diff --git a/resources/lib/artwork.py b/resources/lib/artwork.py
index c6256a63..07286f7f 100644
--- a/resources/lib/artwork.py
+++ b/resources/lib/artwork.py
@@ -3,15 +3,13 @@
 ###############################################################################
 from logging import getLogger
 from Queue import Queue, Empty
-from shutil import rmtree
 from urllib import quote_plus, unquote
 from threading import Thread
-from os import makedirs
 import requests
 
 import xbmc
-from xbmcvfs import exists
 
+from . import path_ops
 from . import utils
 from . import state
 
@@ -202,10 +200,9 @@ class Artwork():
         if utils.dialog('yesno', "Image Texture Cache", utils.lang(39251)):
             LOG.info("Resetting all cache data first")
             # Remove all existing textures first
-            path = utils.try_decode(
-                xbmc.translatePath("special://thumbnails/"))
-            if utils.exists_dir(path):
-                rmtree(path, ignore_errors=True)
+            path = path_ops.translate_path('special://thumbnails/')
+            if path_ops.exists(path):
+                path_ops.rmtree(path, ignore_errors=True)
                 self.restore_cache_directories()
 
             # remove all existing data from texture DB
@@ -321,10 +318,11 @@ class Artwork():
             pass
         else:
             # Delete thumbnail as well as the entry
-            path = xbmc.translatePath("special://thumbnails/%s" % cachedurl)
+            path = path_ops.translate_path("special://thumbnails/%s"
+                                           % cachedurl)
             LOG.debug("Deleting cached thumbnail: %s", path)
-            if exists(path):
-                rmtree(utils.try_decode(path), ignore_errors=True)
+            if path_ops.exists(path):
+                path_ops.rmtree(path, ignore_errors=True)
             cursor.execute("DELETE FROM texture WHERE url = ?", (url,))
             connection.commit()
         finally:
@@ -337,8 +335,8 @@ class Artwork():
                  "a", "b", "c", "d", "e", "f",
                  "Video", "plex")
         for path in paths:
-            makedirs(utils.try_decode(
-                xbmc.translatePath("special://thumbnails/%s" % path)))
+            new_path = path_ops.translate_path("special://thumbnails/%s" % path)
+            path_ops.makedirs(utils.encode_path(new_path))
 
 
 class ArtworkSyncMessage(object):
diff --git a/resources/lib/context.py b/resources/lib/context.py
index 3f629689..914e9a5d 100644
--- a/resources/lib/context.py
+++ b/resources/lib/context.py
@@ -1,16 +1,15 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 ###############################################################################
 from logging import getLogger
-from os.path import join
 import xbmcgui
-from xbmcaddon import Addon
 
 from . import utils
+from . import path_ops
+from . import variables as v
 
 ###############################################################################
 
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.context')
-ADDON = Addon('plugin.video.plexkodiconnect')
 
 ACTION_PARENT_DIR = 9
 ACTION_PREVIOUS_MENU = 10
@@ -65,10 +64,11 @@ class ContextMenu(xbmcgui.WindowXMLDialog):
                 self.close()
 
     def _add_editcontrol(self, x, y, height, width, password=None):
-        media = join(ADDON.getAddonInfo('path'),
-                     'resources', 'skins', 'default', 'media')
+        media = path_ops.path.join(
+            v.ADDON_PATH, 'resources', 'skins', 'default', 'media')
+        filename = utils.try_encode(path_ops.path.join(media, 'white.png'))
         control = xbmcgui.ControlImage(0, 0, 0, 0,
-                                       filename=join(media, "white.png"),
+                                       filename=filename,
                                        aspectRatio=0,
                                        colorDiffuse="ff111111")
         control.setPosition(x, y)
diff --git a/resources/lib/context_entry.py b/resources/lib/context_entry.py
index 65d80d80..373e52cf 100644
--- a/resources/lib/context_entry.py
+++ b/resources/lib/context_entry.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 ###############################################################################
 from logging import getLogger
-from xbmcaddon import Addon
 import xbmc
 import xbmcgui
 
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ class ContextMenu(object):
         options.append(OPTIONS['Addon'])
         context_menu = context.ContextMenu(
             "script-plex-context.xml",
-            Addon('plugin.video.plexkodiconnect').getAddonInfo('path'),
+            utils.try_encode(v.ADDON_PATH),
             "default",
             "1080i")
         context_menu.set_options(options)
diff --git a/resources/lib/entrypoint.py b/resources/lib/entrypoint.py
index 1c78436a..0d433727 100644
--- a/resources/lib/entrypoint.py
+++ b/resources/lib/entrypoint.py
@@ -5,16 +5,14 @@
 #
 ###############################################################################
 from logging import getLogger
-from shutil import copyfile
-from os import walk, makedirs
-from os.path import basename, join
 from sys import argv
 from urllib import urlencode
 import xbmcplugin
-from xbmc import sleep, executebuiltin, translatePath
+from xbmc import sleep, executebuiltin
 from xbmcgui import ListItem
 
 from . import utils
+from . import path_ops
 from .downloadutils import DownloadUtils as DU
 from .plex_api import API
 from . import plex_functions as PF
@@ -441,7 +439,7 @@ def get_video_files(plex_id, params):
 
     item = PF.GetPlexMetadata(plex_id)
     try:
-        path = item[0][0][0].attrib['file']
+        path = utils.try_decode(item[0][0][0].attrib['file'])
     except (TypeError, IndexError, AttributeError, KeyError):
         LOG.error('Could not get file path for item %s', plex_id)
         return xbmcplugin.endOfDirectory(HANDLE)
@@ -453,18 +451,19 @@ def get_video_files(plex_id, params):
     elif '\\' in path:
         path = path.replace('\\', '\\\\')
     # Directory only, get rid of filename
-    path = path.replace(basename(path), '')
-    if utils.exists_dir(path):
-        for root, dirs, files in walk(path):
+    path = path.replace(path_ops.path.basename(path), '')
+    if path_ops.exists(path):
+        for root, dirs, files in path_ops.walk(path):
             for directory in dirs:
-                item_path = utils.try_encode(join(root, directory))
+                item_path = utils.try_encode(path_ops.path.join(root,
+                                                                directory))
                 listitem = ListItem(item_path, path=item_path)
                 xbmcplugin.addDirectoryItem(handle=HANDLE,
                                             url=item_path,
                                             listitem=listitem,
                                             isFolder=True)
             for file in files:
-                item_path = utils.try_encode(join(root, file))
+                item_path = utils.try_encode(path_ops.path.join(root, file))
                 listitem = ListItem(item_path, path=item_path)
                 xbmcplugin.addDirectoryItem(handle=HANDLE,
                                             url=file,
@@ -492,11 +491,11 @@ def extra_fanart(plex_id, plex_path):
 
