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SymbOS 3.0 WIP – with WiFi and USB mouse support

Oct 122016

Prodatron released a new work in progress (WIP) version of his SymbOS, which is a multi-tasking cross-platform operating system for Zilog Z80 based computers like the Amstrad CPC, the Amstrad PCW or the MSX machines. This time, it contains the long awaited network support for the Amstrad CPC (well… there was no network hardware available for the last release) and also support for an USB mouse. To use those new features, you will need the Amstrad M4 Wifi expansion for the network support or the USB Albireo board.
On the software side, SymbOS comes with several network related programs, where the most important ones are an IRC chat client, which you can use to directly talk to other Amstrad CPC users on the #CPC channel at Freenode, and the telnet client. Prodatron also improved the SymbOS desktop. You can add unlimited start menu entries and desktop widgets to it now. To unpack your compressed ZIP files, you can use the new unzip tool in the SymShell console in the WIP, too.

If you want to test the latest WIP by yourself, you can download and discuss it on the CPCWiki forums.

Updates for FutureOS

Amstrad CPC, System 3 Responses »

Sep 192016

TFM just released a new version of FutureOS and some other tools and applications. There is a huge changelog, so have a look at it by yourself. You can download the latest software from the FutureOS homepage.

Changelog:

6128 Plus version: ROM D optimized.
Bugfix in |FDESK command
Extra E-RAM of X-MEM (64 KB internal) can be used now (640 KB! Not 576KB) with X-MEM via &7EC4-7
MultiPlay support added
Installer updated
Bug in OS function GET_DIR corrected
ROM applications can now be called using the RUN icon
FutureOS eXpansion ROM Mangement enhanced
API expanded: External ROMs can now call OS functions directly from Exp.ROM to FutureOS ROMs A-D
Albireo detection added (scans for both main chips)
Time and Date can now be shown optional as characters at bottom of screen instead of icons (nice in SPARtan mode imho)
Hotkey “B” / Fire 2 (not 0 or 1!) added: Moves mouse arrow to next file, but without tagging (problems with Plus)
Switch SPARtan mode on by default
The “Show picture” function now starts in MODE 0 and 80 x 25 character mode
Hotkey “J” added to Jump to file section in Desktop
OS/API entry KLICK will now reset SP to &BFF8, stability improved
ROM C compacted
Efficient PlayCity autodetection added
Documentation updated: printer management, E-RAM management

RAM test for the Amstrad CPC

Amstrad CPC, Hardware, System, Utility No Responses »

Nov 172015

Does your Amstrad CPC work correctly or do you have stability issues? Not sure? Well, then you can at least check the RAM of your CPC with Geralds new RAM tester. To run this program on classic CPCs (464, 664, 6128), you will need a LowerROM board or an X-MEM memory expansion in boot mode. Use the .bin file in this configuration.
If you want to run it on an Amstrad Plus or an Amstrad GX4000, you will need a C4CPC cartridge and use the .bin or .cpr file with it.

If the RAM is ok, you will see the following image (green bars at the side of the screen):

If something is wrong, you will see a red bar at the side of the screen:

You can download the binaries at the end of this news and discuss it in the CPCWiki forums.

If you need to check your systems memory without having an expansion board, you can also use Nilquaders memory check utility.

SamaruX v2.02 – Unix-like shell for CP/M

Amstrad CPC, System No Responses »

Sep 012015

Miguel I. Garcia Lopez released a new version of his Unix-like shell for CP/M systems with Z80 CPU called SamaruX. Of course it features standard functionalities like redirecting the output of stdin / stdout, piping, environment variables, batch processing and much more. It was written with MESCC, a Small-C compiler for CP/M. If you are still using CP/M on your Amstrad CPC and want to test it, you can get the latest version of SamaruX, its source code and the MESCC compiler from the Floppy Software homepage. You can discuss about it in the CPCWiki forums.

Changes in v2.02

Enhanced support of SamaruX external commands.
New examples of SamaruX external commands: banner, cal, head, whoami.

Changes in V2.00

New built-in commands: date, mem, sort, wc, tee.
Improved built-in commands: batch, cat, cd, cpm, ed, env, if, man.
New environment variables: HOME, BINDIR, MANPATH.
Added support for SamaruX external commands (the game Robots has been included as an example).
Text manual included.

Xyphoe celebrates the 30th birthday of the CPC 6128

Amstrad CPC, Game, Hardware, System No Responses »

Aug 292015

After his great video for the 30th birthday Amstrad CPC 464, Xyphoe celebrates the 30th birthday of the Amstrad CPC 6128 in his latest video on Youtube. So let’s celebrate with him. Have fun:

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