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zxsp Changelog

What's new in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 27

May 19, 2015
  • Three new members in the family of supported extensions: The Multiface ONE, 128 and +3 from Romantic Robots.

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 26 (Apr 27, 2015)

  • Implemented an emulation of the SP0256 speech processor chip and then of the Currah µSpeech interface in zxsp.
  • The SP0256-AL2 contains a cascade of six 2-pole filters, a rom with filter coefficients for British/American language and a micro sequencer, which feeds these values into the filter coefficients. All digital. The output is an 8 bit PWM.

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 25 (Apr 20, 2015)

  • This release brings bug fixes, improved tape handling and the ability to load C sources.
  • Fixed bugs:
  • (some are only intermediate bugs, not actually present in pre24)
  • Kempston mouse interface: Mouse grabbing & tracking did no longer work in Qt 5.x
  • Investigated and fixed audio interrupt drop-outs (thanks, Apple!)
  • Investigated and fixed paintEvent() overpainting child widgets in Qt 5.4 (thanks, Qt!)
  • Investigated regular unusually long interrupt runtime: WLAN-internet bridge! (thanks, Apple!)
  • Instand loading crashed at end of tape if tape was "running"
  • Inves could not load from tape recorder
  • Crash when accessing beyond allocated tracks of floppy, e.g. on empty side
  • Save tape utterly broken, crashed in CSW buffer decoding
  • Tape recorder:
  • Load and save tape is now fully supported in all models.
  • Spectrum-type machines can load and save .tap, and .tzx.
  • ZX80 machines can load and save .o, .80 and .tzx.
  • ZX81 machines can load and save .p, .81, .p81 and .tzx.
  • The Jupiter Ace can load and save .tap and .tzx.
  • Additionally all models can load from real audio files like .wav and .aiff, but saving to audio file is not yet supported. E.g. you can insert a .wav file in the tape recorder and choose "save as" from the context menu and save it to a .tzx file.
  • All models can instant-load and instant-save tapes, if the rom routines are used. Loading tape files like a snapshot, e.g. by double clicking or by reload recent file, will set the tape recorder to instant-load, so, unless custom loading routines are used, loading a tape file is instantaneous.
  • While playing tapes now the typical sound is audible, which was missing for a while.
  • Record and play back from your Mac's audio-in and audio-out device is not yet fully supported. For recording i recommend to record the audio file with Audacity, but i have not yet tested whether it suffers from dropped audio interrupts, as zxsp did and, as far i can tell, even iTunes does (for playing). For playing the tape recorder of any machine can be used, though the audio level is currently a little bit low, because i didn't want to annoy you too much every time you load a tape. Of course for playing real audio files any audio program can be used as well.
  • Recording your old tapes into .tap or .tzx files is now very easy: Just insert the audio file into the tape recorder and choose "save as" from the context menu to save it in another format.
  • Load assembler and C source files:
  • Assembler source files are assembled using a built-in version of zasm, and the result, whatever it is, is loaded. zasm supports .sna, .z80, .o, .p and .tap files.

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 24 (Apr 12, 2014)

  • Bug Fixes:
  • Scanning for USB joysticks crashed, eventually right from the start
  • Reloading a HD image in a machine which can't attach the DivIDE interface crashed
  • Loading two or more files simultaneously crashed if they a loaded different models
  • Visualization of compound keys on ZX128 and later did no longer animate the compound keys
  • Joysticks in TS2068 were swapped, fire button bit was wrong
  • Opening joystick inspector could reassign USB joysticks

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 23 (Apr 2, 2014)