     # We need to store the images locally for this to work
     # because of the caching system in xbmc
-    fanart_dir = utils.try_decode(translatePath(
-        "special://thumbnails/plex/%s/" % plex_id))
-    if not utils.exists_dir(fanart_dir):
+    fanart_dir = path_ops.translate_path("special://thumbnails/plex/%s/"
+                                         % plex_id)
+    if not path_ops.exists(fanart_dir):
         # Download the images to the cache directory
-        makedirs(fanart_dir)
+        path_ops.makedirs(fanart_dir)
         xml = PF.GetPlexMetadata(plex_id)
         if xml is None:
             LOG.error('Could not download metadata for %s', plex_id)
@@ -506,20 +505,23 @@ def extra_fanart(plex_id, plex_path):
         backdrops = api.artwork()['Backdrop']
         for count, backdrop in enumerate(backdrops):
             # Same ordering as in artwork
-            art_file = utils.try_encode(join(fanart_dir,
-                                             "fanart%.3d.jpg" % count))
+            art_file = utils.try_encode(path_ops.path.join(
+                fanart_dir, "fanart%.3d.jpg" % count))
             listitem = ListItem("%.3d" % count, path=art_file)
             xbmcplugin.addDirectoryItem(
                 handle=HANDLE,
                 url=art_file,
                 listitem=listitem)
-            copyfile(backdrop, utils.try_decode(art_file))
+            path_ops.copyfile(backdrop, utils.try_decode(art_file))
     else:
         LOG.info("Found cached backdrop.")
         # Use existing cached images
-        for root, _, files in walk(fanart_dir):
+        fanart_dir = utils.try_decode(fanart_dir)
+        for root, _, files in path_ops.walk(fanart_dir):
+            root = utils.decode_path(root)
             for file in files:
-                art_file = utils.try_encode(join(root, file))
+                file = utils.decode_path(file)
+                art_file = utils.try_encode(path_ops.path.join(root, file))
                 listitem = ListItem(file, path=art_file)
                 xbmcplugin.addDirectoryItem(handle=HANDLE,
                                             url=art_file,
diff --git a/resources/lib/initialsetup.py b/resources/lib/initialsetup.py
index 04c4cb4a..4f027ce7 100644
--- a/resources/lib/initialsetup.py
+++ b/resources/lib/initialsetup.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import xml.etree.ElementTree as etree
 from xbmc import executebuiltin, translatePath
 
 from . import utils
+from . import path_ops
 from . import migration
 from .downloadutils import DownloadUtils as DU
 from . import videonodes
@@ -25,6 +26,9 @@ LOG = getLogger('PLEX.initialsetup')
 
 ###############################################################################
 
+if not path_ops.exists(v.EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH):
+    path_ops.makedirs(v.EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH)
+
 
 WINDOW_PROPERTIES = (
     "plex_online", "plex_serverStatus", "plex_shouldStop", "plex_dbScan",
diff --git a/resources/lib/librarysync.py b/resources/lib/librarysync.py
index 931999ed..9a9e6373 100644
--- a/resources/lib/librarysync.py
+++ b/resources/lib/librarysync.py
@@ -1025,23 +1025,11 @@ class LibrarySync(Thread):
         do with "process_" methods
         """
         if message['type'] == 'playing':
-            try:
-                self.process_playing(message['PlaySessionStateNotification'])
-            except KeyError:
-                LOG.error('Received invalid PMS message for playstate: %s',
-                          message)
+            self.process_playing(message['PlaySessionStateNotification'])
         elif message['type'] == 'timeline':
-            try:
-                self.process_timeline(message['TimelineEntry'])
-            except (KeyError, ValueError):
-                LOG.error('Received invalid PMS message for timeline: %s',
-                          message)
+            self.process_timeline(message['TimelineEntry'])
         elif message['type'] == 'activity':
-            try:
-                self.process_activity(message['ActivityNotification'])
-            except KeyError:
-                LOG.error('Received invalid PMS message for activity: %s',
-                          message)
+            self.process_activity(message['ActivityNotification'])
 
     def multi_delete(self, liste, delete_list):
         """
@@ -1196,7 +1184,7 @@ class LibrarySync(Thread):
                     continue
                 playlists.process_websocket(plex_id=str(item['itemID']),
                                             updated_at=str(item['updatedAt']),
-                                            state=status)
+                                            status=status)
             elif status == 9:
                 # Immediately and always process deletions (as the PMS will
                 # send additional message with other codes)
diff --git a/resources/lib/music.py b/resources/lib/music.py
index 518f4747..8731237c 100644
--- a/resources/lib/music.py
+++ b/resources/lib/music.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from logging import getLogger
-from re import compile as re_compile
 from xml.etree.ElementTree import ParseError
 
 from . import utils
@@ -9,8 +8,6 @@ from . import variables as v
 
 ###############################################################################
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.music')
-
-REGEX_MUSICPATH = re_compile(r'''^\^(.+)\$$''')
 ###############################################################################
 
