Kodi 21.0 Release: Enhancements and Features You’ll Love

Today marks an exciting milestone in the world of digital media with the release of Kodi 21.0 Omega, a significant update to the award-winning, free, cross-platform open-source home theater and media center software. This latest version comes over a year after the previous release, Kodi 20 Nexus, and is packed with a host of impressive features and enhancements that elevate your media experience.

Key Features in Kodi 21.0 Omega

1. FFmpeg 6.0 Support

Kodi 21.0 introduces support for FFmpeg 6.0, ensuring better video and audio decoding capabilities. This improvement enhances the overall performance and compatibility of the Kodi media player, making it a more reliable choice for various media formats.

2. NFSv4 Support

With the addition of NFSv4 support, Linux users can now enjoy easier file sharing, making it more convenient to access media libraries over a network.

3. Enhanced Playlist Management

This release allows users to read and write M3U8 playlists, expanding Kodi’s usability for users who manage extensive media libraries.

4. AVIF Image Support

Kodi now supports the AVIF image format, providing better quality at smaller file sizes, improving the visual experience for users.

5. AudioEngine Improvements for Linux

This version brings significant enhancements to AudioEngine on Linux, including support for passthrough formats such as DTS-HD and TrueHD. These features greatly enhance audio playback for home theater systems.

6. Display Information Support

Kodi 21.0 has integrated libdisplay-info compatibility for Linux, making it easier to parse EDID information and determine display capabilities for a more tailored viewing experience.

7. Flexible Audio Backend Selection

Linux users can now select the audio backend with a command line switch when launching Kodi. This flexibility allows for better performance and customization based on user preferences.

Noteworthy Improvements for Linux Users

• Better VAAPI VP9 Profile 2 Playback: Enhanced video playback support provides smoother viewing experiences.
• PipeWire Support Improvements: Enjoy improved audio performance and compatibility with the latest technologies.
• Command Line Options: New command line switches have replaced older environment variable usages, streamlining user experience.
• Raspberry Pi Support: Now reports CPU temperatures without requiring external scripts, enhancing the user experience for Raspberry Pi users.
• Custom Implementation: Kodi now has its own implementation for Linux’s ping utility, improving network diagnostics.

Android Enhancements

1. Dolby Vision Compatibility

Kodi 21.0 significantly enhances Dolby Vision detection and compatibility, ensuring that users can experience the highest quality visuals.

2. Power Saving Features

A new minimize shutdown function has been added under Power Saving settings, providing better control over resource consumption.

3. Amlogic BSP Audio Support

Compatibility has improved for Amazon FireTV 4K devices as well as Amlogic BSP audio, ensuring a superior experience on these popular hardware options.

Enhanced Features for Windows Users

1. HDR10 Support for Xbox

Kodi now supports HDR10 on Xbox, enriching gameplay and media playback with vibrant colors.

2. DXVA2 AV1 Hardware Decoding

Windows users can utilize DXVA2 AV1 hardware video decoding for both 8-bit and 10-bit formats, allowing for enhanced video quality.

3. Video Super Resolution

Compatibility has been added for “Video Super Resolution”, providing improved clarity on NVIDIA RTX and Intel ARC hardware.

4. Windows 11 Enhancements

Enhanced refresh rate switching and accurate color mapping for 10-bit SDR and HDR content offer a better overall viewing experience.

PVR and Retroplayer Updates

The PVR component of Kodi has seen substantial updates, including:

• Support for sorting channel groups
• Improved UPnP compatibility for official smart TV apps
• Enhancements within the Retroplayer ecosystem for gaming, making it a stronger media hub for all entertainment.

Usability Improvements

Kodi 21.0 includes several usability enhancements that make navigating the interface easier:

• Improved handling of movement keys in lists
• Thumbnail generation fixes for portrait-oriented images
• Video information enhancements for Movie Sets and TV Seasons
• Notable upgrades to the Estuary theme, including better media classification and artwork cache handling.

WebOS Support

Kodi has made strides in its support for webOS, incorporating:

• Audio sink improvements
• Support for playing AV1 Dolby Vision files
• Enhanced media playback controls for minimized/restored states
• Compatibility with webOS 4 devices.

Additional Features and Settings

1. Font Collections and Metadata Improvements

Support for .ttc font collections has been added, along with enhancements to the Teletext browser window.

2. Python and SWIG Support

Kodi can now be built with Python 3.12 and SWIG 4.2.0, improving flexibility for developers.

3. Automatic Video Rotation

Users can enjoy better support for automatic video rotation based on metadata.

4. Adaptive Caching Options

A new “Adaptive” setting in Services / Caching optimizes read factor based on cache levels.

5. Navigation Enhancements

New navigation options allow users to move from artists directly to songs, mimicking user-friendly interfaces seen in popular streaming services like Spotify.

Conclusion

The release of Kodi 21.0 Omega is a major step forward for Kodi as a comprehensive media center software. With its wide range of updates—including improvements for both Linux and Android users, enhanced compatibility with streaming and hardware technologies, and usability enhancements—Kodi continues to set the standard in digital media management.

If you’re looking to elevate your Kodi experience even further, choosing the best Kodi boxes can significantly enhance performance and usability. Check out the best Kodi boxes to explore top devices that will take your home media experience to the next level.

Explore More

For a complete overview of the changes introduced in Kodi 21.0, visit the official GitHub release notes. Download Kodi 21.0 Omega from the official website to start enjoying these incredible new features now!

By leveraging these innovations, users can truly maximize their digital media experience with Kodi.