I recently started using Kodi for my linux distro collection, but some videos look terrible in comparison to when played in VLC. See attached picture with screengrabs from VLC and Kodi of the same frame in an MKV 1080p h.265 file. What could be the issue? I didn’t change any video settings in either
It looks like it is downsampling the video or streaming after converting to another codec. Some codecs are fine for decoding on the server but the app may not support them so the server converts them. Some files are of higher quality than what the server is configured to deliver so it downsamples to stream it.
Check the configuration and look for anything to do with codecs, hardware decoding, streaming quality, and so on. It may also be on the app, so if you can access a different interface then test that to narrow down the issue.
WindowsEnjoyer@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
I am pretty sure nany would disagree, but Kodi is complete trash. The whole software is a one massive utter slow bug.
Anything else is better. Jellefin, Plex, VLC, but NOT kodi.
SkippingRelax@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Don’t get the hate for kodi, nor the massive boner that the selfhosted communities here and on reddit have for plex. And how can you compare vlc it’s a fifteenth kind of software.
Anyway i won’t even downvote, im curious what’s the problem with kodi? some of us have been using it for probably 15 years, i have hit a million bugs over the years but never noticed it was unusable? Always used it on some sort of Linux.
WindowsEnjoyer@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Well, if you ask me whether it’s working? Or can it be used? Yes! It does work and can be used.
But it’s like using 2010 smartphone in 2023. It does work, but personally I have zero joy using it.
Kodi is slow, laggy software. Default interface looks ugly. Especially animations - they are laggy and super ugly. Whole interface lags when navigating. As a cherry on top - settings are super non-intuitive and very hard to use. Last few times I used - addons are tend to fail to install or fail to work without bugs, app itself crashed few times (on both Android and Linux). Generally what is the most significant issue with it is it’s utter slow performance and UI/UX (ugly/laggy animations, annoying non-synced menu sounds, annoying interface which is very hard to navigate and use).
For example, Jellyfin client is like day & night difference. Settings are easy to use, interface is neat, not laggy and so on.
Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 months ago
I also don’t get why Plex is being upvoted at all on lemmy because usually anyzhing not remotely (F)OSS is immediately shut down and replaced with a Foss alternative.
Think about Excel use cases -> Instantly asked to also support Libre/OO Calc.
So why is Plex still considered over Jellyfin when the feature parity is almost equal to Plex.
originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 11 months ago
i agree with everything youve said here. people are comparing all these different products with clearly different use cases... some overlap? maybe...
the only thing i dont like about kodi is the fucking name... not sure why that bothers me so much but when they changed the name to kodi, i started playing with emby/jellyfin. of course then i realized they provide different services
well, the name, and their support forums are hot garbage.
Sanctus@lemmy.world 11 months ago
My problem with Kodi is even if I start at the top of a list of streams and just pick on down until one works they rarely do. The ones that do work are 180p with high contrast korean subtitles every time. I know its not like this for everyone. I have seen someone play a stream on it in good quality with nothing weird. But it seems whenever I specifically use it nothing I want to watch has a good stream.
SchizoDenji@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Plex pass?
cellardoor@lemmy.world 11 months ago
+1 Jellyfin
caseyweederman@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
+6 Jellyfin
ezures@lemmy.wtf 11 months ago
+1 jellyfin
The only trouble I found is playing something with opus voice track doesn’t work in the app, and some browsers. Otherwise it’s great
SatyrSack@lemmy.one 11 months ago
I just wish the Flatpak had a more keyboard/controller friendly UI. Seeking around the current video using KB/controller is fine, but navigating the UI to pick what to watch pretty much requires a mouse.
GreatBlueHeron@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
I think Kodi was amazing when it was XBMC and the only real option. It seems to be falling behind now though :-( I moved to Jellyfin a couple of years ago.
miketunes@lemmy.world 11 months ago
How is the interface on Jelly compared to kodi on an Android tv?
