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ESPectrum 1.3
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@EremusOne EremusOne released this 07 Oct 10:49
· 4 commits to master since this release
v1.3
103b75b
This commit was created on github.com and signed with GitHub’s verified signature.
GPG key ID: B5690EEEBB952194
Learn about vigilant mode.

New Features:

  • Microdigital TK90X and TK95 models emulation with selectable ULA for TK models (Ferranti, Microdigital 50hz and Microdigital 60hz) and selectable TK90X v1, v2 and v3 (Rodolfo Guerra) ROMs.
  • Possibility of using one TK90X custom ROM.
  • Betadisk: new option to reset to TR-DOS, which also supports auto-start of trd or scl disks if inserted before reset.
  • New option to disable Betadisk emulation.
  • Complete overscan supported in CRT 15Khz mode (at 352x272 resolution for 50hz machines and 352x224 for 60hz ones).
  • New accelerated speed modes at 125% and 150% with sound: to activate them, you need to use the same turbo key as always (CTRL + F2 on the PS/2 keyboard and CS+SS+T on the ZX keyboard. The OSD background will change color to reflect the selected turbo mode:
    • Blue -> Normal mode, 100% speed
    • Red -> 125% speed mode
    • Magenta -> 150% speed mode
    • Black -> Maximum speed mode (without sound)
  • New support for Pedro Gimeno's emulator .sp format with support of .sp files with 16K ROM included (Shadow of the Unicorn i.e.). ESPectrum snapshots will save also the ROM to be able to save games of these titles (thanks to @SplinterGU)
  • New virtual tape system: now you can create empty tapes and fill them with support for SAVE command and block renaming, deleting and moving (thanks to @SplinterGU)
  • Added graphical keyboard layout help screens inspired by Gerton Lunter's Z80 emulator (adapted by Rodolfo Guerra and used with Gerton's knowledge and permission).
  • Volume level is now saved and remembered between sessions.
  • Tape isn't ejected after soft reset.
  • Eject tape shortcut added: SHIFT+F6 or CS + SS + E in ZX kbd.
  • Added Portuguese language.

Changes:

  • File browser enhancements (thanks to @SplinterGU):
    • Improved file indexing algorithm: indexing is now a lot faster.
    • Sorting (and searching) is now case insensitive.
    • Expanded browser file name length support: up to 127 characters long.
    • Improved SD management and error conditions: emulator will show error message if can't find media. Also, now you can swap the card on the fly and the emulator will remount it.
  • Border drawing size is extended horizontally on 360x200 (16:9) mode: now is 48 pixels wide on each side.
  • Hardware info shortcut is now SHIFT+F1 and CS + SS + I in ZX kbd.
  • Updated About screen to thank new Patreons and contributors.

How to Flash:

Note

The current ESPectrum.1.3.bin file can be flashed in any of the three supported boards (Lilygo TTGO VGA32, Antonio Villena's ESPectrum board and Olimex ESP32-SBC-FabGL).

From this version on, there are three options to update your boards:

- Update via online flashing tool Now, a web tool where you can flash latest ESPectrum versión (and some older versions and CPCESP firmware) is available at https://zxespectrum.speccy.org/flash Bear in mind that it needs a browser with support for Web Serial (currently Chrome, Edge and Opera).

- Updating via SD card if you have any prerelease version of 1.3 installed: copy firmware.upg file in the root directory of your SD card and use "Options/Update/Firmware" on ESPectrum.

- Full flash your board using the following instructions:

Flashing tutorial (in Spanish, auto translation supported)

https://youtu.be/fxzaKa-J6gk?si=uP7kxuqSSeoLM7vR

Windows:

Use Flash download tools from Espressif to flash it into your board:

Open the ESP32 Flash Download Tool.
Select "ESP32" as chipType.
Select "Develop" as workMode.

Once started:

Select COM Port (whichever one your board has taken).
Select Baud rate (460800 works fine for me).

Finally:

Load .bin file, set 0x0 as address, check it and press START.
Wait until status panel shows "FINISH", power off and power on your board and ENJOY!

Linux / Mac / Windows:

Use esptool.py from Espressif to flash it into your board:

esptool.py -p USB SERIAL DEVICE -b 460800 --before default_reset --after hard_reset --chip esp32 write_flash --flash_mode dio --flash_size detect --flash_freq 40m 0x0 ESPectrum.1.3.bin

(Don't forget to change USB SERIAL DEVICE on -p parameter to reflect the serial port where your system has detected your board)

Contributors

SplinterGU
Assets 4
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