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TomTom's Psion Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator v.4.0 bugfix patch
Posted on Mon 29 Aug 2005 (12382 reads)
Bug fix patch for TomTom's Psion Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator v.4.0 SUPPORTED PLATFORM Psion 5(mx), Revo, MC218, Series7, netBook. KEYWORDS Psion, Epoc, Sinclair, emulator, patching process, bpatch. ABSTRACT Article describe step-by-step method how fix some bugs in TomTom's Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator for Psion machines. MOTIVATION Palmtop (now TomTom) released Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator for Psion machine in 1999. For Psion ER5 machines exist only this emulator, but it have some bugs (wrong timing; wrong memory paging; no 128K snapshot storing) and restrictions (no sound on Revo, Series7 and netBook;no AY sound emulation; no floppy/hard disk support). All Patisoners members was (and are) a Sinclairist. So, good ZX-Spectrum emulator for Psion machines is important thing for us anyway. We contacted TomTom's management with appeal of releasing source code of Spectrum emulator. But, As you can read bellow, management denied this request. If you can, try it again. Maybe TomTom's management changed opinion now. Quote: Customer 22/01/2004 08:37 AM Hi all, I am sorry, my question does not targeting RoutePlanner at all, cos I can't select other product than what is shown in Product - So I selected RoutePlanner which was also on the Epoc 32 devices... whats the problem: Well, some community which still using old Psion machines wanna to continue with upgrading of your Spectrum emulator, but without source codes it seems it'll be not possible. So due to Psion machines are completely dead in commercial market (no more support from Psion UK), I'd like to ask you if is possible to send us your source code of Spectrum emulator for Psion series 5mx (version 4.0). In fact, you will not continue with work on this product (I am very sure) and would be big pity to leave that source code somewhere in the drawer when somebody can continue on it. Please be so cool and send me some comments (or contacts to the people who can comment). Thank you very much. O.P. Quote: Discussion Thread Response 30/01/2004 09:25 AM Subject: Hi all, I am sorry, my question does not targeting RoutePlanner at all, cos I ... Dear Mr P., We have routed your request for the source code through the proper channels but your request was denied by management. We hope to have answered your question to your satisfaction. With best regards, The TomTom Customer Support Team RESULTS We decide to make and release patches which fix some major bugs of TomTom's emulator leastways. We are made it in the hope that it will be useful for rest of Psion and Sinclair community. Our patch fixes two major bugs: Wrong detecting of Spectrum 128K memory page port address. Many 128K programs work correct after applying patch. Start speed of emulator now is set to the 100% (50 frames/second). More information about bugs you can read directly in the patch file. Please don't ask us if we are planning add some new feature to the emulator. Make this bug fix patch it was really hard work. Adding new features to the any programs without having source code sounds like a Mission impossible. HOW APPLY PATCH All of this patches modified binary files of installed emulator, so you need install it before patching. You also need installed bpatch tool, and patch file (typically .dif) file. If you don't know how use bpatch tool, please read bpatch tool article. TomTom's Spectrum emulator v.4.0 you can download here. Actual bpatch tool for many platforms you can download here. Actual patch file for the TomTom's Spectrum emulator v.4.0 you can download here. Step-by-step procedure: 0) Backup Psion. We aren't response to data loss if you made something wrong. Therefore first read whole article. 1) Install Spectrum emulator on Psion. (If isn't installed.) 2) Install bpatch tool on Psion. (Copy it to the folder: C:\System\programs\) 3) Copy emulator patch file on Psion. Typically to the: C:\ 4) Run bpatch tool. For example type in eshell: 5) Enjoy bug fixed version of Spectrum emulator. BUG REPORTS If you have some problem with this patch file or you find some bug, send me email or post comments at end of this article. Poke^Patisoners. 2005-09-01

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Poster	Thread
	Posted: 2005/9/7 18:37 Updated: 2005/9/7 18:37
	Re: TomTom's Psion Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator v.4... Check Posting message about z80 patch article. Bye, Poke

	Posted: 2005/9/11 21:36 Updated: 2005/9/11 21:36
	Re: TomTom's Psion Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator v.4... Many thanks and good to see someone still develops something for our lovely EPOC System :)

poke	Posted: 2005/9/27 10:13 Updated: 2005/9/27 10:13
Visitor Joined: 2005/5/8 From: Brno, Czech republic Posts: 39	Re: TomTom's Psion Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator v.4... Yes, PSION and SINCLAIR forever. Bye, Poke^Patisoners.

	Posted: 2006/7/6 22:01 Updated: 2006/7/6 22:01
	Re: TomTom's Psion Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator v.4... Very good folks, but what about the sound?? Cheers, -Shane

poke	Posted: 2006/10/6 14:26 Updated: 2006/10/6 14:26
Visitor Joined: 2005/5/8 From: Brno, Czech republic Posts: 39	Re: TomTom's Psion Sinclair ZX-Spectrum emulator v.4... Some AY/YM sound chip emulator for epoc is in the progress. Please contact me, if you want be a betatester. Poke.