Difference between revisions of "BlackThunder"
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{{Infobox emulator | {{Infobox emulator | ||
|title = BlackThunder | |title = BlackThunder | ||
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|logowidth = 155 | |logowidth = 155 | ||
|developer = Hangzhou Kiwi Logic Technology Co., Ltd | |developer = Hangzhou Kiwi Logic Technology Co., Ltd | ||
− | |version = | + | |version = v2.5.25.2203 |
− | |active = | + | |active = No |
− | |platform = Windows | + | |platform = [[Emulators on Windows|Windows]] |
|architecture = x86 | |architecture = x86 | ||
|target = [[iOS emulators|iOS]] | |target = [[iOS emulators|iOS]] | ||
Line 18: | Line 17: | ||
|source = | |source = | ||
}} | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''BlackThunder''' (Chinese: 黑雷) is a commercial, closed-source iOS emulator developed by Hangzhou Kiwi Logic Technology Co., Ltd in China. Currently it is capable to run a few commercial iOS applications and games. | ||
+ | |||
==General Information== | ==General Information== | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||
− | |||
! scope="col"|Name | ! scope="col"|Name | ||
! scope="col"|OS | ! scope="col"|OS | ||
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|BlackThunder | |BlackThunder | ||
|Windows | |Windows | ||
− | | | + | |v2.0.25.2181 |
|{{~}} <ref group=N name=free>Some games require payment by usage time.</ref> | |{{~}} <ref group=N name=free>Some games require payment by usage time.</ref> | ||
|VirtualBox (public versions) / VMware Workstation (beta versions) | |VirtualBox (public versions) / VMware Workstation (beta versions) | ||
Line 40: | Line 41: | ||
Unlike previous iOS emulation attempts, BlackThuder make use of iOS emulator embedded in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xcode Xcode], which form a double-layer virtualization, rather than trying to emulate iOS devices (iPhone, iPad etc.) themselves. | Unlike previous iOS emulation attempts, BlackThuder make use of iOS emulator embedded in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xcode Xcode], which form a double-layer virtualization, rather than trying to emulate iOS devices (iPhone, iPad etc.) themselves. | ||
− | + | In the past, a specially made [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackintosh Hackintosh] VirtualBox disk image (Which is a highly trimmed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS macOS] High Sierra containing Xcode) is required for BlackThuder, but users need to obtain the image manually on the downloading page of BlackThunder website. As of version 2.0, the Hackintosh image is intergated to BlackThuder's installer and the website is therefore no longer provide any download link to it. | |
− | BlackThunder is capable to run up to | + | BlackThunder is capable to run up to 73 commercial iOS apps (10 programs and 63 games), including some popular games like ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_of_Valor Arena of Valor]''. All apps must be downloaded from BlackThunder's own server and typically, users cannot directly run their own apps. However, any company or individual that obtained permissions from Developer Platform can sumbit their apps (packaged in patched <code>IPA</code> format) to BlackThunder. All sumbitted apps that were secured and reviewed by BlackThunder will be added to the server.<ref>https://www.heilei.com/question_content-78.html</ref> |
+ | |||
+ | All officially supported app run quite fine (including graphic, 3D acceleration, sound, touch and network) as long as the host PC is capable to. | ||
==System Requirements== | ==System Requirements== | ||
Due to its double-layer virtualization, a mid-high end PC is required. | Due to its double-layer virtualization, a mid-high end PC is required. | ||
− | Officially suggested hardware : <ref>https://www.heilei.com/question_content-54.html</ref> | + | Officially suggested hardware: <ref>https://www.heilei.com/question_content-54.html</ref> |
− | * CPU:Intel i3 series | + | * CPU: Intel i3 series or better |
+ | ** AMD processors are '''NOT SUPPORTED''' due to the Hackintosh image used in the emulator is not patched for AMD. | ||
* RAM: 8GB or more | * RAM: 8GB or more | ||
− | * Disk: 10GB or more free space | + | * Disk: 10GB or more free space |
+ | ** SSDs are recommended due to high read/write burden on hard drive. | ||
* Video card: Any modern video card that support OpenGL is okay. | * Video card: Any modern video card that support OpenGL is okay. | ||
Line 56: | Line 61: | ||
[[File:Blackthunder Component Diagram.svg|200px|thumb|right|Blackthunder Component Diagram]] | [[File:Blackthunder Component Diagram.svg|200px|thumb|right|Blackthunder Component Diagram]] | ||
− | Due to its | + | Due to its proprietary status, working principle of BlackThunder is not clear yet, but a component diagram can be plotted out by analyzing the behavior from a running emulator. |
− | When emulator is started, BlackThunder backend will first load up VirtualBox, which load up the Hackintosh image | + | When emulator is started, BlackThunder backend will first load up VirtualBox, which load up the Hackintosh image. Such image contain a copy of Xcode that will be started and also load built-in iOS simulator (a.k.a "Xcode simulator") once the macOS in the image is booted up, hence the double-layer virtualization is set up. All graphics and sounds from the Xcode simulator will be send to BlackThunder frontend, which send user inputs to backend. |
− | Xcode simulator can only run | + | Xcode simulator can only run x86-based apps, while ARM-based apps can't, so a "conversion", or to say, decompiling, is needed. This is done beforehand by BlackThunder, and that is why users cannot add their own apps. How decompiling is done is unknown, due to it's on the server side and users cannot interfere with this process. All iOS apps in "BlackThunder App Store" are actually unzipped x86 <code>IPA</code> packages. These packages will be injected into the Xcode simulator in the VirtualBox disk image and be executed within. |
==Issues== | ==Issues== | ||
===Legal Issues=== | ===Legal Issues=== | ||
