Post by: chilin_dude on April 16, 2003, 08:21:00 AM
| QUOTE |
Submit News Here // 10 Latest News Topics // RSS News Feed (XML) New Dashboard: Avalaunch >> Crusaders (the makers of xbftp) are working on a new Xbox dashboard. With an FTP , IRC and TELNET client and also a build in file manager, application launcher and auto-updater Avalaunch offers quiet a nice set of (new) features. Check out the official homepage for more info: http://www.crusaders.no Thanks to J-S L. for the link. Posted by:: XanTium April 16 16:29 (GMT+1) |
Been to the homepage and this sounds veryyy good... however good the mIRC feature is this is surely going to introduce viri though
If this is as good as it sounds we may need a new sub-forum! These guys must have been developing on the quite though because no--one seems to have hada clue this was in development... what you guys think about it?
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 16, 2003, 09:42:00 AM
I can assure you that this is for real
Instead of competing with each other, TJ, lys and me decided to
combine our efforts to create a new and awesome application for
the XBox scene.
Our new dashboard will contain (among other things):
- new 'filesystem' that will allow more than 42 characters for the folder and filenames
- new ftp-server
- new ftp-client
- new irc-client
- new telnet-client
- new xbe launcher
- new file manager
and so much more to come, we only programmed this for 14 days (1'st of April 2003 being first real day of work on it ).
Iretch, fluke, widar, lantus and a few others has tested it slightly for us - with great success and stability. Opening the 42 char limit of filenames was one thing - but also the really high speeds in the ftp-server and the new look of the launcher has gotten nice feedbacks.
Soon we are ready for upgrading from internal alpha to public beta - hopefully it'll be at the gathering - we just gotta fix a couple more issues.
Stay tuned...
-The Joker, ^Blazed^ (aka Tritium) and Lys
Post by: staticFLINT on April 16, 2003, 08:52:00 AM
Post by: hump on April 16, 2003, 08:55:00 AM
thx hump
Post by: fadeaway on April 16, 2003, 08:57:00 AM
Post by: Raised on April 16, 2003, 09:57:00 AM
| QUOTE (^Blazed^ @ Apr 16 2003, 12:42 PM) |
| - new 'filesystem' that will allow more than 42 characters for the folder and filenames |
Now that, I would be really glad to see as a feature! Good luck guys, I'm sure your work will be appreciated
Post by: Bravo on April 16, 2003, 09:07:00 AM
Post by: EGOvoruhk on April 16, 2003, 10:02:00 AM
Then I would love you and your wonderful program, you could then conquer the world.
Post by: Ace25 on April 16, 2003, 09:21:00 AM
| QUOTE (fadeaway @ Apr 16 2003, 09:51 AM) |
| As long as this dash supports subfolders (IE. Action, RPG, Arcade, Sports underneath the Games folder) I will be happy. If Nexgen had subfolders I would be using it now because I personally think its a very good dash and the only major bug is the FTP issue. |
Ummm, Evox has supported sub folders since day one.. it just people are too damn lazy to put the entries in the evox.ini themselves and rely on autoadd.. errr, if that's what your doing sorry.. I mixed up Evox and Nexgen when I read your post..
This post has been edited by Ace25: Apr 16 2003, 04:22 PM
Post by: BenJeremy on April 16, 2003, 10:19:00 AM
They also claim complete skinnability. Hmmmm.... depends on 'how' complete. 0.9i will (Really, it **WILL**) set a new standard in that department.
Still, Avalaunch looks like it has a lot of goodies. No ETA on their site, though.
At the very least, it will make a nice utility to launch from the main menu...
...which will soon be MXM for many people. 
Post by: nachonut on April 16, 2003, 10:29:00 AM
Post by: the joker on April 16, 2003, 11:22:00 AM
But I repeat, so noone misunderstands. Me, Blazed and lys's only intentions to make this - was not to show off nor anything else - hence the silence around this project before today, but to make something that covered what we wanted.
Why evo-x, nexgen and mxm is taking so much time - is beyond me, and I don't even question it. Noone pays anyone to do it - people make software that covers their needs.
