Creating the Perfect Entertainment Hub: Unleash the Power of Kodi and Linux

Hey there! Have you ever dreamt of having the ultimate media PC? A fantastic machine that can effortlessly play all your favorite movies, TV shows, and music with ease? Well, I’ve got some exciting news for you! With the incredible combination of Kodi and Linux, you can transform any ordinary computer into an extraordinary entertainment hub that will leave you mesmerized.

Now, let me break it down for you. Kodi is a remarkable piece of software that acts as a media center, organizing and playing all your multimedia files. It’s like having a personal cinema right at your fingertips. Plus, it’s completely free and open-source, making it a dream come true for all the tech-savvy folks out there.

But wait, there’s more! By harnessing the power of Linux operating system, you can take your media experience to a whole new level. Linux is known for its stability, security, and flexibility. It’s like having a rock-solid foundation for your entertainment endeavors. With Linux, you can customize your media PC to your heart’s desire, shaping it according to your unique preferences and needs.

So, how do we get started? First, choose a computer that you want to transform into your media powerhouse. It can be an old desktop gathering dust or a brand new laptop ready for action. The choice is yours. Install Linux on your selected machine, and voila! You’re now stepping into a world of endless possibilities.

Next comes the exciting part – installing Kodi on your Linux-powered PC. Kodi boasts a user-friendly interface that even a tech novice can navigate with ease. With Kodi, you can effortlessly manage your media library, browse through various add-ons to enhance your viewing pleasure, and stream content from all over the globe. The possibilities are virtually limitless.

Now, let’s talk about add-ons. These amazing extensions turbocharge your Kodi experience. With add-ons, you can access an enormous variety of channels, movies, and music libraries from around the world. Want to catch up on the latest episodes of your favorite TV series? No problem. Looking to groove to some tunes? We’ve got you covered. The add-on community is constantly evolving, so you’ll always find something new and exciting to explore.

But why stop there? You can also customize your media PC to match your personal style. Give it a unique skin or theme, making it truly yours. Show off your creative flair and let your media PC reflect your personality. Get ready for some serious media magic!

So, my friend, what are you waiting for? Step into the world of Kodi and Linux, and unlock the true potential of your computer. Create your very own entertainment oasis, where movies come to life, music resonates with your soul, and TV shows captivate your imagination. The possibilities are endless, and the journey is one you won’t want to miss. Let’s embark on this adventure together. Welcome to the ultimate media PC experience!

When it comes to enjoying all of your favorite media content, Media PCs, or HTPCs, are the way to go. Whether you have a lot of files stored locally or you’re a fan of Netflix, the right configuration will allow you to make the most of both.

HTPCs have some clear advantages over off-the-shelf streaming media devices. You have complete control over every aspect of your device. You can customize it to be as powerful or as simple as you want. You also have control over the software and updates. It’s not uncommon for device manufacturers to stop supporting older devices when they release new ones. And sometimes they may no longer support a service app, leaving you without access.

With an HTPC, you can keep it up-to-date and have access to all of your favorite services. You can also easily change and upgrade its hardware. Plus, you can give your PC a unique look to make it stand out in your media center.

Hardware

The choice of hardware is completely up to you. You don’t need a powerful system to play videos, even in 4K. However, there are a few things you should consider.

Think about the form factor. It’s a good idea to use a mini-itx motherboard. It takes up less space near your TV.

Next, consider a system with strong integrated graphics and open source drivers for Linux. This ensures the best performance for your money and eliminates the need to manage proprietary drivers. AMD’s APUs are an excellent option for HTPCs. They offer the best integrated graphics at a relatively low price, and their open source drivers for Linux are constantly improving.

Intel is also a good choice. Some of Intel’s embedded solutions are quite good for the price. The unlocked Pentium CPUs from Intel are especially great here, especially the ones with the latest integrated GPU.

A small solid state drive is nice to have but not necessary. You don’t need a top-of-the-line drive. Anything that can run the operating system and reduce load times will suffice.

In total, here’s the hardware you’ll need:

• CPU
• Compatible Motherboard
• At least 4GB of Compatible RAM
• Hard Drive (preferably SSD)
• Power Supply (500w should be sufficient)
• A Case that you don’t mind looking at
• Bluetooth Keyboard/Mouse (get one with a dongle if your motherboard doesn’t have it built-in)

*USB Flash drive (for the installation)

Download Lubuntu

You can use just about any Linux distribution for this, but we’re going to use Lubuntu in this guide. It’s a lighter version of Ubuntu with a more minimal desktop, since you won’t be needing the desktop much beyond the initial setup.

Head over to the official website and grab the latest desktop release. The 64-bit release is probably the best choice unless you know you have a 32-bit system.

If you’ve never created a bootable USB drive before, you can use a tool like [tool name] to easily set one up.

Install Lubuntu

So, you’ve built yourself a brand-new PC and now it’s time to get everything up and running. The first thing you need to do is plug in your trusty USB drive and power on the computer.

