Speccy Emulator News (with Sam Coupe Emulation)
Hello, All!
The free Speccy 5.4 for Windows and Linux is now available for download:
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/ -- homepage
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy54-Windows-bin.zip --Windows binary
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy54-Ubuntu-x86-bin.tgz -- Linux binary
This version adds support for Sam Coupe state files (.STS) and disk image files (.SAD). I have also fixed color palette when switching between Spectrum and Sam Coupe modes and added drag'n'drop support on Windows. Snapshot and disk loading code has been completely refactored. Since .STS/.SAD functionality is very new, I would greatly appreciate if you could email me about any issues with these files. Also let me know if you encounter any problems with .Z80/.SNA files. See below for all the changes.
ALL CHANGES:
* Added support for loading and saving Sam Coupe Snapshot (.SCS) files.
* Added support for loading Sam Coupe Disk (.SAD) files.
* Added separate functions for loading and saving in default state format.
* Refactored code, moving snapshot loaders into separate source files.
* Refactored generic disk image library, adding .SAD loading and saving.
* Fixed palette changes between Sam Coupe and ZX Spectrum modes.
* Fixed autoplay starting when loading a palette on ZX128.
* Added .SCS save option to Speccy built-in menu.
* Added "File | Save .SCS Snapshot" option to Speccy-Windows.
* Added drag'n'drop files functionality to Speccy-Windows.
* Graying out irrelevant save options in Speccy-Windows.
Have fun!
PS: The Android version of Speccy is on $2.99 sale at Google Play this week:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.speccy.deluxe
Promising start, some way to go
Nice to see a new emulator on the block! I had a quick spin using Windows 10 and loaded up Fred 33:
So promising start, but quite some way to go to get up to the standard of SimCoupe.
sound is doing some…
In reply to Promising start, some way to go by Stefan Drissen
Thanks for reporting this, I will check.
All three Coupe-specific screen modes are implemented. Mode 3 may currently draw half-a-screen though.
Will see what is going on.
This is done out of necessity, so that the screen does not look too small in mobile versions.
Hello, All! I have published…
Hello, All!
I have published Speccy 5.4 for Android today, a new version of my universal Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Sam Coupe emulator:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.speccy.deluxe -- full version (on sale this week)
This version is based on the latest Speccy 5.4 for Windows and Linux, released earlier this week, but adds a few more changes not found in the desktop version. It comes with many improvements and fixes to the Sam Coupe emulation, including support for .SCS and .SAD files, fixed SAA1099 PSG emulation, fixed palette transitions, and more. I have also majorly refactored snapshot and disk image loader code. If you encounter any new problems with the new Speccy, please, let me know ASAP.
As you remember, I had to disable cheat features to avoid Google staff banning Speccy from the store. You can easily reenable cheats though by downloading this file to your Downloads folder:
http://fms.komkon.org/EmuAndroid/Speccy-Cheats.zip
The complete version of Speccy, Speccy Deluxe, is on $2.99 sale at Google Play this week. See below for all the changes in this week's release.
ALL CHANGES:
* Based on latest Speccy 5.4 for Windows and Linux sources.
* Added support for loading and saving Sam Coupe Snapshot (.SCS) files.
* Added support for loading Sam Coupe Disk (.SAD) files.
* Added .SCS save option to Speccy built-in menu.
* Added separate functions for loading and saving in default state format.
* Fixed palette changes between Sam Coupe and ZX Spectrum modes.
* Fixed palette updates when rewinding in Sam Coupe mode.
* Fixed Sam Coupe light pen port, assuming no light pen for now.
* Fixed SAA1099 PSG sound.
* Fixed autoplay starting when loading a palette on ZX128.
* Somewhat improved Sam Coupe screen mode #3 rendering.
* Refactored code, moving snapshot loaders into separate source files.
* Refactored generic disk image library, adding .SAD loading and saving.
* Refactored scaling and special effects framework.
Have fun!
Sound and freezing up have…
In reply to Promising start, some way to go by Stefan Drissen
Sound and freezing up have been fixed in the mobile version. Desktop version will get the same fixes on the next release.
Failed loading file?
Still using 5.4 on Windows 10:
If I drop the .dsk image from SAM MOD player on Speccy then it just throws an error 'Failed loading file.'
If I try to load it from [ Hardware / Disk Drive A ] then it throws an error 'Failed loading disk image.'.
If I first boot off a disk that is accepted and then switch to the disk, then DIR will show the disk contents, but an attempt to load the loading shows a completely corrupted screen.
This usually means that…
This usually means that there is something wrong with the file format. Going to check and fix.
Simply rename it to .SAD…
Simply rename it to .SAD extension. I am going to add code that tries loading .DSK files as .SAD.
Renaming the .dsk image to …
Renaming the .dsk image to .sad does not help. Other .dsk files work directly.
Well, it seemed to work for…
Well, it seemed to work for me, although I am unable to boot from this disk: BASIC reports that the disk has no operating system on it. Is this normal for this software?
The .dsk image (SAM MOD…
The .dsk image (SAM MOD player 2.10.dsk) is fine - try opening it in SimCoupe (without the boot disks without DOS disk helper enabled).
SCADM also has no problem with the dsk image.
In Speccy, if you ensure you already have a DOS loaded, insert the image and then enter
LOAD 4
This will load the loading screen - in Speccy it is completely garbled.
android version
can it b used to make avi video of the tv output?
