Cross Platform XBMC Beta

The open source XBMC project has released their ‘Atlantis” media center beta. The biggest news is cross-platform support: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, and of course the original Xbox - which started it all. A few of the new features included in this beta release:

• Cross platform support for Linux, Mac OS X (Leopard & Tiger), Windows and Xbox
• New default skin “PM3.HD”, a high-definition tribute to Project Mayhem III for non-Xbox users.
• XBMC Live – a bootable CD which gives you the opportunity to try XBMC on your computer, without modifying the hard drive. In addition, XBMC Live allows installation of XBMC, complete with an operating system, onto a USB flash memory stick for a permanent, fast booting, dedicated set-top-box style installation of XBMC. XBMC Live is designed to support Microsoft’s MCE Remote and USB receiver out-of-the-box.
• XBMC for Mac release now has initial support for integrating iTunes and iPhoto media into XBMC

This is a “non-TV tuner” front-end only for the moment, so XBMC’s focus so far is video, music, etc playback. XBMC offers some of the more impressive skins around the place - check out their great collection here.

XBMC is scheduled to be out of beta in October.