Just a few items that will be available in the next xLobby V3 release.

New Auto Repeat check box

The new Auto Repeat feature when checked will allow any event tied to a button or element when pressed will repeat the event until released. This new feature is helpful for controling and interacting with the GUI and interfacing with external devices.

1. Using a touchscreen provides users the ability to press a button and  have IR controlled volume controls for stereo receivers ramp volumes up or down without having to repeatidly press the button for the event to send an IR command.

2. (Lighting Automation) Allows for static buttons when pressed to ramp lighting levels up or down.

New Keep Aspect Ratio check box

When checked will maintain image aspect ratio’s in xLobby databases. You will have to recreate your thumbnails to make this feature work.

New Variables added under Variables in the skin editor.

Background filename (Displays the name of the current xLobby menu background), Windows Version (Displays the name of the current windows OS) Drag these new variables on to any menu.

New Filters Menu for Movies and Music

1. Filter for no covers

2. Filter by star ratings or star ratings +

A new default field has also been added to every database item, this field
is called “[Unknown]“. You can see the use of this field on the new
“filter” screen for movies. You will also see this field when doing
searches, it will be located on the very last page of a search,
anything that cannot be found related to a specific search field will
be put into this unknown group. This means you could do a search to
show all the movies with unknown genres if you wanted. I highly
recommend looking at the local events on the new moviesquick screen
for an actual real world application of  “[Unknown]”

More Features

3. New variable to return Windows OS version: “%xlobby>windowsversion%”

4. Current zone audio volume control, like master volume but for the current audio zone. See this forum post http://xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=50509#50509

5.  Allow Backup Folder for xLobby to Be Specified under F2.

6.  Add ability to filter by star ratings in Movies.

This news post is subject to changes and updates.

Wes Black

xLobby V3 – 3.0.9338.71
=======================
– 0000173: [generic] backup system for skins and xlobby itself should be intellegent (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000736: [generic] major bug, null reference screen change crash bug, extremely rare but very bad (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000735: [skin editor] selecting an older ir command would cause a crash (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000734: [content playback] After “automatic” update to 3.0.9317.89, attempting to play a movie on a client doesn’t work. (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000733: [skin editor] multi threaded goto screen crash bug (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000732: [setup] Clicking “remove” in F2 causes crash if no movie DB is “highlighted” causes crash. (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000731: [generic] background filename variable added “%xlobby>backgroundfilename%” (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000730: [setup] updating to bleeding edge caused incorrect update status after checking again (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000729: [client/server] stop reconnection button stopped working (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000728: [client/server] main menu did not track in client server mode (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000727: [client/server] back button was tracking for movies on client server mimic (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000737: [setup] update system fix, sometimes it would not apply the updates (stevenhanna6) – resolved.

Information on this release:

1. New xLobby Backup System is located in the Alt+F2 menu (Backup). The first release provides users with the ability to backup A. (Full) this will backup the complete xLobby folder, B. (Skin) this will back up the Skin folder only, C. (Databases) this will backup the Database folder. The files will be compressed and a time and date stamp is applied to the folder name, multiple backups are possible. When a backup file is restored the compressed file is uncompressed and restored to the proper location. Future releases will have additional features such as scheduled backups and xLobby variables so backups can be triggered within xLobby as events. A open folder button will open the xLobby Backups folder location for viewing files that have been created.

2. New xLobby Update System is located in the Alt + F2 (Update). This new system makes it easy for users to download new releases of xLobby and xLobby plugin builds as well as bleeding edge builds for testing. The system also allows us to send package ID numbers out to users so only they can download specific files.

3. New xLobby Log System is located in the Alt + F2 (Logs) will record any action with a time stamp that occurs within xLobby when enabled. The log system will is helpful for users in tracking bugs or verifying commands and events were started. Additional log system tools and features will be added in future xLobby releases to provide users with more  information.

xLobby Backup Screenshot

xLobby Update Screenshot

xLobby Log Screenshot

This news post is subject to changes.

Wes Black

xLobby now has the ability to directly support 12 or more discrete IR ports that are individualy selectable from the skin editor (Optional hardware required). Existing standard xLobby client and server hardware supports 3 zones, or a optional 4 port mirrored IR distribution card. Using Calrads IR distribution products can provide a flexable and powerful IR control system.

xLobby 12 Zone discrete IR control hardware diagram

PDF File link: xLobby multiple IR ports

xLobby 12 Zone IR selection screenshot

Calrad IR distribution news post links:

http://xlobby.com/news/2009/03/06/92-160-ir-distribution-system/

http://xlobby.com/news/2009/03/25/92-161-ir-distribution-system/

http://xlobby.com/news/2009/08/12/calrad-92-165-surface-mount-ir-receiver/

IR Forum Link:

http://www.xlobby.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=25&sid=1c62ba0c2df9560a20a462bc4f2699d2

Use Calrads IR distribution products to expand any of the 12  discrete IR zones.

Calrad 92-167 IR distribution block front view

Calrad 92-167 IR distribution block rear view

92-167 PDF Link: 92-167

xLobby can also be used as a universal IR translator for example:

1. Receive a  single IR command and have it trigger any other Ir, service, RS232 event or macro stored in the system.

2. Receive a single IR command and convert it to any RS232 trigger or IP UDP command, WACI control.

3. Use the xLobby RS232 port and convert RS232 events into IR triggers.

Wes Black