Should be able to, but not…
In reply to android version by rogerjowett
Should be able to, but not without some external recorder app or system recording feature.
Defender's broken...
Defender relies on accurate light pen emulation as it uses the scanline counter of the light pen to work out frame rate. The original version will report "Lightpen or Similar Device Detected" and refuse to run. This is normal if, indeed, there is a light pen connected. The updated version has the light pen detection code removed (has anyone even seen a SAM light pen, let alone own one!) as I felt it was redundant. This updated version will play through all of the attract mode sequence on your emulator, but as soon as you start a game the program will freeze. Debugger shows it's stuck in a loop waiting for a light pen scanline that never arrives.
The game relies on accurate frame-interrupt to frame-interrupt timing too - without which the frame update speed will be very jerky and intermittent.
Just tested Defender on the…
In reply to Defender's broken... by Chris Pile
Just tested Defender on the latest (yet unreleased) desktop build and it works. It should, in principle, work on the Speccy-Android 5.4, since that release includes proper light pen port emulation. The current Windows/Linux release foolishly "plugs" your host mouse into light pen port, so it won't work.
Excellent! :-)
In reply to Just tested Defender on the… by fms
Excellent! :-)
Speccy 5.5 for Windows and Linux
Hello, All!
The free Speccy 5.5 for Windows and Linux is now available for download:
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/ -- homepage
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy55-Windows-bin.zip --Windows binary
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy55-Ubuntu-x86-bin.tgz -- Linux binary
This version adds proper emulation for Sam Coupe MODE3 display, support for more disk formats, fixes SAA1099 PSG sound and Sam Coupe light pen port. I have also added a simple CPU-based linear interpolation scaler, for cases where GPU-based interpolation is unfeasible. Finally, there is a bunch of other fixes and improvements. See below for all the changes.
ALL CHANGES:
* Added proper Sam Coupe screen mode #3 display.
* Added handling of cases where .SAD disk image has .DSK extension.
* Added internal menu options for saving .SAD disk images.
* Added support for more raw disk image formats.
* Added simple CPU-based linear scaling algorithm.
* Added "-linear" command line option.
* Now disabling all trapdoor-based devices in Sam Coupe mode.
* Fixed reset when replacing disk image with LoadFile().
* Fixed auto-loading disk images in Spectrum +3 mode.
* Fixed palette updates when rewinding in Sam Coupe mode.
* Fixed light pen port, assuming no light pen for now.
* Fixed SAA1099 PSG sound.
* Added Speccy-Windows options for saving .SAD disk images.
Have fun!
Speccy 5.5 for Android
Hello, All!
I have published Speccy 5.5 for Android today, a new version of my universal Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Sam Coupe emulator:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.speccy.deluxe -- full version
This version is based on the latest Speccy 5.5 for Windows and Linux, released earlier this week. It adds proper support for Sam Coupe's 512x192 MODE3 screen, more disk formats, and internal menu options to work with these formats. There are also multiple emulation fixes for Spectrum +3 and Sam Coupe modes.
As you remember, I had to disable cheat features to avoid Google staff banning Speccy from the store. You can easily reenable cheats though by downloading this file to your Downloads folder:
http://fms.komkon.org/EmuAndroid/Speccy-Cheats.zip
See below for all the changes in this week's release.
ALL CHANGES:
* Based on latest Speccy 5.5 for Windows and Linux sources.
* Added proper Sam Coupe screen mode #3 display.
* Added support for more raw disk image formats.
* Added handling of cases where .SAD disk image has .DSK extension.
* Added internal menu options for saving .SAD disk images.
* Added simple CPU-based linear scaling algorithm.
* Fixed reset when replacing disk image with LoadFile().
* Now disabling all trapdoor-based devices in Sam Coupe mode.
* Fixed auto-loading disk images in Spectrum +3 mode.
PS: AlmostTI, my Texas Instruments graphing calcs emulator, is on $2.99 sale at Google Play this week:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.ati
Speccy Deluxe is on $2.99…
Speccy Deluxe is on $2.99 sale at Google Play this week:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.speccy.deluxe
Speccy 5.6 for Android
Hello, All!
I have released Speccy 5.6, a new version of my Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Sam Coupe emulator for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.speccy.deluxe -- full version
This release is based on the latest Speccy 5.6 for Windows and Linux, published last week. It fixes issues with loading some .TRD and .Z80 files.
Since Google no longer allows apps to access file system on Android10+ devices, the new Speccy will now access files via "content providers" on these devices. You may have to give the app permission to access your storage. Please, report any found problems to the support group or email me directly about them:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/emul8
As you remember, I had to disable cheat features to avoid Google staff banning Speccy from the store. You can easily reenable cheats though by downloading this file to your Downloads folder:
http://fms.komkon.org/EmuAndroid/Speccy-Cheats.zip
ALL CHANGES:
* Based on latest Speccy 5.6 for Windows and Linux sources.
* Fixed some .Z80 files not loading due to missing Interface I ROM.
* Fixed problem loading truncated .TRD files.
* Refactored app to comply with Google's latest ban on file I/O.
* On Android 10+, all file access is now done via content providers.
* Content is copied to a temporary folder for use, changes moved back on exit.
* You may have to give app separate permission to read each storage location.
* Fixed several crash sources that popped up after refactoring.
* Fixed handling of spaces and parentheses in "content://" URIs.
* Fixed list of volumes in "Change Folder" dialog.
* Fixed "Change Folder" functionality.
Merry Christmas!