 
diff --git a/resources/lib/path_ops.py b/resources/lib/path_ops.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a08f32e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/lib/path_ops.py
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# File and Path operations
+#
+# Kodi xbmc*.*() functions usually take utf-8 encoded commands, thus try_encode
+# works.
+# Unfortunatly, working with filenames and paths seems to require an encoding in
+# the OS' getfilesystemencoding - it will NOT always work with unicode paths.
+# However, sys.getfilesystemencoding might return None.
+# Feed unicode to all the functions below and you're fine.
+import shutil
+import os
+from os import path  # allows to use path_ops.path.join, for example
+from distutils import dir_util
+import xbmc
+import xbmcvfs
+
+from .watchdog.utils import unicode_paths
+
+# Kodi seems to encode in utf-8 in ALL cases (unlike e.g. the OS filesystem)
+KODI_ENCODING = 'utf-8'
+
+
+def encode_path(path):
+    """
+    Filenames and paths are not necessarily utf-8 encoded. Use this function
+    instead of try_encode/trydecode if working with filenames and paths!
+    (os.walk only feeds on encoded paths. sys.getfilesystemencoding returns None
+    for Raspberry Pi)
+    """
+    return unicode_paths.encode(path)
+
+
+def decode_path(path):
+    """
+    Filenames and paths are not necessarily utf-8 encoded. Use this function
+    instead of try_encode/trydecode if working with filenames and paths!
+    (os.walk only feeds on encoded paths. sys.getfilesystemencoding returns None
+    for Raspberry Pi)
+    """
+    return unicode_paths.decode(path)
+
+
+def translate_path(path):
+    """
+    Returns the XBMC translated path [unicode]
+    e.g. Converts 'special://masterprofile/script_data'
+    -> '/home/user/XBMC/UserData/script_data' on Linux.
+    """
+    translated = xbmc.translatePath(path.encode(KODI_ENCODING, 'strict'))
+    return translated.decode(KODI_ENCODING, 'strict')
+
+
+def exists(path):
+    """Returns True if the path [unicode] exists"""
+    return xbmcvfs.exists(path.encode(KODI_ENCODING, 'strict'))
+
+
+def rmtree(path, *args, **kwargs):
+    """Recursively delete a directory tree.
+
+    If ignore_errors is set, errors are ignored; otherwise, if onerror
+    is set, it is called to handle the error with arguments (func,
+    path, exc_info) where func is os.listdir, os.remove, or os.rmdir;
+    path is the argument to that function that caused it to fail; and
+    exc_info is a tuple returned by sys.exc_info().  If ignore_errors
+    is false and onerror is None, an exception is raised.
+
+    """
+    return shutil.rmtree(encode_path(path), *args, **kwargs)
+
+
+def copyfile(src, dst):
+    """Copy data from src to dst"""
+    return shutil.copyfile(encode_path(src), encode_path(dst))
+
+
+def makedirs(path, *args, **kwargs):
+    """makedirs(path [, mode=0777])
+
+    Super-mkdir; create a leaf directory and all intermediate ones. Works like
+    mkdir, except that any intermediate path segment (not just the rightmost)
+    will be created if it does not exist.  This is recursive.
+    """
+    return os.makedirs(encode_path(path), *args, **kwargs)
+
+
+def remove(path):
+    """
+    Remove (delete) the file path. If path is a directory, OSError is raised;
+    see rmdir() below to remove a directory. This is identical to the unlink()
+    function documented below. On Windows, attempting to remove a file that is
+    in use causes an exception to be raised; on Unix, the directory entry is
+    removed but the storage allocated to the file is not made available until
+    the original file is no longer in use.
+    """
+    return os.remove(encode_path(path))
+
+
+def walk(top, topdown=True, onerror=None, followlinks=False):
+    """
+    Directory tree generator.
+
+    For each directory in the directory tree rooted at top (including top
+    itself, but excluding '.' and '..'), yields a 3-tuple
+
+        dirpath, dirnames, filenames
+
+    dirpath is a string, the path to the directory.  dirnames is a list of
+    the names of the subdirectories in dirpath (excluding '.' and '..').
+    filenames is a list of the names of the non-directory files in dirpath.
+    Note that the names in the lists are just names, with no path components.
+    To get a full path (which begins with top) to a file or directory in
+    dirpath, do os.path.join(dirpath, name).
+
+    If optional arg 'topdown' is true or not specified, the triple for a
+    directory is generated before the triples for any of its subdirectories
+    (directories are generated top down).  If topdown is false, the triple
+    for a directory is generated after the triples for all of its
+    subdirectories (directories are generated bottom up).
+
+    When topdown is true, the caller can modify the dirnames list in-place
+    (e.g., via del or slice assignment), and walk will only recurse into the
+    subdirectories whose names remain in dirnames; this can be used to prune the
+    search, or to impose a specific order of visiting.  Modifying dirnames when
+    topdown is false is ineffective, since the directories in dirnames have
+    already been generated by the time dirnames itself is generated. No matter
+    the value of topdown, the list of subdirectories is retrieved before the
+    tuples for the directory and its subdirectories are generated.
+
+    By default errors from the os.listdir() call are ignored.  If
+    optional arg 'onerror' is specified, it should be a function; it
+    will be called with one argument, an os.error instance.  It can
+    report the error to continue with the walk, or raise the exception
+    to abort the walk.  Note that the filename is available as the
+    filename attribute of the exception object.
+
+    By default, os.walk does not follow symbolic links to subdirectories on
+    systems that support them.  In order to get this functionality, set the
+    optional argument 'followlinks' to true.
+
+    Caution:  if you pass a relative pathname for top, don't change the
+    current working directory between resumptions of walk.  walk never
+    changes the current directory, and assumes that the client doesn't
+    either.
+
+    Example:
+
+    import os
+    from os.path import join, getsize
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk('python/Lib/email'):
+        print root, "consumes",
+        print sum([getsize(join(root, name)) for name in files]),
+        print "bytes in", len(files), "non-directory files"
+        if 'CVS' in dirs:
+            dirs.remove('CVS')  # don't visit CVS directories
+
+    """
+    # Get all the results from os.walk and store them in a list
+    walker = list(os.walk(encode_path(top),
+                          topdown,
+                          onerror,
+                          followlinks))
+    for top, dirs, nondirs in walker:
+        yield (decode_path(top),
+               [decode_path(x) for x in dirs],
+               [decode_path(x) for x in nondirs])
+
+
+def copy_tree(src, dst, *args, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Copy an entire directory tree 'src' to a new location 'dst'.
+
+    Both 'src' and 'dst' must be directory names.  If 'src' is not a
+    directory, raise DistutilsFileError.  If 'dst' does not exist, it is
+    created with 'mkpath()'.  The end result of the copy is that every
+    file in 'src' is copied to 'dst', and directories under 'src' are
+    recursively copied to 'dst'.  Return the list of files that were
+    copied or might have been copied, using their output name.  The
+    return value is unaffected by 'update' or 'dry_run': it is simply
+    the list of all files under 'src', with the names changed to be
+    under 'dst'.
+
+    'preserve_mode' and 'preserve_times' are the same as for
+    'copy_file'; note that they only apply to regular files, not to
+    directories.  If 'preserve_symlinks' is true, symlinks will be
+    copied as symlinks (on platforms that support them!); otherwise
+    (the default), the destination of the symlink will be copied.
+    'update' and 'verbose' are the same as for 'copy_file'.
+    """
+    src = encode_path(src)
+    dst = encode_path(dst)
+    return dir_util.copy_tree(src, dst, *args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/resources/lib/playback.py b/resources/lib/playback.py
index 7b41ad4c..0f3f3b63 100644
--- a/resources/lib/playback.py
+++ b/resources/lib/playback.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ Used to kick off Kodi playback
 """
 from logging import getLogger
 from threading import Thread
-from os.path import join
 from xbmc import Player, sleep
 
 from .plex_api import API
@@ -25,8 +24,6 @@ from . import state
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.playback')
 # Do we need to return ultimately with a setResolvedUrl?
 RESOLVE = True
-# We're "failing" playback with a video of 0 length
-NULL_VIDEO = join(v.ADDON_FOLDER, 'addons', v.ADDON_ID, 'empty_video.mp4')
 ###############################################################################
 
 
@@ -273,7 +270,7 @@ def _ensure_resolve(abort=False):
         state.PKC_CAUSED_STOP_DONE = False
         if not abort:
             result = pickler.Playback_Successful()
-            result.listitem = PKCListItem(path=NULL_VIDEO)
+            result.listitem = PKCListItem(path=v.NULL_VIDEO)
             pickler.pickle_me(result)
         else:
             # Shows PKC error message
diff --git a/resources/lib/playlist_func.py b/resources/lib/playlist_func.py
index 83ee8653..c688f857 100644
--- a/resources/lib/playlist_func.py
+++ b/resources/lib/playlist_func.py
@@ -3,10 +3,8 @@
 Collection of functions associated with Kodi and Plex playlists and playqueues
 """
 from logging import getLogger
-import os
 import urllib
 from urlparse import parse_qsl, urlsplit
-from re import compile as re_compile
 
 from .plex_api import API
 from . import plex_functions as PF
@@ -14,6 +12,7 @@ from . import plexdb_functions as plexdb
 from . import kodidb_functions as kodidb
 from .downloadutils import DownloadUtils as DU
 from . import utils
+from . import path_ops
 from . import json_rpc as js
 from . import variables as v
 
@@ -21,7 +20,6 @@ from . import variables as v
 
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.playlist_func')
 
-REGEX = re_compile(r'''metadata%2F(\d+)''')
 ###############################################################################
 
 
@@ -42,9 +40,9 @@ class PlaylistObjectBaseclase(object):
 
     def __repr__(self):
         """
-        Print the playlist, e.g. to log. Returns utf-8 encoded string
+        Print the playlist, e.g. to log. Returns unicode
         """
-        answ = u'{\'%s\': {\'id\': %s, ' % (self.__class__.__name__, self.id)
+        answ = '{\'%s\': {\'id\': %s, ' % (self.__class__.__name__, self.id)
         # For some reason, can't use dir directly
         for key in self.__dict__:
             if key in ('id', 'kodi_pl'):
@@ -58,7 +56,7 @@ class PlaylistObjectBaseclase(object):
             else:
                 # e.g. int
                 answ += '\'%s\': %s, ' % (key, unicode(getattr(self, key)))
-        return utils.try_encode(answ + '}}')
+        return answ + '}}'
 
 
 class Playlist_Object(PlaylistObjectBaseclase):
@@ -82,7 +80,9 @@ class Playlist_Object(PlaylistObjectBaseclase):
 
