Aeon Skin: The Best Way to Transform Your XBMC into a Sleek and Minimalist Media Center
Aeon Skin for XBMC: A Modern and Customizable Interface for Your Media Center
If you are looking for a way to enhance your media experience on your home theater PC (HTPC), you might want to consider using XBMC as your media player software. XBMC is a free and open-source application that can play and organize almost any kind of media file, as well as stream content from online sources. XBMC also supports a variety of skins, which are user interfaces that change the look and feel of the application. One of the most popular and recommended skins for XBMC is Aeon, which offers a modern, sleek, and customizable interface for your media center. In this article, we will show you what Aeon skin is, how to install it on XBMC, how to customize it to your liking, and how to use it to enjoy your media collection.
Aeon – Skin for XBMC
What is XBMC and what are its features and benefits?
XBMC stands for Xbox Media Center, which was originally developed as a homebrew media player for the first-generation Xbox game console. Since then, XBMC has evolved into a cross-platform application that runs on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Raspberry Pi, and more. XBMC can play almost any audio and video format, as well as display pictures, slideshows, weather information, RSS feeds, and more. XBMC also supports plug-ins and add-ons that allow users to access streaming media content from online services such as Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, etc. XBMC also has a built-in PVR (personal video recorder) and DVR (digital video recorder) function that can record live TV broadcasts with an electronic program guide (EPG) .
Some of the features and benefits of using XBMC as your media player software are:
It is free and open-source, which means you can download it without paying anything and modify it according to your needs.
It is cross-platform, which means you can run it on various devices and operating systems.
It supports a wide range of media formats and codecs without requiring additional software or codecs.
It has a user-friendly interface that can be controlled with a remote control or a keyboard/mouse.
It allows you to organize your media library with metadata such as titles, genres, ratings, cover art, etc.
It enables you to stream content from online sources or local/network storage devices.
It offers a variety of skins that can change its appearance and functionality.
What is Aeon and why it is one of the best skins for XBMC?
Aeon is a skin for XBMC that was created by DJH (Duncan Harris), who is also known for his work on enhancing graphics in video games such as Half-Life 2, BioShock, and Mass Effect . Aeon is designed to provide a modern and elegant interface for XBMC, with a focus on high-quality graphics, animations, and customization options. Aeon is one of the most downloaded and praised skins for XBMC, and has been featured in many online publications and reviews . Some of the reasons why Aeon is one of the best skins for XBMC are: - It has a sleek and minimalist design that showcases your media collection with large and clear thumbnails, posters, fanart, etc. - It has a smooth and responsive navigation system that allows you to browse and access your media content with ease and speed. - It has a rich and diverse set of views and layouts that can display your media content in different ways, such as wall, list, panel, showcase, info, etc. - It has a powerful and flexible customization system that lets you change the appearance and functionality of the skin according to your preferences and needs. You can change the main menu and submenu items, the widgets and backgrounds, the colors, themes, and fonts, etc. - It has a lot of extra features and enhancements that make your media experience more enjoyable and convenient. For example, you can use the Cinema Experience add-on to create a movie theater-like atmosphere with trailers, trivia, ratings, etc. You can also use the Artwork Downloader add-on to automatically download and update the artwork for your media library . How to install Aeon skin on XBMC
Installing Aeon skin on XBMC is very easy and straightforward. You just need to follow these steps:
Launch XBMC on your device.
Go to Settings > Add-ons > Install from repository.
Select the Kodi Add-on repository (or any other repository that contains Aeon skin).
Select Look and feel > Skin.
Select Aeon from the list of available skins.
Select Install to download and install Aeon skin on your device.
Wait for the installation to complete. You will see a notification that says "Would you like to switch to this skin?". Select Yes to switch to Aeon skin.
You can also install Aeon skin from a zip file if you have downloaded it from another source. To do this, you need to:
Copy the zip file of Aeon skin to your device or a USB drive.
Launch XBMC on your device.
Go to Settings > Add-ons > Install from zip file.
Browse to the location where you have saved the zip file of Aeon skin.
Select the zip file of Aeon skin to install it on your device.
Wait for the installation to complete. You will see a notification that says "Would you like to switch to this skin?". Select Yes to switch to Aeon skin.
If you want to switch back to your previous skin or another skin, you can do so by going to Settings > Appearance > Skin and selecting the skin you want.
How to customize Aeon skin on XBMC
One of the best things about Aeon skin is that it allows you to customize it in many ways. You can change the look and feel of the skin as well as its functionality. Here are some of the things you can do to customize Aeon skin on XBMC:
How to change the main menu and submenu items
The main menu of Aeon skin is located at the bottom of the screen. It contains several items that correspond to different media types or functions, such as Movies, TV Shows, Music, Pictures, Add-ons, etc. You can change the order, visibility, name, icon, and action of these items according to your preferences. To do this, you need to:
Go to Settings > Skin settings > Main menu items.
