-on for the right resource. We'll take a look at working with additions below.

4. Play Music in Kodi

In addition to watching videos and TV shows, you can listen to music stored on your computer on Kodi. Here everything is similar to the video. You only need to select an item "Music", then "Files". Then select the desired track or folder with tracks:

When adding a folder, you need to specify a name for the source:

Immediately after that, the source will be integrated into the library and you will be able to view your favorite tracks sorted by name, artist. To get tracks from the Internet, you can install add-ons such as Spotify.

3. Kodi extensions

You already know how to use kodi, but extensions are ways to greatly increase its capabilities. Kodi comes with a lot of features out of the box, but add-ons allow you to expand this list even further. With add-ons you can change appearance, open sources from the Internet, both for video and audio tracks and much more. For example, you can watch Kodi TV or play content directly from torrents. To install add-ons, select "Additions" in the main menu:

There are several ways to get add-ons, you can install them from ZIP file, folder, remote site, or Kodi add-on store. We will consider the latter option. Select an item "Install from repository":

You will see a list of add-on categories. Here you can choose audio add-ons, video add-ons, games, programs and much more. For example, let's install one of the video add-ons. To do this, select it from the list and click the button "Install". Very soon a message will appear that it has been installed.

Then you can find this add-on and open its menu in the section "Additions". In the same way, add-ons for Youtube, LastFm, Spotify and other services are installed. Besides official store, you can install add-ons from third-party repositories. To do this, first open the settings, go to the section "System Settings":

Then go to the tab "Additions" and check the box next to "Unconfirmed Sources":

Confirm action:

Now you can install additional Kodi extension repositories on the system, as well as the extensions themselves. Let's add a repository. Go to section "File manager" in settings.

Then double click on the item "Add Source":

In the window that opens, click on the No item and type the address of the repository. For example, to add the Fusion repository, you need to specify the address http://fussion.tvaddons.ag:

Then enter a name and click "OK". Now the source is added, but it is not ready to work yet, next you need to install the repository. Click on the program installation icon in the section "Additions":

Select "Install from ZIP", then choose a source other than yours file system, and the added network source. For example, Fusion.

Kodi is a media player that allows you to view not only previously downloaded videos on Android, but also TV in live as well as various images. The program even allows you to find out the weather forecast if you install a special module.

Application Features

The key advantage of the program is the ability to watch online TV. To do this, you need to configure the PVR module. You can do it like this:

• install the program;
• open the settings and select the "General" tab there;
• activate the "TV" item;
• the application will open the add-ons page, you need to select PVR IPTV Simple Client;
• then click the "Enable and configure" button;
• a new menu will open, in which the “Location” item is responsible for the location of the iptv playlist, the choice is between a remote path (playlist on the Internet) or a local path (playlist on the local network);
• reload the application.

Another feature is the automatic categorization of all multimedia files stored in the device's memory. The program supports video playback in 3D mode. It is also possible to connect an RSS news aggregator.

Application advantages

Kodi has a huge number of options. To unlock them, you need to enable "Expert Mode" in the settings. After that, the user gets access to all the features of the media player.

Among the main advantages:

• Ample opportunities to adjust the quality of the picture.
• Lots of supported fonts.
• You can watch online broadcasts.
• A huge number of extensions, which greatly expands the functionality of the player. For example, some of them allow you to listen to audiobooks downloaded to the device's memory.

Separately, it is worth noting the customization of the application. Almost everything can be changed. Screensavers alone can be of several types, ranging from simple screensavers to slideshows. The main themes are also changing.

Kodi is an Android tool that lets you listen to music, watch online TV, and more. Convenient add-on center allows you to download desired extensions to add missing features.

Kodi is a powerful multimedia entertainment center that is also a system platform for launching various programs and extensions. Until version 14, the program was called XBMC Media Center and was the direct successor of Xbox Media Player (the control shell of the very first Xbox).

When you first launch the utility, only 5 options will be available: video, music, images, applications and system settings. Subsequently, there may be more of them by adding new extensions. Initially, the program interface is completely empty. The user must decide for himself which components to choose and install from the list of the above media categories.

The program focuses on the English-speaking audience, so the applications here are mainly related to Western services, like Popcornflix ( free movies and TV series), flickr, Facebook or RadioTunes. However, the interface language can be changed from English (default) to Russian or any other from the list ( System → Settings → Appearance → International → language).

