Testing the SIO2SD interface for Atari

July 31st, 2010 No comments

Fixed the SIO2SD Firmware Crash.

The SIO2SD is a device that allows you to load games/applications into any 8-bit Atari XL/XE computers via SIO interface from SD/MMC cards.

Commodore 64C in original Box / User manual / Powersupply

July 30th, 2010 No comments
Commodore 64C in original Box / Manual / Powersupply

Autopsy:

Today i picked up a Commodore 64C in original box, it is in perfect condition with no damage at all including the Manual and original Powersupply.

source: wikipedia

CBM-Command v1.6 (Bug Fix Update)

July 30th, 2010 No comments

CBM-Command is a disk manager for the Commodore 64 / Commodore 128 / Commodore VIC20 / Commodore C16 computers. It is written like Norton Commander or Midnight Commander, but is much simpler due to the target platforms. Both the C128/C64/VIC20/C16 have their own native version of the application.

Release Notes – 2010-07-27 – Version 1.6

New Features:

  • None.

Changes:

  • (All) Fixed major bug causing directory corruption when using the select all hot key to initiate file copy operations.
  • (All) New progress bar that updates more frequently and is more meaningful to view.

Known Issues:

  • Screen corruption when viewing a drive with no disk in it.

source: cbmcommand.codeplex.com

Mike has released a new version of C64-Archiv v3.2

July 29th, 2010 No comments

C64-Archiv descriptions:

  • Scans and stores your C64 – (games) – collection with only a few clicks.
  • Easily manages your C64-programs by creating your own categories and selections.
  • Starts the C64-programs in different emulators.
  • Delivers instructions for the emulators VICE, CCS64, HOXS64 and EMU64.
  • Works with tools e.g. 64Copy, D64Lister or DirMaster.
  • Stores the C64-programs from files with the extensions .D64, .D71, .P00, .PRG, .T64 and .CRT.
  • Stores files by name with the extensions: .TAP, .VSF (VICE-snapshot-file) and .C64 (CCS64-session-file).
  • Stores text and information files with the extensions: .TXT, .NFO and .DIZ
  • Stores PDF files.
  • Searches archiv files with the extensions: .ZIP, .7Z and .CAB
  • GameBase frontend with the possibility to download games.
  • GameBase view with up to 30 columns.
  • Supports multi-language (currently: Englisch, French, Italian and German)

Version v3.2 – What’s new?

  • NEW: PDF-files can be stored.
  • NEW: Search window in the Gamebase list.
  • NEW: Italian translation (Thanks to xAD/nIGHTFALL)
  • NEW: The creation of profiles for tools was simplified.
  • FIXED: Improved display of the filesizeBUG fixed: Search window not closed at exit.
  • BUG fixed: Error with long filenames.

source: Mikes Pages

Commodore Free Magazine Issue #42

July 26th, 2010 No comments

Commodore Free Magazine Issue #42

In this issue you can find:

  • Editorial.
  • News.
  • The Early Days of Online Genealogy.
  • Interview With Björg Stojalowski.
  • Interview With Ross Myers.
  • A Quick Look At BasicEdit.

source: commodorefree.com

Categories: Magazine, News & Rumors, Today

1541 Ultimate II: New firmware v2.0RC5 and Sources released

July 25th, 2010 No comments

from 1541 Ultimate homepage:

  • Last firmware version: 2.0RC5 is now downloadable from the download page.
  • Ultimate-II sources released!

You can access them through  http://svn2.xp-dev.com/svn/1541UltimateII/.

For those who know how to use SVN, you can do a checkout to create a local working copy by typing:

svn co http://svn2.xp-dev.com/svn/1541UltimateII/trunk

in an empty directory. I am working on a short manual, and on access to the tools needed to build the project. This time, the FPGA sources have been released as well. ;-)

source: 1541ultimate.net

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

Cheril Perils: a new game for ZX Spectrum 48k

July 25th, 2010 No comments

Cheril Perils is a new game from The Mojon Twins for ZX Spectrum.

source: mojontwins.com

Categories: News & Rumors, Sinclair, Today

CBM-Command v1.5 Stable

July 21st, 2010 No comments

CBM-Command is a disk manager for the Commodore 64 / Commodore 128 / Commodore VIC20 / Commodore C16 computers. It is written like Norton Commander or Midnight Commander, but is much simpler due to the target platforms. Both the C128/C64/VIC20/C16 have their own native version of the application.

