https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/categories/sinclair-miscellaneous/p14/feed.rss Wed, 03 Apr 2024 18:59:15 +0000 Sinclair Miscellaneous - World of Spectrum en-CA https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53493/ordered-tapes-and-memory-links Mon, 10 Oct 2016 19:40:40 +0000 Luny 53493@/forums/discussions
In the old days of Spectrum, I used to keep my tapes in those little plastic cases / racks from woolies. I use to keep them in the order that I received them and gave them numbered labels (stay with me, I don't think I'm obsessive). This became a thing for me over the years and you know what? This has given me a form of synaesthesia (if that is the correct word); if I play a game from that list, I get a very strong memory of the time and the other games I played around that time. (Normally in the same case).

So in order to keep the memory link up:
I went up into the loft and took a photo of my cases, so that I could see which tapes were in which order / number.
I then created a list of links in a folder (linux versions of file shortcuts) of each TZX, linking to each game in order of the case, including their numbers I allocated in the day. Now I have a virtual shelf of tapes.

HOW SAD IS THAT :)

Still better than watching some crappy early evening quiz show or that One show pants init?
]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/1964/poke-cards-scans-needed Fri, 14 Feb 2003 16:11:00 +0000 Andrew Barker 1964@/forums/discussions
Does anyone have any of those YS or SU poke cards you got in certain mags.

I don't remember if they were SU or YS.

I've got one at home (Gauntlet), but I was wondering if anyone has them to scan for the archive ?

I did find someone who had the set, but the wouldn't lend me then, and in addition they didn't scan them their selves ;-(.

Regards

Andy Barker]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53495/automated-downloads-of-software-and-e-services-taxes Mon, 10 Oct 2016 20:39:43 +0000 rwap 53495@/forums/discussions
The problem for developers is whether they can get a little recompense for their efforts from this new market - which is less likely to attract people to spend money on physical media to add to a collection.

I know some people on the old Vega forums offered downloads of their software for a small fee - however, there is a fly in the ointment here that people need to be aware of. e-services taxes (especially the EU Digital VAT rules).

Basically, the background is that a number of countries are trying to recover some of the taxes lost by the revenue earnt by Amazon and ebay (for example), by imposing rules which state that all electronic sales have to be taxed at rates imposed by the country where the buyer is located. That tax then has to be remitted to the buyer's country.

Unfortunately, the EU when imposing this (from January 2015), didn't think about the micro businesses which exist, and omitted to include any sort of threshold, so as soon as you sell one download for £1 (or even less) to a customer from another EU country, you have to register for VAT and deduct an amount equivalent to the VAT rate in that country and hand it over.

This is onerous - you can get around it if there is 'substantial manual intervention' or you supply a physical item as well as the electronic version. The other option of course, is to not charge for the download (although there are tales that some EU countries do not believe that businesses should give anything away without accounting for it!)

I guess the ideal would be to create a one stop shop where these could be downloaded, but the costs of administering it, gathering proof of location for each customer, and collecting / remitting the tax due, would only increase prices even if someone were willing to take this on.

The EU are considering imposing a minimum threshold, but that will be some years down the line (and the majority of the EU see this as a UK problem only), so those who can ought to put pressure on their MEPs to raise awareness.

Developers might want to take the risk that they would not be found out, but there are reports that some people in the UK with small businesses providing instant downloads (of knitting patterns of all things) have already received letters from Germany and Eire demanding huge tax bills, fines and interest unless they can prove that they don't owe it!]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53477/nick-humphries Sat, 08 Oct 2016 19:27:49 +0000 rich_chandler 53477@/forums/discussions
Apparently I'm telling lies about the Vega+ even though I'm only repeating what has been said on the Vega+ website and crowdfund page.

If the Vega+ comes out when it has previously been announced to would you still support someone as low as Nick?

He keeps dragging WoS into the crossfire when WoS has absolutely nothing to do with the Vega+ or when it is going to be released. They're completely separate entities.

Can someone please get that into his thick skull?]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53459/the-unofficial-recreated-zx-spectrum-faq Wed, 05 Oct 2016 19:10:04 +0000 Philip Kendall 53459@/forums/discussions Unofficial FAQ" which attempts to answer some of the things I've heard asked about the keyboard.

Any comments, corrections and suggestions welcome.]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53428/download-not-possible Sat, 01 Oct 2016 08:27:32 +0000 Tommy F-H 53428@/forums/discussions I can lock-in with no problems here - but if I try to download from BOOKS (to download) I get the 404-Error.NOT FOUND.
Likewise download from Schematics, Manuals gives the same error :-(

Can anybody tell me WHY the website had to be damaged ?
WHY did some youngsters have to put their small fingers in the code ?