     @kodi_path.setter
     def kodi_path(self, path):
-        file = os.path.basename(path)
+        if not isinstance(path, unicode):
+            raise RuntimeError('Path is %s, not unicode!' % type(path))
+        file = path_ops.path.basename(path)
         try:
             self.kodi_filename, self.kodi_extension = file.split('.', 1)
         except ValueError:
@@ -220,9 +220,9 @@ class Playlist_Item(object):
 
     def __repr__(self):
         """
-        Print the playlist item, e.g. to log. Returns utf-8 encoded string
+        Print the playlist item, e.g. to log. Returns unicode
         """
-        answ = (u'{\'%s\': {\'id\': \'%s\', \'plex_id\': \'%s\', '
+        answ = ('{\'%s\': {\'id\': \'%s\', \'plex_id\': \'%s\', '
                 % (self.__class__.__name__, self.id, self.plex_id))
         for key in self.__dict__:
             if key in ('id', 'plex_id', 'xml'):
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ class Playlist_Item(object):
             answ += '\'xml\': None}}'
         else:
             answ += '\'xml\': \'%s\'}}' % self.xml.tag
-        return utils.try_encode(answ)
+        return answ
 
     def plex_stream_index(self, kodi_stream_index, stream_type):
         """
@@ -865,7 +865,8 @@ def get_plextype_from_xml(xml):
     returns None if unsuccessful
     """
     try:
-        plex_id = REGEX.findall(xml.attrib['playQueueSourceURI'])[0]
+        plex_id = utils.REGEX_PLEX_ID_FROM_URL.findall(
+            xml.attrib['playQueueSourceURI'])[0]
     except IndexError:
         LOG.error('Could not get plex_id from xml: %s', xml.attrib)
         return
diff --git a/resources/lib/playlists.py b/resources/lib/playlists.py
index 23b013ee..bfaeb163 100644
--- a/resources/lib/playlists.py
+++ b/resources/lib/playlists.py
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from logging import getLogger
-import os
-import sys
-from xbmcvfs import exists
 
 from .watchdog.events import FileSystemEventHandler
 from .watchdog.observers import Observer
@@ -11,6 +8,7 @@ from .plex_api import API
 from . import kodidb_functions as kodidb
 from . import plexdb_functions as plexdb
 from . import utils
+from . import path_ops
 from . import variables as v
 from . import state
 
@@ -32,12 +30,6 @@ EVENT_TYPE_DELETED = 'deleted'
 EVENT_TYPE_CREATED = 'created'
 EVENT_TYPE_MODIFIED = 'modified'
 
-# m3u files do not have encoding specified
-if v.PLATFORM == 'Windows':
-    ENCODING = 'mbcs'
-else:
-    ENCODING = sys.getdefaultencoding()
-
 
 def create_plex_playlist(playlist):
     """
@@ -99,20 +91,21 @@ def create_kodi_playlist(plex_id=None, updated_at=None):
     playlist.plex_updatedat = updated_at
     LOG.debug('Creating new Kodi playlist from Plex playlist: %s', playlist)
     name = utils.valid_filename(playlist.plex_name)
-    path = os.path.join(v.PLAYLIST_PATH, playlist.type, '%s.m3u' % name)
-    while exists(path) or playlist_object_from_db(path=path):
+    path = path_ops.path.join(v.PLAYLIST_PATH, playlist.type, '%s.m3u' % name)
+    while path_ops.exists(path) or playlist_object_from_db(path=path):
         # In case the Plex playlist names are not unique
         occurance = utils.REGEX_FILE_NUMBERING.search(path)
         if not occurance:
-            path = os.path.join(v.PLAYLIST_PATH,
-                                playlist.type,
-                                '%s_01.m3u' % name[:min(len(name), 248)])
+            path = path_ops.path.join(v.PLAYLIST_PATH,
+                                      playlist.type,
+                                      '%s_01.m3u' % name[:min(len(name), 248)])
         else:
             occurance = int(occurance.group(1)) + 1
-            path = os.path.join(v.PLAYLIST_PATH,
-                                playlist.type,
-                                '%s_%02d.m3u' % (name[:min(len(name), 248)],
-                                                 occurance))
+            path = path_ops.path.join(v.PLAYLIST_PATH,
+                                      playlist.type,
+                                      '%s_%02d.m3u' % (name[:min(len(name),
+                                                                 248)],
+                                                       occurance))
     LOG.debug('Kodi playlist path: %s', path)
     playlist.kodi_path = path
     # Derive filename close to Plex playlist name
@@ -130,7 +123,7 @@ def delete_kodi_playlist(playlist):
     Returns None or raises PL.PlaylistError
     """
     try:
-        os.remove(playlist.kodi_path)
+        path_ops.remove(playlist.kodi_path)
     except (OSError, IOError) as err:
         LOG.error('Could not delete Kodi playlist file %s. Error:\n %s: %s',
                   playlist, err.errno, err.strerror)
@@ -180,10 +173,10 @@ def m3u_to_plex_ids(playlist):
     Adapter to process *.m3u playlist files. Encoding is not uniform!
     """
     plex_ids = list()
-    with open(utils.encode_path(playlist.kodi_path), 'rb') as f:
+    with open(path_ops.encode_path(playlist.kodi_path), 'rb') as f:
         text = f.read()
     try:
-        text = text.decode(ENCODING)
+        text = text.decode(v.M3U_ENCODING)
     except UnicodeDecodeError:
         LOG.warning('Fallback to ISO-8859-1 decoding for %s', playlist)
         text = text.decode('ISO-8859-1')
@@ -210,15 +203,15 @@ def _write_playlist_to_file(playlist, xml):
     Feed with playlist [Playlist_Object]. Will write the playlist to a m3u file
     Returns None or raises PL.PlaylistError
     """
-    text = u'#EXTCPlayListM3U::M3U\n'
+    text = '#EXTCPlayListM3U::M3U\n'
     for element in xml:
         api = API(element)
-        text += (u'#EXTINF:%s,%s\n%s\n'
+        text += ('#EXTINF:%s,%s\n%s\n'
                  % (api.runtime(), api.title(), api.path()))
     text += '\n'
-    text = text.encode(ENCODING, 'ignore')
+    text = text.encode(v.M3U_ENCODING, 'strict')
     try:
-        with open(utils.encode_path(playlist.kodi_path), 'wb') as f:
+        with open(path_ops.encode_path(playlist.kodi_path), 'wb') as f:
             f.write(text)
     except (OSError, IOError) as err:
         LOG.error('Could not write Kodi playlist file: %s', playlist)
@@ -267,15 +260,15 @@ def _kodi_playlist_identical(xml_element):
     pass
 