− | The Hackintosh image used in BlackThunder is highly trimmed (under 3GB) and contain other modification compared to regular macOS in Mac computers | + | The Hackintosh image used in BlackThunder is highly trimmed (under 3GB) and contain other modification compared to regular macOS in Mac computers, which violates [https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macOS1013.pdf Apple Software License Agreement of macOS High Sierra]. |
− | |||
− | |||
===Lack of Applications=== | ===Lack of Applications=== | ||
− | Currently, users cannot load their own apps into the emulator, and BlackThunder | + | Currently, users cannot load their own apps directly into the emulator (although sumbitting apps from Developer Platform is allowed), and all apps provided by BlackThunder are heavily China-oriented, which render it useless for non-Chinese users. |
===Localization Issues=== | ===Localization Issues=== | ||
− | + | The emulator UI is in Chinese and not localized. However, users can still change the emulated iOS UI language. | |
− | |||
===Payment=== | ===Payment=== | ||
Though BlackThunder is free to use, some games require extra payment by usage time, and numbers of applications of free users are also limited. | Though BlackThunder is free to use, some games require extra payment by usage time, and numbers of applications of free users are also limited. | ||
+ | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Category:Emulators]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Mobile emulators]] | ||
+ | [[Category:iOS emulators]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Closed-source emulators]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Windows emulation software]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Inactive emulation software]] |
Latest revision as of 21:39, 26 May 2024
![]() | |
Developer(s) | Hangzhou Kiwi Logic Technology Co., Ltd |
---|---|
Latest version | v2.5.25.2203 |
Active | No |
Platform(s) | Windows |
Architecture(s) | x86 |
Emulates | iOS |
Website | heilei.com |
License | Closed-source |
BlackThunder (Chinese: 黑雷) is a commercial, closed-source iOS emulator developed by Hangzhou Kiwi Logic Technology Co., Ltd in China. Currently it is capable to run a few commercial iOS applications and games.
Contents
General Information[edit]
Name | OS | Version | Free | VM | Accuracy | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BlackThunder | Windows | v2.0.25.2181 | ~ [N 1] | VirtualBox (public versions) / VMware Workstation (beta versions) | N/A[N 2] | ✗ |
Unlike previous iOS emulation attempts, BlackThuder make use of iOS emulator embedded in Xcode, which form a double-layer virtualization, rather than trying to emulate iOS devices (iPhone, iPad etc.) themselves.
In the past, a specially made Hackintosh VirtualBox disk image (Which is a highly trimmed macOS High Sierra containing Xcode) is required for BlackThuder, but users need to obtain the image manually on the downloading page of BlackThunder website. As of version 2.0, the Hackintosh image is intergated to BlackThuder's installer and the website is therefore no longer provide any download link to it.
BlackThunder is capable to run up to 73 commercial iOS apps (10 programs and 63 games), including some popular games like Arena of Valor. All apps must be downloaded from BlackThunder's own server and typically, users cannot directly run their own apps. However, any company or individual that obtained permissions from Developer Platform can sumbit their apps (packaged in patched IPA
format) to BlackThunder. All sumbitted apps that were secured and reviewed by BlackThunder will be added to the server.[1]
All officially supported app run quite fine (including graphic, 3D acceleration, sound, touch and network) as long as the host PC is capable to.
System Requirements[edit]
Due to its double-layer virtualization, a mid-high end PC is required.
Officially suggested hardware: [2]
- CPU: Intel i3 series or better
- AMD processors are NOT SUPPORTED due to the Hackintosh image used in the emulator is not patched for AMD.
- RAM: 8GB or more
- Disk: 10GB or more free space
- SSDs are recommended due to high read/write burden on hard drive.
- Video card: Any modern video card that support OpenGL is okay.
How It Works[edit]
Due to its proprietary status, working principle of BlackThunder is not clear yet, but a component diagram can be plotted out by analyzing the behavior from a running emulator.
When emulator is started, BlackThunder backend will first load up VirtualBox, which load up the Hackintosh image. Such image contain a copy of Xcode that will be started and also load built-in iOS simulator (a.k.a "Xcode simulator") once the macOS in the image is booted up, hence the double-layer virtualization is set up. All graphics and sounds from the Xcode simulator will be send to BlackThunder frontend, which send user inputs to backend.
Xcode simulator can only run x86-based apps, while ARM-based apps can't, so a "conversion", or to say, decompiling, is needed. This is done beforehand by BlackThunder, and that is why users cannot add their own apps. How decompiling is done is unknown, due to it's on the server side and users cannot interfere with this process. All iOS apps in "BlackThunder App Store" are actually unzipped x86 IPA
packages. These packages will be injected into the Xcode simulator in the VirtualBox disk image and be executed within.
Issues[edit]
Legal Issues[edit]
The Hackintosh image used in BlackThunder is highly trimmed (under 3GB) and contain other modification compared to regular macOS in Mac computers, which violates Apple Software License Agreement of macOS High Sierra.
Lack of Applications[edit]
Currently, users cannot load their own apps directly into the emulator (although sumbitting apps from Developer Platform is allowed), and all apps provided by BlackThunder are heavily China-oriented, which render it useless for non-Chinese users.
Localization Issues[edit]
The emulator UI is in Chinese and not localized. However, users can still change the emulated iOS UI language.
Payment[edit]
Though BlackThunder is free to use, some games require extra payment by usage time, and numbers of applications of free users are also limited.