KODI Guidance/Advice-is there a point?

Danorak1981

Hi guys,

I have a Pi 3B that I'm happily running RetroPie on, but I also have a spare 16GB card that I'd like to install KODI on. I know that I can install KODI on my current card, but I'd rather keep things separate for now until I get to grips with it.

I've never used KODI before, so looking for some guidance. How would you install it? I have two options at the moment.

One, is to install RetroPie on the new SD card, install KODI and set ti to boot to KODI through default.
Two, is to install NOOBS and install KODI from there.

However, the latter, I'm unsure as to how it would work. Would it boot to NOOBS then I run KODI from there? Or could I set it to boot to KODI rather than through NOOBS a-la RetroPie?

Also, in relation to controlling KODI: is it possible to set it up initially with a wireless pad, and then link the smartphone app to it (so using the control pad as a set up once then never use again thing), or would I need to control it with a pad all the time?

I know I should probably join the KODI forum to ask all this, but once I've got it installed i'm confident I can figure the rest out without having to join another forum!

Thanks in advance!
Dan

Sano

The simplest way is to install a KODI centered distribution/image, OSMC for example.

Sano

Oh and there are a lot of smartphone apps which enable kodi control (Kore is the official one, but there are more).
You just need to enable the feature on kodi, but an usb keyboard does the job.

AlexMurphy

@Danorak1981 First off don't use NOOBS. If you are going to install KODI on a separate card you should use a lightweight JEOS (Just enough operating system) for it. The most popular / supported are OSMC and Librelec.

Maybe go with Librelec as OSMC has a lot of customisations peculiar to itself.

I've not used a wireless controller with KODI, so can't advise but I would always advise people to have a USB keyboard for the PI as it always comes in handy.

The best smartphone app for controlling KODI is the official KORE app, another is YATSE but it is a bit bloated these days. Also bear in mind I stopped using a phone app for KODI as it eats battery life like crazy as it works over the wireless network and is constantly broadcasting a WiFi signal. You should get a mini keyboard like the Rii i8+, I have one for each of my KODI Pis.