• Fixes for XBMC Dharma Live
• Fixed Shoutcast freezing up XBMC
• New add-ons including Transparency! skin being added to the official repository
• Many scraper add-ons fixed

Head over to xbmc.org to download the latest version.

• 0003047: [general] GUITextureManager deadlock
• 0002983: [TV-Server] Case sensitive SQL installations fail with an exception
• 0003040: [My Videos] very slow browsing speed in shared folders which contain many files
• 0002989: [Radio Guide] when scrolling down in “channeldetail view”, the day does not change
• 0003003: [My Music] Improved speed of Music Database Scan
• 0002973: [My Weather] in Blue3Wide, weather text overlaps the weather icon
• 0002991: MPTray.exe locks the MPTray.log file
• 0002994: [WatchDog] Unable to browse to set folder with watchdog due to invalid characters in filename
• 0002992: [general] MediaInfo: delay on AVI with AC3 codec introduced after v0.7.26
• 0002969: [general] MiniDisplay: MatrixOrbital driver locks DVD/CD tray
• 0002981: [general] Memory left indication is wrong when PC has more than 2GB RAM
• 0002980: [Installer] Sometimes font installation fails
• 0002984: [Installer] Crash with filenames containing special characters (ascii code > 127)

For a complete list of fixes and changes, check out the changelogs below.

• Changelog: MediaPortal
• Changelog: TV-Server
• Changelog: Installer – DeployTool

If you’re a MediaPortal user or just want to try it out head to team-mediaportal.com to download the latest version.

Changes from Mythbuntu 10.04:

Highlights

• Swanky new installer
• Mythbuntu-bare, a backup/restore utility for your MythTV configuration files
• MythTV 0.23.1

Underlying system

• Underlying Ubuntu updates are found here

MythTV

• Recent snapshot of the MythTV 0.23.1 release is included (see 0.23.1 Release Notes)
• Preview of the upcoming MythNetvision plugin.

For more coverage check out mythbuntu.com.

• Mythbuntu theme fixes

For more information on the release, check out mythbuntu.org.

• Ubuntu Software Centre – Gives you access to thousands of open-source free and for fee applications in categories including: education, games, sound and video, graphics, programming and office.
• Social Networking – Ubuntu’s new Me Menu lets you access your Facebook and Twitter accounts straight from the desktop. You can connect to all your favourite chat channels and make updates through a single window.
• Music Streaming – Ubuntu’s music player now includes an integrated store allowing you to buy and download new tracks with just a few clicks. Ubuntu One’s (http://one.ubuntu.com) file-syncing ability lets you stream your music uninterrupted to your Android device or iPhone (for $3.99 per month).
• Unity Interface for Ubuntu Netbook Edition – Unity is a new interface that makes its debut in Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Edition. It is designed to simplify the mobile experience by using larger icons and a more touch-intuitive interface.

Head to Ubuntu.com to try out the latest version of the OS.

In preparation of the approaching Google TV launch, Google has launched its Google TV web site and official blog sharing additional details on the content and application offerings we can expect. Google TV’s content offerings are comparable to what you expect from a mainstream HD media player like Roku (minus Hulu).

Several web sites including Blip.tv, TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and HBO are being optimized for viewing on Google TV’s WebKit-based Chrome browser. Much like Clicker.tv‘s couch-friendly interface, these sites will probably be HTML5. While the applications are obviously proprietary to the Android platform, the TV-friendly web sites are good news for HTPCs and media centers. For example, this opens up additional content to the Boxee Box whose (also WebKit-based) browser will make great use of these sites without the need for third-party apps.

A common and unfortunate misconception is that Google TV is all about accessing the Web using a web browser when in actuality it is about the Internet. Just like Android smartphones, over time we can expect lots of big screen apps and web sites designed with Google TV in mind. Among applications such as Pandora, CNBC Real-Time and NBA Game Time will be the usual video rental suspects: Netflix and Amazon VOD. Take a peak at some of the apps in the video below:

Great news indeed. Now if we can only get an official launch date for the Logitech Revue.

Read more at the Google TV Blog and check out the official Google TV web site.

Today, Netflix officially launched it’s streaming service in Canada. It’s the first time Netflix will be available outside of the U.S and I can tell you we’re all excited about it, said Jessie Becker from Netflix. The stream-only service (meaning no disc-by-mail) costs CDN$7.99 per month making it even cheaper than the U.S. service. Canada can also enjoy the same Watch Instantly library via computer, Wii, PS3, Mac or iOS device just U.S. customers.

Update – Apparently in order to be approved to shut down the street for their launch event in Canada, Netflix had to be filming a documentary. They did this and hired extras as backdrops for a video they were filming. The launch included the shooting of a corporate video with some hired extras, who, it turns out, were given improper direction to talk with the news media about their enthusiasm for the Netflix service, says Steve Swasey, VP of Netflix Corporate Communications. He goes on to clarify that This was a mistake and was not intended to be part of our launch plan. Whether this is true or not, at least they made a comment on it to protect their PR.

Shortly after lowering prices on yesteryear’s models, Roku launches its new lineup of competitively-priced, streaming media players. The new players were first spotted in the FCC earlier this month toting Wireless-N, HDMI and composite connections. The models available (in order of awesomeness) are the $60 Roku HD which streams 720p content, the $80 Roku XD bringing 802.11n, and Instant Replay button and 1080p, and the $100 Roku XDS adding dual-band 802.11n, component video, optical audio and a USB port. A software update will be released for the XDS in November which will support the following file formats: mp4 and m4v (video); mp3, aac and m4a (audio); jpg and png (photos). Unfortunately, mkv is not among the supported video formats.

Still missing from the equation is the Netgear Roku XD Player which also showed up on the FCC filing with identical specs as the Roku XD. Perhaps a later announcement from Netgear will occur but at this time, there is no word on what this means.

Plex users are in for another treat. 3rd party developer Frank Bauer (Ambertation) has launched KLEXi, a gorgeous, full-featured iOS client for Plex Media Server. Frank, the talented author of KLEXi, contacted us about six months ago and expressed an interest in writing an iOS app based on our nascent API, says Elan of the Plex team. Since then, Frank has been hard at work developing this impressive product as well as reporting and fixing bugs in the Plex Media Server.

The end result fulfills some of the functionality users felt the official Plex for iOS left out–namely “download and play” where users can download (and transcode) videos to their iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to play offline. Among other features are:

• External Play: Watch your videos on an external screen (Requires a VGA to UniversalDock Connector)
• Parental Controls: Restrict access (browsing and playback) for Movies and TV-Shows based on the content rating provided by the Plex Media Server (When using the parental controls, make sure everything works as expected before giving the device to your kids. You should never let kids use KLEXi unattended)
• Wake & Go: Wake up sleeping Machines in your local network
• Shake & Surprise: Shake your device while in shelf-view and KLEXi will pick a random item for you

KLEXi is available in the App Store for $5.99 USD. Want to see it in action first? Well, check out a video demo after the break.

XBMC Media Center 10.0 (Dharma) Beta2 is now available for download in just two weeks after the release of the first Dharma beta. We have closed many bugs, touched up some translations, and updated a substantial number of addons, says Team XBMC’s theuni. Along with these changes, the new JSON web interface is now an Add-on rather than a core component, meaning you can keep the interface current without waiting on the next beta or stable release of XBMC. If you’re already running Dharma or would like to try it out, download Beta2 from http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/.