PalmUAE version 1.0 by Sinisa Marovic
http://www.geocities.com/sinisamarovic
Forum at zodiacgamer:
http://www.emuboards.com/invision/index.php?showforum=27
Original UAE for Unix/Linux:
freiburg.linux.de/~uae
1. Release notes:
Version 1.0:
- Although no significant changes to the emulation core were made, this version
works at least twice as fast if compared to the previous versions (at least
on my Clie). This is due to the fact that both binary and data are stored in
the same RAM (if possible).
- AGA officially supported. Not all AGA games work, however, especially if high
resolutions are used (example Alien Breed, because of intro screen)
- Auto centering on x or y axis (or both).
- Max CPU speed checkbox added. While this may increase emulation speed
drastically, it also reduces copmatibility.
- Added limited storage RAM support. This means that you can use all of the
available RAM (on storage or heap) as dynamic. Now you can have up to 8MB RAM
Amiga even on devices with 4 or less MB heap RAM without the need for third
party applications. While I didn't have any lockups with this version, it is
strongly recommended to backup first.
- Removed "Kick to RAM" option. Any available memory is now used for kickstart.
- Bug fixes
Version 0.9 AGA Beta:
- Well, it supports AGA. I had to so some compromises to shrink it as much as
possible. It's still to big, and for the devices with 4MB heap, you can only
select 1 MB chip RAM, no other combination is possible (not even 512 K, don't
ask why).
- Bug fixes
Version 0.9:
- Sound works now on Zodiac and Zire (thanks Asger, Kelvin and Jarred for beta
testing).
- Added cpu speed slider. Some demos work only when set to > 0 (the surge for
example, works only if between 512 and 2048) .
- Removed key names, only codes available (i had to keep the loader size < 32k).
- Added support for Slow RAM. It's needed by some games (e.g. Elvira Arcade).
- Runtime options now also available from the main form.
- Moved Frameskip setting to Runtime Options.
- Bug fixes
Version 0.8:
- Finally works on Zodiac, but without sound. Still crashes when sound set to
Normal/Exact. Thanks "Dakidski" for beta testing it for me. Sound error will
be trickier to pinpoint.
- Removed logging completely.
- Visual key pressing of on-screen keyboard, locking of shift/amiga/alt/caps
lock.
- Kickstarts < 1.3 now work. Stupid mistake of harcoding kickstart size to 512k,
since older kickstart are only 256k.
- Removed key validation check at key assignment form. Instead of error, only a
warning is issued now, mainly because it seems zodiac button codes are not an
exponent of two. How does it handle simulatenous pressing of two buttons ??
- Mapping joystick buttons now possible, can overlap with other keys.
- Mapping mouse to joystick option available, meaning you can move mouse using
the assigned joystick buttons. Don't forget to assign the joystick buttons,
otherwise it will use the default that only works on Clie (I think).
- Bug fixes
Version 0.7:
- Addeded immediate blits option
- Moved all VFS handling (except logging) from ARM to M68K
- Added realtime options for frameskips and sprite collision level and
"Quit emu" menu option (thanks Dessimat0r for the tip).
- Removed SaveADF function from buttons (although item is still available
in "Key Assignments" form)
- Bug fixes
Version 0.6:
- Houston, we have sound
- Added option to choose between storing kickstart in Heap or Storage RAM.
- More logging. This is mainly because it's still not running on Zodiac.
- Moved kickstart loading from ARM to M68K (huh? ;-)
- Bug fixes
Version 0.5:
- Started to track versions. There is no much previous versions info.
- Compact. Meaning that there is no external binary file needed. Everything is stored
in one file (except, of course, kickstart).
- added run-time menu. Access it by tapping the menu icon at the bottom-right.
- hardfile support. You can mount one hardfile to act like hard disk.
- on-screen keyboard at the bottom of the screen.
- custom-defined keys. You can save defaults, and have different key assignment
for different configuration.