It is quite some time since the web-page was moved to England - and it is still not up to working order....

It should be no problem to move a server from Holland to England - and then run it from there. But somebody had to show the World how clever they were.
The result is clear for everybody to see.....

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO USE A WEB-PAGE WHICH IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AS IT DID 2 YEARS AGO ?
]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53419/challenge-accepted Fri, 30 Sep 2016 12:04:47 +0000 Bad Horsey 53419@/forums/discussions
We have to beat these guys.

]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53401/how-to-turn-off-the-ula-plus Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:30:35 +0000 Yerzmyey 53401@/forums/discussions
We've made a platform-game for 128k.

While testing it on 2 machines with ULA+ we have noticed the colours are crap.

Can You suggest how to turn off the ULA+ in the code? ]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53257/zx-spectrum-music-concert-2016-at-riverwash-party Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:15:28 +0000 Yerzmyey 53257@/forums/discussions Several photos and 2 videos.
DOWNLOAD: https://www.sendspace.com/file/3jk5s1

]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/52516/misprint-in-crash Wed, 20 Apr 2016 06:14:24 +0000 hillelr 52516@/forums/discussions If you look at crash magazine issue 50(1988 march)
page 99 there is a review on Los Angeles SWAT(one of the worst games for spectrum).
they talk about how awful the game is and the graphics and you see a very good Graphics showing picture which is confusing.
under the picture it says Los Angeles swat wander around tediously
and you look at the picture and you don't understand what are they talking about.
and then you see that on the same page there is a review on merlin.
in the merlin review the picture title is "five foot two sprite of blue has anybody seen his spells" - and you see an awful picture of...( a pic from los angeles swat game).
they just swap the pictures accidentally. :)]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53404/sinclair-computers-mentioned-in-danish-profesional-webpage Wed, 28 Sep 2016 03:28:37 +0000 Tommy F-H 53404@/forums/discussions All computers from the very first ZX80 to the latest are mentioned.
Several comments show that many profs are now thinking back to the happy times they spent with the computers.
]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53397/did-anybody-have-a-ql Tue, 27 Sep 2016 08:14:15 +0000 stupidget 53397@/forums/discussions https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53390/zx-spectrum-vega-release-date Mon, 26 Sep 2016 12:48:38 +0000 rich_chandler 53390@/forums/discussions http://www.retrogamesmaster.co.uk/vega-20th-october/]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53341/13th-sinclair-ql-italian-meeting Sun, 18 Sep 2016 13:26:38 +0000 ranma_simon 53341@/forums/discussions here: http://www.dtm.it/home.php?id=40201&lang=1

As for the last two Italian meetings we will organize educational sessions, we will have presentation of ongoing projects in Italy and we will organize teleconferences with international users. It will also be possible to take part to the meeting by web-conference. As there will be limited accesses, priority will be given to historical users and users who would like to connect from abroad (at least for the sessions in English language). Details on how to connect to the web-conference will be provided separately to the interested persons. English sessions most likely will be planned in the afternoon also to allow people from US to attend.

For information and support: Davide Santachiara ergon@libero.it Mobile +39
328 9454484

Web info and updates:
Davide Santachiara web site: www.sinclairql.it Giorgio Garabello web site (Quantum Technology):
http://www.hunggartorino.it/ql/13-italian-meeting-sinclair-ql/
]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53256/zx-spectrum-vega-royalties Mon, 05 Sep 2016 06:32:11 +0000 Patrik Rak 53256@/forums/discussions
I never expected to get much money from it, it will be some miniscule amount anyway, but it upsets me being treated dishonestly like this. So I was wondering what experience of others was like...

Cheers,

Patrik]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53181/help-required-magazine-bit-let Wed, 24 Aug 2016 08:00:43 +0000 hackersanon 53181@/forums/discussions
Another magazine, another plea for help.

This time it's Super Bit-Let:
https://wos.meulie.net/pub/sinclair/magazines/Bit-Let/Pages/

Which is currently just in a folder called "Bit-Let", but http://www.ep128.hu/Sp_Konyv/Bit-Let.htm says it's a compilation of publications from 1983 onwards. So that's a bunch o' mags that are MIA :)


I'm assuming it's a Hungarian magazine, based purely on the .hu domain above.

So the question is - does anyone know when this edition of Super Bit-Let was published?