After a few seconds, the screen will light up and you’ll be greeted by the Lubuntu installer. Don’t worry if you’ve never installed Ubuntu before – this installer is designed to be simple and user-friendly. It will guide you through each step of the process, so you won’t need to worry about making any mistakes. Just follow the prompts and you’ll be good to go.

Once the installation is complete, you’ll be asked to remove the USB drive and reboot the computer. Sometimes this process can be a bit finicky, so if it takes longer than expected or gets stuck, don’t panic. Simply perform a hard reset by holding down the power button until the computer powers off, and then turn it back on again.

Now It’s Time to Install the Software

After the computer reboots, you’ll be able to log in to your newly-installed Lubuntu desktop. This is just the beginning – you’re not quite done yet. You still need to configure everything to transform your Linux install into a fully-functional media PC.

So, let’s start by opening up a terminal. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with that term – it’s just a fancy way of saying we’re going to a certain part of our computer where we can make things happen.

Now, in this terminal, you’re going to run a command. Commands are like instructions that tell your computer what to do. And the one we’re going to use is called an update. It’s a way of making sure your computer is up to date with all the latest stuff. And trust me, keeping your computer up to date is important – it helps it run smoothly and keeps it safe from any nasty bugs or vulnerabilities.

So here it is, the magical command:

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt -y upgrade

Now, after you run this command, you might see some messages on your screen. Don’t worry if they look like a bunch of computer jargon – it’s just your computer doing its thing and updating itself.

Oh, and one last thing – after the update, you might need to restart your computer. But if you don’t, no worries! Your computer will still be just fine.

Alright, let’s get started with installing Kodi. First, open up your terminal and type in the following command:

$ sudo apt install kodi

Once the installation is complete, we can move on to getting Chrome.

Getting Google Chrome

If you want to get Chrome, the best route is to go straight to Google. Here’s what you need to do: open up Firefox and head over to Google’s website. From there, you can download Chrome. When it comes to selecting the right version, go for the 64bit .deb option if you’re using Debian or Ubuntu. Then, when prompted to choose a program to open the download with, opt for the graphical package installer.

Hey there! So, you want to install Chrome? No problem! Just sit back and relax while I guide you through the process.

Get Chrome Up and Running

First things first, a little window will appear, asking if you want to install Chrome. Go ahead and click ‘Yes’ to confirm, and then let the installer do its thing. Don’t worry, it won’t take more than a few seconds to finish.

Now that you have Chrome installed, it’s time to make it look like you’re using Windows. You see, some streaming services only support Windows and Mac, and they check your browser to make sure you’re using one of those two.

If you have a Windows PC running Chrome, it’s pretty easy to get the agent string we need. Simply right-click anywhere on the screen, and choose “Inspect” from the menu that appears. This will open up the developer tools. Next, click on the “Console” tab within the tools. In the console, just type in the following command:

navigator.userAgent

That nifty little piece of JavaScript will show you your agent string.

But wait! If you’re feeling a bit lazy or just don’t have a Windows PC handy, don’t worry. You can use this agent string instead:

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/62.0.3202.94 Safari/537.36

So, here’s what you’ve got. And I’m gonna show you how to pretend it’s something else in Lubuntu. First off, open up that menu in Chrome. You know, the one with all the options. From there, go ahead and click on “More Tools” and then “Extensions.” Now, in the bottom part of the screen, you should see a button that lets you add more extensions. Click on it to open up the Chrome store.

Alright, now that you’re in the store, the next step is to find this thing called User-Agent Switcher. Believe me, that’s the name you’re looking for. It’s actually made by Google, so it’s official and all that. Go ahead and install it.

Once you’re done with the installation, simply right-click on the new extension icon and select “Options.” This will take you to a page where you can input your Windows user agent string. Make sure you fill in all the required information and click “Add.” Now go back to the extension icon and choose your newly added string from the available options. If you did everything correctly, it should be listed under the “Chrome” category.

From now on, Chrome will open using your chosen user agent string.

Kodi

Once you have Chrome set up, you can proceed to open Kodi and start configuring the main parts of the media center.

Installing SuperRepo

The default Kodi add-on repositories are quite limited and don’t include the Chrome launcher, which is necessary for accessing many streaming services. To make use of the Chrome launcher, you’ll need to install SuperRepo.

SuperRepo is a massive Kodi repository that offers a wide range of add-ons for almost anything you can imagine. However, it’s important to note that SuperRepo is not heavily regulated. Therefore, exercise caution when exploring and installing other add-ons.

To get started, let’s customize your Kodi experience. First things first, we need to access the settings. You can find the gear icon on the Kodi home screen. Simply give it a click. Now, look for the “System Settings” option and click on it as well. Great! Now, we’re in the settings menu.

Next, we want to enable something called “unknown sources”. This will allow you to add additional content to Kodi. To do this, navigate to the “Add-ons” tab. It’s right there, waiting for you. Once you’ve found it, flip the switch to enable unknown sources.