This version encompases many enhancements and improvements of existing functionality, as well as inclusion of new target platforms (VIC 20, Plus 4) and features (D81 support, Configuration Color Picker).

Release Notes – 2010-07-21 – Version 1.5

New Features:

  • (ALL) New color picker for the configuration program.
  • (64, 128, PLUS 4) 1581 Disk Image (D81) Support.
  • Added support for Commodore Plus 4 computer.
  • 32K Expanded VIC-20 now supported.

Changes:

  • (ALL) Removed CTRL key from hot keys that previously required it. Hot keys the use the C= key still require it.
  • (ALL) If you have 1 or more files selected (highlighted) and choose delete, all selected files will be deleted. If you do not have any files selected (highlighted) then only the file that the selector is pointing to will be deleted.
  • (ALL) When you rename a file the textbox is pre-populated with the name of the old file.
  • (VIC 20, Plus 4) Configuration files are enabled and working correctly.
  • (ALL) Changed the UI for file transfers to use a new progress bar to give feedback on the copy operation.
  • (64, 128, Plus 4) Changed the UI for disk image creation/writing to use a new progress bar to give feedback on the image operation.
  • (VIC20) Refactored many of the screens to better fit the 22×23 layout.
  • (VIC20) Filename shortening removed and the file type moved to the left of the directory display.
  • (PLUS4) Created color scheme to match the environment.
  • (VIC20) Panels are not displayed side by side, only one panel is displayed at a time.
  • (VIC20) D64 support is removed, the RAM was needed elsewhere.
  • (ALL) The screen has been made more scalable.

Known Issues:

  • None.

source: cbmcommand.codeplex.com

ASCII <--> PETSCII Converter for Windows

July 17th, 2010 No comments

ASCII <–> PETSCII Converter for Windows (Requires .Net Framework 4).

PETSCII (PET Standard Code of Information Interchange), also known as CBM ASCII, is the variation of the ASCII character set used in Commodore Business Machines (CBM)’s 8-bit home computers.

source: noname.c64.org

CBM-Command v1.0.4 Beta

July 14th, 2010 1 comment

CBM-Command is a disk manager for the Commodore 64 / Commodore 128 / Commodore VIC20 / Commodore C16 computers. It is written like Norton Commander or Midnight Commander, but is much simpler due to the target platforms. Both the C128/C64/VIC20/C16 have their own native version of the application.

Release Notes – 2010-07-13 – Version 1.0.3/1.0.4

New Features:

  • (ALL) New color picker for the configuration program
  • (64, 128, PLUS 4) 1581 Disk Image (D81) Support

Changes:

  • (ALL) Removed CTRL key from hot keys that previously required it. Hot keys the use the C= key still require it.
  • (ALL) If you have 1 or more files selected (highlighted) and choose delete, all selected files will be deleted. If you do not have any files selected (highlighted) then only the file that the selector is pointing to will be deleted.
  • (ALL) When you rename a file the textbox is pre-populated with the name of the old file.
  • (VIC 20, Plus 4) Configuration files are enabled and working correctly
  • (ALL) Changed the UI for file transfers to use a new progress bar to give feedback on the copy operation.
  • (64, 128, Plus 4) Changed the UI for disk image creation/writing to use a new progress bar to give feedback on the image operation.

Known Issues:

  • (VIC 20) Many of the keyboard shortcuts on the left side of the keyboard do not work under VICE. After speaking with members of the VICE team they are pretty sure this is a problem in the GETIN kernel routine which is used by cc65. I would greatly appreciate it if someone with a real VIC can verify that the keys do not work on real hardware before I bring the problem up in the cc65 forums.
  • (Plus 4) Viewing a text file crashes the program.

source: cbmcommand.codeplex.com

A new game for Atari 2600: L.E.M. Lunar Excursion Module

July 14th, 2010 No comments

This is a new game for Atari 2600 console. This game was written by Philsan a user of Atariage forum.

source: atariage forum

Categories: Atari, News & Rumors, Today

Orion Prime / Cargosoft: The Best adventure game for Amstrad CPC

July 14th, 2010 No comments

Orion Prime is the best adventure game ever made on the Amstrad CPC.

