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Archive for the ‘News & Rumors’ Category

The donation of spare parts is always a good thing

September 14th, 2014 3 comments

I must thank my friends which have contributed to the growth of my Repair Laboratory with donations of spare parts.

Donated items:

  • 2 x Sega Dreamcast
  • 1 x Sinclair 128+
  • 2 x Amiga 500 Memory Expansion
  • 1 x Amiga Powersupply
  • 1 x Philips Multi Voltage Power supply
  • 1 x Commodore CBM/PET Power supply (complete and working)
  • 1 x 8088 Motherboard (Clone)
  • 1 x Floppy Drive Controller (ISA Card)
  • 1 x MDA/Parallel Controller (ISA Card)
  • 1 x PC Clone (8088) Power supply
  • 6 x Unknown Adapter/Interface
  • 1 x Atari 7800 Motherboard
  • 1 x Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k Motherboard
  • 1 x Pong Clone Motherboard
  • 1 x Amstrad CPC 464 Motherboard
  • 1 x Commodore 6499
  • 1 x Power Supply C64/VIC20 (Clone)

Categories: Donations, News & Rumors, Today

C64 Game: Total Eclipse II / Spike’s Peak 101% +7DGM …

September 10th, 2014 No comments

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

  • Bozo’s Night Out +7HDG
  • Vallation +6HD
  • Foren Huren +Docs [pal/ntsc]
  • Mag Max +8DGH +Pic
  • Burnin’ Pen ’64
  • Zappy Bird +2
  • Ugh! +5DGM
  • Eelona Preview +2
  • Beyond the Night Run +3H
  • Spike’s Peak 101% +7DGM
  • I Can Remember +D
  • Batman – The Caped Crusader USA + [ntsc/pal]
  • Space Action 2 Preview
  • Game Preview #1
  • Game Preview #2
  • Mad Ninja Preview
  • Slug +30D +Fix
  • King’s Valley Preview
  • Burnin’ Pen ’64 [bugfix]
  • Total Eclipse II -JEWEL-
  • Mission Omega +1D

Download: All Games in One Archive (2839)

MPS 6550 Commodore PET 2001 RAM Adapter by Matthew D’Asaro

September 1st, 2014 No comments

This is another adapter (here the previous one) to replace the MPS 6550 RAM. This adapter replace a single MPS 6550 RAM chip in a Commodore PET 2001 with a standard 2114 RAM chip.

source: dasarodesigns.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Princess C64SD v3.0 by Manosoft

August 19th, 2014 No comments

Hi all, like one year ago Manosoft amazes us again, this time he did a great job of merging the ITS TAP Player module with the C64SD and from this merger comes the Princess, an interface with both previously released interfaces.
The Princess interface is elegant as only Manosoft can do, the box color has changed and is a white sand that matches perfectly with the whole 8-bit Commodore Home Computer series.

In addition to the color were also added new controls and visual led. Below the instructions of each command on the front/back side of the Princess interface.

Front side:

  • [1] Play/Stop switch for TAP file.
  • [2] Reset button.
  • [3] Disc Change button. (down/autoswap.lst)
  • [4] LED:
    • Yellow – Virtual Motor of the Tape.
    • White – Reading.
    • Red – General Error.
    • Green – Power.
  • [5] Floppy Drive Connector (IEC) Computer side.
  • [6] Connector Cassette side Computer
  • [7] Auxiliary Power 9v.

 

Back side:

  • [1] SD Card slot.
  • [2] Red Button – Setpoint tap file / (up/autoswap.lst)
  • [3] Dip Switch for selecting the Floppy drive Device (SD2IEC).
  • [4] Audio volume (monitor function) TAP Player.
  • [5] Mini DIN 8-pin connector to be connected to the tape port of the Commodore 264 series.
  • [6] Auxiliary Power 9v.
  • [7] Pass-through Floppy Drive Connector (IEC)
  • [8] Pass-through Tape connector to use with a Datasette 1530 or 1531 with a another adapter.

 

 

Like the previous C64SD v2.0 interface, the Princess has a pass-through connector for the cassette recorder and one for the Floppy Disk Drive.

I don’t forget to speak about the nice addition, a small Piezo Speaker to hear the sound of the bytes that are loaded with the TAP Player and also a nice “beep” that warn if the interface on power up working correctly.

Damiano alias “Manosoft” is a good manufacturer of 8 Bit peripherals and also a great friend. I take the opportunity of this article to greet Damiano and congratulate for this new interface for the 8-bit Commodore Home Computer series.

Soon will be available on the Manosoft website two new software packages (C64 and AIO)

“AIO” is an innovative system that will allow the creation of the SD Card of 4GB or higher in a few minutes from an image file created ad hoc.

On the Commodore 64 side was also written a new program called “MENU” with some utilities like the initialization of the SD Card for the Princess C64SD v3.0 interface.

The development of the TAP Player firmware with the SD2IEC protocol has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of Hawui1 promoter and developer of the ITS Module and some other things.