  • New in this version:
  • Emulation of the DivIDE hard disc interface.
  • Some bugs eliminated.
  • Some small improvements.
  • Lots of new bugs.
  • Open File Requester:
  • Qt fails to open the file requester box in the requested directory for quite a few versions now. I have finally added a work-around.
  • Qt under certain conditions returns a directory though only files were requested. I have added a catch.
  • Debugger Disassembler View:
  • Fixed a problem where the disassembler was not informed about memory configuration changes and would crash when reading from old memory.
  • Fixed colouring of assembler instruction at the CPU's programme counter.
  • Fixed that setting r/w/x breakpoints in the disassembler view corrupted the memory byte.
  • Added requested feature: Display in disassembler view now follows the PC while debugging and slow motion of the CPU (≤1000Hz).
  • Release Key "A" Error:
  • When key "A" and a modifier key is down, if you release the modifier also released key "A" though it was still down. This is fixed in zxsp linked against Qt 5.3, but in this version, which is linked against Qt 5.11, it is replaced by some other wrong behaviour... Luckily enough this is pretty rare and only affects key "A" because the key code of this key is 0x00.
  • DivIDE Compact Flash and IDE Hard Disc Interface:
  • This is the great new addition: support of the DivIDE interface. The interface can be added to most machines with a ZXSP system bus. zxsp remembers the recently used rom and hard disc file. Initially it defaults to esxDOS 0.8.5. From the context menu of the DivIDE inspector you can create new hard disc files which are preset with SYS/ and BIN/ folders for esxDOS 0.8.5. From my web site you can download hard disc image files for some different dos/versions with a bunch of demos and some games. Don't expect them all to work, at least not on every model.

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 22 (Nov 25, 2013)

  • 3 new models added (basically it's only one model which comes in 3 flavours):
  • The Timex Sinclair 2068 Family
  • The Timex Sinclair 2068 (USA)
  • The Timex Computer 2068 (Portugal)
  • The unipolbrit 2086 (Poland)
  • Other Changes:
  • Added recent-files menus to the SPECTRA and Sinclair Interface II inspector as well to the Dock inspector. Inserting a rom now also adds it to the global "recent files" list as well so that CMD-R reloads it.
  • The TK95 got a rear-side joystick connector image and a real photo of the keyboard – not sure whether this is an improvement thou.

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 20 (Oct 23, 2013)

  • Brings Lenslok support to the ZX Spectrum models and clones.

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 19 (Oct 11, 2013)

  • Several minor improvements and some 'less important' additions.
  • Jupiter Ace:
  • Some errors in handling .tap files for Jupiter Ace have been eliminated. .tap files can be 'instant loaded' now. .ace snapshots can be loaded and saved. I have included 'WORMS' from the Jupiter Cantab demonstration tape in this release. A tiny game, just to show it works. To load it, type load worms get graphics game. There is no wildcard load and no auto-start on the Jupiter Ace!
  • Timex Sinclair TS2020:
  • The b&w machines now use a TS2020 for their tape recorder. Not sure whether i should also use it for all other machines as well, except for those with built-in tape recorder. What's your opinion?
  • As with the +2 / +2A recorder, the pause button is used in conjunction with wind and rewind to auto-stop at block boundaries.
  • All tape recorders:
  • I have added sound effects to the tape recorders. I hope you like it. :-)
  • I have also added new menu entries to the context menu, including a 'recent tapes...' menu.
  • New Qt version:
  • This is the first release which uses Qt 5.x. This enables me to send bug reports for the current version. B-) The only visible difference (to my knowing) is the superfluous animation when starting/leaving full screen mode.

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 18 (Sep 12, 2013)

  • New supported machines in zxsp:
  • ZX Spectrum +3 English and Spanish version.
  • ZX Spectrum +3 disc drive:
  • The NEC µPD765 emulation seems to work good, but sometimes i think zxsp reacts differently than the real machine. There is still plenty left for testing. The FDC765 is not very well documented. There are plenty of data sheets for the various clones around, but somehow they have all just copied NECs data sheet, more or less.
  • Supported file format is currently .dsk only, others will follow in the next release.
  • The disc drive is the first item with sound effects! :-) I had a hard time making recordings of the various sounds. I have at least 10 microphones at home (telephone, cellphone, iPad, iMac, even ZX Spectrum recording hardware) but nothing really good or in working order. I finally resorted to the recordings i made with my iPad except for the stepping noise, which is 'hand crafted'.
  • In the floppy disc controller window you can insert and eject the disc by clicking on the slot or the eject button. The context menu provides options for creation of new discs and access to recently used discs.
  • Discs can be flipped side B up by clicking on the "B" label. You probably have to format most discs on this side before you can use it.
  • Discs can and probably should mostly be write protected. This can be checked and toggled in the context menu, when a disc is "inserted" or "ejected". (The "ejected" state is as shown in the above image.) The write protection state is simply the write protection state of the disc file.
  • If you double-click a .dsk file it will mostly open in a ZX Spectrum +3, except if your default machine or the currently open machine is a Spanish +3.