 
-def process_websocket(plex_id, updated_at, state):
+def process_websocket(plex_id, updated_at, status):
     """
     Hit by librarysync to process websocket messages concerning playlists
     """
     create = False
-    playlist = playlist_object_from_db(plex_id=plex_id)
     with state.LOCK_PLAYLISTS:
+        playlist = playlist_object_from_db(plex_id=plex_id)
         try:
-            if playlist and state == 9:
+            if playlist and status == 9:
                 LOG.debug('Plex deletion of playlist detected: %s', playlist)
                 delete_kodi_playlist(playlist)
             elif playlist and playlist.plex_updatedat == updated_at:
@@ -285,7 +278,7 @@ def process_websocket(plex_id, updated_at, state):
                 LOG.debug('Change of Plex playlist detected: %s', playlist)
                 delete_kodi_playlist(playlist)
                 create = True
-            elif not playlist and not state == 9:
+            elif not playlist and not status == 9:
                 LOG.debug('Creation of new Plex playlist detected: %s',
                           plex_id)
                 create = True
@@ -333,7 +326,7 @@ def _full_sync():
             elif playlist.plex_updatedat != api.updated_at():
                 LOG.debug('Detected changed Plex playlist %s: %s',
                           api.plex_id(), api.title())
-                if exists(playlist.kodi_path):
+                if path_ops.exists(playlist.kodi_path):
                     delete_kodi_playlist(playlist)
                 else:
                     update_plex_table(playlist, delete=True)
@@ -361,17 +354,19 @@ def _full_sync():
     if state.ENABLE_MUSIC:
         master_paths.append(v.PLAYLIST_PATH_MUSIC)
     for master_path in master_paths:
-        for root, _, files in os.walk(utils.encode_path(master_path)):
-            root = utils.decode_path(root)
+        for root, _, files in path_ops.walk(master_path):
             for file in files:
-                file = utils.decode_path(file)
                 try:
                     extension = file.rsplit('.', 1)[1]
                 except IndexError:
                     continue
                 if extension not in SUPPORTED_FILETYPES:
                     continue
-                path = os.path.join(root, file)
+                LOG.debug('root: %s', root)
+                LOG.debug('type: %s', type(root))
+                LOG.debug('file: %s', file)
+                LOG.debug('type: %s', type(file))
+                path = path_ops.path.join(root, file)
                 kodi_hash = utils.generate_file_md5(path)
                 playlist = playlist_object_from_db(kodi_hash=kodi_hash)
                 playlist_2 = playlist_object_from_db(path=path)
diff --git a/resources/lib/playqueue.py b/resources/lib/playqueue.py
index 8654a143..5cead379 100644
--- a/resources/lib/playqueue.py
+++ b/resources/lib/playqueue.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ Monitors the Kodi playqueue and adjusts the Plex playqueue accordingly
 """
 from logging import getLogger
 from threading import Thread
-from re import compile as re_compile
 import xbmc
 
 from . import utils
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@ from . import state
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.playqueue')
 
 PLUGIN = 'plugin://%s' % v.ADDON_ID
-REGEX = re_compile(r'''plex_id=(\d+)''')
 
 # Our PKC playqueues (3 instances of Playqueue_Object())
 PLAYQUEUES = []
@@ -133,7 +131,7 @@ class PlayqueueMonitor(Thread):
                                  old_item.kodi_type == new_item['type'])
                 else:
                     try:
-                        plex_id = REGEX.findall(new_item['file'])[0]
+                        plex_id = utils.REGEX_PLEX_ID.findall(new_item['file'])[0]
                     except IndexError:
                         LOG.debug('Comparing paths directly as a fallback')
                         identical = old_item.file == new_item['file']
diff --git a/resources/lib/plex_api.py b/resources/lib/plex_api.py
index f913887c..f8c09c3a 100644
--- a/resources/lib/plex_api.py
+++ b/resources/lib/plex_api.py
@@ -30,15 +30,15 @@ http://stackoverflow.com/questions/111945/is-there-any-way-to-do-http-put-in-pyt
 (and others...)
 """
 from logging import getLogger
-from re import compile as re_compile, sub
+from re import sub
 from urllib import urlencode, unquote
-import os
 from xbmcgui import ListItem
 from xbmcvfs import exists
 
 from .downloadutils import DownloadUtils as DU
 from . import clientinfo
 from . import utils
+from . import path_ops
 from . import plex_functions as PF
 from . import plexdb_functions as plexdb
 from . import kodidb_functions as kodidb
@@ -48,12 +48,6 @@ from . import state
 ###############################################################################
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.plex_api')
 
-REGEX_IMDB = re_compile(r'''/(tt\d+)''')
-REGEX_TVDB = re_compile(r'''thetvdb:\/\/(.+?)\?''')
-
-if not utils.exists_dir(v.EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH):
-    os.makedirs(v.EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH)
-
 ###############################################################################
 
 
@@ -438,10 +432,10 @@ class API(object):
             return None
 
         if providername == 'imdb':
-            regex = REGEX_IMDB
+            regex = utils.REGEX_IMDB
         elif providername == 'tvdb':
             # originally e.g. com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://276564?lang=en
-            regex = REGEX_TVDB
+            regex = utils.REGEX_TVDB
         else:
             return None
 
@@ -1246,7 +1240,7 @@ class API(object):
                 # Get additional info (filename / languages)
                 filename = None
                 if 'file' in entry[0].attrib:
-                    filename = os.path.basename(entry[0].attrib['file'])
+                    filename = path_ops.path.basename(entry[0].attrib['file'])
                 # Languages of audio streams
                 languages = []
                 for stream in entry[0]:
@@ -1401,7 +1395,7 @@ class API(object):
 
         Returns the path to the downloaded subtitle or None
         """
-        path = os.path.join(v.EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH, filename)
+        path = path_ops.path.join(v.EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH, filename)
         response = DU().downloadUrl(url, return_response=True)
         try:
             response.status_code
@@ -1410,7 +1404,7 @@ class API(object):
             return
         else:
             LOG.debug('Writing temp subtitle to %s', path)
-            with open(utils.encode_path(path), 'wb') as filer:
+            with open(path_ops.encode_path(path), 'wb') as filer:
                 filer.write(response.content)
             return path
 
@@ -1603,17 +1597,18 @@ class API(object):
             check = exists(utils.try_encode(path))
         else:
             # directories
-            if "\\" in path:
-                if not path.endswith('\\'):
+            checkpath = utils.try_encode(path)
+            if b"\\" in checkpath:
+                if not checkpath.endswith('\\'):
                     # Add the missing backslash
-                    check = utils.exists_dir(path + "\\")
+                    check = utils.exists_dir(checkpath + "\\")
                 else:
-                    check = utils.exists_dir(path)
+                    check = utils.exists_dir(checkpath)
             else:
-                if not path.endswith('/'):
-                    check = utils.exists_dir(path + "/")
+                if not checkpath.endswith('/'):
+                    check = utils.exists_dir(checkpath + "/")
                 else:
-                    check = utils.exists_dir(path)
+                    check = utils.exists_dir(checkpath)
 
         if not check:
             if force_check is False:
diff --git a/resources/lib/plex_functions.py b/resources/lib/plex_functions.py
index 89da000b..42b756bc 100644
--- a/resources/lib/plex_functions.py
+++ b/resources/lib/plex_functions.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ from logging import getLogger
 from urllib import urlencode, quote_plus
 from ast import literal_eval
 from urlparse import urlparse, parse_qsl
-from re import compile as re_compile
 from copy import deepcopy
 from time import time
 from threading import Thread
@@ -18,8 +17,6 @@ from . import variables as v
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.plex_functions')
 
 CONTAINERSIZE = int(utils.settings('limitindex'))
-REGEX_PLEX_KEY = re_compile(r'''/(.+)/(\d+)$''')
-REGEX_PLEX_DIRECT = re_compile(r'''\.plex\.direct:\d+$''')
 