We have weird needs in software, and we got good experience programming the xbox in many ways - so we're making it. Not a launcher - but a _system_ for booting an xbox. A system with more than one function, and not based on a graphic engine or simple system calls.
Making a system from the bottom, integrated features and well thought out skeleton is the key =)
-the joker
Post by: BenJeremy on April 16, 2003, 10:35:00 AM
| QUOTE (the joker @ Apr 16 2003, 02:22 PM) |
| BenJeremy, we have been working for 2 weeks on this, and we made IRC client, FTP server, xbe parser, telnet client and an entirely new filesystem from scratch. ETA : sooner than you'd thought :) But I repeat, so noone misunderstands. Me, Blazed and lys's only intentions to make this - was not to show off nor anything else - hence the silence around this project before today, but to make something that covered what we wanted. Why evo-x, nexgen and mxm is taking so much time - is beyond me, and I don't even question it. Noone pays anyone to do it - people make software that covers their needs. We have weird needs in software, and we got good experience programming the xbox in many ways - so we're making it. Not a launcher - but a _system_ for booting an xbox. A system with more than one function, and not based on a graphic engine or simple system calls. Making a system from the bottom, integrated features and well thought out skeleton is the key =) -the joker |
Well, that's cool, I'll certainly check it out when it's released.
The scene needs more competition.
For MXM, I mostly cater tothe DVD compilation crowd, and those that like a pretty face. Plus I have a few nice security features to keep some of the more dangerous apps password protected from accidental intrusion. "Media" is the key word for my system for a good reason.
Will it be open source like MXM and neXgen?
Post by: Col.Havoc on April 16, 2003, 11:38:00 AM
Also, the telnet looks good too, but the built in IRC is iffy...
I know this will sound like a lot, but perhaps you could (down the road) implement a p2p file sharing program for some legit mp3's/movie trailers.
I would like to see them on a 27', and not a 14' monitor
Post by: akarnid on April 16, 2003, 11:09:00 AM
Ain't it great how much cool stuff keeps on surfacing for the 'box?
Post by: BenJeremy on April 16, 2003, 12:08:00 PM
| QUOTE (akarnid @ Apr 16 2003, 03:03 PM) |
| Yeah, this release gets me pretty psyched already. These guys already helped me alot with a few tutorials they have, and if they're gonna do away with the filesystem character limitations - more power to them I say. It's given me mucho headaches already. Ain't it great how much cool stuff keeps on surfacing for the 'box? |
I do believe you are in for a real let down if this is the impression you got.
They aren't changing the "file system" of the Xbox. That would be unlikely without a BIOS change.
This is basically a 'swiss army knife' packaged as a dashboard. The "File System" they are talking about, I assume, is like boXplorer or their own xtoolbox apps, only built in to their 'dash' app.
All-in-all it looks nice. More is always better.
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 16, 2003, 12:36:00 PM
Post by: Beastie_ on April 16, 2003, 12:40:00 PM
Post by: shanafan on April 16, 2003, 12:41:00 PM
Post by: the joker on April 16, 2003, 01:07:00 PM
The IRC won't be started unless one starts it - fully optional
And no, it's not a virii trap - it's not a mIRC. p2p hubbing is in progress as well, just dont expect it in a couple more weeks. Use the updater then, and you should have it :-)
-tj
Post by: BenJeremy on April 16, 2003, 02:08:00 PM
| QUOTE (the joker @ Apr 16 2003, 04:07 PM) |
| What blaz said, and like it's explained on the avalaunch-page : it's the same pricinple that win95 used back in dos-days. thisdo~1.txt -> thisdocument.txt Lame if seen in dos - but all the tools we make to this, obsoletes the use of any other disk-reading tool that would need the long filenames ( except for emulators/xbmp - but I hope they will accept the code if I give it to them ) What's inside the engine is not the important part - it's the effect that counts - and the effect of a filesystem in my vocabulary, is a database on the disk that tells the loader where to load and what names they are given. That it's a software layer - shouldn't make a difference. Slower because of ? yea, absolutely. 1 ms extra per file - when you create/open it. I think it's worth it The IRC won't be started unless one starts it - fully optional And no, it's not a virii trap - it's not a mIRC. p2p hubbing is in progress as well, just dont expect it in a couple more weeks. Use the updater then, and you should have it :-) -tj |
It's interesting, but I don't see it being terribly compelling. I suspect you'll get a rash of people asking about their games (Furious Kart Racing comes to mind) that don't copy to the hard drive from DVD, because of filename limitations, not understanding it's just a database layer.
