XBMC will be called Kodi from next version

By admin On Aug 1, 2014

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The developers behind XBMC have rebranded the cross-platform media center software. The software is called Kodi from version 14. In particular, the developers want to permanently sever the ties with the original name, Xbox Media Center.

For the time being, it is only a name change, the developers write in a blog post on Friday. “The software remains the same and the code remains available under GPL 2.0 license,” they explain. In addition, the original numbering is preserved. This means that Kodi will pick up where XBMC 13 left off and thus get version 14.

According to the team behind the media center software, the motivation behind the name change is twofold. First, they want to cut ties with the Xbox, for which the software was originally written in 2002. This has been done cautiously in recent years; the last project name, XBMC, was in fact taken into use, because the popular media player was already running on multiple platforms in 2008.

Today, XBMC doesn’t even run on the latest Xbox versions, the 360 and the One. In addition, users with extensions can now also play games. As a result, in addition to ‘Xbox’, the term ‘media center’ would no longer cover the load. “Essentially, both the ‘XB’ and the ‘MC’ simply had no meaning anymore.”

Second, the developers justify their decision, the change is important for controlling the use of the name. In previous years there would have been ‘a lot of confusion’, because, for example, media players were sold with the name XBMC on it. This actually involved modified software versions from manufacturers that had nothing to do with the original software anymore. The devs now say they want to avoid that confusion.

Finally, there are several companies with a similar name as XBMC. This could lead to a legal dispute, with the name under threat by definition. “And that threat has only become more problematic in recent years,” said the developers, who provide little further details.

After deliberation, the team decided that it would be better to give the media center software a completely new name, in order to get rid of all the problems in one fell swoop. “Renaming the software was the most realistic solution. We’ve done it before and believe that this time Kodi is the name we can keep forever.” Kodi 14 is expected to be released in December.