Here you can see some photo of the first version of the 1541 Ultimate II tape extender. With the latest firmware it’s now possible capture tape data to a .TAP file!

source: 1541ultimate.net

Micro SwinSID (SwinSID88) is a hardware replacement for legendary SID sound chip which was placed in every Commodore C64 computer.

This project is based on the microcontroller ATMEGA88PU from Atmel and the emulation code is written by Swinkels. The first version of the pcb (prototype) was made by Crisp.

On the left you can see the tiny PCB of the Micro SwinSID made by a user of the forum64.de.

*This PCB is compatible with Commodore 64 and 64C but you need to Remove the resistor R3 if you install the Micro SwinSID on Commodore 64/SX64 where the SID 6581 is used.

For more information and price visit the forum64.de.

A new version of the firmware for the interface 1541 Ultimate II is released.

Some major fix:

• Some debug stuff that appeared in menu removed!
• Tape Record implemented.
• Capabilities register added (for V1 compatibility later)
• Initial version of memory controller for V1 hardware added.
• Global menu items replaced by menu objects that can generate menu items based on the object’s state.
• Some bug-fixes.
• Christmas lights eliminated in many places.
• 64K AR/RR Ram support added; as well as made to pass CountZero’s test program with 71 points.
• Freezer bug is NOT yet tackled.
• Preliminary USB hub support added (not finished)
• Tape recorder software file created, but is still a copy of playback. Needs to be implemented.
• IEC processor implemented.
• Some clean up done in USB code.
• C2N Recorder added to Fpga makefiles. (not for 250e yet)
• TAP Encoder added.
• ZPU altered for guaranteed IRQ handling (not used yet)

download: 1541ultimate.net

Micro SwinSID (SwinSID88) is a hardware replacement for legendary SID sound chip which was placed in every Commodore C64 computer.

This hardware extension is designed as a module installed directly into the SID socket. It emulates the sound of the SID chip, but it is a lot more powerful and allows you experience the new dimension of C64 music.

The hardware desing of SID and Micro SwinSID (SwinSID88) modules is different in almost every way. Micro SwinSID (SwinSID88) is equipped with general purpose microprocessor (ATMega88PA or PU) with internal RAM and ROM.

A programmable device like this has a big advantage – there is a possibility to upgrade firmware and to add new features or fixes without any hardware modification.

Download: Micro SwinSID PCB and Schematics v1.1

Download firmware: Firmware (30/04/2010) / Firmware (19/10/2010)

source: forum64.de swinkels homepage

This is the unofficial official demo party results from X-2010 (Top 3 Entries only). See also the CSDB X2010 section for more informations. C64 Demo Competition:

• 1. Another Beginning by Offence, Prosonix
• 2. We Are New by Fairlight
• 3. Mekanix by Booze Design & Instinct

C64 Graphics Competition:

• 1. 25 Years of Yie Ar Kung-Fu by Veto
• 2. Must Ache the Moustache / Duce
• 3. DYN by Bimber

C64 Music Competition:

• 1. Bored Teenagers, Expensive Shoes / Randall
• 2. Evolver by Jeff
• 3. X “Jazz” / Booker

Download X-2010 Party stuff: X-2010 (1156) (13 Mb) *updated*

source: noname.c64.org

from Style64 homepage:

Style’s C64 TrueType package is our effort at a complete and proper TrueType (TTF) representation of the C64 glyph set.

The package provides five (5) TrueType formatted fonts as well as Embedded OpenType (.eot) and Web Open Font Format (.woff) versions ready for use in your own website.

source: style64.org

Commodore Free Magazine Issue #44

Free to download Commodore magazine dedicated to Commodore Computers.

