If you’ve got a personal digital media library then I’m guessing you’ve heard of Kodi (formerly XBMC) Media Centre. Without a doubt it’s one of the top multi-platform, multi-format, multimedia platforms, oh and it’s free and open source. Kodi made the jump onto Android TV early on and has continued to iterate on it.
The team behind Kodi have announced the next version of their media center, version 18, will be named after the immortal Carrie Fisher, or at least one of her favorite portrayals the beloved Princess Leia. However, there’s more to Leia then just the name, this update – still in Alpha build- brings 2 important Android TV features Suggested Recommendations and Voice search.
With Recommendations now being enabled when you start Android TV, you’ll now see content recommendations from your personal library on the top row alongside content from other services like YouTube, Google Play Movies and Netflix. Kodi Recommendations will surface both “random movies” as well as the next episodes of shows you’ve been bingeing.
Voice Search is where the real joy is. Now I have to admit I’m a local Media fan. Between my large legacy collection, my painfully slow internet and my current level of distrust of any of the video services, I just prefer local media. Thanks to this update my local media just got a little smarter.
Using the voice search on Android TV when you search for a Movie, TV Show or Music content from your Kodi library will be surfaced in the main Android TV search interface. Search for The Last Jedi, and it will be surfaced right along offerings from other services, one click and you’re ready to play.
With this update, the Kodi team have brought locally-stored content into the smart era, and I can’t wait until it hits the stable lunch. In the meantime, if you want to try out the latest build you can download the latest nightly and sideload it onto your Android TV device.
I wonder if this is just for the android version or all versions? It is on Xbox One for example and I think might have been 18 alpha too but not sure.
Hey Shawn, It would be Android TV only. Other platforms wouldn’t have the deep linking built in. You actually search from the Android TV interface not from within KODI
This! I’m a local media fan as well.. I’ve purchased my shows and movies too many times to remember. A.The straw that broke the camel’s back was when itunes removed purchases that I had made only to “re-release”. Problem is that the new version required re-purchase. Support told me it was a different catalogue number (same bloody TV series) which obviously didn’t sit well with me. B. Netflix/Stan lose rights to shows & movies all the time. Wife wanted to watch titanic which was on netflix previously but now seems to have been removed. I do enjoy “skinning” kodi on… Read more »
Ben I hear you. I was that guy who would buy DVDs second hand at the rental stores (until they all went out of business) just to have the disc. I have cartons upon cartons of DVDs and BlueRays stored in the garage. I’m sick of online content have strange restrictions on different platforms, you can download on your tablet, but not on Android TV. You can stream when you’re in Australia but not when you’re overseas, and yes the non-permanence of streaming service is an issue. the Movies Anywhere idea makes me hopeful but 1. it’s not in Australia… Read more »