Toodle-pip!
Gerard
]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53280/soccer-games-for-free Fri, 09 Sep 2016 13:16:21 +0000 Speccyman 53280@/forums/discussions https://sintech-shop.de/en/4-soccer-simulator/a-54/

Use the Coupon-Code "4SOCCER" in the shopping basket and zero the games price.
The game is absolutely new a last post from Codemasters. We ship worldwide and have lowered our postage rates.

You can add more games from our range of more than 1000 different Spectrum games.
]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/52810/speccy-sinclair-trivia Tue, 14 Jun 2016 12:32:20 +0000 Sol_HSA 52810@/forums/discussions
Format: Q: question, A: four answers, with the first one being the correct one.

Q: Sinclair Research Ltd got its titular name from?
A: Clive Sinclair, Anita Sinclair, Jeffrey Sinclair, Augustus Sinclair
]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53271/missing-frankt Wed, 07 Sep 2016 06:11:01 +0000 Speccyman 53271@/forums/discussions I wrote to FrankT, in the message section, but didn´t get an answer. However, if anyone knows him, can you please tell him that there is a message waiting for him? He might be in holiday or just not online for a while, but I need his answer.

Regards

Thomas]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53270/new-issue-of-spectrum-magazine-suc-session-just-ready-from-the-printer Tue, 06 Sep 2016 20:58:41 +0000 Speccyman 53270@/forums/discussions ]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53219/summer-sale-at-sintech Mon, 29 Aug 2016 07:53:05 +0000 Speccyman 53219@/forums/discussions
Spectrum-Summer-Software sales
Choose any Spectrum games and pay no postage.
Use Coupon Code: SUMMER
We have more than 1000 different Spectrum-titles on stock and deliver worldwide. Free postage is available to all countries, but please choose only postal service. We cannot offer DHL courier service for free as their service usually will cost more than the price of the games.
Make your choice in our shop:
www.sintech-shop.de (you can choose English language)

Please note that the coupon is not valid in our UK shop at www.sintech-shop.co.uk]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53105/a-book-i-would-like-to-read Sun, 07 Aug 2016 20:06:29 +0000 R-Tape 53105@/forums/discussions
It seems there was still loads of interesting stuff going on, software never fully stopped, meets were arranged and fanzines continued.

I'd love to read an interesting memoir of these times (say bridging the mid 90s to the nostalgic revivial) from someone that lived through it. Perhaps Steven Howlett's 'Dairy of an 80's computer geek' would be a good model* - affordable, easily accessible and not a kickstarter.

Just to plant the thought :-)

*but without the naff luminous yellow cover!]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53225/hacker-question Mon, 29 Aug 2016 21:59:38 +0000 Speccyman 53225@/forums/discussions as some of you might know, I am supervising the work on converting games from TR-Dos or TAP to the +D or Opus disk format for our SCENE+ disk magazine. However, for the new issue I came across 6 programs that have a strange new loader. Maybe somebody can explain here.

First game I got here is RESCUE LANDER ( http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/50247/ )
The Basic loader looks very simple:

5 BORDER 1
6 PAPER 1
7 INK 7
8 CLS
10 CLEAR .: LOAD "" SCREEN$: POKE .,. : LOAD ""CODE: RANDOMIZE USR .

What annoys me are the dots (.) . There should be numbers, but somehow the numbers are invisible and therefore a dot is set. So now I cannot change the Basic Loader and insert disk commands, as the Basic Interpreter will not accept the command.

First question of course is WHY? And second question is how it is done (and how to convert it back).

Who can help?

Regards

Thomas]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/1483/philip-bee-s-i-ve-started-so-i-ll-finish-interviews Mon, 21 Oct 2002 23:11:00 +0000 Spector 1483@/forums/discussions https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53217/microhobby-help-requested-from-spanish-members-movimiento-de-sprites-176-178 Sun, 28 Aug 2016 16:20:54 +0000 jonesypeter 53217@/forums/discussions
I love MicroHobby but unfortunately I don't speak Spanish so have to rely on Google Translate.

I'm looking at a series of articles in issues 176 to 178 on the movement of sprites by Miguel DÍAZ.

The source code seems to be available here:

http://zxspectrumfiles.bytemaniacos.com/listados/progs/m/MovSprites3.zip

The file seems to load fine then comes up with a prompt 'Nombre' which I believe is 'Name'? What do I need to enter here, as nothing seems to happen whatever I enter.

