Some things to consider: the CPS will consider the cost of the action and is the action in the public interest.
You are more likely to be prosecuted by one of the rights organisations.
But again, it depends how they see it. If a company has made every effort to sort out the rights, it is unlikely to go to court, as the costs will outweigh any benefits. Let alone go to criminal court.
! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
I think this will either be a serious hit or a flash in the pan, depending entirely on whether or not it includes a usb port which can support a keyboard and a joystick.
The Spectrum is just too heavily dependant on a keyboard to work nicely without one.
If it can accept a keyboard, then I may get one, even though my Ouya pretty much does the same thing already.
If it supported a keyboard they would have said so. It's supposedly finished.
That's a shame. In my experience with struggling along with virtual keyboards while trying to find the ideal portable Spectrum emulator, I have learned that the Spectrum is crippled without a physical keyboard.
A virtual keyboard may be the only option on a portable, but there's no excuse for it on a TV based system.
How difficult and expensive can it be to add usb otg to a soc-based device?
That's a shame. In my experience with struggling along with virtual keyboards while trying to find the ideal portable Spectrum emulator, I have learned that the Spectrum is crippled without a physical keyboard.
A virtual keyboard may be the only option on a portable, but there's no excuse for it on a TV based system.
How difficult and expensive can it be to add usb otg to a soc-based device?
I think I mentioned this before but they are still considering it according to the web site:
"Q - Will you be able to connect keyboards or controllers via USB or Bluetooth?
A - The Vega provides an on-screen keyboard, which can be activated when required. We would very much like to make the Vega as expandable as possible, both with hardware and software, and are considering possibilities."
Q - Can I connect a keyboard?
A - We're reviewing our expansion options.
Q - Will you be able to connect keyboards or controllers via USB or Bluetooth?
A - The Vega provides an on-screen keyboard, which can be activated when required. We would very much like to make the Vega as expandable as possible, both with hardware and software, and are considering possibilities.
Anyone curious about the project, please have a check of what Retro Computers say themselves about it, you could really get the wrong impression asking or reading about it here.
I have one proposition for the Vega Team: make a call for all speccy programmers out there to make, or adapt one game of their catalog, to work with the Vega and give Retro Computers license to include it into the Vega flash memory. In return, they will receive a Spectrum Vega console and a signed written copy of the "How did we do the Vega" book.
Obviously means "No but please don't go away we might change it"
I've read all the VEGA materials. It clearly doesn't support keyboard at the moment or they would simply have answered "YES". Instead of not even answering really.
I've read all the VEGA materials. It clearly doesn't support keyboard at the moment or they would simply have answered "YES". Instead of not even answering really.
But at the moment, what they have is a prototype board and a prototype 3D printed case. The whole purpose of the indiegogo campaign is surely to raise money for the ongoing development and production of the actual consumer product. I don't think anyone from Retro Computers is claiming that what they have shown in the campaign videos is the finished, functionally complete, product, are they?
If they are planning keyboard support they would say so. If they HAD keyboard support they would say so.
The best you can hope for is that they are looking into the possibility. But the wording of their answer is very cagey. Perhaps it's not something that's easy to add to the current design.
From the indigo text
Current Status
The development of the Sinclair Spectrum Vega is complete, and we have a fully working prototype waiting to go into production within the UK.
If they are planning keyboard support they would say so. If they HAD keyboard support they would say so.
The best you can hope for is that they are looking into the possibility. But the wording of their answer is very cagey. Perhaps it's not something that's easy to add to the current design.
From the indigo text
I don't think 'looking into it' sounds very encouraging.
Usb otg for mobile devices is pretty much standard nowadays, and implementing it would pretty much be a yes or no decision based on cost.
It's not like they have to research the feasibility of adding usb support.
It's probably already built in to the soc.
Not if they've written a bare metal emulator. Adding USB support for that wouldn't be trivial. If it is a bare metal emulator the best we'll see is probably either a PS/2 port or even just contacts for a PS/2 port to be added.
The crowd-funding is at a bit of an odd stage now. All the initial units have long been sold with any interested punters basically having to front up ?50 just for the chance to spend another ?100 *if* RetroCL produce a second limited run.
An odd way of structuring/planning things given all the publicity the campaign got. Lots of eyes on the project, no sensible way for people to actually purchase/preorder one of the units now.
Not if they've written a bare metal emulator. Adding USB support for that wouldn't be trivial. If it is a bare metal emulator the best we'll see is probably either a PS/2 port or even just contacts for a PS/2 port to be added.
If they've written a bare metal emulator (including sd card support no less) without considering the possibility that they might need usb support, even as an unplanned contingency feature, then they made a mistake in my opinion.
Having said that, ps/2 support would do just fine.
