XBMC "Gotham" release enters beta with Android hardware decoding support and more

The next big version of the XBMC software is in the works and the first beta of the software is now available. The codename for this version of XBMC is "Gotham" and the software has a number of new features aimed at Android users. Those changes for Android users promise to improve performance on devices running the operating system.

One of the major changes to Gotham is support for hardware video decoding on Android devices. The software is available on devices that use Android 4.0 or later on ARM or x86 processors. The software has also been tweaked to run smoothly on less powerful hardware.

That means improved performance on low power devices like the Raspberry Pi. The Gotham software also offers support for gesture control making it easier to use on touchscreen Android devices. The beta brings with it changes to the XBMC experience with a number of usability improvements.

The Settings page is updated making it easier to use for XBMC noobs and advanced users alike. Improvements have been made for the software audio engine for better performance. The software also gains limited stereoscopic 3D playback capability supporting 3D flicks in SBS, TAB, anaglyph, and interlaced formats. Since this is a beta, you can expect a few issues if you try it out. No word on when the final version might land.

SOURCE: Android Community