Jurassic News è una fanzine realizzata da appassionati di retro computing con lo scopo di dare vita ad un periodico gratuito che tratti l’informatica delle origini.

Tutti hanno sentito parlare del Commodore64, dello Spectrum o dell’Apple II (tanto per citarne alcuni): sono i nomi fantasiosi dei primi calcolatori personali veramente alla portata di tutti. Qualcuno di voi ne ha posseduto uno o magari lo possiede ancora e ricorda l’eccitazione di quei primi passi nel mondo dell’informatica che ora è ormai esplosa e permanea tutta la nostra vita quotidiana.

Coloro che ricordano con nostalgia la pionieristica atmosfera dei primi approcci al BASIC o al linguaggio macchina o che semplicemente hanno passato molte ore cercando di superare quel livello di gioco che sembrava impossibile, troveranno in J.N. la stessa atmosfera di un tempo.

Download: Jurassic News numero #46 (1043)

source: jurassicnews.com

Stella aggiornamento alla versione v3.8.1 per Linux, MacOS X e Windows disponibile per il download.

Changelog:

• Added support for TIA RSYNC writes, thanks to Omegamatrix of AtariAge. This allows the recently released “Extra Terrestrials” ROM to run, as well as improving emulation of “Fatal Run” and several other test ROMs.
• Fixed typo in TIA HMOVE writes, thanks to Thomas Jentzsch. This fixes the constant collision issues in “Kool-Aid Man”, and several other homebrew ROMs.
• Fixed sound issues on OSX PPC machines (all sound was in little-endian format, but PPC is big-endian).
• The OSX DMG archive now contains proper modification dates.

Download: Stella v3.81 (1189)

source: stella.sourceforge.net

Javatari e’ un’emulatore di Atari 2600 scritto in Java che non richiede librerie esterne per poter funzionare.

Features:

• Unique Client-Server multiplayer mode. Runs great in low-latency networks such as LANs.
• Cheat and turn off Collisions. Finally discover the ending of River Raid!
• Complete Save State/Load State functions.
• Scanlines and TV screen emulation modes.
• Real Atari console user interface.

Changelog;

• Better compatibility in Linux and Mac OSX.
• AdAdded Joystick support (Windows and Linux):
  • Fully selectable axes with deadzone adjustment.
  • Paddles analog emulation with adjustable sensitivity and centering
  • Other console controls can be mapped to Joystick buttons

Download: Javatari JAR v3.10 (Needs Java 6) (809)

source: javatari.org

E’ stato rilasciato del nuovo Software per Commodore 64 dai seguenti gruppi: Avatar, Alpha Flight, Laxity, Bad Taste e Norbert Kehrer.

Download:

• The Fort +EHD [pal] (934)
• Q-hop +4GD (933)
• Chameleon +3 (883)
• Nuclear Reaction 2100 (912)
• Assembloids +2HD [pal/ntsc] (919)
• Counting Parade +1D [ntsc/pal] (899)
• Shaolin+ +2HD [pal/ntsc] (910)
• Asteroids Emulator (Build March 2, 2013) (897)
• Asteroids Emulator (2013-03-02) +1D [pal/ntsc] (925)
• All Games in One Archive (2327)

source: csdb.dk

NBLA000 ha aggiornato il programma CBM FileBrowser includendo il supporto per il Commodore C16/C116/Plus4 oltre a C64/Vic20/DTV

Il CBM FileBrowser e’ un semplice e funzionale file browser per i Computer della serie Commodore e vengono supportati diversi devices nativi e non, ad esempio: MMC2IEC, SD2IEC, uIEC, C64-SD e molti altri ancora.

Computer attualmente supportati:

• C64.
• C64DTV.
• Vic-20 unexpanded.
• Vic-20 +3K RAM.
• Vic-20 +8K RAM or plus (for FE3 use this version)
• Vic-20 with Mega-Cart.
• C16 / C116 / Plus4.
• C128 in 64 mode.
• C128 80 Columns.

Changelog:

• v.0.1 – 01-Sep-2009 (Start of project, C64/C64DTV only)
• v.0.2 – 21-Oct-2009 (First working version for Vic-20 +8K RAM)
• v.0.3 – 06-Jan-2010 (Added memory config auto-detection for Vic-20 selected program)
• v.0.4 – 19-Jan-2010 (Added support for Vic-20 with Mega-Cart and manual start mode)
• v.0.5 – 10-Feb-2010 (Added support for Vic-20 unexpanded and Vic-20 +3K RAM)
• v.1.0 – 05-Mar-2010 (First public version, minor issues fixed, C64 and Vic-20 supported)
• v.1.1 – 22-Jun-2010 (Added support for D41 and DNP file images, sd2iec firmware v.0.9.0 or higher required)
• v.1.2 – 09-Oct-2010 (Added SJLOAD speed-up option to the manual mode of the Mega-cart version)
• v.1.3 – 31-May-2012 (Added support for C16/C116/Plus4, Sort directories, cosmetic changes)
• v.1.4 – 19-Jul-2012 (Added JIFFYDTV speed-up support for C64-DTV, Clear screen before RUN)
• v.1.5 – 03-Mar-2013 (Added support for C128, and uppercases disk images D64,D81,D71 etc.)

