14 DAY TRIAL // Embedded operating system OpenELEC is an OS built specifically to run the Kodi (XBMC) media player hub. A new maintenance update has been released and is now available for download.
The previous release of OpenELEC was just a few days ago, but it looks like the developers have made some changes that warranted a new version. In fact, the number of changes is quite small and it's unclear why they made this iteration available so quickly, but any update for this distro is good as long as it doesn't break the add-ons.
As you all well know, this distribution is using the latest Kodi software stack. This is the new name of the XBMC. It wasn't replaced by something else, it was just rebranded.
OpenELEC 5.0.5 doesn't break anything
One of the main concerns for each OpenELEC update (the same is true to Kodi/XBMC) is the fact that it will somehow mess with installed add-on. This is genuine concern and the developers are always on the lookout for this kind of problem.
"Changes include a version bump from v3.16 to v3.17 Linux kernel, and a switch from OpenSSL to LibreSSL following the heartbleed disclosure. The LibreSSL package includes better licensing and allows OpenELEC to be simplified by removing support for other cryptographic libraries such as GnuTLS," reads the official announcement.
Some of the small changes in this particular update include an update for Linux kernel 3.18.8 for Raspberry Pi 2, support has been added for ct2 (Olli Salonen), and AVM Fritz 2 Stick support has been implemented.
More details about the changes and improvements can be found in the official announcement. You can download OpenELEC 5.0.5 right now from Softpedia, but you also have to keep in mind that this is not a regular image. Still, you can run it from a USB key by using the regular tools.