Select the item you want to customize from the list on the left side of the screen.
Use the buttons on the right side of the screen to change its properties. For example, you can use the Move up or Move down buttons to change its position in the main menu. You can also use the Enable or Disable buttons to show or hide it from the main menu. You can also use the Change label button to rename it or the Change icon button to change its icon.
If you want to change its action when you select it from the main menu, you can use the Change action button. This will open a window where you can choose what you want it to do when you select it. For example, you can make it open a specific folder, a playlist, a script, a window, etc. You can also use the Browse button to navigate to the location of the action you want.
Repeat these steps for any other item you want to customize in the main menu.
The submenu of Aeon skin is located at the top of the screen. It contains several items that correspond to different filters or options for the selected main menu item. For example, if you select Movies from the main menu, the submenu will show items such as Genres, Years, Actors, Directors, etc. You can change the order, visibility, name, and action of these items as well. To do this, you need to:
Go to Settings > Skin settings > Submenu items.
Select the main menu item that you want to customize its submenu from the list on the left side of the screen.
Select the submenu item you want to customize from the list on the right side of the screen.
Use the buttons below the list to change its properties. For example, you can use the Move up or Move down buttons to change its position in the submenu. You can also use the Enable or Disable buttons to show or hide it from the submenu. You can also use the Change label button to rename it.
If you want to change its action when you select it from the submenu, you can use the Change action button. This will open a window where you can choose what you want it to do when you select it. For example, you can make it filter your media library by a specific genre, year, actor, director, etc. You can also use the Browse button to navigate to the location of the action you want.
Repeat these steps for any other submenu item you want to customize for the selected main menu item.
How to change the widgets and backgrounds
The widgets of Aeon skin are small icons or images that appear on the home screen and show some information or options related to the selected main menu item. For example, if you select Movies from the main menu, the widgets will show items such as Recently added movies, Random movies, Movie sets, etc. You can change the order, visibility, name, and action of these widgets as well. To do this, you need to:
Go to Settings > Skin settings > Widgets.
Select the main menu item that you want to customize its widgets from the list on the left side of the screen.
Select the widget you want to customize from the list on the right side of the screen.
Use the buttons below the list to change its properties. For example, you can use the Move up or Move down buttons to change its position in the widget list. You can also use the Enable or Disable buttons to show or hide it from the home screen. You can also use the Change label button to rename it.
If you want to change its action when you select it from the home screen, you can use the Change action button. This will open a window where you can choose what you want it to do when you select it. For example, you can make it open a specific folder, a playlist, a script, a window, etc. You can also use the Browse button to navigate to the location of the action you want.
Repeat these steps for any other widget you want to customize for the selected main menu item.
The backgrounds of Aeon skin are images or videos that appear on the home screen and change according to the selected main menu item. For example, if you select Movies from the main menu, the background will show a movie-related image or video. You can change the source, visibility, and behavior of these backgrounds as well. To do this, you need to:
Go to Settings > Skin settings > Backgrounds.
Select the main menu item that you want to customize its background from the list on the left side of the screen.
Use the buttons on the right side of the screen to change its properties. For example, you can use the Enable or Disable buttons to show or hide the background from the home screen. You can also use the Change source button to choose where the background image or video will come from. You can choose from several options, such as Fanart, Single image, Multi-image, Video, etc. You can also use the Browse button to navigate to the location of the source you want.
If you choose Fanart as your source, you can use the Fanart settings button to adjust some settings related to fanart, such as how often it changes, how long it stays, how it fades, etc.
If you choose Video as your source, you can use the Video settings button to adjust some settings related to video, such as how often it changes, how long it stays, how it fades, etc.
Repeat these steps for any other background you want to customize for the selected main menu item.
How to change the colors, themes, and fonts
Aeon skin also allows you to change the colors, themes, and fonts of the skin to suit your taste and mood. You can change these aspects globally or individually for each main menu item. To do this, you need to:
Go to Settings > Skin settings > Colors / Themes / Fonts.
Select Global if you want to change these aspects for all main menu items, or select a specific main menu item if you want to change these aspects only for that item.
Use the buttons on the right side of the screen to change these aspects. For example, you can use the Color scheme button to choose from a list of predefined color schemes for the skin. You can also use the Custom color button to choose your own color for the skin. You can also use the Theme button to choose from a list of predefined themes for the skin. You can also use the Font button to choose from a list of available fonts for the skin.
Repeat these steps for any other main menu item you want to change these aspects for.
How to use Aeon skin on XBMC
Now that you have installed and customized Aeon skin on XBMC, you are ready to use it to enjoy your media collection. Here are some of the things you can do to use Aeon skin on XBMC:
How to browse and play different media types (videos, music, pictures, etc.)
