Commodore.news

1541 Ultimate-II review | Oldtech81 has made an video review of the 1541 Ultimate-II. In this video you can see how to install and use your 1541 Ultimate. He explains how to load and run games from the SD card. For people who are starting with a Commodore C64, he also explains how to connect your C64 to a modern TV screen.

BigRamPlus | BigRamPlus is an memory expansion for the Amiga 3000 and 4000 (desktop or tower). This expansion will give your Amiga 256 Mbytes of extra memory. You need to use an original daughter board, other bus boards may not work. The BigRamPlus has a price tag of 100 Euro.

C64 Tape Interface | Bart Venneker is experimenting with tap files. A tap file contains the digital data from a compact cassette that is used in a Datassette. With a PC you can transfer the tap file to a real compact cassette. And with a special interface you can connect a standard cassette player to the Commodore C64. In the video you can see how the system works (Dutch language).

ZoomFloppy | Steve from the C64 Copy Protection web page made a video about the ZoomFloppy. The ZoomFloppy can be used to transfer files from your PC to a Commodore disk drive or vice versa. The ZoomFloppy is connected to the PC via a USB port. In the video you can see how the system works and which software you need.

SIDSynth, Pocket Mini Computer | Jeff Ledger made a Midi SIDSynth with a pocket mini computer. The pocket mini computer is an open source mini computer with an Parallax Propeller microcontroller as it's brain. Jeff made an manual how to build your own Midi SIDSynth. He also explains which software you need.

Commodore C16 RAM repair | Thecellartroll has made a video about the replacement of the RAM chips in a Commodore 16. In the video he explains how to open the C16, take out the motherboard, remove the old defective chips and replace them with new RAM chip. The SID files played in the video are: Megtha Fix 2 (DaFunk) and Broken Bottles (Deek).

1541 Ultimate | For the 1541 Ultimate is a new version (v2.5) of the firmware available. New in this version: File viewer. Selectable colours in user interface. Improved memory allocation. UltimateAudio module with 7 voices.

Turbo Chameleon - A2601 | Frank Buss is working on a Atari 2600 for inside the Turbo Chameleon cartridge. He uses the Docking Station to connect a joystick to the Turbo Chameleon. At the moment the core is in a test phase, but you can download it to try it yourself. The video output is compatible with an VGA monitor and the audio also works.

Printed Arcade Joystick | Srepmub made a printable working version of the wonderful Arcade joystick from Suzo International. You can print this joystick with your 3D printer. After printing you can add the connector, spring, steel bar, micro switches and rubbers to create you own Arcade joystick!

Multi-Joystick Interface | Kananga has developed an joystick interface to connect up to eight joysticks to the Commodore VIC20. The new interface was demonstrated at the Commodore users group in Graz - Austria. Kananga adapted the Super-Amok game so, that more players can play at the same time. Kananga is working on more multi-player versions of games.

LED matrix – C64 | Bart Venneker has connected an LED matrix display to his Commodore C64. The display is developed by Bart himself and has 128 LEDs (16 x 8), the interface has 3 connections (plus power supply). In the video Bart explains how the display and the interface works (Dutch language).

GCart - VIC20 | After a break Thomas Lövskog is working on the GCart again. He redesigned the circuit board and expanded the RAM memory to 64-512 MByte. The Xilinx FPGA will handle the WiFi and memory instead of a PIC32. A new addition is a optional Commodore IEC serial port for the emulation of the disk drive. The user interface is moved to a external circuit board with many options: Buttons and LEDs, a 16x96 or a 96x64 OLED screen.

MIDIbox aSIDity | Sauraen and Oikanys are working on the MIDIbox aSIDity project. This project will be the most powerful SID-based synthesizer in the world. The system will have 8 Commodore 64 SID sound chips (4 x 6581 and 4 x 8580) 160 modulators and many control options. At the moment they have completed the feedback system, build with an LM1973 (digital volume control) and an op-amp (3x gain). The controls are: Feedback, Cut-off, Resonance, Pulse width and Release time. You can watch the demonstration on YouTube.

C64SSD -The hardware transplant | Berry de Jager is working on a new project. Berry is building a modern version of the Commodore C64. He first tested a Raspberry Pi with VICE but was not satisfied with the performance. He decided to use a mini ITX PC with an Atom N2800, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth, laptop power supply and a Keyrah USB / C64 keyboard interface. You can follow the project on Berry's web page.

Stereo SID Card | Mike Berlin is working on a stereo SID card for the Commodore C64. The system has two SID 8085 R5's, four latches, an EPROM and two amplifiers. The card can be inserted in the original connector on the motherboard and there is no special software needed to play the SID tunes in full stereo.

Pocket SID Audio Player | Jeff Ledger developed a pocket size SID music player. The SID player uses a Parallax Propeller microcontroller and a SD card to read and play the SID music. He made a manual on how to construct the hardware and you can also download the necessary software for the Pocket SID Audio Player.

EasyFlash 3 - Firmware | Thomas skoe Giesel has released a new CLPD firmware version for the EasyFlash 3. The EasyFlash 3 is a cartridge for the Commodore C64 with the possibilities of using different cartridge and kernal images. The most recent changes are: Re-enabled AR/RR mode and improved compatibility of KERNAL implementation.

