Happy New Year………………………..!

xLobby V3 – 3.0.10002.4
=======================
– 0000743: [skin editor] “auto repeat” check box added under “general” for buttons (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000747: [generic] new “[Unknown]” sort added when properties are not found for an item in searches (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000745: [setup] F2, video percentage settings for media player now visible (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000744: [skin editor] new variable “%xlobby>windowsversion%” (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000749: [setup] auto update features added (updates xLobby after 3 hrs of inactivity) (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000741: [services] Allow Backup Folder to Be Specified (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000510: [skin editor] Image aspect ratio is still incorrect. (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000746: [plugin] Weather shows Fahrenheit (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000679: [generic] Is it possible to display an “empty” genre, plot, director, etc., so that one could see which movies/albums need to be updated? (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000685: [generic] Can you add an “autorepeat” feature option? (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000748: [generic] added ability to filter by star ratings (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000104: [skin editor] x and y coordinates for a button on the screen (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000754: [skin editor] show width and height for an element in skin editor (stevenhanna6) – resolved.

Screenshot No. 1 of the new Coordinates feature, when the Toolbox, Label check boxes are checked off all elements in the menu shows width and height, X,Y position for each element in skin editor.

Screenshot No. 2 of the new Coordinates feature, when the Toolbox, Label and Selected check boxes are checked off any selected element will show width and height, X,Y position.

Screenshot No. 3 of the new Coordinates feature, when the Toolbox, Label and Selected check boxes are checked off, holding down the CTL key enables multiple elements to be selected and will show the width and height, X,Y position for each element.

Screenshot No. 4 of the new Coordinates feature, when the Toolbox, Label and Selected check boxes are checked off, holding down the Shift key enables groups of elements to be selected and will show the width and height, X,Y position for each element.

Screenshot of the new Filters Menu  for Movies, added the ability to filter by Star Ratings + No Covers.

See this early news post on this release: http://xlobby.com/news/2009/12/29/xlobby-next-release-preview/

Wes Black

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

Calrad is currently working on various new prototypes for the next xLobby hardware platform named (Noir) expected out early January 2010 to compliment existing hardware. These new pieces of hardware will fearture full passive cooling with no fans, optional built-in wi-fi, optional optical drives, optional solid state hard drives with hardware to support standard mpeg video playback or standard mpeg + blu-ray playback. Operates from either from 110Vac or 12Vdc, optional 19″ Rack mounting kits. Support options for component, DVI, HDMI, VGA video. Lots of exciting things are planned for 2010. Detailed specifications and more images available soon, stay tunned.

95-2010BR Noir xLobby Bluray Client Brochure: http://www.xlobby.com/pdf/xLobby%20Noir%20Series%20Brochure.pdf

Front of xLobby-Noir Series

Rear of xLobby-Noir Series

Sitting up View of xLobby-Noir Series

xLobby-Noir Series with optical drive

Inside view of the most rescent xLobby-Noir prototype Hardware.

Wes Black \ Calrad

xLobby V3 – 3.0.9317.89
=======================
– 0000719: [plugin] xweather not downloading weather information correctly (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000723: [setup] new update system built into F2 setup, stable and bleeding edge releases available (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000722: [skin editor] skin editor closes after 30 min of being open (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000716: [triggers] keyboard trigers on left/right etc still call the default handlers (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000721: [generic] external web browser does not respond to browser commands (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000720: [setup] check box under client setup to always send com port and ir command to server (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000724: [skin editor] when changing screen set event editor to null (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000718: [animation] Gifs don’t work properly – they appear to “reload after each loop” (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000717: [generic] if i use setvariable to update a value on the playlist, it does not show the new value (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000707: [triggers] allow keyboard for all keys (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000726: [skin editor] add usbuirt zone description to drop down box (stevenhanna6) – resolved.
– 0000725: [skin editor] some server commands disabled when skin editor is open on server (stevenhanna6) – resolved.

Wes Black

L.E.D lighting provides many benefits to conventional lighting, 1. No heat, 2. Low operating costs, 3. Flexibility of changing lighting brightness with  various color combinations to suit different environments, 4. The ease of bending and creating different lighting elements, 5. Indoor/outdoor use, 6. Low voltage DC power.  xLobby can control L.E.D. style lighting in several different ways,  manual controller, IR or IR+RS232 controllers. Calrad now carries L.E.D lighting products, below are two brochures. White L.E.D strip lighting, Part No. 92-300, RGB L.E.D strip lighting,  Part No. 92-301.