- two floppy drives available. If you are using only hard drive, disable them to
save storage RAM. That way you will have more available for hard disk file
- mouse sensitivity control. Amiga programs use different mouse sensitivity, and
you can scale it now from 1 to 8. Default is 4, which matches Workbench 1.3
combined with kickstart 3.1.
Known bugs:
- Kickstart 3.0 only works with 24b address space off. That's normal, I guess.
- Tapping outside of the area used by a current amiga program will result in
loss of calibration. This is because amiga screen is set to 320*256, and some
amiga programs might use smaller area. PalmUAE is tracking down tapping on the
whole 320*256 area, so the mouse cursor will not be able to follow. Just move
the pen arround the corners of the area used by the program to re-calibrate.
I have no idea how to handle this problem.
- I can't get 'insert floppy' screen on kickstarts > 1.3. I must've screwed
something up. It does not, however, affect any game I tried. It might have
something to do with graphics. There could be problems with some demos.
- Some on-screen keys are still not correctly mapped. And you can't press two
keys at the same time, like shift-key. It's due to the limitation of the
PalmOS (two taps on the screen are detected as one in the middle of the two).
You can map shift to a button to solve this.
- Some demos do not work. The consequences of shrinking the memory are catching
up. I will have to work on that.
To do:
- Fix the problem caused by shrinking the memory (some demos will not work,
meaning you could have sound, but distorted or no graphics, or might even
freeze your palm).
- Some AGA games do not work because of high resolution grahics.
2. Instructions for use
Create directories on the memory card:
1. /PALM/Programs/PalmUAE
2. /PALM/Programs/PalmUAE/kick
3. /PALM/Programs/PalmUAE/adffiles
4. /PALM/Programs/PalmUAE/hdffiles
5. /PALM/Programs/PalmUAE/config
Put kickstart files into the second one (with .rom extension), adf files into
the third one (with .adf extension), and hdf files into the fourth (with .hdf
extension).
Now start PalmUAE and wait a few seconds. Choose your settings. Default settings
should work, so change just the adf and kickstart files, and frameskip according
to your device speed.
DON'T FORGET TO UNCHECK ALL FLOPPIES IF YOU DON'T NEED THEM !!! If you don't,
storage memory for floppies will still be allocated, and you will have less
space for hard disk support.
Click GO! and again wait a few seconds. It's loading kickstart, floppy and/or
hard disk from the memory card to storage RAM.
When you enter emulation, you will see familiar LEDs at the bottom-right of
the screen. There are two floppy LEDs, the power LED and HD led. Note that when
writing the HD it's led is blinking reddish (well, it's more pink-orange, don't
ask why).
If you have Clie TG50, or similar, you will have the benefit of using the
keyboard. Most of the AMIGA keys are covered, you can even use blue shift for
numbers and red for F1-F10. Those who are missing you can assign to buttons. As I previously mentioned, floppy and hardfiles are loaded into storage RAM, and if you save some game, it is only saved to RAM, not to the memory card file. This
means that if you exit emulation without storing them you will loose the saved
game. You will be prompted to overwrite the hardfile if it has change, but not
for floppies.
Well, since most Palm devices have screen width of 320, you don't have place
for border. If your device has 480*320 in landscape mode, the area of the screen
> 320 will not be used.
Use the run-time options for changing/saving floppies, saving the hard disk
file, assign other keys, centering, setting the sound volume, etc.
I didn't have any lock-ups lately, and I'm testing it intensively, but I have
no idea how it will perform on other devices. So, if you want to try it out,
BACKUP YOUR FILES FIRST!
Requirements:
Device with 320*320 or greater with 16bit color
PalmOS 5.0 or greater.
At least 200 Mhz processor (although it does work with less).
4MB heap RAM (or less if you have UDMH or similar that can use storage as heap).
2.8 MB storage RAM.
MMC/SD/MemoryStick/CF external card (or RAM VFS like on Zodiac).
IMPORTANT FOR CLIE USERS: You will have to install MCA2 (formerly known as
cliepet) if you want sound support. Otherwise you will encounter an error.
This is a free tool and you can find it here:
http://www.aibohack.com/clie/modclieaud.htm