The game is available in 3″ and 3.5″ discs and Free Download.

The Story:

Engine failure… A hyperspace voyage that ends in an asteroid field… Forced to eject, you wander aimlessly in space, until you detect a signal from the Orion Prime.

However, you quickly realise that this gigantic vessel is no longer the jewel of the scientific research fleet that it once was, as you discover that the crew has been decimated by a strange illness…

You must escape as quickly as possible, but to do this, you will have to explore the Orion Prime, understand what has happened on board the vessel, and perhaps even confront it…

source: orion.cpcscene.com

Ultimate II: Quick Project Status

July 12th, 2010 No comments

This is the last notice for the Ultimate 1541 version 2.

from 1541 Ultimate homepage:

  • 184 Ultimate-II units shipped.
  • The last few (5) will be shipped out tomorrow….
  • If you paid after June 1, you will need to wait until the new production batch is finished.  (Refund possible..)
  • New production startup in progress!
  • Unprocessed payments will be processed before the end of the week (week 27). Please hold your payments until further notice!
  • Question of redistributing the Free Xilinx tools within a virtual machine is under review by the legal department of Xilinx. If they approve, I can provide the planned virtual machine; if not, I will need to write instructions on how you can instal the tools separately.
  • Last firmware version: 2.0RC4. Downloadable update available by end of week 28.

source: 1541ultimate.net

DC2N Version 3 by Luigi di Fraia

July 12th, 2010 2 comments

Luigi Di Fraia is working on version 3 of his DC2N. The DC2N is a digital replacement for the C2N datassette. With the DC2N you can read cassettes and transfer the data to a memory-card.

It is also possible to save data from a memory-card to a datassette. The DC2N is a stand alone system, what means you can do the transfers without a computer.

The newest version has USB support and uses a graphical screen to show the signal that is recorded. You can watch various videos of the DC2N on youtube.

source: commodore-gg.hobby.nl

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Atari Disk Drive 1050 Boxed + Floppy Disk

July 12th, 2010 No comments
Atari Disk Drive 1050 Boxed

Autopsy:

from atarimuseum Homepage:

The Atari 1050 disk drive was Atari’s replacement to the Atari 810 disk drive. The new Atari 1050 disk drive matched the new high-tech, low profile line of Atari XL home computer systems. The original Atari 810 could hold single density data (88K out of 100K diskettes) which was standard.

The new Atari 1050 disk drives were DUAL-DENSITY disk drives and could use the older Atari 810 diskettes, but could also hold data in a new Enhanced Density mode of 127K. Although the standard for disk drives was 180K, this additional storage was welcomed by Atari users who bought the disk drives.

The only downside to the disk drives were their new version of Atari DOS: 3.0 which had compatibility problems with its earlier version: 2.0s Atari would later fix this problem with a very well designed and accepted and one of the most popular Atari versions of DOS:  2.5.

Up to 4 Atari disk drives could be “daisy-chained” together. Using Atari’s unique SIO bus (Serial I/O), each drive would connect to the next, forming a chain in which data was transferred. Although slower then other I/O buses used on other computers, Atari’s SIO bus was a simple and convenient way for the non-computer literate to more easily add components onto their Atari computer systems (other brands of computers required internal cards, ribbon cables, complicated jumper block settings which were geared more towards the computer hobbyist crowd instead of the common individual with little computer knowledge).

The disk drive electronics and its mechanism were done by Tandon, the case design was done by Tom Palecki, formerly of Atari’s Industrial Design group. Tom was also responsible for the design of the Atari 1055 3.5″ disk drive which was never released by Atari, Inc. due to its sales in 1984.

source: atarimuseum.com