 # For discovery of PMS in the local LAN
 PLEX_GDM_IP = '239.0.0.250'  # multicast to PMS
@@ -47,7 +44,7 @@ def GetPlexKeyNumber(plexKey):
     Returns ('','') if nothing is found
     """
     try:
-        result = REGEX_PLEX_KEY.findall(plexKey)[0]
+        result = utils.REGEX_END_DIGITS.findall(plexKey)[0]
     except IndexError:
         result = ('', '')
     return result
@@ -411,7 +408,7 @@ def _pms_list_from_plex_tv(token):
 def _poke_pms(pms, queue):
     data = pms['connections'][0].attrib
     url = data['uri']
-    if data['local'] == '1' and REGEX_PLEX_DIRECT.findall(url):
+    if data['local'] == '1' and utils.REGEX_PLEX_DIRECT.findall(url):
         # In case DNS resolve of plex.direct does not work, append a new
         # connection that will directly access the local IP (e.g. internet down)
         conn = deepcopy(pms['connections'][0])
diff --git a/resources/lib/service_entry.py b/resources/lib/service_entry.py
index 8d38df2d..f6ccc3dc 100644
--- a/resources/lib/service_entry.py
+++ b/resources/lib/service_entry.py
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ class Service():
                  utils.settings('useDirectPaths') == '1')
         LOG.info("Number of sync threads: %s",
                  utils.settings('syncThreadNumber'))
+        LOG.info('Playlist m3u encoding: %s', v.M3U_ENCODING)
         LOG.info("Full sys.argv received: %s", sys.argv)
         self.monitor = xbmc.Monitor()
         # Load/Reset PKC entirely - important for user/Kodi profile switch
diff --git a/resources/lib/userclient.py b/resources/lib/userclient.py
index d52450d9..5b74884c 100644
--- a/resources/lib/userclient.py
+++ b/resources/lib/userclient.py
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
 from logging import getLogger
 from threading import Thread
 
-from xbmc import sleep, executebuiltin, translatePath
-import xbmcaddon
-from xbmcvfs import exists
+from xbmc import sleep, executebuiltin
 
 from .downloadutils import DownloadUtils as DU
 from . import utils
+from . import path_ops
 from . import plex_tv
 from . import plex_functions as PF
+from . import variables as v
 from . import state
 
 ###############################################################################
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ class UserClient(Thread):
         self.ssl = None
         self.sslcert = None
 
-        self.addon = xbmcaddon.Addon()
         self.do_utils = None
 
         Thread.__init__(self)
@@ -197,11 +196,8 @@ class UserClient(Thread):
                 'Addon.Openutils.settings(plugin.video.plexkodiconnect)')
             return False
 
-        # Get /profile/addon_data
-        addondir = translatePath(self.addon.getAddonInfo('profile'))
-
         # If there's no settings.xml
-        if not exists("%ssettings.xml" % addondir):
+        if not path_ops.exists("%ssettings.xml" % v.ADDON_PROFILE):
             LOG.error("Error, no settings.xml found.")
             self.auth = False
             return False
diff --git a/resources/lib/utils.py b/resources/lib/utils.py
index d2b08486..18586754 100644
--- a/resources/lib/utils.py
+++ b/resources/lib/utils.py
@@ -4,11 +4,6 @@ Various functions and decorators for PKC
 """
 ###############################################################################
 from logging import getLogger
-import xbmc
-import xbmcaddon
-import xbmcgui
-from xbmcvfs import exists, delete
-import os
 from cProfile import Profile
 from pstats import Stats
 from sqlite3 import connect, OperationalError
@@ -18,13 +13,14 @@ from time import localtime, strftime
 from unicodedata import normalize
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as etree
 from functools import wraps, partial
-from shutil import rmtree
 from urllib import quote_plus
 import hashlib
 import re
-import unicodedata
+import xbmc
+import xbmcaddon
+import xbmcgui
 
-from .watchdog.utils import unicode_paths
+from . import path_ops
 from . import variables as v
 from . import state
 
@@ -36,9 +32,19 @@ WINDOW = xbmcgui.Window(10000)
 ADDON = xbmcaddon.Addon(id='plugin.video.plexkodiconnect')
 EPOCH = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(0)
 
+# Grab Plex id from '...plex_id=XXXX....'
 REGEX_PLEX_ID = re.compile(r'''plex_id=(\d+)''')
+# Return the numbers at the end of an url like '.../.../XXXX'
+REGEX_END_DIGITS = re.compile(r'''/(.+)/(\d+)$''')
+REGEX_PLEX_DIRECT = re.compile(r'''\.plex\.direct:\d+$''')
 REGEX_FILE_NUMBERING = re.compile(r'''_(\d+)\.\w+$''')
-
+# Plex API
+REGEX_IMDB = re.compile(r'''/(tt\d+)''')
+REGEX_TVDB = re.compile(r'''thetvdb:\/\/(.+?)\?''')
+# Plex music
+REGEX_MUSICPATH = re.compile(r'''^\^(.+)\$$''')
+# Grab Plex id from an URL-encoded string
+REGEX_PLEX_ID_FROM_URL = re.compile(r'''metadata%2F(\d+)''')
 
 ###############################################################################
 # Main methods
@@ -106,30 +112,6 @@ def settings(setting, value=None):
         return try_decode(addon.getSetting(setting))
 
 
-def exists_dir(path):
-    """
-    Safe way to check whether the directory path exists already (broken in Kodi
-    <17)
-
-    Feed with encoded string or unicode
-    """
-    if v.KODIVERSION >= 17:
-        answ = exists(try_encode(path))
-    else:
-        dummyfile = os.path.join(try_decode(path), 'dummyfile.txt')
-        try:
-            with open(encode_path(dummyfile), 'w') as filer:
-                filer.write('text')
-        except IOError:
-            # folder does not exist yet
-            answ = 0
-        else:
-            # Folder exists. Delete file again.
-            delete(try_encode(dummyfile))
-            answ = 1
-    return answ
-
-
 def lang(stringid):
     """
     Central string retrieval from strings.po
@@ -248,26 +230,6 @@ def kodi_time_to_millis(time):
     return ret
 
 
-def encode_path(path):
-    """
-    Filenames and paths are not necessarily utf-8 encoded. Use this function
-    instead of try_encode/trydecode if working with filenames and paths!
-    (os.walk only feeds on encoded paths. sys.getfilesystemencoding returns None
-    for Raspberry Pi)
-    """
-    return unicode_paths.encode(path)
-
-
-def decode_path(path):
-    """
-    Filenames and paths are not necessarily utf-8 encoded. Use this function
-    instead of try_encode/trydecode if working with filenames and paths!
-    (os.walk only feeds on encoded paths. sys.getfilesystemencoding returns None
-    for Raspberry Pi)
-    """
-    return unicode_paths.decode(path)
-
-
 def try_encode(input_str, encoding='utf-8'):
     """
     Will try to encode input_str (in unicode) to encoding. This possibly
@@ -333,10 +295,6 @@ def valid_filename(text):
     else:
         # Linux
         text = re.sub(r'/', '', text)
-    if not os.path.supports_unicode_filenames:
-        text = unicodedata.normalize('NFKD', text)
-        text = text.encode('ascii', 'ignore')
-        text = text.decode('ascii')
     # Ensure that filename length is at most 255 chars (including 3 chars for
     # filename extension and 1 dot to separate the extension)
     text = text[:min(len(text), 251)]
@@ -485,15 +443,15 @@ def wipe_database():
     # Delete all synced playlists
     for path in playlist_paths:
         try:
-            os.remove(path)
+            path_ops.remove(path)
         except (OSError, IOError):
             pass
 