To be honest, I don't like to fiddle with files on my Xbox at all, if possible.
For XBMP users, it might be nice, having an interface that's 'standard' to alias filenames to longer, more easily understandable ones, but users will have to understand it's a 'cooperative' system, and requires any programs using it to be built with a special library, and only homebrew apps will be able to use it at all.
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 16, 2003, 02:17:00 PM
Post by: the joker on April 16, 2003, 02:21:00 PM
-tj
Post by: Rollo on April 16, 2003, 03:06:00 PM
i will be happy to check out anything new...get bored so easily.
Post by: KazuyaWaruasobi on April 16, 2003, 06:13:00 PM
Post by: TheGreatVirus on April 16, 2003, 06:19:00 PM
Post by: leftyfb on April 16, 2003, 06:58:00 PM
Post by: CaliSurfer008 on April 16, 2003, 07:05:00 PM
Post by: Jsmith on April 16, 2003, 07:10:00 PM
Belated April Fools Joke?
Hopefully not. Being that they sent Cali an Alpha version, I'm inclined to believe otherwise, but I'm still a little skeptical.
Post by: the joker on April 16, 2003, 07:29:00 PM
I've had that a lot, but I think I learned a lot in xb-ftp.Critical was prolly a wrong word ( sorry about that - english aint my primary language ), sceptical would be my choice. And not only is it a right to be - but it's a good thing imho. You're the only sceptic I've met so far and it does sharpen my ears, and get's one thinking. Just trying to make things as good as possible =)
That's what happened between XB-FTP and XtoolBox, we pushed eachother to the edge, and the rate we learned stuff in was nuts. Now we made this together =)
And no, I don't see this dash mix with others. Not because of pride - but because this dash was developed to be what we felt was what we want. I like it a lot like it is
Adding "shoepolish" to it later for small graphics effects to put the touch on it, but don't expect major 3d things, we're keeping it in a useful level.-tj
Post by: the joker on April 16, 2003, 08:05:00 PM
-the joker
Post by: Jsmith on April 16, 2003, 08:22:00 PM
Post by: HSDEMONZ on April 16, 2003, 08:40:00 PM
Post by: the joker on April 16, 2003, 10:07:00 PM
-tj
Post by: chilin_dude on April 17, 2003, 02:50:00 AM
Btw guys i think that it is great of you to work on this considering you don't get paid or jack....maybe open up a paypal account?
Post by: Bravo on April 17, 2003, 08:19:00 AM
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 17, 2003, 08:49:00 AM
Post by: Jsmith on April 17, 2003, 11:40:00 AM
Are you planning to put IGR in there one day? There's a lot of us out there that can't flash their bios (I'm an Xecutor 1 user).
This may be first real reason I have to get a USB adapter. I didn't think I'd ever be using the IRC client, but with an FTP client built in, that may change things.
Also, has there been any consideration to an SSH option in addition to telnet? Just curious what your thoughts were on that.
Sorry for the skepticism on the project. The April 1st thing and the Joker user name threw me off.
Post by: the joker on April 17, 2003, 01:21:00 PM
-tj
Post by: Hodr on April 17, 2003, 03:29:00 PM
You could have a page where you select files you would like to seed from you box, or select from seeds available on the network (of course this will require a page hosted somewhere to carry all the torrent links, but it wouldn't actually carry any files so it should be really easy).
This could be an easy way to release new apps and bios's etc. Just fire up your box, check the page for new torrents, and download if you see it, then if your a nice guy, seed the file (or just leave the downloader active after completion).
no games of course, but for legitimate releases etc. this could be invalueble.
Post by: the joker on April 18, 2003, 03:41:00 AM
I've made the skeleton of this a week ago, it's just a bit tricky to make it with just one xbox, that's all - hence the temporary break. Made IRC instead for now.