In this issue you can find:

• ACE Commander 128 RC.
• Vandalism News #53 Released.
• Shredz64 Updated, PSX64 Available.
• Pocket 1541.
• Contiki Download Page.
• Aladdin 4D & ARES Partnership.
• A Conversation With Chuck Peddle, Bil Herd, Jeri Ellsworth.
• IceFileSystem 1.13 For MorphOS.
• AmiUpdate 2.
• CommodoreServer.com.
• Maziacs on the Plus/4.
• VIC20 New Game: Pillow Fight.
• UWOL Quest For Money.
• SCACOM Issue 18/19 Released.
• BOH Update13 Released.
• …more

source: commodorefree.com

from C64scene homepage:

Tomi Malinen is currently developing a dual SID board, although there are other solutions available for your C64 this one is interesting because of the ability to use either 6581 or 8580 as SID #2 no matter the board revision.

This means that you can play games with 6581 sound from the first channel and 8580 sound from the second.

Other features of the dual SID board are:

• Small board, only about 40mm x 50mm.
• SID #2 address jumper selectable between D400, D420, D500, DE00, DF00.
• MSSIAH-compatibility at DE00.
• Full game compatibility with double mono setting at D400.

Installation requires soldering, two wires attach to the cartridge port and two have to be soldered to the Kernal IC. When the SID #2 is mapped to D400, D420, D500 the wires to the cartridge port are not used.

Photo of both protypes installed:

source: c64scene.com lemon64.com

Autopsy:

12►

My new desoldering station and a magnifying lamp has arrived!

After some frustrating times removing solder on an almost 30 year old PCB i decided to get a desoldering station.

So after using this for a few hours what one word can I use to describe this station? AWESOME! I don’t know how i lived without this in the past. Using desoldering braid or a soldapullt is OK but not consistent.

Package content of Aoyue 474A+:

• 474 Station.
• Desoldering Gun.
• Filter pads 6pcs.
• Silicone Grease.
• Filter pipe.
• Nozzle cleaning pins.
• Power cord.
• Desoldering gun holder.

source: aoyue.com

This is a new version of the Java SidPlayer (Command line & Gui Interface).

This Java applet should work on Mac OSX, Linux and Windoze.

Download here the latest final version v2.0 (Live Installer).

source: jsidplay2.sourceforge.net

It is finally out! With this editor (PAL/NTSC) you can edit NUFLI (static) image directly with your Commodore 64.

source: noname.c64.org

Some new Games & Utility for Commodore VIC-20.

• Ball to the walls. An action game where you break through barriers and try to master all 34 screens. (16K expansion required)
• MaxiGrafik. BASIC extension for true 208×256 hires graphics. (+24K RAM expansion, or more; disc drive)
• VIN (GUI File browser). A GUI file browser and demos. (24K expansion required), Joystick or Mouse.

source: Denial (The Commodore VIC-20 forum)

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

from 1541 Ultimate homepage:

• It is now possible to order accessories for the 1541U-II. This is possible through the “Order Status” page. In case your unit has already been shipped, please create another order of 0 (zero) 1541U-II units, and add the accessories to that order.
• Tape connector boards have been ordered. Expect 150 of them in about 2 weeks. One board clicks under the 1541-II case; the other holds the 2×6 pin tape connector and tape feed-through. The two boards connect to each other using a standard 10-pin flat cable. The part that clicks under the 1541-II case can also be used to power the cartridge for stand-alone mode (requires software update). I am planning to ship the tape connector boards as build-it-yourself kits to keep it cheap. Assembly possible for a small extra fee.
• If you paid after June 1, you will need to wait until the new production batch is finished. You will receive an E-mail about this soon! (Refund possible..)

Read more…

CartographPC is a Windows application created to assist in designing tile-based datamaps. This devtool serves as a companion piece to our C64 native Cartograph devtool.

The original purpose of CartographPC was to enable us to take nice screenshots of our datamaps without having to take four or six screenshots of smaller windows and piece them together.

CartographPC has since grown into a full editor with the benefit of being able to load datamaps created on the C64 directly into memory and edit, save, and move them back to C64 without much hassle.

It works by creating datamaps using tilesets created on C64 with the old, but popular, ultrafont editor. Datamaps can have dimensions of 1 to 255 tiles horizontally and 1 to 127 tiles vertically. CartographPC allows the user to create a datamap as small as 40×25 tiles (one screen) and up to 255×127 tiles.

Read more…

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.