Changes

|version = v1v2.15.1525.20912203|active = YesNo

|[http://commonv2.heilei0.com/Upload/Bigfile/Version/2019-06-12/HLInstall-125.1.11.2072.exe v1.1.15.2091]<ref group=N name=version>Only v1.1.11.2072 is provided on the website. Users can get v1.1.15.2091 (latest) by its in-program updater. </ref>2181

To use this emulatorIn 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. This for BlackThuder, but users need to obtain the image can be obtained 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 programs apps (10 applications, programs and 63 games), including some popular games like ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_of_Valor Arena of Valor]''. However, all applications All apps must be download downloaded from BlackThunder 's own server and user 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 applications app run quite fine (including graphic, 3D acceleration, sound, touch and network) as long as the host PC is capable to run the emulator.

Officially suggested hardware : <ref>https://www.heilei.com/question_content-54.html</ref>* CPU:Intel i3 series processor or better ** AMD processors are '''NOT SUPPORTED'''Notice: AMD processors are not supported due to the Hackintosh image used in the emulator is not patched for AMD.'''

* Disk: 10GB or more free space. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive Solid state drives] ** SSDs are recommended due to high read/write burden on hard drive.

Due to its source is closedproprietary status, details of the emulator working principle of BlackThunder is not clearyet, but by analyzing the behavior while the emulator is running, a component diagram can be plotted outby analyzing the behavior from a running emulator.

When emulator is started, BlackThunder backend will first load up VirtualBox, which load up the Hackintosh image provided by user. 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. Then, image All graphics and sound of sounds from the Xcode simulator will be send to BlackThunder frontend, and frontend will which send user inputs back to backend.

Xcode simulator can only run applications compiled for x86 architecture-based apps, and real iOS devices are while ARM -basedapps 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. When users download a All iOS app apps in "BlackThunder App Store", what is downloaded is are actually an unzipped x86 <code>IPA package compiled for x86</code> packages. Later on, this package These packages will be injected into the Xcode simulator in the VirtualBox disk image and executebe executed within.

The Hackintosh image used in BlackThunder is highly trimmed (under 3GB) and contain other modification compared to regular macOS in Mac computers, and distributed on BlackThunder website, which violates [https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macOS1013.pdf Apple Software License Agreement of macOS High Sierra]. Probably to avoid legal impact on the company, The image is distributed either via a file sharing service called [http://pan.baidu.com/ BaiduPan] or torrent under individual name, rather than hosted on BlackThunder server.

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 privided apps are heavily China-oriented, which render it useless for non-Chineseusers.

Users need a BlackThunder account to login the The emulator before using. Registering such an account require a UI is in-use Chinese cellphone number that and not localized. However, users can receive SMS, or a Chinese social media account (QQ/WeChat/Sina Weibo). such limitation make it quite hard for non-Chinese to register an account to use still change the emulatoremulated iOS UI language.