A new version of the firmware for the interface 1541 Ultimate II is released. This version runs only on the 1541 Ultimate II cartridge (new fpga).

Release notes 3.0 beta 5:

Major:

• BUGFIX: Processor’s Data Cache stored result of IO read, causing wrong values to be read from the cache

Minor:

• C64 Keyboard scan made a bit slower  (not tested)
• Fixed configuration drop down
• Fixed clock settings
• Mount disk made first option in D64 file type
• Updated Final 3 cart.

Release notes 3.0 beta 4 (first version released on Facebook):

• The FPGA platform has gotten an upgrade. There is now a faster RISC processor on board (~10 times faster), and I have re-written the USB host controller, which has become ~50 times faster. The external memory of the FPGA also runs faster, and delivers now also approx. 7 times more bandwidth. With this faster platform, it has become possible to run a multithreaded OS.
• There is now support for USB2LAN adapters, and 3.0beta4 runs two services: a (raw-)telnet (VT100) server that brings up the menu, and an FTP daemon for basic file transfer.
• There is now support for reading the directories of D71 and D81 files in the browser.
• There is a ‘CD’ command in the software IEC, and other improvements have been made to the soft IEC driver.
• There is now a copy command in the file browser, that works with C=C/C=V (or CTRL-C / CTRL-V). It is not that fast, but for small files it works. You can also copy files from inside a D64/T64 to another location in the file system. The other way around is still under development, but will soon be possible as well.
• UltiCopy is disabled for now, because it still needs to be ported to the multi-threaded operating system.

Download: 1541 Ultimate II Firmware v3.0 Beta 5 (1272)

source: 1541ultimate.net

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.6.6a

• Some more random crash issues corrected into the disks images managers.
• USB Stack updated.
• Firmware Update strongly recommended!

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.6.6a (1162)

source: hxc2001.com

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

Titles:

• Nuclear Nick Preview +
• Reddest Baron
• Skate Rock USA +2D
• Gauntlet USA +2D
• Rocket Smash EX 101% +5HD
• Uniblast
• Sentinel +3DG
• House of Usher +7MHDG    
• Indiana Jones und der Blaue Diamant [fixed]
• Shutdown +3
• Wizard Saga Preview +3
• MAH +3M 100%
• Daffy Duck [easyflash]
• Bugs Bunny [easyflash]
• Duck Tales [easyflash]
• Scooby & Scrappy Doo [easyflash]
• Road Routine Demo
• Nuclear Strike Force [seuck]
• Deadly Evil +20D
• Nuclear Strike Force +2H [seuck]
• Deviants +24D
• Tusker [easyflash]
• The Last Ninja +11DM
• Tarzan Goes Ape V1 Preview
• Retro Reto Pan [spanish] [seuck]
• The Last Ninja +11DM 2.0
• Scavenger Hunt 3D +1D
• Final Cartridge III+
• Motorman Preview
• Caren and the Tangled Tentacles (V1.1)
• Stormbringer +21D
• Sprint 1
• Sprint 1 +2
• Blap ‘n Bash +3HD
• Blap ‘n Bash
• The Last Ninja +11DM 100%

Download: All Games in One Archive (3347)

source: csdb.dk

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.6.4a

• Random crash issues corrected into the disks images managers.

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.6.3a

• Some user interface delays added to make it more usable ;)
• “Press select for the Setting menu” text added.

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.6.4a (1083)

source: hxc2001.com

A new donation from Rossano Rossano Toccaceli.

Donated items:

• Philips MSX-2 8235
• Commodore Floppy Drive 1541 (without case)
• Amiga Keyboard.

Thanks Rossano.

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.6.2a

• Normal mode : Endless init loop corrected.

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.6.1a

• Amiga : Disk change detection corrected : Desert Strike, Dizzy Crystal and probably others games disk change detection are now working properly.
• Direct access mode : Correct interface mode set when activated from an PC HD image.

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.6.2a (1209)

source: hxc2001.com

Scene World is a C64 magazine on disk dedicated to various activities of both C64 scenes.

“Both” means, that we are supplying information and texts of both scenes; NTSC and PAL.

Download: Scene World #25 (D64/D81) (1255)

source: sceneworld.org

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.6.0a

• Low level write layer redesigned : Some write issues solved.
• 2 digits display detection issue corrected.
• HFE : Index timing changed/corrected.
• Select button added at the JA jumper position.
  • This additionnal button and the I2C LCD screen allow you to freely select a file image without the indexed mode or any selector software.
• Indexed mode : “Previous”/”Minus” button repeat rate reduced.

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.6.0a (1070)

source: hxc2001.com

CBM prg Studio Version 3.4.0 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.

Improvements:

• Assembler:
  • Dump file.
  • Visual Data Generator tool.
  • Directives for creating tabular data.

• General:
  • Mixing BASIC and machine language in same project.
  • More control over IDE colours.