92-341 IR RGB lighting controller Brochure PDF File: Calrad-xLobby L.E.D lighting, IR Remote RGB Controller

 92-340 Manual RGB lighting controller Brochure PDF File: Calrad-xLobby L.E.D lighting, Manual RGB Controller

Floor, Ceiling, Touchscreen L.E.D strip lighting

Ceiling L.E.D strip lighting

Information on L.E.D’s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diode

Wes Black

Using xLobbys xcontroller service you can control any RS232 device with full 2 way communication, any xLobby hard wired clients or wireless xLobby webtablets that are connected to the network has access to the resources of Xantech hardware. One way communication is also available directly from the core resource events (RS232) in xLobby without using the xLobby xcontroller service. We will be adding basic control menus for Xantech to be included in future releases of xlobby this will assist users in setting up Xantech hardware quickly for xLobby to control.

xLobby Basic Xantech control  menu

The settings below mut be properly setup in order for the xLobby xController service to communicate with the Xantech MRC88M Controller/Amplifier.

xantech rs232 project settings, com port settings

1. xantech’s rs232 router enable, checked
2. router’s default port enabled, checked
3. default router port 1
4. router port 1
5. 9600-8-N-1
6. Process RS232 Input, checked

Xantech Dragon Drop RS232 Setup Screenshot

xLobby xController Sevice Screenshot communicating with the Xantech MRC88M

Xantech MRC88M Eight Zone/Source Audio/Video Controller/Amplifier

Front

Back

The MRC88M is an eight-source, eight-zone A/V distribution amplifier that allows the control and distribution of eight separate source components to eight different zones, with the capacity to expand to up to sixteen zones of control and distribution. It allows control of source components through both RS232 and IR.

Features:

• Eight Audio inputs
• Eight Video inputs
• Eight zone-specific outputs
• Expandable to 16 zones
• Six Zone built-in amplification
• Controllable through SPLCD SmartPad LCD™ as well as dedicated MRC88 keypads
• Easily programmed through Universal Dragon-Drop IR™ software
• Programmable macros allows simplified device control
• Intelligent Power Management for positive device control through video and current sense on _all 8 source      inputs
• 16 routable IR ports
• Two routable bi-directional RS232 ports
• Also available in 230 VAC / 50 Hz.

RS232 Codes: http://www.xantech.com/products/av_distribution/MRC2%20RS232%20Comm.pdf

Using the expansion port from the MRC88M  provides communicaion to connect either Xantech HD44C (4 x 4) or HD88C (8 x 8) component video matrix switchers.

Front

Source Loop-Through Connection
The source inputs are buffered to provide an output at the same level as the input; i.e. Unity Gain (assuming a 75-ohm termination is on the output). Use these connections for HD88 expansion systems. The buffers are an active circuit. The HD88 must be powered on for an active connection. The jacks are color-coordinated to match the HD source component output color scheme.

Source Inputs
These are Gold-plated RCA jacks providing a connection from the output of a source component to the video matrix switcher. The jacks are color-coordinated to match the HD source component output color scheme.

RS232 (Serial) Commands and Expansion
The RS232 Port is bi-directional. The communication parameters are set to 9600 Baud 8-N-1. The 8-Source, 8-Zone HD Video Matrix Switcher can be expanded into larger systems. By using any using multiple (up to four) units, a larger High-Definition distribution system can be created for up to 32 Zones of Component Video and Digital Audio Distribution. The expanded units must have their own unique address. The included RS232 expansion cable allows the units to be daisy-chained via the RS232 control ports. This is done by connecting the SERIAL LINK port of the master to the XANTECH COM PORT of the other unit. The XANTECH COM PORT of the master is utilized to provide control of the entire system. Note that the Master is the main controlling unit. This unit is in charge of coordinating the communications between all expanded units. It is identified as the master by the unit address assigned to it.

IR Bus
The IR-IN port utilizes a 3.5mm mono jack. Use this port to connect to an IR emitter output port of a Xantech connecting block.

Xantech website: http://www.xantech.com/

Wes Black

Wes Black

xLobby’s mini client can control lighting for a simple home theater installation. Using the mini client with a NAS solution for storing Movies and UPB carrier based lighting technology you can create a inexpensive but simple method to provide full 2 way  lighting control in a single room or home theater environment. xLobby can turn the lights off or preset them to any desired lighting level when a movie title is played and then turn them back on to any desired lighting scene when a movie is finished. Also direct control of the lighting switches are available from the xLobby lighting menu screen using a touchscreen or directly using a IR remote to access lighting, even simple scheduled programs can be created for daily, or weekly lighting events.

Reliability:

UPB™ uses low frequency, spread spectrum technology which produces a very strong signal. In addition, UPB™ uses true 2-way communications, allowing devices to reveal their status to each other. This feedback, that commands have been successfully executed, results in reliable communications—greater than 99% accurate!

Expandability:

UPB offers a flexible and scalable technology that can create small or large scale electrical and lighting control systems.

Lower Total Cost:

UPB™ sizes existing powerlines, eliminating the need to pre-wire or pull new wire to install a system. Additionally, during the installation of typical PLC products, service callbacks are needed to install filters or repeaters to fix reliability issues. Because UPB™ products work right the first time, installers deploy once and no more service callbacks are required. The end result is a reduction of cost and significantly increased customer satisfaction.

High Speed:

Supports .3 second response time or 10 full commands per second which is 20 to 40 times faster than other PLC technologies. This increase in speed delivers a lighting control system that is responsive to the touch.

Using the (PIM-U) Powerline Interface Module connected to xLobby via USB, signals travel using exixting electrical lines to the wall switches (WS1D) to control each lighting zone.

Simple UPB Lighting Example:

PDF File: xLobby Mini Setup with upb lighting

Pulseworx website: http://pulseworx.com/

Wes Black