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Avalaunch v0.49 Release Notes
===============================================================================
It's been a while (quite a LONG while actually) since our last release now.
Some people have been complaining about the lack of updates lately, but we
assure you all - we've been putting as much time into Avalaunch as we've
had the chance to. But unfortunately, real life has caught up with us (some of
us at least), and has required a bit of time.
We have, however, been able to sort out most of the bugs in the previous
release, and we've done extensive testing to make sure there aren't too many
new bugs either.
We'd also like to take this chance to welcome a new member to our team. Those
of you who have been paying attention, will know that JbOnE (tHc) has joined
our ranks. He's been busy doing a lot of nifty stuff that will be part of the
new, reworked codebase. So stay tuned;-)
About video mode switching
--------------------------
To avoid confusion, the runtime modeswitch changes EEPROM values, and
reinitializes screen - then to overwrite with the previous values,
leaving the screenmode as you selected till reboot).
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NOTE
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The EEPROM is an essential part of your Xbox. It contains all the information
the hardware needs to initialize properly. Manipulating the data contained in
this chip always involves a certain risk, as bad data, power failures and other
elements beyond Avalaunch's control can interfere. Although Avalaunch creates
backups, and does everything in its power to ensure that your EEPROM is not
corrupted, we cannot and will not take responsibility for the data contained in
your EEPROM. Please use all EEPROM-manipulating features at your own risk.
===============================================================================
We'd like to thank all our users, you've done a great job reporting those bugs,
and keeping us on our toes with new feature requests :-)...
Special thanks fly to bmbr for hosting and maintaining our web site, to D-Blood
for hosting and maintaining our bug tracker and the whole testing team for so
much dedication to help us deliver a great release of Avalaunch!
Also thanks to modchipman for the logo contest prizes and no_remorse for the
great Avalaunch jewels. You guys rock!
- Team Avalaunch
(The Joker (TJ_CRS), ^Blazed^, lys, jjsmither (Devenic),
JbOnE, r0wdy, A_Snowman)
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CHANGELOG
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ACAM / APOD
-----------
- Checks for parental settings and disables feature totally if set ( it does
still allow online skins though - as they are not hosted or controlled by
Team Avalaunch )
- Made Avalaunch friendlier to booting from DVD, since obiously it can't
download images from the net to the dvd - it uses Z: instead.
- Made a setting allowing apod/acam to store what it downloads into localpics
(see Localpics section for details) for offline usage later.
- Rewrote major parts of the ACAM/APOD engine to make it more configurable.
- Fixed some rare ACAM crashbugs.
Audio
-----
- Some odd MP3 streams caused the engine to detect the wrong values, so we made
a an "auto-adjuster" that recreates the stream with the correct values.
- Fixed playback of small WMA's that would appear looping.
- Fixed a major problem regarding subdirectories in playlists.
- Fixed some more core issues in the MPEG engine.
Boot
----
- Added possibility of having a bootup logo (\bootimage.png if you don't want
the embedded JPG).
- Automatically detects the need for repartitionning and full format. Optional
ofcourse.
- Rewrote parts of network initialization so that it's less demanding on
network on boot (shouldn't care if network interface is locked).
- Fixed some issues in Quickstart that could occur now and then.
- Fixed the main problem we've had with Quickstart; that it would only work in
port 1. Works in all ports now.
Core
----
- Added 'Kålbæks (tm)' (callback hooks for the menu system to you
Norwegian-word-pun-impaired people)
- Did a rewrite that allows you to boot with a unformatted harddrive.
- Fixed the X/Y/Z mount problem.
- Enabled harddrive locking.
EEPROM
------
- Fixed all known issues regarding EEPROM writing (loop-tested a few thousand
videomode switches without any differences in the EEPROM).
- Added a "master lock" for EEPROM writeback access that will refuse any EEPROM
access unless the user explicitly grants permission.
- Added an extra security that denies all access to EEPROM if the harddrive is
locked.