-TJ
Post by: TwisTz on April 18, 2003, 05:40:00 AM
Post by: harryb on April 18, 2003, 06:48:00 AM
ive been waiting for it ever since xIRC was mentioned months ago
thank you !!!
Post by: chilin_dude on April 18, 2003, 08:11:00 AM
Post by: the joker on April 18, 2003, 12:41:00 PM
-tj
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 18, 2003, 10:25:00 PM
Post by: TwisTz on April 19, 2003, 12:04:00 AM
| QUOTE (^Blazed^ @ Apr 19 2003, 06:25 AM) |
| Just to let you know about another possible feature that we may put into our dashboard; We are thinking about implementing a save game exchange function. I've just been in contact with Team X4 that is providing us with the awesome XBox Saves site, and they said that they were happy to help out on their side to make this happen. This would make it possible for us to list all save games that is available at XBox Saves, not having to leave your dashboard. Just press 'Download' and of you go... How about that? |
hehe thats pretty cool.. I never use game saves, but all the cheaters will be happy
Post by: harryb on April 19, 2003, 12:16:00 AM
This is sounding like an evox beater - to me anyway
all the graphics tarts may moan bout it not looking flashy...
can we see a screen shot?
Post by: TwisTz on April 19, 2003, 12:55:00 AM
lol
Post by: harryb on April 19, 2003, 02:35:00 AM
it stops some games booting ok
Post by: chilin_dude on April 19, 2003, 02:50:00 AM
| QUOTE (^Blazed^ @ Apr 19 2003, 06:25 AM) |
| Just to let you know about another possible feature that we may put into our dashboard; We are thinking about implementing a save game exchange function. I've just been in contact with Team X4 that is providing us with the awesome XBox Saves site, and they said that they were happy to help out on their side to make this happen. This would make it possible for us to list all save games that is available at XBox Saves, not having to leave your dashboard. Just press 'Download' and of you go... How about that? |
This sounds like a world-beater feature...i would certainly use this!
Hope it all turns out as good as it sounds, how is progress coming along? Do you have any more detailed E.T.A yet?thanks in advance
| QUOTE |
| got drunk during TG and made an updater that allows you to choose version ever since 0.38 tilll the last version - with a comment on last change on all. Patches itself from the web with the neccesary files/info and auto-execute itself when patched. -tj |
This also sounds handy...no need to ftp the files over any more-thank god that is so boring...get the cable out...connect to pc...overwrite files...remove cable...put it away...arghhhh!
Post by: TwisTz on April 19, 2003, 02:54:00 AM
Post by: Jsmith on April 19, 2003, 05:21:00 PM
The save games feature is awesome. Would be cool if there was an option to automatically list only games which you have stored on the hard drive.
Post by: the joker on April 20, 2003, 02:51:00 PM
-tj
Post by: Majinbuu on April 20, 2003, 03:04:00 PM
~Buu~
Post by: the joker on April 20, 2003, 06:41:00 PM
The real problem is that mounting the drive doesn't seem to respond. And if it doesn't respond - I can't "patch" the filesystem. I'm gonna look into it when I have a todolist on avalaunch that is less than a meter long. :-)
Right now I've added the autoupdater, which puts avalaunch a step closer to a beta release - it makes daily releases way less painful, and i just need settings to be able to release something... getting close - real fast..
-tj
Post by: the joker on April 21, 2003, 03:50:00 PM
It seems stable and we have added almost all the features it needs to be an alpha ( no hardcoded nicks and servers ++ ), but it has miles to go before release.
If you get a hold of a version - do NOT complain about missing functionabillity or bugs yet =)
( but do please report them in a well-described way, hence the release )
- Avalaunch crew
Post by: CaliSurfer008 on April 21, 2003, 05:28:00 PM
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 21, 2003, 10:15:00 PM
, has to have an image within itself.We just extract that one and displays it...
Post by: TwisTz on April 21, 2003, 11:51:00 PM
I can't wait for Avalaunch to be released.
Post by: the joker on April 22, 2003, 01:25:00 AM
I'm not stressing things that ain't vital for alpha, and blaz is skipping some things for the alpha like filehandler - soooo it's gonna be missing a few functions that will show up real soon.