Comet+ | In the past months Goog has been working on a new version of the Comet64 Internet Modem. The new Comet+ is a mix of a storage media, internet connection and a hardware and software experimentation platform. The features are: Wi-Fi. Micro SD. Disk drive emulation. BBS system. Open-source firmware (Arduino). RS-232. 4MB Flash RAM. The Comet+ can be used with the C64, C128, VIC-20, Plus/4 and the C16.

Test Cartridge - C64 | Musicmax3 from the web page C64MOD has made an test cartridge for the Commodore 64. The cartridge has a 2 Mbit Flash memory for storing the programs. The program can be selected by jumpers. A reset button is also available. You can view an demonstration on YouTube.

Blinkenwall C64 | Blinkenwall is a wall made from 9 x 5 = 45 glass bricks. Next to every glass brick is a RGB-LED (Shiftbrite). The Blinkenwall is normally controlled by an Arduino system. But it was time for something different and now the Blinkenwall is controlled by a Commodore 64 with a custom build interface. You can see an demonstration on YouTube.

FPGA64 | Sabbi is still working on his Commodore 64 inside a FPGA chip. All the parts for the system are now placed on a wooden board to avoid problems with the connections. The hardware SID is replaced by an FPGA implementation. An Arduino Pro Mini together with an 1.8 Color LCD gives the system two joystick-ports with paddle support. The control panel has control buttons for a system reset, mute, borders on/off and a menu system to select the kernal image.

New products from Individual Computers | Individual Computers announced a number of new or updated products for the Commodore C64 and the Amiga computers: SuperPLA, PLA replacement for C64, Plus/4, 1551, CBM 610 / 710 and PET. ACA1220, Turbo card for the A1200 with 128 MB RAM. ACA620, Turbo card for the A600 with 9+1 MB RAM. BigRamPlus, 256 MB RAM expansion for the A3000(T) and A4000(T).

Zeus68k | Zeus68 is a new expansion for the Amiga 500. The device is actually 4 devices in 1. It has an accelerator (68SEC000 at 7 or 50 MHz), an RAM expansion (8 MB), an Boot menu / Kickstart ROM Switcher (6 Kickstarts) and a IDE controller. The Zeus68k is a proto-type at the moment but a limited production run is planned for the winter of 2012. You can follow the progress on the English Amiga Board forum.

Parallax SID 6581 Tunes | Andymanone used an ET-BASE PX32 Developer Board to play SID tunes. This development board uses an Parallax 8Cog-Propeller CPU and a SD card to play Commodore C64 SID music. You can watch a demonstration video on YouTube.

VIC 314 - Raspberry Pi, C64 | Retrotext build an new C64 with the help of a Raspberry Pi and a not working Commodore C64. For his project he used the following: Commodore C64 casing / keyboard, Keyrah USB interface, 4-way USB port, three RCA connectors, Ethernet and HDMI cable, on/off switch, power supply and some small items. After installing all the hardware inside the C64 he installed VICE on the Raspberry Pi. He can now play his favorite games on his new C64.

C64 Bass Guitar | At the Bay Area Maker Fair in May 2012 Jeri Ellsworth showed a new project. She made an combination of a Commodore 64 and a bass guitar. In this video Jeri shows the inside of the device and explains how it works. The system includes a guitar, a C64 keyboard, an FPGA and a real SID chip.

Plipbox - A500 | Lallafa is working on a new project for the Amiga 500. The project will enable Internet access on the Amiga 500. The system use a Arduino board and a Ethernet module, and allows direct access to your local network. On the Lallafa's web page you can find a description on how to build the hardware and the source code is also available.

HxC floppy emulator - v1.7.1.2 | For the HxC floppy emulator is new firmware available. The HxC floppy emulator is a replacement of a 3.5 inch disk-drive in for example an Amiga or a Atari ST. Recent changes in the firmware: Embedded setting menu: Floppy Interface mode, Bitrate, Track step mode, Enable/disable the drive B. Write support: Improvements for MFM / FM, HFE file format and DataMark support. Faster seek and load. Flip disk function.

EasyFlash3 v1.0.0 firmware | Skoe released a new firmware version for the EasyFlash3. Changes in this version: USB and I/O2 RAM in KERNAL mode. Improved KERNAL implementation. Support for the C128 with 2 MHz mode. For the future there are plans for an external KERNAL on the C128 and USB-related features.

Chameleon - Firmware: Beta 7b | Tobias released a new firmware version for the Chameleon cartridge. Changes in this version: Improved REU, Faster SDRAM controller, Slowdown modes. Update program added. Improvements to the menu and the file browser (navigation, quick find, gfx viewer, wav player and file copy).

Retro style microcomputer | Jeff Ledger started a new project. He made an platform for your own Retro-style microcomputer. The platform is based on the Gadget Gangster Propeller Platform USB board and will have video, audio and a wire less keyboard. With the right software you can turn this system in a 6502 or Z80 microcomputer.

Project Unity | Project Unity is a project to build one system with many game consoles inside. The system will have 20 game consoles, but only one power supply, one video output and one game controller.
At the moment the following game consoles are integrated: Amiga CD32, Sega SMS, Nintendo NES, Mattel Intellivision, Nintendo GameCube, Philips CDi, and Playstation 2.
And there are plans to include the following systems: SNK NeoGeo, Sega MegaDrive, Amstrad GX4000, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, Sega DreamCast, ColecoVision, Nintendo SNES, NEC TurboGrafx/PC Engine, Atari 7800 and the Atari Jaguar.

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