Computers d’epoca, console, Commodore e non solo

March 7th, 2011 No comments

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Categories: Event(s), News & Rumors, Today

DotBASIC Plus for C64 is being re-released as a free download

March 4th, 2011 No comments

If you are interested in BASIC programming for the C-64, then you have probably used a BASIC Extension at some point.  Most of us are familiar with Commodore’s Simons’ BASIC cartridge.  Unfortunately, most of these extensions aren’t very useful.

Simons’ BASIC, for example, has a pretty lousy set of commands.  Many of them are basically (pun) useless.  It’s also a very confusing set of commands — there are no consistent conventions used, making it necessary to constantly refer to the manual.

Further, a program written with Simons’ BASIC can only be run on a C-64 with a Simons’ BASIC cartridge.  Pretty limiting. DotBASIC Plus is similar to other extensions in one way: you get a lot of new commands (or DotCommands, of course) — over 100 so far.  But that’s where the similarities end.

Download: DotBASIC Plus (940)

source: 8bitcentral.com

Commodore 64 IRQ Bicolor LED

March 4th, 2011 4 comments

This is a very old project published in a Dutch magazine to capture the state of the IRQ for Commodore 64 (vic-20) with a LED. After many years i have decided to make it.

On the photo you can see the project and the right connections on the cartridge port.

Components:

  • 1 x IC 74LS04.
  • 1 x Bicolor LED.
  • 2 x 330 ohm resistors.
  • Tiny wires.

How it work?

When the CPU generates an IRQ the green LED lights up, otherwise is red, if the irq is turned on and off quickly the led is orange.

 

Char Pad v1.7

March 4th, 2011 No comments

Char Pad is a cross-development tools aimed squarely at developing graphics for Commodore 64 games and will hopefully ease and inspire the production of new games software for this immortal and unique platform.

New features:

  • Variable tile sizes, currently 1×1, 2×2, 3×3, 4×4 or 5×5.
  • Pixel level editing of whole tiles.
  • 80×50 and 40×25 map editor modes.
  • Map flood-fill + copy & paste any map area.
  • Move & Mirror tiles or maps.
  • Powerful character set optimizer.
  • Collision “material” editing & grouping for easy software collision detection.
  • Export any data in raw or PRG formats.
  • Load and save SEUCK compatible background files (including Jon Wells’ sideways SEUCK mod).

source: code.myby.co.uk

Philips CD-i 470 (Compact Disc Interactive)

March 4th, 2011 No comments
Philips CD-i 470 (Compact Disc Interactive)

Autopsy:

from Wikipedia:

CD-i, or Compact Disc Interactive, is the name of an interactive multimedia CD player developed and marketed by Royal Philips Electronics N.V. CD-i also refers to the multimedia Compact Disc standard used by the CD-i console, also known as Green Book, which was developed by Philips and Sony (not to be confused with MMCD, the pre-DVD format also co-developed by Philips and Sony).

Work on the CD-i began in 1984 and it was first publicly announced in 1986.[2] The first Philips CD-i player, released in 1991 and initially priced around USD $700,[3] is capable of playing interactive CD-i discs, Audio CDs, CD+G (CD+Graphics), Karaoke CDs, and Video CDs (VCDs), though the last requires an optional “Digital Video Card” to provide MPEG-1 decoding.

Games ISO Download: gametronik.com

source: wikipedia

Non-Linear Systems Inc (Kaypro Corporation) – Kaypro 4/83

March 2nd, 2011 No comments
Non-Linear Systems Inc - Kaypro 4

Autopsy:

from Wikipedia:

Kaypro Corporation, commonly called Kaypro, was an American home/personal computer manufacturer of the 1980s. The company was founded by Non-Linear Systems to develop computers to compete with the then-popular Osborne 1 portable microcomputer. Kaypro produced a line of rugged, portable CP/M-based computers sold with an extensive software bundle which supplanted its competitor and quickly became one of the top selling personal computer lines of the early 1980s.

While exceptionally loyal to its original consumer base, Kaypro was slow to adapt to the changing computer market and the advent of IBM PC compatible technology. It faded from the mainstream before the end of the decade and was eventually forced into filing for bankruptcy in 1992.

Software download: retroarchive.org mrynet.com seasip.demon.co.uk classiccmp.org kayplus romset

source: wikipedia

nanoSwinSID PCB by x1541

February 27th, 2011 No comments

x1541, a user of the forum64.de has decided to scale down and update the pcb of the Micro SwinSID.

Download: NanoSwinSID PCB (33.34 Kb)

Features:

  • ISP Connector.
  • Same size as the original SID.
  • 6581/8580 Jumper.
  • Smd ATmega.

source: forum64.de

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Micro SwinSID – Firmware update by Swinkels

February 27th, 2011 No comments

Micro SwinSID (SwinSID88) is a hardware replacement for legendary SID sound chip which was placed in every Commodore C64 computer and other devices. Firmware update (27022011):

  • This new firmware brings 6581 filter emulation by connecting B0 AVR pin to ground (on the Photo).
  • Filter distrortions are still not emulated, only filter cutoff is affected.

source: forum64.de

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

A new version of Vice v2.3 is released

February 26th, 2011 No comments

A new version of Vice is released, the famous C64 (VIC-20/DTV…) emulator comes to the version v2.3.

What is new with the 2.3 release? Click here.

source: vice-emu.sourceforge.net sourceforge.net

Jason Ranheim Promenade Model C1

February 23rd, 2011 4 comments
Jason Ranheim Promenade Model C1

Autopsy:

The Promenade C1 is an EPROM burner that was manufactured in Canada by Jason-Ranheim Co. It plugs into the user port of computers like the Commodore VIC-20 or Commodore 64.

Download: Prom-Shell v2.00 (784)

source: mikenaberezny.com

Jurassic News numero #34

February 21st, 2011 No comments

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Categories: Magazine, News & Rumors, Today

(Italian) Mostra a Sanremo: Da Guglielmo Marconi a Steve Jobs

February 20th, 2011 No comments

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Categories: Event(s), News & Rumors, Today

CBM prg Studio Beta v0.2.0 released

February 20th, 2011 No 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 or VIC20 if you’re feeling brave and have the right kit.

CBM prg Studio is a replacement for C64PrgGen and VIC20PrgGen and is designed to be a single development tool which will cover some of the early CBM 8-bit machines.

source: ajordison.co.uk

C64 Game (easyFlash): Myth +1D

February 19th, 2011 No comments

Skoe has released a trained, patched and digiboosted version of Myth (Commodore 64) for the Easyflash cartridge.

source noname.c64.org

Micro ZoomFloppy

February 17th, 2011 No comments

Micro ZoomFloppy is a reduced version of the ZoomFloppy interface.

The interface Micro ZoomFloppy will sit in the 6522 IC socket of the Commodore Floppy Drive and provides the complete ZoomFloppy functionality.  The only external connection is a USB connector.

source: go4retro.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today