Software Update: CoreELEC 9.2.2

The developers behind Core Embedded Linux Entertainment Center have released version 9.2.21. CoreELEC is a fork of LibreELEC, which in turn arose after a large number of developers left OpenELEC due to disagreements and started their own business. These Linux distributions are based on Kodi and can turn a computer into a full-fledged htpc. CoreELEC focuses specifically on the chips of amlogic† The announcement of version 9.2.2 looks like this:

CoreELEC 9.2.2

CoreELEC 9.2.2 is now available bringing with it Kodi v18.6; a new, updated kernel for users of our -ng releases (more on this below); support for S905Y2 and S905X3 devices; HDR10+ support for -ng users; support for additional WiFi and BT adapters and updated drivers for existing ones; and several bug fixes, thanks to all the users who have been running our nightly releases and giving us plenty of feedback to work with.

For users of our -ng releases, this release marks a significant upgrade. The kernel has been completely reworked from the ground up and is based on the latest Amlogic Android BSP which now supports HDR10+ playback. We have also completely re-engineered our approach to how the kernel uses the media modules responsible for hardware decoding. Gone are the days of fusing the modules to the kernel; we are now building the media modules as external modules, as Amlogic intended, with fewer hacks in the process.

Also of importance to our -ng releases is a fix to Kodi that makes use of the Amlogic multi decoder u-code, as development by Amlogic on the single decoder u-code used in earlier releases appears to have ceased. This brings improved hardware video decoding capabilities and more content is now playable with fewer issues than ever before.