Bugs Fixed:

• Assembler:
  • Wrong start address when saving from the memory window.
  • TEXT and PTEXT generating wrong character values.
  • “
  • Binary import as assembler was using the wrong start address.
  • Incbin problems with large files.

Download: CBM prg Studio v3.4.0 (1009)

source: ajordison.co.uk

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

Titles:

• Cataball +4F
• Cataball +3F
• Bignose in USA +24D
• Zorro +5D
• Turrican USA +3D [ntsc]
• S.F.S. – Special Forces Soldier +2D [seuck]
• Goliath-Prommer V1.0+
• Space Trip VE +3H
• MegaTron
• Caren 2 [[[h0t preview]]]
• Tiger Claw +29DM
• Mah
• Turrican +14HD [easyflash]
• Mah +2M
• Go-Moku +J
• Bubble Dizzy +25D
• Soldier of Fortune 101% +9DGIHF
• Quak Attak +HG
• Edge of Time [seuck]
• Flimbo’s Quest [easyflash]
• Turrican [easyflash]
• Fairy Well +31D
• Motocross +19D
• Simon +
• Spaced Out Preview
• Quick Draw McGraw +7D
• Big Mac +H
• Welcome to… Hell! +3
• Moonraker +2
• iLogicAll Preview
• Behemoth Preview
• Kevin in the Woods Beta
• Zeit der Stille [german]
• Die drei Musketiere [german]
• Awakening
• Das Camp [german]
• Caren and the Tangled Tentacles (compo version 1.0)
• Daffy Duck +3DS

Download: All Games in One Archive (3465)

source: csdb.dk

Below a short description of the repair.

Commodore PET 2001 (1977) Chiclet Keyboard (#1)

Defect:

• Garbage Screen on boot and partially in a working state.

Diagnosis/Repair:

• The Multiplexer 74LS157 (position D2) had an output (pin 4) always been in low state.

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore PET 2001 (1978) Chiclet Keyboard (#2)

Defect:

• Garbage Screen on boot.
• Memory Problems (1018 Bytes are missing)

Diagnosis/Repair:

• The garbage screen on boot was caused by a poor contact of the sockets where reside the ROMs. Temporarily fixed by inserting a precision sockets above the original socket (very bad quality sockets).
• The problem of the missing memory was fixed by replacing a RAM MPS 2114 (position J1) with a new one.

Gallery of the repair:

Ikari has released a new firmware for the SD2Snes Flash Cartridge (Super Nintendo/Famicom). The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Download: SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7 Beta/Preview Rev 4 (1376)

Full Changelog:

• Prevent software from using uninitialized DMA ch.0 transfer to corrupt the stack (fixes Nightmare Busters)
• Disable PPU region patching during the menu
• MSU1: Stop audio playback on reset (fixes static buzzing noise in games after soft-resetting out of an MSU1 game)
• Cx4: Add a switch for original/fast mode. “Original” mimics the Cx4 timing better (Megaman doesn’t die in MMX2 attract mode) whereas “Fast” uses a single CPU cycle for every instruction, improving frame rate when drawing polygons (rotating head in MMX2 intro).
• Hide dot files and directories again (Regression in 0.1.7).
• “Stealth Mode” for in-game hook memory area hides the memory region used by in-game routines from games. (Fixes Equinox, Lion King)
• In-game hooks are a bit less intrusive in terms of CPU time, hopefully reducing glitches a bit with problematic games.
• System Information screen shows file system usage on card.
• Slow down DSPx a bit to better match original speed (should have no noticeable effect)
• Font height is reduced by one pixel to increase readability (lines of text are more distinguishable). This has an effect on the font style so some might not like it…?
• Background is greyed out when a window is active in foreground
• Menu now uses the dynamic hierarchical menu system, with automatic calculation of window dimensions, etc. Not much of it can be seen at the moment due to the lack of menu entries.
• Experimental SRAM mapping for Cx4
• FPGA: adjust address sampling time for “end-of-cycle” events. Should help primarily with DSP1 glitches.
• MSU1: initial volume now adheres to the latest spec (initial volume = 0) so it must be initialized by software to the desired level. This actually breaks my own example player I will post an updated version of it shortly.

Read more…

Forth, the Language.

Forth is a different language. It’s aged and a little weird.
What’s cool about it? It’s a very low-level and minimal language without any automatic memory management. At the same time, it easily scales to become a very high-level and domain-specific language, much like Lisp. Compared to C64 Basic, Forth is more attractive in almost every way.

It is a lot more fast, memory effective and powerful. Compared to C, specifically cc65, the story is a little different. It’s hard to make a fair comparison. Theoretically Forth code can be very memory efficient, and it’s possible to make Forth code that is leaner than C code. But it is also true that cc65 code is generally much faster than Forth code.

Download: durexForth v1.4 + Manual (1399)

source: noname.c64.org

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.5.4a

• Amiga : Extra Disk change delay added. Solve some disk change issues (Protracker 3.15, Defender of the Crown,…).

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.5.4a (1904)

source: hxc2001.com