There are so many excellent emulators available that have already gone through years of de-bugging , tweaking and play-testing by thousand of Speccy gamers. I really can't see the point in them making a new one (other than cost).
There are so many excellent emulators available that have already gone through years of de-bugging , tweaking and play-testing by thousand of Speccy gamers. I really can't see the point in them making a new one (other than cost).
Follow the money. I'm sure they don't want to pay a licence fee for every copy of the emulator they sell.
Many (most?) emulators may even prohibit commercial use altogether in their license terms.
I guess a bare-metal emulator would also be more efficient, though I doubt that would make much difference nowadays.
They've ever so slightly updated the Indiegogo page making things a little clearer, they now mention the Vega can accept TAP files and snapshots and about it being compatible with PAL and NTSC.
They've ever so slightly updated the Indiegogo page making things a little clearer, they now mention the Vega can accept TAP files and snapshots and about it being compatible with PAL and NTSC.
No TZX? :(
Buy an Ouya, a small usb or bluetooth keyboard (with rubber keys if desired) and a retro usb joystick.
As a bonus, it will also do C64, Amstrad CPC, Atari 2600, Mega Drive, Master System, NES, SNES, Atari ST, Playstation 1, and probably a whole bunch more.
I don't see the difference between this and a Raspberry Pi with a Bare Metal emulator. The last one only costs $20.
Well, that's not a bad idea!
The Pi (512MB model B - might as well have the best as we'll need it for the accuracy!) costs about ?30, so not quite $20... But that's still less than ?100!
I'll assume you're going to write your own emulator :)
Now you need a case - and buttons. You'll be designing your own rather than employing someone to do it, I expect; these things can get very expensive! Also it'll have to be 3D Printed naturally - the quality won't be as good as the Vega but that's Ok. How much will that cost?
Generally about 20p/sq. cm. So that's a case about the size of a DSL - so that's about 20 quid for the case to be printed. It'll be quite grainy though but we're up to 50 quid so far. Now we need buttons - a DPad and face buttons. These will have to be custom made. I happen to know how much it costs for this; about one pound per keymat! But the minimum bulk volume will be 5,000 from a company in china (the OpenPandora team managed to get this quite cheaply) so you're looking at an initial outlay of ?5000.
You see, you can't do this for $20 for a Pi and some emulator. You need to buy things in bulk or you can't get them made. Costs drop as you order more of them, but the initial run of just 1,000 will be very expensive. If you're going to employ a designer to make your case you're looking at a very expensive proposition for your initial run.
Once you've got more orders (how many 3DS consoles do you think are made in each batch?) then the costs drop - the design is a one-off, as is the emulator. Eventually you can make them for about 15 quid and sell them for 25-30. But your initial run is going to cost you.
I'm wanting to put a Pi inside a rubberykeys case - and that's going to cost me more than ?100 to do, just for parts and paying Guesser to do the soldering.
Or just use an existing emulator on a pi, a ?5 pi case and a ?5 USB SNES controller, it'll even have more buttons than the Vega, you'll only have one lead coming from your gamepad and you get the benefit of HDMI out.
If it's not going to have a keyboard there's no point worrying about emulator accuracy because no amount of computational accuracy or efficiency is going to make up for using a cumbersome virtual keyboard every few minutes and rebinding controls every time you load up a game. It's always been a problem with Spectrum emulators, even with a keyboard they're still too cumbersome because of the custom keymaps etc.
Entirely accurate, but with no keyboard and joystick only?
Yeah...
The VEGA is a plug and play consumer product. Whether a hobbyist can put together the same functionality for less (or more) money isn't really relevant. The audience for the VEGA are not ever going to be assembling components and installing emulators/operating systems etc. Totally different audience.
The VEGA is a plug and play consumer product. Whether a hobbyist can put together the same functionality for less (or more) money isn't really relevant. The audience for the VEGA are not ever going to be assembling components and installing emulators/operating systems etc. Totally different audience.
Comments
You are more likely to be prosecuted by one of the rights organisations.
But again, it depends how they see it. If a company has made every effort to sort out the rights, it is unlikely to go to court, as the costs will outweigh any benefits. Let alone go to criminal court.
Note: this is not legal advice :razz:
Mark
Repair Guides. Spanish Hardware site.
WoS - can't download? Info here...
former Meulie Spectrum Archive but no longer available :-(
Spectranet: the TNFS directory thread
! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
The Spectrum is just too heavily dependant on a keyboard to work nicely without one.
If it can accept a keyboard, then I may get one, even though my Ouya pretty much does the same thing already.
That's a shame. In my experience with struggling along with virtual keyboards while trying to find the ideal portable Spectrum emulator, I have learned that the Spectrum is crippled without a physical keyboard.
