In January 2026, James Hutchinson focused on enhancing video playback compatibility in the xbmc/xbmc repository by addressing a critical issue affecting 4K content on Android devices. He implemented a C++ solution that relaxed the height match tolerance in display mode resolution matching, accommodating hardware decoder surface alignment and resolving padding-related rejections of valid display modes. This adjustment targeted MediaCodec HEVC and VP9 pipelines, improving playback reliability across diverse hardware. James documented the rationale and technical details within the codebase, supporting future maintenance. His work demonstrated depth in C++ development, hardware integration, and video processing, resulting in more robust cross-device compatibility.