     LOG.info("Resetting all cached artwork.")
     # Remove all existing textures first
-    path = xbmc.translatePath("special://thumbnails/")
-    if exists(path):
-        rmtree(try_decode(path), ignore_errors=True)
+    path = path_ops.translate_path("special://thumbnails/")
+    if path_ops.exists(path):
+        path_ops.rmtree(path, ignore_errors=True)
     # remove all existing data from texture DB
     connection = kodi_sql('texture')
     cursor = connection.cursor()
@@ -547,10 +505,8 @@ def reset(ask_user=True):
                            heading='{plex} %s ' % lang(30132),
                            line1=lang(39603)):
         # Delete the settings
-        addon = xbmcaddon.Addon()
-        addondir = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath(addon.getAddonInfo('profile')))
         LOG.info("Deleting: settings.xml")
-        os.remove("%ssettings.xml" % addondir)
+        path_ops.remove("%ssettings.xml" % v.ADDON_PROFILE)
     reboot_kodi()
 
 
@@ -612,29 +568,6 @@ def compare_version(current, minimum):
     return curr_patch >= min_patch
 
 
-def normalize_nodes(text):
-    """
-    For video nodes
-    """
-    text = text.replace(":", "")
-    text = text.replace("/", "-")
-    text = text.replace("\\", "-")
-    text = text.replace("<", "")
-    text = text.replace(">", "")
-    text = text.replace("*", "")
-    text = text.replace("?", "")
-    text = text.replace('|', "")
-    text = text.replace('(', "")
-    text = text.replace(')', "")
-    text = text.strip()
-    # Remove dots from the last character as windows can not have directories
-    # with dots at the end
-    text = text.rstrip('.')
-    text = try_encode(normalize('NFKD', unicode(text, 'utf-8')))
-
-    return text
-
-
 def normalize_string(text):
     """
     For theme media, do not modify unless modified in TV Tunes
@@ -656,6 +589,28 @@ def normalize_string(text):
     return text
 
 
+def normalize_nodes(text):
+    """
+    For video nodes. Returns unicode
+    """
+    text = text.replace(":", "")
+    text = text.replace("/", "-")
+    text = text.replace("\\", "-")
+    text = text.replace("<", "")
+    text = text.replace(">", "")
+    text = text.replace("*", "")
+    text = text.replace("?", "")
+    text = text.replace('|', "")
+    text = text.replace('(', "")
+    text = text.replace(')', "")
+    text = text.strip()
+    # Remove dots from the last character as windows can not have directories
+    # with dots at the end
+    text = text.rstrip('.')
+    text = normalize('NFKD', unicode(text, 'utf-8'))
+    return text
+
+
 def indent(elem, level=0):
     """
     Prettifies xml trees. Pass the etree root in
@@ -702,9 +657,9 @@ class XmlKodiSetting(object):
                  top_element=None):
         self.filename = filename
         if path is None:
-            self.path = os.path.join(v.KODI_PROFILE, filename)
+            self.path = path_ops.path.join(v.KODI_PROFILE, filename)
         else:
-            self.path = os.path.join(path, filename)
+            self.path = path_ops.path.join(path, filename)
         self.force_create = force_create
         self.top_element = top_element
         self.tree = None
@@ -869,7 +824,7 @@ def passwords_xml():
     """
     To add network credentials to Kodi's password xml
     """
-    path = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath("special://userdata/"))
+    path = path_ops.translate_path('special://userdata/')
     xmlpath = "%spasswords.xml" % path
     try:
         xmlparse = etree.parse(xmlpath)
@@ -990,7 +945,7 @@ def playlist_xsp(mediatype, tagname, viewid, viewtype="", delete=False):
     """
     Feed with tagname as unicode
     """
-    path = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/playlists/video/"))
+    path = path_ops.translate_path("special://profile/playlists/video/")
     if viewtype == "mixed":
         plname = "%s - %s" % (tagname, mediatype)
         xsppath = "%sPlex %s - %s.xsp" % (path, viewid, mediatype)
@@ -999,15 +954,15 @@ def playlist_xsp(mediatype, tagname, viewid, viewtype="", delete=False):
         xsppath = "%sPlex %s.xsp" % (path, viewid)
 
     # Create the playlist directory
-    if not exists(try_encode(path)):
+    if not path_ops.exists(path):
         LOG.info("Creating directory: %s", path)
-        os.makedirs(path)
+        path_ops.makedirs(path)
 
     # Only add the playlist if it doesn't already exists
-    if exists(try_encode(xsppath)):
+    if path_ops.exists(xsppath):
         LOG.info('Path %s does exist', xsppath)
         if delete:
-            os.remove(xsppath)
+            path_ops.remove(xsppath)
             LOG.info("Successfully removed playlist: %s.", tagname)
         return
 
@@ -1019,7 +974,7 @@ def playlist_xsp(mediatype, tagname, viewid, viewtype="", delete=False):
         'show': 'tvshows'
     }
     LOG.info("Writing playlist file to: %s", xsppath)
-    with open(encode_path(xsppath), 'wb') as filer:
+    with open(path_ops.encode_path(xsppath), 'wb') as filer:
         filer.write(try_encode(
             '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>\n'
             '<smartplaylist type="%s">\n\t'
@@ -1037,22 +992,22 @@ def delete_playlists():
     """
     Clean up the playlists
     """
-    path = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/playlists/video/"))
-    for root, _, files in os.walk(path):
+    path = path_ops.translate_path('special://profile/playlists/video/')
+    for root, _, files in path_ops.walk(path):
         for file in files:
             if file.startswith('Plex'):
-                os.remove(os.path.join(root, file))
+                path_ops.remove(path_ops.path.join(root, file))
 
 
 def delete_nodes():
     """
     Clean up video nodes
     """
-    path = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video/"))
-    for root, dirs, _ in os.walk(path):
+    path = path_ops.translate_path("special://profile/library/video/")
+    for root, dirs, _ in path_ops.walk(path):
         for directory in dirs:
             if directory.startswith('Plex-'):
-                rmtree(os.path.join(root, directory))
+                path_ops.rmtree(path_ops.path.join(root, directory))
         break
 
 
@@ -1065,7 +1020,7 @@ def generate_file_md5(path):
     """
     m = hashlib.md5()
     m.update(path.encode('utf-8'))
-    with open(encode_path(path), 'rb') as f:
+    with open(path_ops.encode_path(path), 'rb') as f:
         while True:
             piece = f.read(32768)
             if not piece:
diff --git a/resources/lib/variables.py b/resources/lib/variables.py
index b1ef2d98..faf5e75e 100644
--- a/resources/lib/variables.py
+++ b/resources/lib/variables.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 import os
+import sys
 import xbmc
 from xbmcaddon import Addon
 
@@ -34,7 +35,9 @@ _ADDON = Addon()
 ADDON_NAME = 'PlexKodiConnect'
 ADDON_ID = 'plugin.video.plexkodiconnect'
 ADDON_VERSION = _ADDON.getAddonInfo('version')
+ADDON_PATH = try_decode(_ADDON.getAddonInfo('path'))
 ADDON_FOLDER = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath('special://home'))
+ADDON_PROFILE = try_decode(_ADDON.getAddonInfo('profile'))
 