New in zxsp 0.8.0 Pre 4 (Oct 8, 2012)

  • Save snapshot back in: Save .sna, .z80, .o, .80, .p, .81, .scr and .rom.

New in zxsp 0.7.4 Pre 1 (May 14, 2012)

  • Generic emulation of the b&w machines:
  • Jupiter Ace: generic memory (3K), keyboard, audio and video decoding
  • virtual taperecorder loads and saves .tap files
  • ZX81: generic memory (16K), keyboard, audio, and highres SLOW/FAST video decoding
  • instant load/save works, virtual taperecorder load works, but not saving
  • ZX80: generic memory (4K), keyboard, audio, and highres video decoding
  • instant load/save works, virtual taperecorder load works, but not saving
  • Frequent crash when switching between models fixed
  • Inves Spectrum+ fixed and in again

New in zxsp 0.7.3 Pre 5 (Jan 14, 2010)

  • Generic emulation of the b&w machines:
  • Jupiter Ace: generic memory (3K), keyboard, audio and video decoding
  • virtual taperecorder loads and saves .tap files
  • ZX81: generic memory (16K), keyboard, audio, and highres SLOW/FAST video decoding
  • instant load/save works, virtual taperecorder load works, but not saving
  • ZX80: generic memory (4K), keyboard, audio, and highres video decoding
  • instant load/save works, virtual taperecorder load works, but not saving
  • Frequent crash when switching between models fixed
  • Inves Spectrum+ fixed and in again

New in zxsp 0.7.3 Pre 4 (Jun 23, 2008)

  • Working on generic emulation of the b&w machines:
  • Jupiter Ace: memory (3K), keyboard and video decoding. tape i/o mostly usable.
  • ZX81: memory (1K), keyboard and highres SLOW/FAST video decoding. tape i/o mostly unusable.
  • ZX80: memory (1K), keyboard and highres video decoding. tape i/o works.
  • ZX80: tape loading fixed, automatic ram size for .o file if loaded with "Open..."
  • Frequent crash when switching between models fixed
  • Currently heavy internal rework, use the public version 0.7.2 if things do not work for you!

New in zxsp 0.7.3 Pre 3 (Jun 13, 2008)

  • Working on generic emulation of the b&w machines:
  • Jupiter Ace: memory (3K), keyboard and video decoding. tape i/o mostly usable.
  • ZX80: memory (1K), keyboard and highres video decoding. tape i/o partly usable.
  • ZX81: memory (2K), keyboard and highres SLOW/FAST video decoding. tape i/o mostly unusable.

New in zxsp 0.7.3 Pre 2 (Jun 9, 2008)

  • ZX80: memory mapping (1K), highres video decoding, audio out
  • ZX80: instant loading & saving, recording to virtual taperecorder (.o file)

New in zxsp 0.7.3 Pre 1 (Jun 3, 2008)

  • Working on generic emulation of the b&w machines:
  • Jupiter Ace: original rom, ram (3K), memory mapping
  • Jupiter Ace: video ram decoding and b&w rendering
  • Jupiter Ace: audio in and audio out, also to/from audio file
  • Jupiter Ace: recording to and loading from virtual taperecorder (.tap file)
  • Jupiter Ace: keyboard decoding and virtual keyboard clicking & highlighting
  • Jupiter Ace: Suggestions for peripherials welcome!
  • ZX80, ZX81: disfunct in this version

