22.Jun.2016
AROS-Exec (Forum)
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AROS: Results of user survey 2016
Under the title link Krzysztof 'deadwood' Śmiechowicz has published the result of a survey among AROS users, who weekly use the operating system. 54 persons participated.
The results of the survey show that 20 % uses AROS more than ten hours a week, mainly for browsing, programming and multimedia. All those who "spend less time with AROS, (you) spend it mostly on OS Tinkering but also, surprisingly, on Programming!". More than 60% use a "native x86 installation of AROS, either on real or virtualized hardware."
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 22. Jun. 2016, 06:20] [Comments: 0]
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21.Jun.2016
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Workshop: upgrade an Amiga 'Tank' mouse with microswitches
Commodore mice - especially the famous 'Tank' model - are decades old and their switches aren't getting any better with age. Even if the mouse buttons still work, it often takes a constantly increasing amount of force to activate them or you never know if the mouse will react to your click this time. Amiga user 'Redskull' has fixed this problem by replacing the switches in his mouse with new microswitches, the following is a step by step guide showing what he had to do to upgrade is input device:
Remove the two phillips head screws near the cable end. Turn the mouse over, lift the end near the cable slightly. The top half will then slide backwards. Warning: Take care not to snap the clips at the rear of the top half.
Remove the two phillips head screws securing the PCB to the bottom half. You may find it easier to work by removing the cable - to do that, desolder the ground strap (see big red circle in next picture) and unplug the 8 pin connector.
Desolder the offending switch(es). The following pictures only show the left mouse button being replaced, but the principle is identical for the right mouse button of course.
These are the suitable PCB mount microswitches. The metal levers are not required.
If your switches have the metal lever attached, remove it by squeezing the end with a pair of needle-noze pliers.
Clip the leg furthest from the switch actuator with a pair of clippers or a side cutter.
The switch is ready to install now.
Drill two 0.7-1.0mm holes as shown. With the type of switch used here, the hole furthest from the edge of the board should be roughly inline with two existing holes, the other hole should be slightly offset. This may vary depending on the brand of switch you buy. Measure the hole distance up to match your switch.
Make two trace cuts as shown, isolating the land around the hole that you just made furthest from the board edge.
Scrape away some of the insulation around both holes.
That's what the new holes look from the top side of the board.
Insert the new microswitch into the new holes as shown.
Make sure the sitch is quite flush against the board before you solder it in. Make a link as shown by the red oval, a simple solder blob should suffice.
The actuator of the microswitch is roughly about 3mm higher than the original when installed, so the plastic stem behind the mouse button will need to be shortened to match.
Remove only so much that you can close the mouse (with screws) without activating the switch. It's better to trim in small increments and test a few times, than take too much off in one go and ruin your mouse.
(cg) (Translation: cg)
[News message: 21. Jun. 2016, 17:48] [Comments: 0]
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21.Jun.2016
AROS-Exec (Forum)
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AROS-Distribution: Icaros Desktop 2.1.2
Version 2.1.2 of Paolo Besser's AROS distribution Icaros Desktop (screenshot) is the first one which supports Windows 7 "shared folders" using the SMB-handler; additionally the DropBox-handler and an AmiCould client were integrated.
The AROS/68k system files including the RTG drivers were updated and the OpenStreetMap viewer Mapparium added.
Changes:
- Added DropBox cloud drive handler
- Added easy DropBox configuration to Prefs
- "Gdrive" has now been replaced by Prefs/CludDrives
- Added AmiCloud client to extras/FileSystem
- Updated SMB handler, now supporting shared folders from:
- Windows 2008 Server/R2
- Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10
- Updated AROS M68K environment
- New RTG driver with enhanced performance
- ROMs and system files updated to June 2016
- Added Mapparium to applications
- Updated SQLman in applications
- Updated IndieGO! e-shop client
- Updated FlexCat
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 21. Jun. 2016, 13:54] [Comments: 0]
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20.Jun.2016
amigafuture.de (Webseite)
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Amiga Future: Issue 98 online
Issue 98 (September/October 2012) of the printed magazine Amiga Future is sold out, you can read the German and English edition of the magazine online.
A preview and some excerpts for the upcoming issue 121 are available as well. Topics of this issues include an interview with Matthias 'Mazze' Rustler and reviews of the USB adaptor Rys MkII and Sqrxz 4.
(cg) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 20. Jun. 2016, 21:10] [Comments: 0]
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20.Jun.2016
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Diagnostic tool: DiagROM 0.6
DiagROM is a diagnostic software which is meant to be burned in an EPROM by the user and replaces the regular Kickstart-ROMs of an Amiga. The software does not require any timer, IRQs or something like that and therefore can be launched on very broke computers and there can check the hardware to identify problems. DiagROM uses the serial port to export information or menus.
