Autopsy:

The interface 1541 Pocket Plus is a evolution of the Pocket 1541 released a few years ago. The 1541 Pocket Plus emulates the Commodore 1541 floppy drive with an SD (Secure Digital). The firmware like many Floppy Drive Emulation Interfaces for the C64 is based on the Open Source project SD2IEC and its operation is very simple and transparent, the interface is powered directly from the C64.

What can I do with it? It’s easy to say, with a normal SD (Secure Digital) you can store your favorites games and programs and you can load from the C64 everything directly from your memory card (SD), no more disk drives or datassette.

The differences from previous version, there are many, i’m going to list only the most important.

• 5VDC Powered from the Cartridge port of the Commodore 64.
• New CPU ATMega 1284PU (128k) clocked at 8MHz.
• External 48-pin Expansion slot.
• Internal expansion slot for future implementations.
• PocketCard with Bank Switching and 4Mbit flash memory (interchangeable)
• PocketCard PC 64 software can allows you to create Flash files for the 29F040.
• External Kernal with addon PocketCard PC 64 (requires PocketPLA 64).
• PocketPLA 64.

My first impression: I must say that has made a very good impression, the KIT Pocket 1541 Plus consists of several components built in an absolutely accurate and professional. The use of the addon PocketCard 64 at first time may be a bit complex for a beginner, but following the manual (you can find on the seller’s site) the configuration becomes easy and fun.

The Kernal cartridge mode is a very nice features, it overrides the PROM 901227. This feature requires the installation of the PocketPLA 64 and is only compatible with the Commodore 64 first edition (brown) with a PLA 906114.

In the sad case that the PocketPLA 64 can not be installed on your Commodore 64, the PocketCard 64 can be used to speed up the file loading with a TurboDisk Cartridge. The PocketCard 64 supports all types of cartridges (Ultimax or Standard) including games or utility. You can use the software PocketCard-64 to generate the file for the 29F040 flash with your compilations of Programs/Games or Kernal.

I suggest to buying this kit to all Retro Fans of the Commodore including people who want to ‘hack’ and not just play ;-D

source: rgmelsat.com

The Mega SwinSID is a new C64 SID replacement by Swinkels based on 32bit STM32 ARM Cortex M3 MCU and 512KB sample memory.

It runs at 80MHz and it uses integrated 12bit DACs for stereo output.

source: swinkels.tvtom.pl

This is a modern mass storage solution for Commodore PET/CBM computers with IEEE 488 bus using SD cards as floppy disk replacement.

This prototype is made on a breadboard, you can watch the Video Demostration on YouTube.

source: youtube.com

This site is about recreating gaming hardware from the past in modern programmable devices, known as FPGAs.

source: fpgaarcade.com

Autopsy:

The Sic!Cart (Super Inexpensive Cart) is a low price Flash Cartridge System for the Atari XL/XE series computers.

Sic!Cart available configurations:

• Programmed GAL.
• Sic!Cart with 2Mbit memory.
• Sic!Cart with 4Mbit memory.

source: atariage.com

The ZXpand interface is a brand new interface for the Sinclair ZX81, and Timex-Sinclair TS/1000 Home Computers.

The ZXpand interface offers 32K of expanded memory (which is configurable to support various hi-resolution graphics modes), instant file access to .p files stored on SD memory cards and more.

The Sinclair ZX81 ZXpand interface will also allow you to connect an Atari style 9 pin joystick port to play either specially written or specially adapted games.

The ZXpand provides the following facilities:

• SD Memory Card reader – for instant loading from / saving to .p files (used by ZX81 emulators)
• 32K of configurable RAM memory, which can then be set up to use the various hi-resolution graphics schemes for the Sinclair ZX81.
• New keywords are added to the system ROM to allow you to load and save programs, produce a catalogue of files on the memory
  card, configure the ZXpand Interface, and delete files.
• You can still load programs from cassette as well as using the interface, to allow you to copy files onto the SD memory card.
• Sub-directories are supported on the memory card.
• The new ROM can be switched off once a program is loaded, in order to allow access to LPRINT, LLIST and COPY commands.
• There is a built in reset button to reset the ZX81 without having to pull the power lead.

Download: ZXpand Manual (2387)

source: rwapsoftware.co.uk

Autopsy:

The 1541 Ultimate-II is a peripheral developed for the Commodore 64 (C64) by Gideon Zweijtzer.

It’s a C64 compatible cartridge that carries an Action Replay, The Final Cartridge III, Super Snapshot, Retro Replay or TurboAss with Codenet support (whatever the user prefers) and a fully compatible FPGA-emulated Commodore 1541 floppy drive that is fed from a built-in Mini SD card slot with C64-compatible files (e.g. .D64 diskimages or .PRG single program files).

