The first major update to High Sky Tech's xAmbience weather addon is now available, adding many new features and fixing multiple post-release bugs. The plugin, initially debuted in November last year, features a custom atmosphere model with Raleigh-scattering and a custom seasons engine, which works with default terrain (it is incompatible with orthoimagery at this stage).

Announced back in February, Service Pack 1 most notably features a complete re-working of the plugin's internals intended to boost performance on lower-end systems.

Here's the change-log:

• Optimized all plugin processes
• Fully reworked code
• New raleigh scattering
• New 16 sky colors with new rendering technology
• Added checkpoint "Simulate Ice on Water"
• Added checkpoint "Passing FX"
• Added new slider "Cloud effect speed"
• Removed weather themes
• Added new slider "DSF Distanse"
• Fixed sun
• Added new 16 sky color
• Added compatibility for other addons who control default x-plane LOD and default x-plane DSF.
• Fixed feature "Dynamic lightning"
• Added new sky calculations logic
• Fixed sun logic
• Fixed alpha channel of clouds
• Fixed seasonal logic. No more reloads on high flightlevel.
• Fixed cloud altitude.
• Fixed perfomance issues (fixed boolean)
• Fixed cloud dynamic calculation logic
• Fixed sun dynamic calculation logic
• Fixed sky color dynamic calculation logic
• Added raleigh colors for dusk, sunset
• Added volume bumps for snow season
• Fixed cloud presets (added volume lightning)
• Added startup helper
• Fixed more issues with UI
• Fixed raleigh scale configuration sliders
• Fixed issues with cloud "sharping"
• Killed slider "Cloud smoothness" (replaced by new slider)
• Added cloud flow

To update your copy of xAmbience to version 1.03, re-download the product from the store of purchase. You can buy HighSkyTech's xAmbience for EUR 29.00 from the simMarket.