Now you’re all set to explore the endless possibilities that Kodi has to offer. With the freedom to add new sources, you’ll be able to discover a whole world of content. Enjoy!

If you want to go back to the main settings menu, just click on the option that says “Return up one level.” From there, you’ll see a section called “File Manager.” Click on it. Now, to add a new source, click on the button that says “Add Source.”

http://srp.nu/

Next, you’ll need to give this source a name. Just type in a name of your choice. Once you’re done, click the “OK” button to save your changes.

Hey there! Let’s go back to the main screen and find the “Add-ons” tab. Click on the open box icon in the top left corner. A menu will appear, and you should choose the option to install from a .zip file. Now, look for the SuperRepo source that you just set up and select it. Great! Now, choose “Krypton” and then go to “repositories” and “superrepo.” In that menu, you’ll see the latest .zip file. Click on it and let’s get it installed.

Time to Install Chrome Launcher

If you want to go back up one level in the add-on box menu, here’s what you need to do. Look for the option that says “Install from Repository” and choose SuperRepo. Once you’ve done that, find the repository for the programs category and install it. Just wait for it to finish, and then go back to the main “Add-ons” menu.

To get started, just click on the “Download” tab and look for the section dedicated to program add-ons. Once you’ve found it, search for the Chrome Launcher and go ahead and install it.

Time to Set Up Launchers

Let’s go back to the main Add-ons menu and click on the “Programs” tab. Right there, you should be able to spot the Chrome Launcher. Give it a click and let’s proceed.

When you first open up your launcher menu, you’ll already see a couple of options for YouTube and Vimeo. But don’t worry, you can add your own custom launchers too! All you have to do is enter the name you want for the launcher and the URL of the site you want to open. You don’t need to worry about the other settings, as the defaults are perfectly fine. Once you’ve added your new launcher, just click on it to open the site!

Once you’re on the site, you can navigate around just like you would on a regular desktop. Enjoy streaming all your favorite content! And when you’re done, simply use Alt+F4 to close the site. This will bring you back to the Chrome Launcher menu.

Streaming from Your Computer

If you have files shared on an NFS or another computer, you can easily play them through Kodi. Here’s how:

Go back to the Kodi main menu and click on the Videos tab. Then, select “files.” You should see an option to add files, so go ahead and click on that. A familiar window will pop up, similar to the one you used to add SuperRepo. This time, click on the “Browse” button on the right. This will allow you to search for your shared files. If you’re using an NFS or sharing from a Linux machine, choose the NFS option. If you’re sharing from a Windows computer or have set up a Samba share, choose that option instead.

Okay, let’s see what Kodi can do for me. First, it will search for all the shared folders it can find. Once it lists them out, I just need to select mine. When I find the right folder, I select it. Kodi will then ask me what’s in the folder so it can scan it and add the data to my library. If I’m not interested in nice artwork or proper video titles, I can hit the “Cancel” button, but I’ll still be able to play my videos.

After that, I can easily access the shared folder over my network through the Videos section of Kodi.

Setting Up Kodi as Default

Since this PC is mainly for media, I don’t want it to boot into the regular desktop anymore. I want it to go straight into Kodi. Luckily, I can make that configuration.

If I ever want to go back to the regular desktop, I can simply exit Kodi.

Before I do anything else, it’s a good idea to install SSH on the machine. That way, I’ll be able to access the computer remotely for updates and changes. It’s easy to do: just open up a terminal and run the following command:

$ sudo apt install openssh-server

Now, I’ll have the option to access the media PC remotely via SSH or using PuTTY.

Hey there! So, here’s what we’re gonna do. First, let’s keep that terminal open. Now, using the sudo command and your preferred text editor, we’re gonna create a file at /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/99-kodiautologin.conf. Make sure to replace “user” in the example with your own user name, alright?

[SeatDefaults]

user-session=kodi

autologin-user=user

autologin-user-timeout=0

autologin-session=kodi

Once you’ve set up the file just like the example, save it and exit. Now, when you start up your HTPC next time, Kodi will open up right away. Pretty cool, huh?

Closing Thoughts

But hold on, we’re not done yet… not by a long shot. With this setup, you can do so much more. Since it’s a regular Linux system, it’s crazy flexible. If you’ve got a good GPU, you can even configure it to switch between Kodi and Steam for some living room gaming. And let’s not forget about Kodi and SuperRepo, they bring even more options to the table. SuperRepo gives you access to tons of streaming content, although some of it may be in a bit of a gray area, legally speaking.

Now, here’s an idea. Because of the concerns and restrictions surrounding streaming content, why not set up a VPN with this system? Remember, it’s still Ubuntu at its core. Any VPN that works with Linux or OpenVPN will work here. Having a VPN is a smart move, especially if you plan on exploring SuperRepo or if you’re outside the US and want to access region-specific streaming content.

Listen, this system won’t hold you back in any way. It’s all up to you how much or how little you want to do with it. Take control of your media, my friend. Embrace it!