Rud_1UP@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Jellyfin for AndroidTV still cannot play the default audio language and still cannot play the default subtitle language you configure as default in Jellyfin server. Having to select the right audiotrack, enable subs for each and every item you play is very cumbersome. I have been using it regularly for over 2 years. A lot of development has gone in the AndroidTV app but it’s still unstable, often crashing the whole ShieldTV Pro and still has these basic issues with audio and subs. Also, the Play Next design in Jellyfjn AndroidTV is bad, compared to other Jellyfin client apps. Ive created the bug reports and all. But there is no focus in actually improving the app for end users.
Switch to Kodi with the Jellyfin addon used in addon mode and bam, everything-just-works. Also proper audio passthrough and much more stable on AndroidTV. A night without Jellyfin AndroidTV app crashing is a miracle.
To say anything is better simply means you have no clue what you are actually talking about.
domi@lemmy.secnd.me 11 months ago
As someone who runs CoreELEC on all their HTPCs I cannot agree with this comment.
Is it a bad desktop application? Yes, but Kodi is for HTPCs what VLC is for desktops, it plays everything you throw at it. On dedicated HTPCs it is about the best you can get.
I went from a Windows PC with VLC, to MPC to Plex to Jellyfin and landed on Kodi/CoreELEC in the end.
None of your alternatives provide a interface that is useable in an environment where controlling via remote/phone is important and supporting 4k/HDR/Dolby Vision/audio passthrough and various codecs is a must. Plex comes close but locks you into their environment while Kodi can stream anything (including from Plex and Jellyfin).
mundane@feddit.nu 11 months ago
I’m also tired of Kodi but I constantly come back to it. The one thing that Kodi does better than all the rest is the handling of subtitles. I try to use Jellyfin instead but I constantly have to switch back to Kodi because there are no ways (from within the app) to find and download new subtitles.
Kir@feddit.it 11 months ago
You can definitely search and download subtitles using both jellyfin app and webapp. I do this all the times.
techgearwhips@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Then you’re using it wrong buddy.
WindowsEnjoyer@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
I am switching codec between Libvlc and exoplayer. Sometimes one doesn’t work, while the other works. It’s still better to me than Kodi.
originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 11 months ago
i use kodi alongside jellyfin, i find them complimentary
WindowsEnjoyer@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Kodi generally chockes in the menu. Default interface is ugly, navigation is ugly, animations are slow af and laggy, settings are non-intuitive and overall stability is trash. Each time I try it - it sucks. Tried recently to setup for my dad - it’s just ridiculously hard to navigate and utterly slow…
insufferableninja@lemdro.id 11 months ago
i like jellyfin, but I’ve found that the roku jellyfin app throws an error trying to play some of my media. So I’m still using Plex for now
VelociCatTurd@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I don’t use jellyfin but I do use Emby with my Roku. The problem seemed to be with .mp4 files. I transcode all my movies to mkv and no problems now.
IWantToFuckSpez@kbin.social 11 months ago
I still use Kodi on my AppleTV for videos I’m not self hosting. With the Seren add-on and an Alldebrid account I can just stream videos of the internet in high quality (often BluRay quality)
Yeah it’s slow but it’s the only app that supports debrid streaming that can be installed on an AppleTV and I can’t be bothered to buy an android box or hookup my PC that sits on the other side of the house.
WindowsEnjoyer@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Your use case is completelly valid. I would probably use Kodi too if no other alternatives exist. :) Currently rocking with Jellyfin.
Blackmist@feddit.uk 11 months ago
I find Kodi decent on my nVidia Shield, where Jellyfin often struggles. Especially when it comes to subtitles.
Strongly dislike the UI though.
kratoz29@lemm.ee 11 months ago
You can piss off a lot of people with that comment over /r/ShieldAndroidTV, and of course /r/Kodi lol.
Anyway, yeah if I want to keep things simple and streaming and the best of all working I go with Stremio on my Shield TV if I feel like data hoarding then I go with Plex.