A virtual keyboard may be the only option on a portable, but there's no excuse for it on a TV based system.
How difficult and expensive can it be to add usb otg to a soc-based device?
I think I mentioned this before but they are still considering it according to the web site:
"Q - Will you be able to connect keyboards or controllers via USB or Bluetooth?
A - The Vega provides an on-screen keyboard, which can be activated when required. We would very much like to make the Vega as expandable as possible, both with hardware and software, and are considering possibilities."
Most of what I've read about the Vega is people criticising it for being what they think it will be, without bothering to find out.
Anyone curious about the project, please have a check of what Retro Computers say themselves about it, you could really get the wrong impression asking or reading about it here.
:) As said just above
Where shall I sign for this? :D.
Obviously means "No but please don't go away we might change it"
I've read all the VEGA materials. It clearly doesn't support keyboard at the moment or they would simply have answered "YES". Instead of not even answering really.
The best you can hope for is that they are looking into the possibility. But the wording of their answer is very cagey. Perhaps it's not something that's easy to add to the current design.
From the indigo text
I don't think 'looking into it' sounds very encouraging.
Usb otg for mobile devices is pretty much standard nowadays, and implementing it would pretty much be a yes or no decision based on cost.
It's not like they have to research the feasibility of adding usb support.
It's probably already built in to the soc.
An odd way of structuring/planning things given all the publicity the campaign got. Lots of eyes on the project, no sensible way for people to actually purchase/preorder one of the units now.
(Spending ?150 to get one isn't sensible.)
How to Win Friends and Influence People - The JPickford way.
They're more likely to send you a free one if you promise to stay silent! :smile:
If they've written a bare metal emulator (including sd card support no less) without considering the possibility that they might need usb support, even as an unplanned contingency feature, then they made a mistake in my opinion.
Having said that, ps/2 support would do just fine.
Follow the money. I'm sure they don't want to pay a licence fee for every copy of the emulator they sell.
Many (most?) emulators may even prohibit commercial use altogether in their license terms.
I guess a bare-metal emulator would also be more efficient, though I doubt that would make much difference nowadays.
No TZX? :(
Buy an Ouya, a small usb or bluetooth keyboard (with rubber keys if desired) and a retro usb joystick.
As a bonus, it will also do C64, Amstrad CPC, Atari 2600, Mega Drive, Master System, NES, SNES, Atari ST, Playstation 1, and probably a whole bunch more.
Ouyas are probably really cheap now.
have you got any links?
I've only found a zx81 project so far
Google πBacteria and you should come up with some links.
Here's a video of it in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkasVkToxNU
Nice one, I was tired and in a foul mood last night (family stuff) I couldn't think straight
Well, that's not a bad idea!
The Pi (512MB model B - might as well have the best as we'll need it for the accuracy!) costs about ?30, so not quite $20... But that's still less than ?100!
I'll assume you're going to write your own emulator :)
Now you need a case - and buttons. You'll be designing your own rather than employing someone to do it, I expect; these things can get very expensive! Also it'll have to be 3D Printed naturally - the quality won't be as good as the Vega but that's Ok. How much will that cost?
Generally about 20p/sq. cm. So that's a case about the size of a DSL - so that's about 20 quid for the case to be printed. It'll be quite grainy though but we're up to 50 quid so far. Now we need buttons - a DPad and face buttons. These will have to be custom made. I happen to know how much it costs for this; about one pound per keymat! But the minimum bulk volume will be 5,000 from a company in china (the OpenPandora team managed to get this quite cheaply) so you're looking at an initial outlay of ?5000.
You see, you can't do this for $20 for a Pi and some emulator. You need to buy things in bulk or you can't get them made. Costs drop as you order more of them, but the initial run of just 1,000 will be very expensive. If you're going to employ a designer to make your case you're looking at a very expensive proposition for your initial run.
Once you've got more orders (how many 3DS consoles do you think are made in each batch?) then the costs drop - the design is a one-off, as is the emulator. Eventually you can make them for about 15 quid and sell them for 25-30. But your initial run is going to cost you.
I'm wanting to put a Pi inside a rubberykeys case - and that's going to cost me more than ?100 to do, just for parts and paying Guesser to do the soldering.
D.
If it's not going to have a keyboard there's no point worrying about emulator accuracy because no amount of computational accuracy or efficiency is going to make up for using a cumbersome virtual keyboard every few minutes and rebinding controls every time you load up a game. It's always been a problem with Spectrum emulators, even with a keyboard they're still too cumbersome because of the custom keymaps etc.
Entirely accurate, but with no keyboard and joystick only?
Yeah...
Ouya.
USP.
Keyboard.
Usb joystick.