Kodi is positioned as software for home theaters and multimedia systems. Moreover, anyone can participate in the development of the project, as it has an open source. The project is far from complete: there are hangups when leaving the directory and when launching files; network failures also occur for some service applications. But in general, the program leaves a good impression thanks to an interesting and pleasant design. Remote control across mobile phones also adds liking points for Kodi. And the biggest plus is the unfading interest from third-party users who themselves create and add new interesting extensions.

Key features and functions

• supports a large number of media formats;
• wide opportunities for customization interface themes;
• support for streaming functions, viewing and recording digital TV;
• possibility of remote control;
• a large number of extensions for every taste;
• able to recognize disk images (ISO, IMG and others);
• a large number of plugins.

Kodi is an innovative software that can replace all multimedia applications on your system.

The program contains the following features:

• Multifunctional file manager to manage your media library
• The built-in player supports all popular audio (AAC, MP3, FLAC, OGG, WAV, WMA ...) and video (AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV, VOB ...) file formats, as well as DVD and Blu-Ray
• A separate section of the program is dedicated to streaming content. Works with all modern network protocols and interfaces. Compatible with broadcast streaming services, supports TV broadcasting, can connect to capture devices, and can be integrated with MediaPortal, MythTV, NextPVR and Tvheadend using add-ons
• Viewer graphic files opens up many types of digital JPG images, GIF, PNG, TGA, BMP, TIFF and more
• Support for UPnP technology allows collaboration with other devices, creating a unique multimedia network to expand the functionality and capabilities
• Support for a variety of schemes remote control, both using a conventional TV remote control, and using modern technologies using a smartphone or remotely via the Internet
• The program allows you to customize GUI. A variety of themes and skins that completely change the look are available

Switching the language of the Kodi interface

To switch Kodi to another interface language, you need to use the "System" settings menu item, then go to "Interface settings". Then select "Regional" and in the drop-down list "Language" select the desired language.

A lot of mobile device users based on operating systems Android families want to watch TV, clip collections, listen to music or audiobooks directly on their device. And, as the reviews testify, it is best suited for this. universal program Kodi. Setting up Kodi on Android for an unprepared user can initially cause some difficulties. Meanwhile, if you understand the main sections of the menu, there is nothing particularly complicated here. But first things first.

What is Kodi?

The Kodi application is a unique media center that can replace both a hardware (or software) player, a TV, and a set-top box.

The program has so many possibilities that the user can not only watch television programs, but also view photos, video clips, listen to music online, broadcast a signal to a TV panel and control television directly on a computer with a stationary analogue installed from his mobile device, as if if the user had a remote control in their hands. All settings may seem somewhat unusual at first, but there is nothing particularly complicated in them.

Kodi: installation and setup in the first step

First, as expected, the application must be installed by downloading it from the repository Google Play. At this stage, there should be no difficulties.

True, if the installation is performed using an APK file that was not downloaded from the storage, you should enable the option to allow installation from other sources in the device settings.

After installation and the first launch of the application, it will meet you with a somewhat unusual interface in English. In order to avoid difficulties with translation, first the Kodi settings in terms of the language used should be changed.

You can carry out such actions in the system section by going to the items System> Appearance> International> Language, where the required language is selected from the list.

Kodi XBMC Setup: Set Text Encoding and Keyboard Options

The next step is setting the text encoding. At this point, special attention should be paid, because even if the text will not have to be entered so often, you can change these parameters only in this section.

By default, it is proposed. You can leave it unchanged, although you can choose any other of the proposed options in the list if you wish.

Expert mode and advanced options

After that, many users will be pleasantly surprised that the weather can also be configured in the parameters (the application can even "predict" it). Here, too, there is nothing particularly complicated. Along the way, in the file types section, you need to mark what is needed.

Customizing the splash screen

But the Kodi settings for the splash screen is a very interesting thing. By default, the user has two preset options: blackout and full blackout.

However, if you tap on the “More” item, you can refuse to use standard screensavers and set, say, a random change of images from some site on the Internet.

Also, setting RSS feeds as a screensaver looks like a rather interesting option. In addition, you can use the Video Screensaver function, which allows you to set any video as a screensaver, offering you to download beautiful screensavers with aquariums, falling snow, fireplaces, etc.

Fonts and sounds

Now let's take a look at the cover section. Setting up Kodi in Russian makes it possible to use standard and non-standard fonts.

