Sidbox with more updates
With the original Sidbox (before the utter re-write) I had to re-write a lot of the operating system.
- Audio, file transport for example.
SO putting these back in.
- Audio, file transport for example.
SO putting these back in.
CRT sub system back online
The sidbox was meant to have a basic CRT output.
Though this system is an RGBI output, not a composite. There IS no composite video hardware in the sidbox so it's all done view DMA and IRQ and Timers and managing that was a nightmare. It's not perfect this system IS an LCD primary display system after all.
BUT we have a basic and functional CRT system.
A basic image to CRT frame buffer and a vsync wait. Data transfer is very quick and is always done before the frame reaches the drawing scanline so no flicker.
The system DOES have a direct to CRT frame buffer but this is flickery and cache mess. While it IS fast, it is not recommended using.
Though this system is an RGBI output, not a composite. There IS no composite video hardware in the sidbox so it's all done view DMA and IRQ and Timers and managing that was a nightmare. It's not perfect this system IS an LCD primary display system after all.
BUT we have a basic and functional CRT system. A basic image to CRT frame buffer and a vsync wait. Data transfer is very quick and is always done before the frame reaches the drawing scanline so no flicker.
The system DOES have a direct to CRT frame buffer but this is flickery and cache mess. While it IS fast, it is not recommended using.
When enabled, the CRT will boot up on system boot with a test pattern demo.
This CRT sub system CAN be switched off with in the display settings this will save power. With all these DMA timers and outputs consume power. SO having the option to turn this off (this is off by default with a new SDCARD)
This opened the doors for using the CRT to be tied in to the Spectrum Emulator!
Since the emulator is based on OFF the shelf components, ONLY the ROM is down to the user to own a copy of the roms. The Spectrum Emulator wont work without one. Diagnostics roms do work, or roms people write, will work too. But in this case, a dump of my own 128K machine on a byte load works.
And as an example: Slightly Magic By Codemasters.
This CRT sub system CAN be switched off with in the display settings this will save power. With all these DMA timers and outputs consume power. SO having the option to turn this off (this is off by default with a new SDCARD)
This opened the doors for using the CRT to be tied in to the Spectrum Emulator!
Since the emulator is based on OFF the shelf components, ONLY the ROM is down to the user to own a copy of the roms. The Spectrum Emulator wont work without one. Diagnostics roms do work, or roms people write, will work too. But in this case, a dump of my own 128K machine on a byte load works.
And as an example: Slightly Magic By Codemasters.
ROM Applications available.
These are programs that sit on the rom and can be accessed without the need of the SDCARD.
There are just simple and basic things, and a really basic player interface.
Even a basic Amiga almost looking analogue clock.
The sidbox DOES make use of the internal RTC and a 3v coin cell battery ( I plan on a super capacitor though, probably less risk of leaking ?)
There are just simple and basic things, and a really basic player interface.
Even a basic Amiga almost looking analogue clock.
The sidbox DOES make use of the internal RTC and a 3v coin cell battery ( I plan on a super capacitor though, probably less risk of leaking ?)
Language files
I have attempted to have the sidbox multi-language available.
So far though I have only got the English, German, and French.
I'm not a fan of using a translator for accuracy so I know some people that can speak these languages and can give the best translations possible.
So far though I have only got the English, German, and French.
I'm not a fan of using a translator for accuracy so I know some people that can speak these languages and can give the best translations possible.
Starting to build the normal use of the Sidbox, This is the original touch screen only UI.
This is the front end of the system. Simple and I hope easy to use music player interface.
THIS shows up when either no SDCard is installed (though this might change) or the Sdcard does not have a file named "desktop" in the "sdcard:/auto/" folder.
The desktop[no .ext] file just triggers the dekstop to show allowing for software to run.
The Test UI:
The start of the actual Front end!
This is a desktop applet running.
Desktop HAS a sort of program manager, it is a very very basic system where programs must register them selves as a running applet.
ROM apps don't need to register. They run from the ROM so they don't use up ram.
This is the front end of the system. Simple and I hope easy to use music player interface.
THIS shows up when either no SDCard is installed (though this might change) or the Sdcard does not have a file named "desktop" in the "sdcard:/auto/" folder.
The desktop[no .ext] file just triggers the dekstop to show allowing for software to run.
The Test UI:
The start of the actual Front end!
This is a desktop applet running.
Desktop HAS a sort of program manager, it is a very very basic system where programs must register them selves as a running applet.
ROM apps don't need to register. They run from the ROM so they don't use up ram.
MORE updates will be added to this article
As I continue to install previous code into this version of the firmware. I'll add them to this article
Comments 0
Comments are reviewed before they appear publicly.
Leave a Comment