The Princess C64SD v3.0 interface will be available for sale in the next months on the Manosoft site.

Princess C64SD v3.0 Video Preview:

Hidden Power BBS: Screenshot from the Talk

August 15th, 2014 No comments

This is a screenshot from the Talk, a demonstration made by a Friend to explain how they worked the BBS. On the photo “Hidden Power / Nightfall WHQ’

C64 Demo: Variable Offset Amplitude (VOA) by Algorithm

August 12th, 2014 No comments

A new demo for Commodore 64 by Algorithm/Onslaught.

Download: Variable Offset Amplitude (VOA) by Algorithm (984)

source: csdb.dk

CBM prg Studio v3.1.0 released

August 11th, 2014 No comments

CBM prg Studio Version 3.1.0 is released. There are a lot of new features in this version. I’d really appreciate it if you report any bugs you find or have any suggestions/comments.

CBM prg Studio allows you to type a BASIC or Machine Code program in using a nice Windows environment and convert it to a ‘.prg’ file which you can run on an emulator, or even a real C64 / VIC20 or PET if you’re feeling brave and have the right kit.

CBM prg Studio is the result of merging C64PrgGen and VIC20PrgGen. Adding new features and fixing bugs in two apps which were 95% similar was a bit of a nightmare so merging them made sense.

It was also a good opportunity for a face lift and to add some new features, such as:

  • Programs are project based, meaning all related source files, sprite files etc. are kept in one place and multiple source files can be linked more easily.
  • Tabbed MDI.
  • Syntax highlighting.

What CBM prg Studio isn’t is a front-end for tok64, cbmcnvrt, bastext or any other tokeniser / detokeniser / assembler. It’s all been written completely from scratch.

New features:

  • Code Snippets.
  • Improved VICE debugger support.
  • New tutorial for mixing BASIC and machine code.
  • Support for the Plus/4 in the screen code builder tool.
  • Syntax colouring can be disabled.
  • BASIC 8 support for C128 projects.
  • Return to ‘jump to destination’ in basic programs.

Bug Fixed:

  • Assembler:
    • Zero page optimisation ignored if address contained arithmetic.
    • Arithmetic with cheap labels ignored.
    • GenerateTo ignored if wrapped in ifdef..endif
    • Arithmetic would fail if using binary variables.
    • Unknown labels in WORD sequences ignored.
    • Incbin would fail with certain parameters and comments.
    • Problems generating a .prg to a disk image.
  • Screen Designer:
    • 1×1 rectangle could throw exception in screen designers box tool.
    • Mixed mode (multicolour and hires) screen designer (VIC20).
    • Fill for rectangle tool.
  • Debugger:
    • SBC, ADC and RTI instructions not working.
    • Improved cycle counting.

Download: CBM prg Studio v3.1.0 (1022)

source: ajordison.co.uk

Festival of the spare parts and some things to be restored

August 10th, 2014 No comments
Festival of the spare parts and some things to be restored

I must thank my dear friend Andrea and all friends which have contributed to the growth of my Repair Laboratory with donations of spare parts.

Donated items:

  • 1 x Commodore 128
  • 2 x Sinclair QL
  • 1 x Sinclair ZX Spectrum +
  • 1 x Spectravideo SV-318
  • 1 x Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2
  • 1 x Philips MSX VG-8010
  • 1 x Philips MSX VG-8020
  • 1 x Olivetti Prodest PC 128
  • 2 x Olivetti Prodest PC 128/S
  • 1 x Amstrad CPC 464
  • 1 x Amiga 600 without Floppy Drive
  • 1 x Commodore CDTV
  • 1 x Atari Floppy Drive 1050
  • 1 x Atari Tape Recorder 1010
  • 1 x 512k Expander Ram from Miracle for Sinclair QL
  • 2 x Floppy Disk Drive 3.5″ for Sinclair QL (*)
  • 1 x QLFDC Floppy Disk Drive Interface v5.1 from Miracle for Sinclair QL
  • 1 x Floppy Disk Drive 3″ + Interface for Sinclair QL
  • 1 x Centronics Interface for Sinclair QL
  • 1 x Power Supply for 3.5″ Floppy Disk Drive
  • 2 x Cables

(*) Needs to be made a Aesthetic Restoration.

Categories: Donations, News & Rumors, Today

A new donation from Fabio Bovelacci (Frater Sinister)

August 1st, 2014 No comments

I thank Fabio Bovelacci (Frater Sinister) for the donation.

