content: Kodi is a program that runs on most operating systems. It provides a GUI similar to your DVR or smart TV. It can and will run legitimate services like Amazon, Netflix, etc. via addons.... but that is not it's appeal. There are hundreds of addons for Kodi that provide an inexhaustible supply of content. Some of it is completely legitimate... like the PBS addon. Other addons enter a grey area. There are addon packages that install other addons and change the interface, making the entire program much more complicated but multiply the available content exponentially.  The two most popular are “Pulse” and “The Beast.” These packages are both somewhat Euro-centric but if you are into soccer, cricket or foreign language programs you are in luck. There are live channels that directly stream all the cable and   satellite feeds.  When I first got mine we used the college football playoffs and then the Superbowl as tests to see if it was a valid replacement for cable. We got all the games in standard def and a few in high def. When watching the Superbowl we had a lagging stream and switched to the next source on the list which turned out to be in spanish and was a lot better than listening to the usual talking heads. They get way more excited.  So, why should you care?   Well, the cable/ satellite  companies' reaction to the cord cutting trend has been to increase prices. So odds are, you are paying about $120 a month for 1000 channels of shit.  Part of that payment goes to support really shitty entities like CNN or OWN (Opra Winfrey Network.) You can probably name a few more channels you would rather not support.  They have resisted all efforts to give people what they want at a reasonable price, and don't really have any incentive to clean up their act. They hate their customers, vendors and each other. I worked for one of the big ones which recently changed its name to something that rhymes with “Rectum.”  I watched one guy waste several million dollars to embarrass the guy in the next office over. I watched them fire 75% of management to make it easier to sell the company... you should be asking how they could afford to ditch that much management and the answer is: 75% did nothing but play golf and collect a 6 figure paycheck. To summarize, the industry is made up of a bunch of scum sucking ass-hats that have used every illegitimate means to keep from changing.  In other countries, the system is different but equally fucked.    The movement in using SBC's and open source software to provide a distribution channel is hugely disruptive tech and is growing like mad. With no central party to sue or throw in jail, the industry is responding by attacking net neutrality in the US and by getting the media to write false stories about the technology.  It will not mean the death of most actual content providers like HBO or AMC, but threatens the parasitic ones like home shopping, propaganda and religious channels.  Many people just buy a box or stick from someone who has configured it. If you wanted to do it on your own you can take a single board computer like a raspberry pi ($35.)  Plug in the HDMI cable ($1,) a 2amp usb wall charger and a cheap USB mouse ($1.)   Install Openelec OS (free) on a 8gb Micro SD card ($5.) For this you will need something that can write to a micro SD card. You can get a USB hub with one for  $10 or a USB card reader/ writer for $2. Install the Pulse CCM or Beast addon. There are a ton of howtos and videos on how to do all this. Just remember, when you install the addon, it may ask for an email address, just enter a fake one and it will let you proceed.  I have personally had a much better experience using the non-raspberry SBCs and remix/android OSs.  These have a taskbar and back button for times when Kodi starts acting up.  Another tip I can pass on is the “long click” which is similar to the “right click” in other OSs. Also keep in mind that this is a bleeding edge thing so you can expect   2007  a learning curve on using it as well as a few bugs along the way. tl;dr – This is a disruptive technology that is most damaging to companies that treat their customers poorly.