Update package: Blender 2.49b

  2.49b Bugfix Release

  Updates:
  Update for new OpenAL windows library.
  Update Japanese translation.
  Upgrade extern/xvidcore to version 1.22. This fixes Xvid crashing on linux 64 bit.
  Updated Blender/Python API and GameEngine docs.
  http://www.blender.org/documentation/249PythonDoc
  Python Script Pack and Example Files.

  Various Bugs:
  SoftBody, vertex groups were not notified on deletion & fixes for Mass and
  Spring Painting
  Softbody, non mesh objects missing initializers [bug #18982]
  Self Shadow Vertex Colors, improved blur method to give more even results.
  Converting nurbs to a mesh ignored smoothing for Alt+C and from python.
  Object Active to Other, Fix python error when running in local view.
  Ancient resource leak where checkPackedFile would open a file and never
  close it.
  Fix for uninitialized memory use with X11 keyboard and tablet events.
  Fix for building with CLang (LLVM)

  Render Bugs:
  Using LightGroups override for material doesn't work for preview renders.
  Render Stamp, error in setting the alpha value when drawing text into a
  char buffer.
  Lumma Matte, Fix in low value setting.
  Originally checked against the wrong channel (chroma) instead of the
  luminence channel. Changed default value for high value to 1.0 from 0.0
  Baking selected to active with nearby dupliframes objects crashes blender
  [bug #19029]
  Fix for high energy sunlamps, turning specular black [bug #18837]

  Game Engine Bugs:
  Saving runtime on Windows didn't work with python2.6
  Let IPO's animate the ref value for KX_BlenderMaterial's

  Game Engine Python Bugs:
  Converting a mesh from a python argument was broken but happened to work in
  some cases.
  Memory leak fix for action.channelNames.
  Was writing to freed memory when freeing a python object in some cases.
  Removing GameLogic.EvalExpression(), was unstable.
  Crash fix when casting a ray to the same location as the object.
  Fixed KX_PolyProxy returning improper VertexIndex with mixed triangles and
  quads with using .getVertexIndex() and .v1, .v2, etc. [bug #19254]
  Fixed obj.sendMessage() with 4 arguments crashing blender [bug #18963]

  Game Engine Bullet Bugs:
  Crash fix when a parent compound object didn't have a physics controller.
  Fix for the torque actuator x -& y-axis not working.

  Sequencer Bugs
  IPO curve-deletion resulted in non-working effect
  easy retiming only allowed enlarging of strips, now shrinking is also
  possible (easy retiming: use the right display handle of input strip and
  shrink or enlarge, will make the speed of the strip exactly fit the
  effect strip's length)
  frames after end-of-display of input strips can now be accessed.
  frame blending can now be done on more than two frames, enabling really
  fine grained motion blur if you speed up a sequence with high factors
  (bigger than two).
  Scene-Strip rendering with compositor scenes failed, if they had no
  camera attached.
  Fixed hdd-audio for sample formats other than 16 bit (8 bit eg).

  Import/Export Bugs
  FBX Export, Incorrect formatting that broke some converters.
  BVH Motion Capture Import, Did not support single rigid body objects.
  [bug #18949]
  OBJ Import, fix for importing of transparent faces from .mtl files -
  ZTrans now is set for them as well. (improves import from SketchUp)
  Collada export, Empty material slot would raise a python error.
  Collada import, fixes for increased Sketchup interoperability and more.
  Quake MAP Export, empty nodes were not exported, also noticed files
  were invalid if there were no meshes or surfaces.
  Quake MAP Export, had support for single triangular brush
  unnecessarily disabled.
  Quake MD2 Export, Fix for vertex normals [patch #19206]

  Python API
  Mathutils (quat_a*quat_b) was broken, returned (quat_a*quat_a) instead.
  Support for editing properties IpoCurve.driverBone and IpoCurve.driverBone2
  and modifies IpoCurve.driverChannel to allow OB_ROT_DIFF.
  Documentation corrections.
  Support for rendering background scenes different from the active scene.
  scene.render.render() now behaves the same in interactive and background mode
  scene.render.saveRenderedImage() now works correctly in background mode
  Armature active bone can be set.

  New:
  16bit SGI image loading
  When BLENDER_FORCE_SWAPBUFFERS env variable is defined, a function is
  enabled that fixes some menu drawing issues with Mesa3D DRI drivers for
  Intel and Radeon cards.

  Python API - Particles
  Draw As variable and dict
  Strand render toggle
  Object, psys variable in duplicate
  Material, Strand render variables
  Texture, Use colorbands
  Lamp, Spot buffer type selection

  Game Engine Physics support for reinstancePhysics mesh from Python and the
  dynamic actuator.
  ReplaceMesh Actuator option to replace the physics mesh and display mesh +
  python api options.
  Video and blend file demo.
  http://www.graphicall.org/ftp/ideasman42/reinstance.ogv
  http://www.graphicall.org/ftp/ideasman42/reinstance_demo.blend

  Mouse focus sensor "pulse" option to pulse TRUE when the object under the
  mouse changes.

  EDL importer for the sequencer. supports...
  audio, video edits
  fades, wipes, speed changes (video only)
  importing from multiple reels

  Example import from final cut pro.
  http://www.graphicall.org/ftp/ideasman42/edl_in_blender_px.png
  http://www.graphicall.org/ftp/ideasman42/edl_import_ui.png

http://www.blender.org/development/release-logs/blender-249/249-update/