The difference between 1541 Ultimate-II and other SD-based & .D64 mounting cartridges (like the MMC64, Super Snapshot 2007, or MMC Replay, SD2IEC) is that the 6502 microprocessor that powers the 1541 floppy and the 1541′s mechanical behavior (even sound) is fully emulated, making it theoretically compatible with almost anything.

File selection and management is done via a third button on the cartridge that brings up a new menu on screen.

For the full features list click here.

source: 1541ultimate.net ar.c64.org

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Release notes for the HxCFloppyEmulator software v1.6.9.0:

• New files Support : Kurzweil KRZ file support.
• New files Support : EDE EDM (Ensoniq Mirage) file image support.
• A new “About” window ;).
• … full release notes here

Download: HxCFloppyEmulator software v1.6.9.0 (976)

source: hxc2001.free.fr

Autopsy:

IDE Plus 2.0 is a new IDE host adapter by Simius for Atari (XE/XL) computer.

Some features:

• Is not much greater than a 2,5-inch IDE disk.
• Does not require an external power-supply.
• Contains an XE (CART+ECI) connector, an XL (PBI) connector, a cartridge port, and a connector for a 2,5-inch IDE disk.
• Contains 96 KB ISP Flash ROM and 32 KB RAM available to the internal PBI BIOS and flashable from the Atari.
• Contains 512 KB or 1024 KB ISP Flash ROM for SpartaDOS X (or any other cartridge of such type), flashable from the Atari. This ROM can be physically disabled using a dedicated switch. The switch is not installed in the device shown on photos below.
• Contains a real time clock circuitry to be used with SpartaDOS X. If someone doesn’t want to use it, the module is anyway fully compatible with an external R-Time 8 or internally mounted ARC.
• A LED flashing during the I/O.

source: atariage.com

This is a compact, feature-filled dual-SID board, designed to provide a proper way to mount a second SID inside your C64 or C128 without resorting to the old piggyback hack.

Variations available to fit most C64 and C128 computers. Second SID can be placed at any 32-byte boundary from $DE00 to $DFE0, and it works in the $D420-$D4E0 range also. C128/C128-D users can also use $D700-$D7E0.

Easy no-solder installation – just move your computer’s SID chip onto the Stereo SID board, plug it into the motherboard SID socket, and connect a few micro-hook clips.

source: digitalaudioconcepts.com

petSD is the name of the new AVR-based hardware. It’s a modern mass storage solution for Commodore PET/CBM computers with IEEE 488 bus using SD cards as floppy or hard disc replacement.

If you know the SD2IEC or µIEC: the petSD is just the same but for the older parallel IEEE 488 bus instead of the newer serial IEC bus.

The petSD is still a work in progress and there still are some issues.

A petSD consists of at least:

• ATmega 1284P.
• Red and a green LED (may be combined in one).
• SD slot.
• IEEE 488 connector.

source: nils eilers homepage

The support of the IEEE-488 protocol (thanks to Tommy Winkler) is officially part of OpenCBM distibution.

You can find newest source code for ZoomFloppy in the Opencbm GIT repository.

Software revision v0.6 for IEEE-488 support:

• Device detection for 3040, 4040, 8050, 8250, SFD-1001 (as 8250).
• CBMCTRL.
• CBMCOPY.
• D64COPY for 4040 (thanks to TNT) and 2031.
• D82COPY for 8050, 8250 and SFD-1001.

Firmware revision v0.07 for IEEE-488 support:

• 0.7 (2011/5/10) – Add IEEE-488 support (thanks to Tommy Winkler).

source: sourceforge.net tommy winkler homepage retro innovations

The Hybrid SID is a portable SID Player with a OLED LCD and a USB connector.

The Hybrid SID plays the most common variety of chiptunes, music written for playback on a SID chip. Probably the biggest collection of SID music is the High Voltage SID Collection, which has 36,000 SID tunes, free to download.

This prototype use a real SID chip (6581/8580) for play music and a CUI32 PIC32MX Development Stick for the CPU (6510) Emulation.

A YouTube video is available here.

source: dangerousprototypes.com

This is a quick and secure reset button for Commodore 64. This simple project was made by a Italian guy, a user of Lemon64 forum.

source: lemon64.com

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Release notes for the HxCFloppyEmulator software v1.6.8.1:

• Amiga/UAE Extended ADF file (new format) loader : crash corrected (Bitrate corrected).
• All Amiga loader (IPF,ADF,DMS…) : Index timing adjusted.
• Track encoder : Amiga track post gap corrected.
• … full release notes here

source: hxc2001.free.fr