Currently DiagROM is available for free. Later there will be also programmed ROMs for a little fee. The source code will be released as well.
(cg) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 20. Jun. 2016, 20:57] [Comments: 0]
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20.Jun.2016
Martin Merz (ANF)
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Pictograms: AISS 4.21
Martin Merz has released an update of his "Amiga Image Storage System" (AISS), which is a system for managing toolbar graphics under AmigaOS and alternative systems.
AISS 4.21 provides more than 8.700 graphics. Due to compatibility reasons all pictures and animations of previous versions are included as well.
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 20. Jun. 2016, 06:05] [Comments: 0]
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20.Jun.2016
Spidi (ANF)
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Retro 7-bit: Sum-Firmware-Update
Sum developed by Retro 7-bit is a family of USB-devices for connecting keyboards to diverse Amiga models including the CDTV (amiga-news.de reported). Due to the integrated USB-stack it "enables USB HID keyboards support without the need for installing additional AmigaOS software drivers."
Now a firmware update has been released which provides bug fixes and minor improvements. Additionally, it introduces saving LED states for Capslock, Numlock and ScrollLock keys.
Download: Sum_20160619.7z (27 KB)
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 20. Jun. 2016, 06:04] [Comments: 0]
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19.Jun.2016
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Aminet-Uploads until 18.06.2016
The following archives have been added to Aminet until June 18th, 2016:
Legs_Intro_Colly.adz demo/disk 499K 68k Legionarys Intro Collection
cflow-mos.lha dev/c 1.3M MOS Generate a program flowgraph
AfricaMOS.lha game/board 326K MOS Conversion of 3W board game
bmp2dhr.lha gfx/conv 807K MOS Modern Graphics to Apple II G...
optipng-ppc-morphos.lha gfx/misc 161K MOS Advanced PNG optimizer
ZXLive.lha misc/emu 110K 68k ZX-Spectrum 48/128k/Pentagon1...
GoatTracker-morphos.lha mus/edit 1.2M MOS Official tracker-like C64 mus...
NewFilemaster.lha util/dir 610K 68k FileMaster with fixes, Filema...
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 19. Jun. 2016, 05:54] [Comments: 0]
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19.Jun.2016
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OS4Depot-Uploads until 18.06.2016
The following archives have been added to OS4Depot until June 18th, 2016:
vsp.lha aud/pla 2Mb 4.0 An easy mod, mp3, ogg and wav Vi...
snes9x.zip emu/gam 170Mb 4.1 Super Nintendo / Super Famicom e...
africa.lha gam/boa 326kb 4.0 Conversion of 3W board game
mapparium.lha uti/sci 3Mb 4.0 OpenStreetMap Viewer
ffmpeg.lha vid/con 22Mb 4.0 Video and audio converter
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 19. Jun. 2016, 05:54] [Comments: 0]
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19.Jun.2016
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AROS-Archives-Uploads until 18.06.2016
The following archives have been added to AROS-Archives until June 18th, 2016:
grafx2-2.4.2035.i386-aros... gra/edi 1Mb The Ultimate 256-color bitmap pa...
clockywock.i386-aros.zip uti/mis 333kb Ncurses based ASCII analog clock.
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 19. Jun. 2016, 05:54] [Comments: 0]
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19.Jun.2016
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WHDLoad: New installers until 18.06.2016
Using WHDLoad, you can install games, scene demos and intros from cracking groups to your harddisk that were only working from floppy disks previously. The following installers have been added until June 18th, 2016:
- 2016-06-17 updated: Curse of Ra (Rainbow Arts) fixes crash at startup (Info)
- 2016-06-15 fixed: Shadow of the Beast 3 (Psygnosis) PAL version fully supported, freezes in intro fixed, Byte writes to volume register fixed, Bplcon0 color bit fixed, decruncher optimised and error check added, disk request screen disabled, intro can be skipped with CUSTOM2, disk accesses removed (Info)
- 2016-06-14 improved: Les Manley - Search For The King (Accolade) adapted for WHDLoad v17, fixed for 68000 (Info)
- 2016-06-14 updated: Faery Tale Adventure (Microillusions) reassembled with latest kickemu (Info)
- 2016-06-13 improved: Wrath of the Demon (Ready Soft) disk imaging fixed (Info)
- 2016-06-13 improved: Cruise For A Corpse / Croisi?re pour un cadavre (Delphine Software) sound fixed, division by zero fixed, supports italian version (Info)
- 2016-06-13 improved: Black Tiger (Capcom/U.S.Gold) fixed install script (Info)
- 2016-06-12 fixed: Humans / The Humans (Imagitec Design) keyboard works again (Info)
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 19. Jun. 2016, 05:54] [Comments: 0]
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18.Jun.2016
Amigaworld.net (Webseite)
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Magazine: Commodore Free, issue 93
"Commodore Free" is a free, English-language magazine about Commodore and Amiga computers, which is available in different formats - among others as HTML-version and as C64-Diskmag.