In this section, you can select an enlarged font (it is recommended to use it, since all controls will be enlarged). The sounds accompanying this or that action can be turned off (like how it is done in the settings sound schemes Windows systems).

Again, the "More" button is used to select the cover, after which you can select something of your choice. Yes, at least set the weather, only from the list of service providers it is better to choose Open Weather or Met Weather and indicate your own location along the way, plus data display parameters (degrees, wind speed, etc.).

Themes

For themes, Kodi settings offer two options to choose from. But the main problem is that additional themes do not support the Russian language, so you have to put up with it.

On the other hand, it all depends on the version of the program or even the operating system itself.

Video Options

Now briefly about the video settings. If you use not the basic, but the advanced mode, you can find quite a lot of parameters.

In principle, there is no point in dwelling on them. Here and so everything is clear. We choose what we need. But there is one parameter that deserves special attention. This is the ability to use a forced 3D effect, or, as it is called in the settings, a stereoscopic image.

Music

With music settings, not everything is so simple. It seems that the main parameters are exactly the same as in a regular software player, however, to get information about tracks and albums from the Internet (like ID3 tags), it is better to choose Universal Scrapper as a source.

But it is better to turn off the setting for preference in obtaining information online. The fact is that when loaded, it completely replaces all existing tags.

In the playback settings, there are options for setting rewind steps and setting an automatic volume level not only for a single track, but for the entire album as a whole (a very necessary function).

In the file lists, you can specify how information about them will be displayed. For karaoke and CD reading, all parameters can be left unchanged (it is unlikely that most users will want to connect a drive to mobile device, since it is completely impractical and difficult). Well, if you want to sing, it's optional.

The television

Finally, a few words about how the Kodi TV module is configured. Most users install the app mainly to watch its main purpose).

In the Kodi application, TV settings are made in the corresponding section of PVR modules. You don't need to use all of them. In or ordinary online broadcasting involves the use of only one module - PVR Simple Client, on which you need to tap and turn it on. The rest can be safely turned off.

In the programs section, everything is simple, but it is advisable to increase the update to about 700 minutes, which will allow you to save battery power somewhat more economically.

But the option to play the last channel is better to activate. Then, when you enter the application, you can watch TV, even if you are just going to listen to music.

Next, you can set the channel switching delay time. This is useful when scrolling quickly from one channel to another, and not when selecting the desired channel by pressing the number buttons. You can immediately set the recording of the selected channel, although in the presence of playlists and Torrent TV, this clearly looks irrelevant.

Add-ons

So, we've dealt with the media. Now consider what is offered as add-ons. The very first and most important thing is to include automatic update, insofar as functionality applications are constantly expanding and replenished with new modules.

You can install module updates immediately from the repository. True, it is completely in English, so you can download the Russian versions, and then use the installation tool from the ZIP archive. But you can use Sippius as a repository.

By the way, all add-ons are sorted into categories. For example, if you want to use audiobooks, you just need to select the appropriate item and click on the install button.

Video is easy too. Many users prefer the Ukrainian resource FS.UA or the Russian portal MY-HIT.RU. You can find almost anything on them. Torrent-TV is immediately configured.

As a source of information, it is better to choose "Kinopoisk". Additionally, you can use photo add-ons that allow you to download and view images from social network"In contact with".

For videos, you need to specify your preferred category (clips, movies, series, etc.) at your own request.

For television, you must also specify the path to the source of playlists and channel tables. A good choice would be to activate the link to the EDEM.TV resource. Unfortunately, it is not possible to paste the copied addresses into the settings fields, so all the data will have to be entered manually.

Upon completion of all settings and installation of add-ons, the application must be restarted, although you can do it much easier by unchecking and re-checking the box on the TV item.

For more comfortable channel switching, you can additionally install Kore (virtual remote control via Wi-Fi). True, when installing the add-on, you will have to create an account with a username and password, and also choose computer system for management (for example, if a stationary Kodi program is installed on a laptop). In addition, when connecting to the Internet, you must first test by clicking on the appropriate button. The interface of the program itself is quite simple, the main Kodi application is in perfect harmony with it, and all the main buttons, playlists, etc. are displayed on the screen. Thus, even outdated TV models can be turned into real SmartTV panels, and computer equipment- in multifunctional media players.

And of course, it is simply impossible to describe all the parameters and settings of Kodi, so only the most basic points have been touched on here. If you wish, it will not be difficult to deal with everything else.