Update from Team Xecuter: Xecuter3 info and FlashX v1.1 issues
>> From Team Xecuter:
QUOTE
* X3 is taking a long time due to real life issues, but it is getting there slowly but surely. (If we coded software full time and the hardware guys were full time this would have been released months ago heh) - So what we have done is made a little bios update for all X2 users, essentially to give you a little "teaser" of the kind of stuff we're looking at. Hopefully should be ready by the weekend but it will at least wet your appetites
* We released FlashX v1.1 yesterday but it seems it still has the following issues:
-Detects mod as protected flash when its unprotected
-Very Slow Flashing
-Crash on Bank 4
Now whats strange is that this works perfect on the machines tested on - but these were v1.0 and v1.1. Maybe its an issue with v1.2 / v1.3 ? - We will get this sorted asap
Posted by:: XanTium
August 20 21:36 GMT+1
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News from Team Xecuter about X3
>> From Ubergeek (Team Xecuter) on forums.xbox-scene.com:
QUOTE
I'm sure you are wondering why we havent released a new bios for v1.4 yet and why dont we talk about X3 or the new xbox case designs we revealed a while ago
Well here's a bit of news to wet the appetite:
First of all we had the choice of releasing a new bios for 1.4 or wait a while for the new X3 bios which has X3 hardware dependant features
Well, evox kinda made the decision for us so you simply use M7 for now - next bios from us will be X3 (as most of you now know Xecuter bios's are designed entirley differently to Evox bios which is based on implementing hacks to an official M$ bios - therefore making the "standard" hacks much easier and faster to implement)
X3 hardware is pretty much done - we're just packing as many features into it as physically possible. As soon as the new embedded XBE is done (no its not ftp ) then we will make an announcement of the new hardware as well as the new bios (which will of course be 1.4 / 1.5 compatible) plus the new XBE and PC apps that will be incorporated with it. We havent done this before now as its a bitch to announce a new mod then you wait 6 months to see it. X3 will be announced / released within a 2 week period.
Also expect X3 intergration and support from the main homebrew app guys (especially avalaunch, mxm, xbmp, xbmc and offerings from team assembly and others) We will be discussing various issues with this community in the very very near future.
USB Speed is a also priority on X3 and has been completely tested on all OS and all versions of xbox. We will make sure it has an optimal USB chipset (not decided on USB 1.1 or 2.0 yet - its a matter of cost vs function)
On a final note - we're concentrating all efforts now on finishing X3. Most of the time has been on spent on design ideas / implementation. We've been listening to what all of you wanted and what other mod makers have offered. We feel X3 will be the ultimate mod for your xbox giving you all the features you desire both functionally and "coolness".
We won't be showing any feature lists until its all done and finished. However we will offer the chance for you to offer suggestions and ideas for the FINAL version which will be the one that will hit the stores before Christmas.
About the xbox case: As soon as X3 is finished we will be investing in getting that finished too. A website will be hosted and we will be listening to all your ideas and suggestions which will ulimatley be a design that YOU asked for.
in the meantime enjoy what's available to you right now
News-Source/Discussion: forums.xbox-scene.com
Posted by:: XanTium
October 3 00:55 GMT+1
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Xecuter3 new prototype picture
>> Team Xecuter just released another image of their Xecuter3 prototype.
No design/layout image this time, but a synthetic picture of the Xecuter3 mainboard.
Keep in mind this is a DEVELOPMENT board (for debugging and software development) ... the final pcb will probably look completely different.
Full size picture: http://www.teamxecuter.com/x3dev.htm
What I see from the picture (!nothing official!):
* 2 flash chips of unknown size (one clearly larger then the other). Just an extra fail-safe feature? or do they plan to do something special with 2 'bios' chips instead of one real big. Maybe one will be used to store an .xbe ...
* all solder install methods (wire connector, male(?) headerpin and I think on the top it's a X1-style alias 'quick-solder' install system)
* connectors for the external adaptor and (optional) expansion board you could see on the design/layout image
* 2 series of 6 pins ... no idea what that is ... this board isn't final though, so it might just be debug-stuff ... or might not
Thanks to Harel for the link
Posted by:: XanTium
October 20 15:58 GMT+1
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New Xecuter website + new X3 picture and WIP Bios Manager/FlashBIOS v2.27
>> Lots of new stuff from from Team Xecuter.
First of all a new color picture of the Xecuter3 prototype has been released:
QUOTE
I'm sure many of you are wondering about the forthcoming Xecuter 3 - or "X3" as we tend to call it these days. Well development is going strong and to give you a glimpse of what we're up to - here is a picture of our debugging and dev hardware (and before you ask no this isn't what the mod will look like heh)
A new version of the X-ecuter2 Bios Manager(info) will be released soon:
QUOTE
The very popular and much used Xecuter Bios Manager has received a facelift. A few bugs have been ironed out along with a couple of new features including much improved Xecuter Modchip detection (It can auto detect if you have a Lite or Pro fitted). Also included is an online bios.ini updater so you can keep up to date with the latest MD5 database. We expect it to be finished in the next few days - however hre's a screen shot of our current beta.