Thanks to self-patcher, that should go quite painless. We're fast coders, so a couple updates per week with noticeable amount of features added every time shouldn't be a problem.
-avalaunch crew
Post by: TwisTz on April 22, 2003, 01:45:00 AM
did the on-screen keyboard that was mentioned before get added in?
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 22, 2003, 01:57:00 AM
We have actually implemented two on-screen keyboards, so when we
have it a bit more configurable you'll be able to select the preferred keyboard.
-avalaunch crew
Post by: TwisTz on April 22, 2003, 02:03:00 AM
| QUOTE (^Blazed^ @ Apr 22 2003, 09:57 AM) |
| The IRC client is in fact working quite nicely. TJ has done a marvellous work with that one - Kudos to him! We have actually implemented two on-screen keyboards, so when we have it a bit more configurable you'll be able to select the preferred keyboard. -avalaunch crew |
mwahaha! Awesome
Post by: TwisTz on April 22, 2003, 03:31:00 PM
Post by: HSDEMONZ on April 22, 2003, 03:38:00 PM
Post by: Jsmith on April 22, 2003, 03:44:00 PM
For instance, if you're only reading files on the HD, then their is a low chance that any damage could be done by some bug. However, if there are certain circumstances where you write to files on the HD, then there is a greater chance that there might be a bug which would improperly overwrite our files. That's just one example.
What I'm getting at is, do you think it's relatively safe to install the dashboard, or should we be very cautious?
Post by: LumbraX on April 22, 2003, 04:33:00 PM
Keep up the awsome work guys, I hope to hear from you again :-)
Post by: TwisTz on April 22, 2003, 04:42:00 PM
Post by: LumbraX on April 22, 2003, 04:55:00 PM
*b1456:v0.39:c
-Added unrar / unzip
-Added settings
-rewrote some code for settings support
-rewrote some graphichs for better future support
Comments
---------------------
Alpha release
*b1450:v0.38:c
-Added irc client
-Added FTP server
-Added autoupdate with history
-Added skeleton
-Added graphical launcher
-Added FATX2 wrapper
-fixed minor crash problems
Comments
------------
This was the first version we felt kinda confident with.
Post by: TwisTz on April 22, 2003, 05:16:00 PM
TwisTz goes off to the usual places...
DELETED: Channel contains Binaries built with XDK
Post by: penguinofdoom564 on April 22, 2003, 05:37:00 PM
Post by: HSDEMONZ on April 22, 2003, 07:58:00 PM
Only downside.. I could connect via FTP and see my XBOX.. but any transfer to or from locked up the XBOX.
Can't wait to see the next release of this guys. Keep up the great work! I see this app as a future EVOX Dash replacement.. not just yet tho...
Post by: HSDEMONZ on April 22, 2003, 07:58:00 PM
Post by: Heet on April 22, 2003, 08:10:00 PM
Post by: shanafan on April 22, 2003, 08:48:00 PM
shanxbox on IRC on Xbox at #avalaunch
Watching shanxbox on TV from IRC on PC is awesome!
Post by: SniperKilla on April 22, 2003, 09:47:00 PM
Post by: simbot82 on April 22, 2003, 10:15:00 PM
Post by: Jsmith on April 22, 2003, 10:25:00 PM
| QUOTE (simbot82 @ Apr 23 2003, 12:15 AM) |
| Hey I really like the look of this dash and I can't wait to give it a whirl but my internet conneciton( through the company I work at) won't allow access to irc, p2p and certain websites. Could anyone point me in the direction of an alternative solution. If so PM me please |
www.hotjobs.com
Post by: SniperKilla on April 22, 2003, 10:31:00 PM
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 22, 2003, 11:56:00 PM
| QUOTE (pez @ Apr 23 2003, 06:30 AM) |
| You should allow an option to disable use of the long filename database for those people who are paranoid about possible corruption. If for some unforseen reason Avalaunch starts causing problems, a user might have to go back to using Evox and at that point, loss of the LFN database would make some short filenames look all wrong. Does the long filename database keep track of names that don't need it (such as filenames that are already less than 32 chars)? Would it be more efficient or safer for it to ignore filenames shorter than the 32 char limit? |
We will put in such an option so that you can choose not to support long file names.