Download: CBM FileBrowser v1.5 (3678)

source: vic20.it/cbmfilebrowser

Autopsy:

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Grazie Paolo Cognetti per avermi dato questo oggetto in buone condizioni.

TRS-80 Color Computer Plug ‘n Power Programmable Appliance/Light Controller e’ un vecchio dispositivo per TRS-80 Color Computer per l’automazione domestica (domotica).

La confezione include il modulo Plug ‘n Power, il software su cartuccia, il cavo di connessione, il manuale e il battery test card.

Download: Plug & Power Appliance and Light Controller (PDF) (2623)

Details:

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Jump here for the commercial RGB mod for the Mattel Intellivision

I have found this RGB mod for the Mattel Intellivision console fom a site, i have searched on the net if anyone has tried this mod, but nothing, so, i have tried to do it myself.

This mod is not easy to do, especially if one has no experience in electronics, however the result at the end is spectacular.

Schematics (click to zoom):

Commodore Free Magazine Issue #67

Magazine dedicato alla scena Commodore scaricabile gratuitamente.

Download:

• Commodore Free Magazine Issue #67 (D64) (890)
• Commodore Free Magazine Issue #67 (PDF) (2000)
• Commodore Free Magazine Issue #67 (TXT) (929)

source: commodorefree.com

E’ stato rilasciato del nuovo Software per Commodore 64 dai seguenti gruppi: Antarctica, Really Proud Lamers, Laxity, TRIAD, Norbert Kehrer e Mad Hacker’s Incorporated.

Download:

• Space-Devil +2ED (936)
• Snake +2 (937)
• S-Blox +D (928)
• Asteroids Emulator +1D [pal/ntsc] (932)
• Asteroids + (925)
• Asteroids Emulator (912)
• Mondo Wordo II +3D [ntsc/pal] (941)
• History & Geography Grades 3 - 10 (930)
• All Games in One Archive (2313)

source: csdb.dk

Mi fa’ piacere condividere con voi le foto della giornata passata con Damiano (Manosoft) che oltre ad essere un buon amico e’ anche il “padre” dell’interfaccia C64SD Infinity per Commodore 64/C16/VIC20.

Le ore sono passate veloci, la giornata e’ stata piacevole all’insegna dei vecchi ricordi, visionando la mia collezione e  alcune demo per Commodore 64, per finire abbiamo completato la riparazione della tastiera del suo Commodore SX-64.

Ringrazio Damiano di avermi fatto visita e per avermi donato molte cose che fanno parte ora della mia collezione.

source: ebay.com wikipedia

Ci spiace, ma questo articolo è disponibile soltanto in English.

E’ stato rilasciato del nuovo Software per Commodore 64 dai seguenti gruppi: Sos, Rubberland, Alpha Flight, Nostalgia e inZane.

Download:

• Diesel Duel (850)
• The Dark Within (878)
• To Hell and Back +2H (911)
• Yie Ar Kung-Fu II +6DH [ntsc/pal] (912)
• Commando +2 (946)
• All Games in One Archive (2222)

source: csdb.dk

Questo music disk di Laxity raccoglie tutti i brani musicali rilasciati durante l’evento Crack Intro Music Competition 2013.

Download: Top 50 of Crack Intro Music Competition 2013 (939)

source: csdb.dk

E’ stato rilasciato un nuovo aggiornamento firmware per l’interfaccia 1541 Ultimate II di Gideon. Questa versione del firmware funziona solo con la versione della cartuccia 1541 Ultimate II (nuovo fpga).

Version 2.6d includes some new features and fixes:

• FIXED: Ultimax mode forced now correctly implemented (solves issue with freeze and DMA load)
• FIXED: Updater now works on C128… (not all C128 issues are fixed)
• ADDED: Programmable cartrige emulation timing.
• IMPROVED: Some drive emulation enhancements.

Release notes:

• This version does *not* include SID, but it does include the Ultimate Audio module. Different builds may become available upon request.
• The internal copier is still in beta. It has been tested with some of my drives, but there might be drives out there that won’t work. Make sure you have an IEC link from the Ultimate to a real drive to use this function. (No need to have a link to the computer.) There is still no retry mechanism; sectors that failed to read correctly will not be re-read.
• The Kernal replacement function is critical when it comes to timing. Tested on two machines only. Might not work on all C128.

Download: 1541 Ultimate II Firmware v2.6d (1254)

source: 1541ultimate.net