Team Blackbolt http://blackbolt.x-scene.com Team Blackbolt produces skins and applications for the XBMC community. en <![CDATA[Release: Ellipsis Pre 1.2 (Revision 2866) Dharma Compatible]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com Ellipsis, Pre 1.2. It's not the full version of the new update, it's missing a few key components like the Add-On settings and info windows, but the Add-On browser is in there and it's Dharma compatible. But we thought we’d give you guys a chance to test the changes we’ve made.
You can read the full change log on the project page for Ellipsis here. You can download a zip version of the build here or you can visit the Official XBMC Skins SVN here and build a copy yourself.

If you would like to discuss Ellipsis or if you have any ideas to help improve Ellipsis, then you can check out our sub-forum @ XBMC.org forums right here.

If you would also like to help contribute towards the time and effort we put into Ellipsis, you can donate using Pledgie below:

Click here to lend your support to: Ellipsis for XBMC and make a donation at www.pledgie.com !
]]> <![CDATA[Release: Xperience 1.0 UI for XBMC]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com Xperience has now been updated to 1.0 and is no longer in beta. We have also now added the project to the XBMC Skins SVN.

This means that Xperience can be kept up-to-date more easily by XBMC users. This latest build of Xperience, while no longer in a beta stage, does not include the full update to view types that are coming in the future. Also for the first time, Xperience's entire texture library is open for full access.

Please also note that this version of Xperience is not compatible with XBOX, this is due to memory issues. There are no plans for Team Blackbolt to create an Xbox compatible 'Xperience' at all.

Thank you all for downloading! Please remember you can always make suggestions right here on the XBMC forums as well as submit bug reports and even mod suggestions.

You can discuss this release here at the XBMC.org offcial forums.
]]> <![CDATA[Farewell XBOX]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com
XBMC (XBMP really) started as a program for modified XBOX consoles. In the following years, XBMC has grown into a multi-platform, multi-architecture media center that runs on most standard hardware. The hardware and legal limitations of the XBOX were always a concern and the Team has instead focused on running on the hardware that most people already have.

But times have changed. The XBOX has hard limits for what it can handle. Some users are satisfied with these limits, and we encourage them to use XBMC there if they are happy. But it is a popular misconception that official XBOX development is still taking place by the team, so we have decided to set it free. We have enough on our plates already, and worrying about a deprecated platform just increases our workload. A few days ago the XBOX branch was finally removed from our subversion repository.

... You can read the rest of the post by Team XBMC here.

With this news, Team Blackbolt would also like to clarify our position. Due to the unforeseen changes with how XBMC now handles skins, we have decided that our last project for XBOX, an Xbox compatible version of Ellipsis, will now be cancelled. We feel that with our limited time, our efforts are best focused on the main branch of Ellipsis and our other projects.

We do however encourage user-created Xbox compatible versions of our skins. But, we will not be supporting this format ourselves in future.

T'was a good ride upon the black box, but it is now time to expand our horizons and look beyond, without limitation. The shackles are off...

Microsoft, thank you.

 
]]> <![CDATA[New Skin Announced: Fusion for XBMC]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com
Fusion is all about simplicity, usability, and refinement. Taking what others have achieved in the past and making an attempt to improve upon those ideas.

Your input is welcome, though don't be hurt if we say no or your idea seems ignored. Pleasing everyone is an impossibility.

Well enough with the introductions and on to the candy:


You can see more images and discuss 'Fusion' in the XBMC.org forum thread here.
]]> <![CDATA[Release: Ellipsis now available via XBMC SVN]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com
http://xboxmediacenter.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/xboxmediacenter/Ellipsis/

This means that Ellipsis can be kept up-to-date more easily by XBMC users. This latest build of Ellipsis, while no longer in a beta stage, does not include the full update to view types that are coming soon. Also for the first time, our entire texture library is open for full access. For now there is a list of fixes below:

Fixes:
  • Alignment issues introduced in XBMC recently.
  • Fanart performance & animations.
  • Unicode font: more characters added.
  • Red & green buttons overhaul.
  • Settings tabs.
  • NAV menu navigation.
Added:
  • 'Now Playing' Dock Icon to switch back to full-screen.
  • Animated clock with seconds hand.
  • New Debug features.
  • New 'Unwatched' overlays. Work done for 'Collection' Overlays, awaiting XBMC patch.
  • Improved volume slider & icons.
  • Improved file 'frames' for DVD, Tile & Episode views.
As well as being available via SVN, Ellipsis is still available via a compressed package download from the project page here. We will continue to offer Ellipsis in this way for as long as its a good idea, but we do hope to phase out these downloads and go 100% SVN. Please also note that this version of Ellipsis is not compatible with XBOX, this is due to memory issues. There is a version of Ellipsis coming for xbox in the near future, with specific changes and additions specifically for xbox, until then we don't recommend you use this version on xbox.

You can talk about this release in our own forum here and also over at our XBMC forum here.]]> <![CDATA[Ellipsis Update Feb 2010 and New Partners]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com We're getting ever closer to the public release of Ellipsis 1.0 and we thought we'd give you a little update into what's going on. Firstly we're starting work on the new view types, 'Episodes view' as seen in Alaska along with 3 new banner view types are being added. No word yet on when exactly when we'll be ready for the 1.0 release, but you can expect it during spring. We plan to have full svn access available from then on also, this will help users to build the very latest version of the skins much more easily and quicker.
 


We are also announcing our first 'partners' at Team Blackbolt. Eumel and Wingman are developing the Apple TV 3.0 XBMC skin project. Welcome to the team guys. You'll be able to see more of their work in the projects section shortly.

So keep an eye on the site as there's plenty of things happening in 2010.
]]> <![CDATA[Plans for 2010 and Welcome Hitcher]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com 2010 and we’ve already accomplished so much. We have released a new improved update to Xperience with Beta Bravo, we’re making progress on the next major release of Ellipsis and we’re evening planning to have everything available on the SVN as soon as we can to make updating all our skins as easy as possible. As we plan ahead for the rest of the year, the obvious choices are completing both Ellipsis and Xperience to a final state, beyond that is still to be confirmed, but let’s just say it will be a great year.

We would also like to welcome Hitcher to the team. Hitcher has been working extremely hard in the background on his skin Alaska, the cancelled project by Duncan Harris which he so graciously released to the public to continue. While Alaska is certainly not a Team Blackbolt skin, we do welcome Hitcher into the team to make use of our resources. It’s also at this time we would like to ask that if there are any other skinners out there looking for help and ideas with their projects; we’d like to hear from you. We hope that Hitcher is the first of many to join us in our quest to bring extremely high quality interfaces and designs to the community. Let’s share the knowledge.

You can chat with us on our forums, email us or even contact us at XBMC.org forums.  ]]> <![CDATA[Release: Xperience Beta Bravo for XBMC]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com

 
For a more accurate description of what has and hasn't been changed please check here.

We would like to remind you that we only support resolutions 720p and 1080p within XBMC. Any other resolutions can cause adverse effects which we didn't intend and we will only support users with issues experienced at these supported resolutions.

To download the latest Xperience Beta Bravo, please visit the project page here. We recommend the very latest version of XBMC available here.

]]> <![CDATA[Happy New Year!]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com
More news on the next releases for both Ellipsis and Xperience will be posted within the next few days, including new view types that are coming to Ellipsis, bug fixes to increase perfomance especially in Library mode and even some stuff you'd never guess!
]]> <![CDATA[Release: Xperience Beta One for XBMC]]> http://blackbolt.x-scene.com
Thanks goes out in massive proportions to Rocky5, and Arcanthur who with their help have brought Xperience from a vision in my head to a reality. Without you guys I'd still be behind the times, so thank you so much for seeing that this project was worth your time, and for helping out!

Thanks also goes to Team Blackbolt's Team Alpha (Blackbolt, and EqUiNoX) for all of their support and encouragement during the development of Xperience.

Xperience Beta is in NO WAY a complete project, we are quite sure you'll find a few bugs even after we have had our Alpha Status testing. So please if you find something please post in the forums either at http://forum.teamblackbolt.co.uk/, or http://xbmc.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=128 and we will do our best to respond in a timely fashion to anything you may find.

Now go have fun and we hope you will enjoy our skin as much as we have making it for everyone to experience (pun intended).

Enjoy Xperience, download the beta now!
]]>