New in zxsp 0.7.2 (May 27, 2008)

  • Updated: Included Paul Farrow's newest emulator roms for ZX80 and ZX81
  • New: Jupiter Ace emulation using Paul Farrow's emulator rom.
  • New: Bi-Pak ZON X-81 and ZON X sound modules for the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum
  • New: stereo output
  • New: volume slider in "Options" menu. (Requires OS X 10.5)
  • New: record and replay audio files. (Requires OS X 10.4)
  • New: (try to) load tape files from "Open..." menu item
  • New: instant load from and save to tape files in the "Options" menu
  • Updated: load pzx files v1.0
  • Changed: behaviour of "record" button in the tape recorder
  • New: context menus in tape recorder and keyboard panel
  • Changed: moved "Check Update" to application menu
  • Changed: "auto start/stop tape" combined for load and save (with the new "record" button behaviour)
  • Fixed: misc. bugs

New in zxsp 0.7.2 Preview 15 (May 5, 2008)

  • Added the Bi-Pak ZON X and ZON X-81 sound module.
  • Audio input from and output to file. (requires OSX 10.4)
  • Included Paul Farrow's newest emulator roms for ZX80 and ZX81 emulation.
  • New: Jupiter Ace emulation using Paul Farrow's rom. No load or save yet.
  • New: audio output is now stereo.
  • New: context menus in the keyboard panel and in the tape recorder, e.g. to insert a new tape.
  • New: Instant load from & save to file in "Options" menu.
  • New: audio output volume slider in options menu. (requires OSX 10.5)
  • Fixed: Internal clean-up and error fixes.

New in zxsp 0.7.2 Preview 13 (Apr 11, 2008)

  • Internal clean-up. Moved "Check Update" to application menu.

New in zxsp 0.7.2 Preview 9 (Apr 4, 2008)

  • Added the Bi-Pak ZON X and ZON X-81 sound module.
  • Upgraded pzx file decoder to version 1.0.
  • Audio input from file. (requires OS X 10.4)
  • Audio output to file. (requires OS X 10.4)
  • Included Paul Farrow's newest emulator roms for ZX80 and ZX81 emulation.
  • New: Jupiter Ace emulation using Paul Farrow's rom. No load or save yet.
  • New: audio output is now stereo.
  • New: context menus in the keyboard panel and in the tape recorder, e.g. to insert a new tape.
  • Restored: "Open..." .tap file loads into current machine. (restored from 0.7.2.pre3)
  • Restored: Instant load from & save to file in "Options" menu. (restored from 0.7.2.pre3)
  • Fixed: Reloading snapshot sometimes crashed due to missing lock.

New in zxsp 0.7.2 Preview 7 (Mar 31, 2008)

  • Some minor fixes
  • Added the Bi-Pak ZON X and ZON X-81 sound module
  • Upgraded pzx file decoder to version 1.0
  • Audio input from file. (requires OS X 10.4)
  • Audio output to file. (requires OS X 10.4)
  • Included Paul Farrow's newest emulator roms for ZX80 and ZX81 emulation.
  • New: Jupiter Ace emulation using Paul Farrow's rom. No load or save yet.
  • New: audio output is now stereo.
  • New: context menus in the keyboard panel and in the tape recorder, e.g. to insert a new tape.

New in zxsp 0.7.2 Preview 6 (Mar 29, 2008)

  • Audio output to file. (requires OS X 10.4)
  • Included Paul Farrow's newest emulator roms for ZX80 and ZX81 emulation.
  • Added Jupiter Ace emulation using Paul Farrow's rom. No load or save yet.

New in zxsp 0.7.2 Preview 4 (Mar 24, 2008)

  • Some minor fixes
  • Added the Bi-Pak ZON X and ZON X-81 sound module
  • Upgraded pzx file decoder to version 1.0
  • Audio input from file. (requires OS X 10.4 or up.)