Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/658018
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 MARCH 2016 8 News Kodi programmers threaten takedown notices against retailers selling media boxes MAT TH E W VELLA THE men and women behind the popular and free, open source software Kodi have had enough with the wave of sellers making a quick euro by flog- ging off the film streaming pro- gramme on Android TV boxes. Retailers in Malta are charging users of the €130 box, and an ex- tra €25 to update the box's pro- grammes – referred to as add- ons – on an annual basis, after the popular streaming add-on Genesis was discontinued. Kodi does not provide the films that viewers are seeing: it is the add-ons like Genesis, or now Exodus, that enable the streaming of movie files sourced from all over the internet. But Kodi is freely available for download on any computer operating system and the Kodi volunteers who run the non- profit XBMC foundation say that retailers are selling their programme and "dragging users into the world of piracy with- out their knowledge and at the same time convincing new users that Kodi is a buggy mess". "There are even more people out there seek- ing to make a quick buck by selling ads on videos about getting free mov- ies and TV while using Kodi in their channel name to make their content seem official, as if those videos are coming from us. "Team Kodi is officially tired of this. We are tired of new us- ers coming into the forum, ask- ing why the box that 'we' sold them was broken. We are tired of this endless campaign by dis- honest salesmen to push a sin- gle use of Kodi that nobody on the team actually recommends," Kodi announced on its blog. "We are tired of these sales- men lying to users, claiming that pirate streams and pirate boxes are 'legal' when they are abso- lutely not at some level or other. We are tired of being told by companies that they don't want to work with us, because we are selling pirate boxes." Now the software programmes say that they will use their trade- mark to issue takedown notices. "If you are selling a box on your website designed to trick users into thinking broken add- ons come from us and work per- fectly, so you can make a buck, we're going to do everything we can to stop you… "It is not OK to sell a fully loaded Kodi box…. We love making Kodi. We love working on a free, open source software that's the best media centre on the planet… But every day our name gets dragged through the mud, we are in danger of losing developers and losing the free- dom to make Kodi great." mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Two ODZ swimming pools approved in Marsaskala MEPA'S Environment Planning Commission has approved the conversion of an old farmhouse into two villas, each of which is to include a swimming pool located outside the development zones (ODZ) along Triq il-Blajjiet in Marsaskala – just one road off the Nwadar nature park and the site of the prospective university campus to be built by Jordanian group Sadeen. The area has for some time been swirling in controversy: the swimming pools will be devel- oped next to the two newly ap- proved villas, which will replace an existing older farmhouse lo- cated across the road from the national swimming pool site. The two villas will be built on the same footprint of the old 435m2 farmhouse, parts of which will be retained because of their historical and vernacular value. Other parts of the farmhouse will be demolished but the exist- ing old wall facing Triq il-Blajjiet and an external staircase will be retained. Justification of the swimming pools is being made on the ba- sis of the rural policy approved in 2014, which allows the rede- velopment of old farmhouses into ODZ dwellings if the owner proves that the building was pre- viously used as a residence. In this case the documented proof was the inclusion of the farmhouse in the 1966 electoral register. Each pool area, including the decking facilities, will cover 75 square metres. The environment protection directorate had objected to the development of the swimming pools. The farmhouse is now subject to a promise of sale agreement to applicant Marco Camilleri. Glossary of terms 'Android Box' Originally, it was Google that developed the smart TV platform 'Android TV' in 2014, which gave access to the Google Play Store for Android apps, as well as media streaming services Netflix and Hulu. Now the term is used for similar smart TV boxes, such as the commonly found M8 box by Amlogic. Kodi was formerly known as XBMC – Xbox Media Centre – and was developed as a media centre for the first Xbox version, but its developers issued the software as a free and open-source programme. It is this programme that is being installed inside the Android boxes, because it allows users to play and view most streaming media, such as videos, music, podcasts, and videos from the internet, as well as all common digital media files from local networks. Add-ons Kodi features several open APIs (application programming interface) to enable third-party developers to create new streaming plugins. One of them is Genesis, and now Exodus, which allows users to search movies and TV programmes and stream them from all over the web in full HD or standard definition. STOCK TAL-GVERN MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks The Treasury will be issuing €50,000,000 allotment option up to a maximum of (i) 1.5% (ii) 2.5% (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be Applications in the form of sealed bids (auction) for a minimum of each open on Wednesday 30 th March discretion of the Accountant General. Bids on the prescribed forms are to be transmitted by fax on 2596 7210 or by e indicated on the application form or deposited in the Treasury Tender Box in Floriana. Application forms may be obtained from all Members of the Malta Stock Ex Investment Service Providers or downloaded from the Treasury's website at MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) Treasury Department, The Mall Build MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS Secure Investment Issue of €50,000,000 in Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks (subject to the over-allotment option up to a maximum of €30,000,000) Rate Malta Government Stocks €50,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks subject to an option up to a maximum of €30,000,000 as follows: % MGS (Fourth Issue) – Fungibility Issue Maturing in 2022, and % MGS (First Issue) – Fungibility Issue Maturing in 2036, or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be €50,000,000 Applications in the form of sealed bids (auction) for a minimum of €500,000 and multiples of €100,000 March, 2016 at 8.30a.m. and close at noon of the same day discretion of the Accountant General. prescribed forms are to be transmitted by fax on 2596 7210 or by e-mail at the e indicated on the application form or deposited in the Treasury Tender Box in Floriana. Application forms may be obtained from all Members of the Malta Stock Exchange and other authorized Investment Service Providers or downloaded from the Treasury's website at www.treasury.gov.mt MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF STOCK CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana, Malta. MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS Rate Malta Government Stocks allotment option up Rate Malta Government Stocks subject to an over- (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which €500,000 and multiples of €100,000 of the same day or earlier at the mail at the e-mail addresses indicated on the application form or deposited in the Treasury Tender Box in Floriana. change and other authorized www.treasury.gov.mt. MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH SALE OF STOCK INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) Floriana, Malta.