from 1541 Ultimate homepage:

It is about time to release some news about the 1541U-II. I think some of you must be really curious about the extra features and possibilities that the 1541U-II give, and about the progress on production and firmware. To start off with the 1541U-II features, I can tell you that it differs from the ‘standard’ 1541U Plus/Ethernet that:

• the board itself is about 30% smaller than the 1541U;
• it has a MicroSD connector, instead of a full-size SD;
• it has a real-time-clock function, for correct file time and date;
• it has a larger FPGA, which enables the implementation of more features;
• it has a USB Host port, which can be used to connect USB-sticks;
• it is targeted to have a suitable case for the device.

Some of you have written in the forums, that the MicroSD connector is not much of an improvement. But the rationale behind going to MicroSD is mainly the available space on the board is less, and that with the addition of a USB-A port, the average user will use the usb-stick rather than the SD-card.

So the MicroSD-card does not need to be removed from the cartridge very often. However, because at the moment that I announced the 1541U-II, the USB port was not yet tested, I could not reveal this feature as I did not want to make promises that I can’t keep.

The USB turns out to be quite a bit of work to get it to work, but I can now announce that I managed to implement enough of a host-controller function to be able to talk to USB devices and send the most basic commands to access a mass-storage device. I am quite close to have implemented the ‘read-block’ and ‘write-block’ functions, which is the interface level that the file system module uses. In other words, I expect to be able to access the (FAT) file-system on the USB stick quite soon!

How will it work for the user? My objective is to have one ‘directory’ level above the current root of the SD-card, where you can select which partition you want to browse. There the USB flash drive becomes visible, as well as the MicroSD card, if present.

source: 1541ultimate.net

That’s an CRT image with some C00L C64 Utility for the EasyFlash cartridge.

source: noname.c64 org

This shop offers selected open-source projects in kit form for the classical computers
Commodore C64 and VIC-20.

Like:

• C-64 EasyFlash.
• VIC-20 Final Expansion.

source: for8bits.com

Onslaught / Wrath Designs / Vandalism new stuff, bring you the 52th Vandalism News, released at the Syntax DemoParty 2009.

source: syntaxparty.com noname.c64.org

Cartograph is a native Commodore 64 application created for designing tile-based maps/levels.

This versatile tool  allows you to create maps and levels for your games, matrices and data for demos and tools and much more.

Changelog:

• Converter tool is now built directly into editor (export feature) and will convert a map from 256×128 (Cartograph standard) to whichever size is specified in the preset menu.
• Updated menu screen to include the above converter.
• Fixed a startup bug where the map size is different than what is specified in the preset menu.
• Minor color touchups to the filename requestor box in the menu.
• Centering feature to jump to the very middle of the map in editing mode.

source: c64.sk arkanixlab.com

That’s an CRT image with some C00L Sid Tunez for the EasyFlash cartridge.

source: noname.c64 org

EasyProg is a program for the C64. It is used to write (“burn”) cartridge image files (*.crt) onto an EasyFlash.

Changes:

• Workarounds for 1541U SD-IF bugs.
• Fix hex viewer, it got broken in 1.3

source: easyflash homepage

It’s in German Language but with English subs.

source: circuit-board.de

That’s an CRT image for the EasyFlash cartridge.

It’s a Compilation with a lot of game, like:

• Badlands.
• Bandits.
• Boulder Dash.
• Centipede
• Frogger.
• Giana Sisters. ..and so on…

source: noname.c64 org

EasyProg is a program for the C64. It is used to write (“burn”) cartridge image files (*.crt) onto an EasyFlash.

Changes:

• Add flash driver infrastructure EasyAP (Makes it easy to support different flash memory types)
• Add “reset and start crt” and “reset and kill”
• Add BING! sound.
• Show all file types in directory list.
• Show directories first, followed by files.
• Internal directory parser tolerates some malformed directories.
• Still problems with 1541U.
• Show message when directory is too long.
• Torture test is more verbose now.

source: easyflash homepage

The Shop of the website for8bits will open in early October and will be the exclusive seller of the EasyFlash and Final Expansion cartridges.

source: for8bits.com

Onslaught / Wrath Designs / Vandalism new stuff, bring you the 51th Vandalism News.

Contains information of event(s):

• LCP 2009  report and results.
• Maximum Overdose 8  report.
• St LCP 2008  report and results.

source: onslaught.c64.org noname.c64.org

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

from Homepage:

The parts for the first EasyFlash cartridges have been shipped by Nils from his shop for8bits.

EasyFlash is a cartridge for the C64 expansion port. In contrast to traditional cartridges, this one can be programmed directly from the C64.

source: easyflash homepage

from Homepage:

Unfortunately, Apple has pulled the C64 Application from their store as it was discovered by some users that it was possible to enable the Basic program through the interface.

We have now fixed the issue and our application has been re-submitted for approval by Apple. We thank you all for your support and fingers crossed we hope to launch again over the next few days.

source: c64iphone.com