Check out the preview screenshot
Also a new Flashbios (based on cromwell 2.27) will be released soon with added support for Xbox v1.4 and v1.5:
QUOTE
The current version of FlashBIOS is based on the Cromwell(info) v1.8 code which as most of you know is quite buggy. The new Cromwell v2.27 fixes many problems and is so much more stable including support for the new Focus video encoder (v1.4 / v1.5 Xbox's) We're doing some final testing so you can expect it to be in our downloads section in the next few hours.
They also launched their new website:
QUOTE
After gallons of coffee and a years supply of pro plus, we are very pleased to reveal our new support site. It's still a work in progress so you may see many changes day to day - especially to the tutorials section. Please feel free to sign up and take advantage of whats on offer.
And there's some news about the Xecuter FlashX(info) v1.2 that was released some days ago already.
Official Site: http://www.teamxecuter.com
Posted by:: XanTium
October 22 02:54 GMT+1
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Xecuter3 features announced
>> From TeamXecuter.com:
We thought we'd offer Xbox mod fans an early Christmas present and give you an insight into Xecuter3.
For some time we've been thinking of what could we possibly add to an Xbox mod, as for most of you it already does everything you need. Well the answer was simple - the features to add would purely be from a fun and ease of use perspective, so that's exactly how we approached it. Here's what's coming in 2004.....
2MB Flash Rom With 15 Bios Storage Options
256K Backup Rom with Cromwell(info) FlashBIOS v2.2.7
i2c Bus for X3 Config LIVE!
USB Programming Controller (Perfect if your flash is damaged and for easy Windows config of app)
Flash Rom Upgrade Module (Larger flash roms)
Flash Protection Control
Mod Disable - Quick Press of Power or Eject (External LED will indicate RED)
Hold Power+Eject >1 second to boot from 256k Backup Rom (External LED will indicate YELLOW)
Hold Power >1 second to boot from 2Mb Flash Rom (256k Bios bank 0) (External LED will indicate GREEN)
HDD Activity LED
LAN Activity LED
LPC/D0 Alignment LED
D0/A15 Control to flash onboard bios (TSOP)
Wire Install Option
Pin Header Install Option
No-Solder Pogo Pin Install Option (new Design pogo's for easier install) **
No-Solder None-Pogo Install Option (new bespoke design for easier install) **
Compatible with all current bios's
X3 Debug output for future development
External controller for USB & Mod Control
Supplied with all adapters & wires
Bank Modes:
256k/256k/256k/256k/256k/256k/256k/256k/
512k/512k/512k/512k/
1024k/1024k
2048k
4096k (Optional)
X3 Config LIVE!
All X3 Config Live! features are displayed on screen - also currently in the middle of developing an affordable LCD module for external display of various functions.
* All works direct from new X3 on any new install !
* Select which bios bank to boot from on-the-fly
* Select which bios bank to program
* Display / Edit bios names from each bank
* Customize all features of the bios on-the-fly
* LBA48 Live Control (Select Partition 6 or 6+7)
* IGR Live Control (Enable or Disable)
* Hot Button Feature (select different features to be executed with gamepad combos)
* Customize startup animation colors on-the-fly
* Customize startup flubber colors on-the-fly
* Password your XBOX for extra security
* Change your power LED color on the fly
* Set your Internal Fan Speed on-the-fly
* Eject Trick Live Control
* Boot to original MS Dash
* Boot to original MS Bios
* Load Bios from HDD C and Flash
* Load Bios from DVD-ROM and Flash
* Load Bios from HDD E and Flash
* Select Bank(s) for Flashing
* Format HDD
* Lock HDD
* Unlock HDD
* Set / Display Video Mode
* Progressive Scan Control (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i)
* Set / Display Game Region
* Set / Display DVD Region
* Display HDD Password
* Save EEPROM to X3
* Restore EEPROM from X3
* Save Settings to EEPROM
* Set default dashboard
* Setup custom dashboard selection
* Future integration into Avalaunch(info) & MediaXMenu(info)
* Many new features to be added with free updates
** No solder options and bespoke designs not finalized or agreed on just yet.
Post all questions / comments / feedback / wishlist to this thread.
This is where we currently are. A few features still need fixing due to minor bugs but it's simply a time issue as opposed to difficulty. There are more features too but we haven't addressed them just yet. Bear in mind all new X3 Config Live! features to this mod will be a simple free update. If we were to guess I'd say that its about 85% completed. I can also confirm that the new case design has just begun its final development phase so we're hoping to have that ready in the first Q of 2004 also.
Please note this is not a final feature list. There will obviously be changes when it goes gold, it all depends on timescale. However if anything is left out it will be added as a free update - this also goes for features not listed, there may be even more
We'd just like to give props to all those who have had a major input into this new design. It's taken a lot of hard work to get this far and it's been a huge group effort - thanks guys !
Not forgetting xbox-scene.com, worldxbox.co.uk and maxconsole.com for their support in collating members ideas and suggestions on what they would like to see in a new mod.
December 5 22:57 CEST