All folder and file names that has less than (or equal to) 42 characters are NOT put into the database, so you don't have to worry about any thing. It's only when your uploading files with long filenames that the 'FATX2' is kicking in...
Post by: the joker on April 23, 2003, 02:38:00 AM
-avalaunch crew
Post by: TwisTz on April 23, 2003, 02:42:00 AM
Post by: XB0X_Mod on April 23, 2003, 04:09:00 AM
Post by: harryb on April 23, 2003, 04:19:00 AM
* the xbe wasn't patched, so it wouldn't run on older bioses.
how do i fix this
what do we hex edit..?
Post by: Dense on April 23, 2003, 05:30:00 AM
Post by: harryb on April 23, 2003, 06:53:00 AM
edit - got the patched version
gonna try it out now
Post by: harryb on April 23, 2003, 07:22:00 AM
and i cant get irc working, it says connecting to server but it never does
Post by: nachonut on April 23, 2003, 08:36:00 AM
Post by: btz on April 23, 2003, 08:55:00 AM
Post by: HSDEMONZ on April 23, 2003, 09:50:00 AM
It works great with AVALAUNCH.. limit the number of sessions to 2 (1 transfer) this way there is no corruption.
TJ and I noticed that the more threads added during transfers.. the worse the FTP corruption got. The corruption.. was the file apparently transferring fine.. but not showing up on the PC.
Long File Names works well.. as I was able to transfer files named liked...
"Re Sega gen roms REQ doax nude patch & daphne full repost and Vanguard rom for colecovision a dinosaurs tale - a_dinosoaurs_tale.bin (by [email protected]).txt"
to the XBOX via LEECH no problem! Course.. characters that would trip up EVOX still trip up AVA! Like the "+" character.. will cause AVA to lock up!
Until the new release.. Cykiller has suggested using the XRENAME tool... which helps..
Also note.. that DIR on the XBOX that had names with spaces like "RUN LIKE HELL" get renamed on the PC to RUN_LIKE_HELL... I reported this to TJ already.. so it should be an easy fix...
TEAM AVALAUNCH.. keep up the good work!
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 23, 2003, 11:06:00 AM
| QUOTE (manekineko @ Apr 23 2003, 06:41 PM) |
| Any plans to add support for wierd filenames? Similar again to what Win95 did for DOS. |
Haven't tought about that - not a bad idea really.
We'll put it on the wanted features list.
- Avalaunch crew
Post by: ^Blazed^ on April 23, 2003, 11:09:00 AM
Kudos to Kardigy for putting it up
Xbox Skins
- Avalaunch crew
Post by: SniperKilla on April 23, 2003, 12:55:00 PM
a weird thing is it dosent work in xpad either which supports a kb, i donno whats up, but it works flawless in linux
Post by: Crash N Burn on April 23, 2003, 06:45:00 PM
Some emu's came up as unknown but other than that . It fuckin ROCKS !!!!!!..................................................Crash N Burn
Post by: t_rex on April 24, 2003, 12:41:00 AM
| QUOTE (Kuis @ Apr 24 2003, 01:47 AM) |
| err... i dont see any "enter" option on the virtual keyboard on the irc chat function :/ |
I was in the Avalaunch IRC channel last night, me and alot of other people are reporting that the enter button (Y) for the virtual keyboard doesn't work
They said they'll work on it
Post by: the joker on April 24, 2003, 04:28:00 AM
The main errors like enter and settings will be taken care of right away, hopefully also the bugs in ftp, but that is a bit harder to locate due to too many unknown factors. I'll figure it out anyway tho =) Also gonna take care of the special chars real soon.
sidenote :
Blaz has been working hard on the filemanager, and if you thought avalaunch looks good without - it'll blow you away when you see it, and Lys is working on a wicked skinning system that will please people that makes skins =)
Ava team
Post by: sk8dog on April 24, 2003, 08:18:00 AM
EDIT: i really appologize if any of this has been answered/brought up. i seriously couldnt find it