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 18. Jun. 2016, 19:52] [Comments: 0]
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17.Jun.2016
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Coffee table book : "The Master of Pixel Art - Volume 1" available
Last year, "The Masters of Pixel Art" was successfully financed by crowdfunding. The coffee table book "presents a selection of the very best pixel artwork in an exclusive production." If you place your order before June 27th, you will get a discount of 10% by using the code "nicepixel".
(cg) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 17. Jun. 2016, 15:39] [Comments: 0]
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16.Jun.2016
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Prototype of new A1200 case, production of Amiga key caps planned
Last year Philippe Lang succeeded in financing the professional production of new A1200 cases via Kickstarter. Meanwhile a first prototype of the case was made. The blog "Indie Retro News" shows some photographs of it.
According to Indie Retro News, Lang will launch another Kickstarter project in September, which is about the production of new Amiga key caps "consisting of 101 keys with springs and 12x plastic complementary plastic holders included!" The sets will be available in different colours and compatible to all Amiga keyboards which use Mitsumi keys. The campaign will be launched on September 1st.
(cg) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 16. Jun. 2016, 19:39] [Comments: 0]
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16.Jun.2016
amigaworld.net (Webseite)
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Event: Commodore Vegas Expo (30./31. July, Las Vegas)
In 2016, the Commodore Vegas Expo ("CommVEx") will take place for the twelfth time. The CommVEx is meant for fans of the Commodore home computer. There will be a rummage sale and some commercial distributors and software developers will also be present.
(cg) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 16. Jun. 2016, 19:04] [Comments: 0]
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16.Jun.2016
amigafuture.de (Webseite)
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Free download: Crystal Kingdom Dizzy
The platform game Crystal Kingdom Dizzy was released in 1993 and now can be downloaded for free as ADF, IPF and WHDLoad.
(cg) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 16. Jun. 2016, 18:53] [Comments: 0]
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14.Jun.2016
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Crowd funding: The story of the Commodore Amiga in pixels
Nostalgia-related projects continue being very much the trend on crowd funding platforms: After The story of the Commodore 64 in pixels, the author Chris Wilkins is going to acknowledge the Amiga. The book will be published as paperback and hardcover book. Donatorrs can choose between different bonuses - among others an Amiga port of Starquake, which currently is developed by the well-known cracker Galahad and which is supposed to be delivered in a professional box with pin, poster and printed pocket guide.
(cg) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 14. Jun. 2016, 18:07] [Comments: 0]
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14.Jun.2016
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Browser homepage for Amiga-Fans
Under amiga-hardware.info two fans have established a homepage for Amiga enthusiasts. You can search trough diverse Amiga and retro sites and choose between different links on the foot of the website. The "Top 100 (Amiga) Links" of the authors can be opened by a click on the inconspicuous arrow at the top of the website.
(cg) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 14. Jun. 2016, 17:55] [Comments: 0]
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14.Jun.2016
Michael Rupp (ANF)
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Javascript: TAWS - The Amiga Workbench Simulation 0.26
TAWS ("The Amiga Workbench Simulation") is a Javascript simulation of the Amiga-Workbench 1.0 - 4.1 for Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera and Apple-WebKit-Browser (including Odyssey).
Any kind of feedback the author would very appreciate. He still is searching for support for the French translation.
After launching TAWS, the "History (english)" of version 0.26 can be found in the folder "System/TAWS" on the Workbench.
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 14. Jun. 2016, 17:38] [Comments: 0]
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13.Jun.2016
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AROS: May 2016 Highlights
So far we reported about "A week in AROS" in which Krzysztof 'deadwood' Śmiechowicz collected information about changes of the operating system AROS. Recently only few changes could be reported therefore we will change to the monthly summaries of the same author:
"As the days finally got warmer on northern hemisphere, the activity of both users and developers of AROS reached quite low levels in May.
Krzysztof Smiechowicz made the necessary fixes to the source code and enabled again the x86_64 build of AROS, which was not available for over three months. Right now nightly build targets for all supported architectures are available.
In May first version of a new, interesting application has been made available by Marcus Sacrow. Mapparium is an OpenStreetMap client working under AROS and MorphOS. Current functionality allows for example browsing the map and searching for location.
Closing, a new survey has been launched in order to understand how AROS is used by people and how it can become even more useful. If you have not done so, please answer the survey questions in this thread."
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 13. Jun. 2016, 13:01] [Comments: 0]
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12.Jun.2016
Amigaworld.net (Webseite)
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Aminet: Separate category for Hollywood established
The software collection Aminet has established a separate category called "dev/hwood" for the cross-platform programming language Hollywood. Currntly 24 entries are listed, especially plugins.
(snx) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 12. Jun. 2016, 07:26] [Comments: 0]
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