Install OS on Raspberry Pi using New Out of Box Software (NOOBS)

Noobs Raspberry Pi Ft | Smarthomebeginner

New Out of Box Software, or NOOBS allows you to install OS on Raspberry Pi with just a few clicks. The name ‘NOOBS’ explains everything: it is for newbies (or for anybody who likes it simple). Recently, I introduced 4 media center operating systems for Raspberry Pi. Then, I presented … read more

Raspbmc August Update released

Raspbmc Ft | Smarthomebeginner

Raspbmc is a minimal Linux distribution based on Debian that brings XBMC to your Raspberry Pi. While Raspbmc offers great features, it has been found to fall behind on speed and fluidity compared to other media center OSes. This post introduces the recently released Raspbmc August update. What’s New in … read more

What you need to know about overclocking Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi Overclocking Ft | Smarthomebeginner

Overclocking Raspberry Pi is a way to get the maximum out of the Raspberry Pi hardware. Device makers many times fix the components to work at lower speeds to improve reliability/life while also ensuring adequate performance. However, for many enthusiasts who are always hungry for speed and power, there is … read more

A simple yet awesome IR Raspberry Pi remote control for $5

Raspberry Pi Remote Ft | Smarthomebeginner

In this post, I will present a very simple USB plug-and-play Raspberry Pi remote control. Recently, I listed the 7 Raspberry Pi accessories to build a XBMC media center in which I listed a USB IR remote. If you are in the market for a Raspberry Pi remote control, you … read more

How to fix script failed error and make XBMC ESPN addon work?

Xbmc Espn Addon Error Ft | Smarthomebeginner

In the recent months the XBMC ESPN addon errors out with “script failed” error message as shown in the picture below. Using this ESPN plugin by bluecop is one of the 3 ways to watch ESPN on XBMC. Many users of the XBMC ESPN addon have reported “Script Failed!: plugin.video.espn3”, … read more

Overclocked OpenELEC vs Xbian for Raspberry Pi

Openelec Vs Xbian

This post is a shootout of OpenELEC vs Xbian, with OpenELEC overclocked to the same level as Xbian. In my recent comparison of Xbian, OpenELEC, and Raspbmc (Part 1 and Part 2), it was clear that Xbian was the fastest and most responsive operating system for Raspberry Pi media centers. … read more

OpenELEC vs Raspbmc vs Xbian: Part 2 – Options and Features

| Smarthomebeginner

My comparison of OpenELEC vs Raspbmc vs Xbian for Raspberry Pi continues in this post, with focus on various options and features offered in each of them. After introducing 4 operating systems for Raspberry Pi and comparing the installation, boot, and operation speeds of OpenELEC vs Raspbmc vs Xbian in … read more

7 Raspberry Pi accessories to build a Kodi media center

Raspberry Pi Accessories Ft | Smarthomebeginner

Recently, we saw presented the media center operating systems that are available for Raspberry Pi. In this post, let us look at 7 Raspberry Pi accessories you may need to build a low-power HTPC. The objective is to be able to play media from a home server, over the wireless … read more

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