Thanks]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53216/sd-card-tape-player Sun, 28 Aug 2016 14:10:59 +0000 jonesypeter 53216@/forums/discussions
I see it comes with a power supply. Is this needed when its used in a tape player? If so how do you attach the power lead to a closed cassette deck?

http://www.banggood.com/Vintage-Car-Tape-Cassette-SD-MMC-MP3-Player-Adapter-Kit-With-Remote-Control-p-1012830.html

Thanks]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53208/help-with-converting-a-sl3-based-wav-csw-to-tzx Sat, 27 Aug 2016 12:10:41 +0000 spider 53208@/forums/discussions I was trying to build some high speed tapes using Kobrasofts SL3 > http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0017148

On its highest speed however, I'm unable to get either maketzx or wav2tzx to work, despite hours (!) of trying. :)

Is there a simpler method of determining what I actually need to use / do ?

Thanks! :D]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53194/spectrum-chiptunes-cassette-again Thu, 25 Aug 2016 13:32:38 +0000 Yerzmyey 53194@/forums/discussions
Not that new songs but at least for the tape-recorders' fans. :)

Strudel Tapes Label from Russian Federation has published those, this month.

Mostly ZX Spectrum, ZX81 and Atari ST but also exceptions like Sam Coupe, Commodore 64, Atari XL and Amiga 500.





__________INFO______________
Strudel Tapes are proud to present their first tape release - expanded version of 2014 album "Chiptunes" by Yerzmyey!

This tape includes 22 tracks from original album as wel as 3 bonus tracks.

C88 pro-dubbed tape
Transparent shell with sticker
4-panel J-card

Limited edition of 32 hand-numbered copies

Tracklist:

1. Yerzmyey - Yerzmix 6 (ZX81 / ZX Spectrum) [3:02]
2. Yerzmyey - Arcane Zone Part 2, Full Version (Sam Coupe) [4:58]
3. Yerzmyey - A Very Odd Adventure (ZX Spectrum) [3:15]
4. Yerzmyey - Anisotropy (ZX Spectrum / ZX81 / Atari 520ST) [3:10]
5. Yerzmyey - Blazar Shift (ZX Spectrum / Atari 520ST) [2:51]
6. Yerzmyey - Fifteen Colours (ZX Spectrum) [3:37]
7. Yerzmyey - Celestial Sphere (Atari 520ST) [3:22]
8. Yerzmyey - Help! - The Beatles Cover (ZX Spectrum) [1:58]
9. Yerzmyey - Deadly Labyrinth Of Lord Xyrx (ZX Spectrum) [5:09]
10. Yerzmyey - Inside The Screen (ZX Spectrum) [1:45]
11. Yerzmyey - Just Can't Get Enough - A Depeche Mode Cover (ZX Spectrum) [3:27]
12. Yerzmyey - Jupiter Battle (ZX Spectrum) [3:42]
13. Yerzmyey - Wake Up! (Atari 520ST) [2:28]
14. Yerzmyey - Out Of The Mist (ZX Spectrum / Atari 520ST) [2:19]
15. Yerzmyey - Nightmares (ZX Spectrum) [2:53]
16. Yerzmyey - Superman - A Cover (ZX Spectrum) [2:04]
17. Yerzmyey - Square Disco (ZX81 / ZX Spectrum) [2:48]
18. Yerzmyey - Sailor Moon Star - A Cover (ZX Spectrum, TurboSound) [3:46]
19. Yerzmyey - Chasing (Amiga 500, 8 Channels) [4:55]
20. Yerzmyey - Yerzmix 7 (ZX81 / ZX Spectrum, TurboSound) [3:09]
21. Gasman - Spacecake (ZX Spectrum / Synthesizer) [3:18]
22. Yerzmyey & Ugm27 - ?????? (Synthesizers / ZX Spectrum) [4:38]

Bonus Tracks:

23. Yerzmyey - Mono Adventures [4:41]
24. Yerzmyey & RIO (64) - The Rubber Breadbox (ZX / C64) [3:04]
25. Yerzmyey - Orch-OR [4:55]

You can buy this tape for $9 with $5 shipping. Just send a message to strudeltapes@gmail.com.

Strudel Tapes homepage: http://strud.vault242.net/
Discogs release page: https://www.discogs.com/Yerzmyey-Chiptunes/release/8921109]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/738/which-do-you-prefer-using Sun, 10 Mar 2002 15:31:00 +0000 octave-sounds 738@/forums/discussions
a:emulators
b:zx spectrum

octave
]]> https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/53153/presumably-a-gamer-in-their-childhood Fri, 19 Aug 2016 19:15:58 +0000 mister_wavey 53153@/forums/discussions

there must be some more real world manifestations of speccie classics... anyone?
]]>