Download Geexbox 1.2 Beta 1

Geexbox is a complete standalone media player that runs from a live CD with a custom Linux version. After launching, the program is able to play various video files and streams. It can also drive various analog and digital TV cards so you don’t miss an episode of your favorite TV series. The program can be operated via the OSD, which in turn assignments receive from a keyboard or remote control. The developers released the first beta version of Geexbox 1.2 few days ago and provided the following announcement:

GeeXboX 1.2-beta1

As usual, it took way longer than expected but there it is: GeeXboX 1.2-beta1. Why Beta release ? Honnestly, this version should now be pretty stable. However, too few tests have been done by users on forum recently and we wanted to confirm the good feedback we have before releasing the final 1.2.

So what has changed to take so much time ? As told at 1.1 release’s time, the major change is X.org inclusion. This was a lot of work but this allows GeeXboX to fully support wide screens and all of the new HDTVs monitors. Everything is autodetected and configured and it should detect the best resolution that suits your monitor. Along with X.org, come all of its video drivers. Say bye bye to VIDIX (as good as it was) and welcome XVideo. This brings video acceleration (but still no GPU offload) to nearly all video cards in the wild (whether it is Intel, nVidia, ATI, S3, SiS, VIA …).

Alos come many kernel and internal changes. The whole distributions is now modularized to best detect your hardware and load ony what is needed. Many drivers have been added and installation has been completely reworked for better usability.

This version also has been optimized for various platforms like EeePCs, EasyGate and bring official support of MacIntels computers. It also introduce a new port to x86_64 architecture which brings a small performance boost regarding to the 32bit edition.

Unless major bugs are encountered, you may expect the final 1.2 release to come pretty soon. In the mean time, the more you test this beta version and report bugs, the fastest it’ll be issued.

Detailed Changelog (relative to 1.1 release):

System:

• X.Org 7.4 inclusion (default, change it with generator).
• Support for SMP and multi-cores.
• Update to Linux 2.6.27.4.
• Update BusyBox to 1.11.3.
• Update to SysLinux 3.72.
• Use of initramfs instead of initrd.

tool chain:

• Update to GCC 4.3.2.
• Upgrade uClibc to 0.9.30-rc3.
• Upgrade glibc to 2.7.
• Use glibc as a default when building with X.Org.

Port:

• Port to x86_64 architecture.
• Port to PowerPC 64bit architecture.
• Mac Intel support.
• Optimizations for EasyGate platform.
• Optimizations for Eee PC 700.

player:

• Update MPlayer to r27662.
• Enable ASD support.
• Add MonkeyAudio decoder.
• Add GOOM audio visualization.
• Fix for CDDA playback.
• Add TV selection menu.
• Add de-interlace filter for DVDs and TV streams.
• Use of keypad for DVDNAV controls.
• Add support for extended PLS netstream entries.
• Enhanced DVD Navigation Menu support.
• Fix somes issues with encrypted DVDs playback.
• Use per stream type configuration profiles.

Video:

• Add widescreens and HDTV screens support.
• Add X11 video acceleration for most graphic cards (Intel, nVidia, ATI, S3, SiS, VIA …).
• TV-Out is no longer available when booting with X.Org enabled.
• Some Intel VESA driver fixes.
• ATI VIDIX driver color fixes.
• Restore VIDIX support on PowerPC.

driver:

• X.Org hardware autodetection.
• Dozens of new WiFi, Ethernet, DVB… drivers supported.
• All drivers are now modularized (no longer built-in): only useful ones are actually loaded.
• Add kernel drivers auto probe and load mechanisms.
• Fix many PATA devices issues.
• Add support for 16bit PCMCIA cards.
• LIRC 0.8.4

Networking:

• Upgrade to Samba 3.0.32 (better support for MS Vista shares).
• Add support for Plan9 network shares.
• Add NFS v3/4 support.
• Add PXE boot from Samba.
• Allow for defining static samba mounts

Installer:

• Introduction of configurator: post-install reconfiguration utility.
• Use of libparted instead of old fdisk for disk partitioning.
• Enhanced install to USB process.
• Provide faster boot methods for install to HDD.

Generator:

• Add HDTV (X.org) related new options and configuration settings.
• Add GOOM audio visualization settings tab.
• Add NFS shares configuration tab.
• Add static Samba shares configuration tab.
• Automatic packages download at ISO image compilation.

miscellaneous:

• Add AppleIR remote support.
• Add X10 RF MCE remote control support.
• Add ACPI multimedia button handling.
• Enhanced system information menu.
• Enhance VESA boot menu.
• Enhanced Web interface and better browser compliance.
• Add optional support for Video Disk Recorder (VDR).
• Use FeH image viewer instead of FBI.