- Found some very friendly and safe methods to let the kernel do all the CRC
calculations for us. It also checks that all checksums are correct along with
valid videomodes and mac address and some other important values. Avalaunch
will restore a backup right away if any wrong values are detected.
Fonts
-----
- Fonts are now checked if they got to Z: before loading them from there (will
load from default location otherwise).
FTP
---
- Fixed the filename clipper so you can in theory upload files with names that
exceed 42 characters.
Game Extras
-----------
- Added XR8D's Rainbow Six 3 map downloader system for homebrew maps. Thanks
guys - this is only the beginning =) (hint: START on rainbow six after
enabling it in settings).
- Added a check routine to make sure you always have the latest map installed.
- Added a queue system that allows you to select several maps for download at
once (although it will download one-by-one).
Games
-----
- Added a function to delete saved data like LIVE downloads due to popular
demand.
User Interface
--------------
- Added some options to deny ava to use 720p and 1080i ( SniperKil request )
- Added support for overlay PNG's that will be rendered on top of the
background.
Copy it to the current skin directory and call it "overlay.png".
- Fixed flickering in the overlay engine at boot.
- Made it possible to disable all popups - and only get popups if there is a
major error (possible to disable that too though).
HTTP Engine
-----------
- Rewrote parts of the HTML engine regarding downloads and timeouts. Should be
conceived as much faster and more accurate now.
- Fixed a major stream problem.
- Added a progress counter/a bit more feedback to the user.
- Fixed some issues regarding 404 errors as well as issues with the occational
misparsed URL.
- Small fix, it will allow local files now - it'll just "fake" downloading the
file.
Xlink KAI
---------
- Wrote library from scratch to cooperate with xlink KAI evo 7.
- Added new commands to do stuff like tell the number of people in the
vectors.
Localpics
---------
- Made it possible to use a file called "forward" containing new path like
f:\familyalbum (no "\" termination).
Applications
------------
- If network settings locates downloadservice.txt, it will open the URL in
that file and allow applications to be downloaded directly from a webserver.
See the specifications in the xbox-scene forums on how to use this feature.
- Added basic support for the "common" parameter system we located on xports
systems, also added a XBMC autodetect for this so when xbmc adds parameter
passing support it will automatically start media files when you click on
them.
Savegames
---------
- XBS changed servers and some issues appeared. Fixed those issues and made
it speedy again.
Screensaver
-----------
- Made it a bit more interesting with some 3d enviroment mapped stuff. Can be
made to use your own 3d models. Simply make .x file and call it
"screensaver.x". Copy it to the same directory as the Avalaunch XBE.
- Added a dynamic screensaver background that is in the skin, put a link to a
picture on the web into screensaver.lnk in the selected skin and it'll show
on screensaver activation.
Settings
--------
- Fixed a bug in the hardware settings that would overwrite some rather
important strings.
- Added a keyboard selector to change between the 2 types available.
- Rewrote everything. Made a new UI component common for settings. This makes
it ready for the new UI when it gets there (huge rewrite).
- Added HDTV options (as found in MS's dashboard).
- Added code for initializing HDTV modes, and "revert" code that will restore
previous mode if you don't approve.
- Made a bit more interesting temperature log.
- Rewrote network settings and put SNTP into it while at it.
- Changed the languages layout a little.
- Added mono/surround/DTS/AC3 options into AV settings.
- Rewrote parts of Quickstart settings.
- Added some screensaver settings to options.
Skinning
--------
- Made a separate local skin engine that browses through pics locally stored
in skins\localpics\ (use for personal slideshow or something if you want).
- Rewrote the entire online/local skin selector.
Update
------
- Added a setting in options that would make Avalaunch keep itself being the
latest version without bothering the user (does not touch the XML file though).
Video
-----
- Fixed a crashbug related to screensavers and reinitialization of the
videocore (PAL/NTSC runtime switching).
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Topic: Avalaunch V0.49 Alpha (Read 187 times)