Donated item:

  • 1 x Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k
  • 1 x Sinclair ZX Spectrum + PSU (50% Boxed)
  • 1 x Sinclair Thermal Printer
  • 1 x Sinclair ZX Interface 1
  • 4 x Sinclair Microdrive Boxed
  • 1 x Interface Midi Master for Amiga 500/2000
  • 1 x Vic-20 Cartridge VIC-1941 (Number Nabber / Shape Grabber)
  • 1 x Vic-20 Cartridge VIC-1922 (Cosmic Cruncher)
  • 1 x Harey Alien Invaders Handheld game
  • 4 x IC Motorola 68000
  • 1 x IC MOS 5719 (Amiga Gary)
  • 2 x IC CGS 5719 (Amiga Gary)
  • 3 x IC CGS 8362 (Amiga Super Denise)
  • 1 x IC CGS 8364 (Amiga Paula)
  • 2 x IC MOS 8364 (Amiga Paula)
  • 5 x IC CGS 8520 (Amiga CIA)
  • 1 x IC MOS 8520 (Amiga CIA)
  • 2 x IC Amiga Kickstart ROM v1.3

C64 Game: Bozo’s Night Out +7D +PIC / Alter Ego 101% +5 …

August 1st, 2014 No comments

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

  • Get to the End Preview V2+
  • Bugs +2D
  • 8bit Fighters Preview
  • Dark Force – Redux
  • Magic Duel (16KB Cartridge Version) +F [pal/ntsc]
  • Magic Duel (DoReCo Edition 2014) +F [pal/ntsc]
  • Get to the End Preview V2 +
  • Alter Ego 101% +5
  • Onslaught Shooter Collection [Easyflash]
  • Alter Ego +21D +Fix
  • Tusker 101% +7DFIR & Easyflash
  • Super Pac Twins (Special Edition) 101% +5F [pal/ntsc]
  • Action Biker +36D
  • Maze of the Mummy Preview
  • Electro Gates -Preview-
  • Boxmatch +2H
  • Roll +3HD
  • Dead Zone +8D
  • Warflame RX +2
  • Lunar Blitz RX
  • Lunar Blitz RX +3HF [pal/ntsc]
  • Bozo’s Night Out +7D +PIC

Download: All Games in One Archive (2945)

source: csdb.dk

Relaunch64 V3.3 – C64/65xx cross-development IDE

August 1st, 2014 No comments

Relaunch64 is an IDE (text-editor) for C64 assembler-coding on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. Relaunch64 has a clean and intuitive user interface, yet it offers many features that make coding faster and easier.

Java 7 or higher is required to run Relaunch64. The program is licensed under the GNU GPL 3 (or higher) and free for private and professional use.

This editor works together with common cross assemblers like Kick Assembler, ACME, or 64tass. Other assemblers might work as well, but syntax highlighting may not be 100% correct.

Download: Relaunch64 v3.3.0 (Windows/OSx/Linux) (929)

source: popelganda.de

C64SD V2 Infinity + ITS firmware update v0.10.3.9

July 10th, 2014 No comments
ITS TAP Module

A new version of the firmware for the interface C64SD Infinity + ITS Module by Manosoft is released.

Changelog:

  • Implemented functionality that allows to save a placeholder (unique for each .TAP file) pressing the red button on the back of the card. User can set back the read pointer at which TAP data is played back by pressing “Next” button on the card. Useful for multi load .TAP or games asking to reset the counter of the tape and then to rewind the tape that specific point.

Download: C64SD (ITS) Firmware v0.10.3.9 (1440)

source: manosoft.it

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

Commodore VIC-20 found in the garbage

July 7th, 2014 No comments
Commodore VIC-20 found in the garbage

I have to thank my friend Andrea S. for having warned me that he had seen a Commodore VIC-20 near the trash loot.

Short gallery:

SNDH Atari ST YM2149 Archive v4.4 released.

July 3rd, 2014 No comments

SNDH archive v4.4 released – 4261 SNDH files (total 8268 tunes)

Ever since the birth of the Atari ST, different chip music formats have had different ways to use them. If you are coding a chip music player for the Atari ST you would have to use dozens and dozens of special ways to replay music.

But in the mid 90′s, BDC of Aura crew became tired of this inelegant system and decided to fix the issue once and for all. He then created the ‘SNDH’ file format. SNDH is actually the original songfile and replaycode with a header bolted on top of the music and replayer. The header has a unified calling interface no matter what type of chip music is hidden beneath it, and it has extended datas about the music.

Download: SNDH Atari ST YM2149 Archive v4.4 (1438)

source: sndh.atari.org

Categories: Atari, News & Rumors, Today

High Voltage SID Collection Update #61

July 1st, 2014 No comments

The High Voltage SID Collection (HVSC) is a freeware hobby project which organises Commodore 64 music (also known as SID music) into an archive for both musicians and fans alike.

The work on the collection is done completely in the Team and contributors’ spare time and is proudly one of the largest and most accurate computer music collections known.

This update features (all approximates):

  • 749 new SIDs
  • 1479 fixed/better rips
  • 1 repeats/bad rips eliminated
  • 727 SID credit fixes
  • 323 SID model/clock infos
  • 19 tunes from /DEMOS/UNKNOWN/ identified
  • 4 tunes from /GAMES/ identified
  • 45 tunes moved out of /DEMOS/ to their composers’ directories
  • 5 tunes moved out of /GAMES/ to their composers’ directories

Download:

source: www.hvsc.c64.org