To browse and play different media types on Aeon skin, you need to:
Select the main menu item that corresponds to the media type you want to browse and play, such as Movies, TV Shows, Music, Pictures, etc.
Select the submenu item that corresponds to the filter or option you want to apply, such as Genres, Years, Actors, Directors, etc.
Select the widget item that corresponds to the information or option you want to see, such as Recently added movies, Random movies, Movie sets, etc.
Select the view or layout that corresponds to the way you want to display your media content, such as wall, list, panel, showcase, info, etc.
Select the media item that you want to play from the list of available items.
Use the playback controls on the bottom of the screen to play, pause, stop, skip, rewind, fast forward, etc.
Use the OSD (on-screen display) controls on the top of the screen to access more options and settings related to playback, such as subtitles, audio tracks, video settings, etc.
How to access online streaming services and add-ons
To access online streaming services and add-ons on Aeon skin, you need to:
Select Add-ons from the main menu.
Select Video add-ons or Music add-ons or Picture add-ons or Program add-ons depending on the type of add-on you want to access.
Select the add-on you want to access from the list of available add-ons. If you have not installed any add-ons yet, you can use the Get more button to browse and install add-ons from various repositories.
Select the option or category you want to access from the add-on menu. For example, if you select Netflix as your add-on, you can select Movies or TV Shows or My List or Search from its menu.
Select the item you want to play or view from the list of available items.
Use the playback controls and OSD controls as described above to play or view your content.
How to use the PVR and DVR functions
To use the PVR and DVR functions on Aeon skin, you need to:
Select Live TV from the main menu.
Select Channels or Guide or Recordings or Timers from the submenu.
Select the channel or program or recording or timer you want to watch or record from the list of available items.
Use the playback controls and OSD controls as described above to watch or record your content.
If you want to schedule a recording or a timer, you can use the Record button or the Timer button on the OSD controls. This will open a window where you can set the start time, end time, repeat mode, etc. for your recording or timer.
Conclusion
Aeon skin is one of the best skins for XBMC that can transform your media center into a modern and elegant interface. It offers a lot of features and customization options that can enhance your media experience and suit your preferences and needs. It is easy to install and use, and it supports a wide range of media formats and sources. If you are looking for a skin that can make your XBMC look and feel amazing, you should definitely give Aeon skin a try.
We hope this article has helped you learn more about Aeon skin and how to install, customize, and use it on XBMC. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you and help you out. Thank you for reading and happy media watching!
FAQs
What are the system requirements for Aeon skin?
Aeon skin is compatible with XBMC versions 12 (Frodo) and above. It also requires a device that has a decent graphics card and processor, as well as enough RAM and storage space. Aeon skin is a high-quality skin that uses a lot of graphics and animations, so it may not run smoothly on low-end devices or devices with limited resources.
How can I update Aeon skin to the latest version?
To update Aeon skin to the latest version, you can use the same method that you used to install it. If you installed it from a repository, you can go to Settings > Add-ons > Install from repository > Kodi Add-on repository (or any other repository that contains Aeon skin) > Look and feel > Skin > Aeon > Update. If you installed it from a zip file, you can go to Settings > Add-ons > Install from zip file > Browse to the location where you have saved the zip file of the latest version of Aeon skin > Select the zip file of Aeon skin to update it.
How can I backup and restore my Aeon skin settings?
To backup and restore your Aeon skin settings, you can use the Backup/Restore function in the Skin settings menu. To do this, you need to:
Go to Settings > Skin settings > Backup/Restore.
Select Backup if you want to backup your settings, or select Restore if you want to restore your settings.
Select the location where you want to save or load your backup file.
Select OK to confirm your action.
You can also use an external tool such as XBMC Backup or XBMC Backup Tool to backup and restore your entire XBMC configuration, including your Aeon skin settings.
How can I troubleshoot common issues with Aeon skin?
If you encounter any issues with Aeon skin, such as missing artwork, slow performance, crashes, etc., you can try some of these solutions:
Make sure you have updated XBMC and Aeon skin to the latest versions.
Make sure you have enough resources (RAM, CPU, GPU, storage space) on your device to run Aeon skin smoothly.
Make sure you have configured your media library correctly with proper metadata and artwork.
Make sure you have installed and updated the necessary add-ons and dependencies for Aeon skin, such as Artwork Downloader , Cinema Experience , etc.
Clear your cache and thumbnails folders regularly to free up some space and improve performance.
Reset your Aeon skin settings to default if you have messed up something in the customization process.
Reinstall Aeon skin if nothing else works.
Where can I find more information and support for Aeon skin?
If you want to find more information and support for Aeon skin, you can visit some of these sources:
The official website of Aeon skin , where you can find news, updates, downloads, screenshots, videos, etc.
The official forum of Aeon skin , where you can find discussions, questions, answers, suggestions, feedback, etc.
The official wiki of XBMC , where you can find guides, tutori