 KODILANGUAGE = xbmc.getLanguage(xbmc.ISO_639_1)
 KODIVERSION = int(xbmc.getInfoLabel("System.BuildVersion")[:2])
@@ -81,10 +84,6 @@ MIN_DB_VERSION = '2.0.27'
 
 # Database paths
 _DB_VIDEO_VERSION = {
-    13: 78,   # Gotham
-    14: 90,   # Helix
-    15: 93,   # Isengard
-    16: 99,   # Jarvis
     17: 107,  # Krypton
     18: 109   # Leia
 }
@@ -92,10 +91,6 @@ DB_VIDEO_PATH = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath(
     "special://database/MyVideos%s.db" % _DB_VIDEO_VERSION[KODIVERSION]))
 
 _DB_MUSIC_VERSION = {
-    13: 46,   # Gotham
-    14: 48,   # Helix
-    15: 52,   # Isengard
-    16: 56,   # Jarvis
     17: 60,   # Krypton
     18: 70    # Leia
 }
@@ -103,10 +98,6 @@ DB_MUSIC_PATH = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath(
     "special://database/MyMusic%s.db" % _DB_MUSIC_VERSION[KODIVERSION]))
 
 _DB_TEXTURE_VERSION = {
-    13: 13,   # Gotham
-    14: 13,   # Helix
-    15: 13,   # Isengard
-    16: 13,   # Jarvis
     17: 13,   # Krypton
     18: 13    # Leia
 }
@@ -122,6 +113,12 @@ EXTERNAL_SUBTITLE_TEMP_PATH = try_decode(xbmc.translatePath(
 # Multiply Plex time by this factor to receive Kodi time
 PLEX_TO_KODI_TIMEFACTOR = 1.0 / 1000.0
 
+# We're "failing" playback with a video of 0 length
+NULL_VIDEO = os.path.join(ADDON_FOLDER,
+                          'addons',
+                          ADDON_ID,
+                          'empty_video.mp4')
+
 # Playlist stuff
 PLAYLIST_PATH = os.path.join(KODI_PROFILE, 'playlists')
 PLAYLIST_PATH_MIXED = os.path.join(PLAYLIST_PATH, 'mixed')
@@ -512,3 +509,14 @@ PLEX_STREAM_TYPE_FROM_STREAM_TYPE = {
     'audio': '2',
     'subtitle': '3'
 }
+
+# Encoding to be used for our m3u playlist files
+# m3u files do not have encoding specified by definition, unfortunately.
+if PLATFORM == 'Windows':
+    M3U_ENCODING = 'mbcs'
+else:
+    M3U_ENCODING = sys.getfilesystemencoding()
+    if (not M3U_ENCODING or
+            M3U_ENCODING == 'ascii' or
+            M3U_ENCODING == 'ANSI_X3.4-1968'):
+        M3U_ENCODING = 'utf-8'
diff --git a/resources/lib/videonodes.py b/resources/lib/videonodes.py
index a960880d..b32cefad 100644
--- a/resources/lib/videonodes.py
+++ b/resources/lib/videonodes.py
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 ###############################################################################
 from logging import getLogger
-from distutils import dir_util
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as etree
-from os import makedirs
 import xbmc
-from xbmcvfs import exists
 
 from . import utils
+from . import path_ops
 from . import variables as v
 from . import state
 
@@ -16,7 +14,6 @@ from . import state
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.videonodes')
 
 ###############################################################################
-# Paths are strings, NOT unicode!
 
 
 class VideoNodes(object):
@@ -66,33 +63,30 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
             dirname = viewid
 
         # Returns strings
-        path = utils.try_decode(xbmc.translatePath(
-            "special://profile/library/video/"))
-        nodepath = utils.try_decode(xbmc.translatePath(
-            "special://profile/library/video/Plex-%s/" % dirname))
+        path = path_ops.translate_path('special://profile/library/video/')
+        nodepath = path_ops.translate_path(
+            'special://profile/library/video/Plex-%s/' % dirname)
 
         if delete:
-            if utils.exists_dir(nodepath):
-                from shutil import rmtree
-                rmtree(nodepath)
+            if path_ops.exists(nodepath):
+                path_ops.rmtree(nodepath)
                 LOG.info("Sucessfully removed videonode: %s." % tagname)
             return
 
         # Verify the video directory
-        if not utils.exists_dir(path):
-            dir_util.copy_tree(
-                src=utils.try_decode(
-                    xbmc.translatePath("special://xbmc/system/library/video")),
-                dst=utils.try_decode(
-                    xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video")),
+        if not path_ops.exists(path):
+            path_ops.copy_tree(
+                src=path_ops.translate_path(
+                    'special://xbmc/system/library/video'),
+                dst=path_ops.translate_path('special://profile/library/video'),
                 preserve_mode=0)  # do not copy permission bits!
 
         # Create the node directory
         if mediatype != "photos":
-            if not utils.exists_dir(nodepath):
+            if not path_ops.exists(nodepath):
                 # folder does not exist yet
                 LOG.debug('Creating folder %s' % nodepath)
-                makedirs(nodepath)
+                path_ops.makedirs(nodepath)
 
         # Create index entry
         nodeXML = "%sindex.xml" % nodepath
@@ -298,7 +292,7 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
                 # kodi picture sources somehow
                 continue
 
-            if exists(utils.try_encode(nodeXML)):
+            if path_ops.exists(nodeXML):
                 # Don't recreate xml if already exists
                 continue
 
@@ -403,13 +397,12 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
                 utils.indent(root)
             except:
                 pass
-            etree.ElementTree(root).write(nodeXML, encoding="UTF-8")
+            etree.ElementTree(root).write(path_ops.encode_path(nodeXML),
+                                          encoding="UTF-8")
 
     def singleNode(self, indexnumber, tagname, mediatype, itemtype):
-        tagname = utils.try_encode(tagname)
-        cleantagname = utils.try_decode(utils.normalize_nodes(tagname))
-        nodepath = utils.try_decode(xbmc.translatePath(
-            "special://profile/library/video/"))
+        cleantagname = utils.normalize_nodes(tagname)
+        nodepath = path_ops.translate_path('special://profile/library/video/')
         nodeXML = "%splex_%s.xml" % (nodepath, cleantagname)
         path = "library://video/plex_%s.xml" % cleantagname
         if v.KODIVERSION >= 17:
@@ -419,13 +412,12 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
             windowpath = "ActivateWindow(Video,%s,return)" % path
 
         # Create the video node directory
-        if not utils.exists_dir(nodepath):
+        if not path_ops.exists(nodepath):
             # We need to copy over the default items
-            dir_util.copy_tree(
-                src=utils.try_decode(
-                    xbmc.translatePath("special://xbmc/system/library/video")),
-                dst=utils.try_decode(
-                    xbmc.translatePath("special://profile/library/video")),
+            path_ops.copy_tree(
+                src=path_ops.translate_path(
+                    'special://xbmc/system/library/video'),
+                dst=path_ops.translate_path('special://profile/library/video'),
                 preserve_mode=0)  # do not copy permission bits!
 
         labels = {
@@ -440,7 +432,7 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
         utils.window('%s.content' % embynode, value=path)
         utils.window('%s.type' % embynode, value=itemtype)
 
-        if exists(utils.try_encode(nodeXML)):
+        if path_ops.exists(nodeXML):
             # Don't recreate xml if already exists
             return