Speccy-Android Release News

[fms]

Hello, All!

The new Speccy 4.3 binaries for Windows and Linux are now available:

http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/ -- homepage
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy43-Windows-bin.zip -- Windows version
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy4...tu-x86-bin.tgz -- Linux version

This release fixes a few issues with the MIDI playback and recording and lets you disable Direct3D linear interpolation, if it looks too fuzzy for you.

ALL CHANGES:
* Computing effective waveform power in MIDI playback and recording.
* Fixed "Hit MIDI Drums" option in Speccy-Windows.
* Added "Nearest Neighbor" option to disable linear interpolation.

Enjoy!

[fms]

Hello, All!

Speccy 4.2.2 for Android is now out:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe -- full version
http://garageresearch.aptoide.com/ -- on Aptoide
http://android.oms.apps.opera.com/en...ndor_id=199556 -- in Opera Store

This version fixes special effects shaders on low-precision 3D hardware, such as Mali-400 GPUs. Several people complained about color bars when using color mask and scanline effects on devices with these GPUs. I have traced the problem down to the 16bit "10+6" floating point format used by rasterization hardware in Mali-400 and provided several workarounds. See below for all the changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed CMY/RGB filter shaders on low-end GPUs (Mali-400).
* Fixed scanline simulation shaders on low-end GPUs (Mali-400).
* Fixed analog trigger assignments to L2/R2 buttons.
* Removed text cues from joystick skins that have them already.

Enjoy!

[fms]

Hello, All!

A new version of my Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator, Speccy 4.2.3 for Android, is now online:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe -- full version
http://garageresearch.aptoide.com/ -- on Aptoide
http://android.oms.apps.opera.com/en...ndor_id=199556 -- in Opera Store

This release adds support for "content://" URIs, so that Speccy should now be able to open ZX Spectrum files from email clients and other apps. I have also fixed integration with Astro File Manager: clicking on ZX Spectrum files there will now run them. Finally, I have fixed a nasty timing bug in the display updates and refactored some library code. Support for virtual buttons and extended file info has been thoroughly refreshed. See below for all the changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed a bug in the display updates synchronization.
* Fixed support for opening Speccy files from Astro File Manager.
* Added support for opening "content://" URIs.
* Refactored file type definitions in the manifest.
* Refactored EMULib library code.
* Moved virtual buttons implementation into OvrButton class.
* Moved file-specific utilities into FileInfo class.

Have fun!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have just published the new version of my Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator, Speccy 4.2.5 for Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe -- full version
http://garageresearch.aptoide.com/ -- on Aptoide
http://android.oms.apps.opera.com/en...ndor_id=199556 -- in Opera Store

This release fixes a bunch of crashes reported by the new and improved Google Play console. None of these crashes occur often, but they still need to be fixed. I have also removed the request for the READ_PHONE_STATE permission from Speccy Deluxe. Several people wondered what it was for, given that Speccy does not make any phone calls. Believe it or not, but this permission is required to get phone's IMEI number. I have now switched from IMEI to AndroidID for device identification. See below for all the changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Speccy Deluxe no longer wants READ_PHONE_STATE permission.
* Application will use AndroidID rather than IMEI to identify users.
* Fixed multiple crashes reported by the new Google Play Console.
* Fixed crashes when showing or dismissing progress dialog in the File Selector.
* Fixed crash when blitting image to screen while exiting.
* Fixed crash when starting a game from the Gallery on Android Nougat.
* Fixed crash when exiting Palette Editor on Android Nougat.
* Hopefully fixed native crash freeing tape data on exit.
* Hopefully fixed rare crash in the File Selector onCreate().
* Hopefully fixed rare crash in Palette Editor RGB dialog.

Have fun!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have just released Speccy 4.4 for Windows and Linux, a new version of my Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator:

http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/ -- homepage
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy44-Windows-bin.zip -- free Windows version
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy4...tu-x86-bin.tgz -- free Linux version

This release mainly improves the Windows version, adding support for DirectInput joysticks and fixing a bunch of bugs. I have also moved all input-related settings to a separate "Input" menu. See below for all the changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added support for DirectInput joysticks to Speccy-Windows.
* Moved all input-related options to the "Input" menu in Speccy-Windows.
* Fixed crash when changing audio sampling rate in Speccy-Windows.
* Fixed "Wave To Melody" checkmark in Speccy-Windows.
* Added "Draw 65% Frames" option to Speccy-Windows.
* Fixed screen updates after changing scaling algorithm in Speccy-Windows.

Enjoy!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have just pulbished Speccy 4.4 for Android, improving PSG sound envelopes precision:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe -- full version
http://garageresearch.aptoide.com/ -- on Aptoide
http://android.oms.apps.opera.com/en...ndor_id=199556 -- in Opera Store

The PSG sound is now updated and rendered every eight scanlines. This release also includes all the fixes added to Speccy 4.4 for Windows and Linux, released the last week:

http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/

ALL CHANGES:
* Released free Speccy 4.4 for Windows and Linux.
* Now updating, rendering, and playing sound every 8 scanlines.
* Switched to microseconds in the AY8910 PSG emulation.

Enjoy!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have just published Speccy 4.4.1 for Android, a new version of my Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe -- full version
http://garageresearch.aptoide.com/ -- on Aptoide
http://android.oms.apps.opera.com/en...ndor_id=199556 -- in Opera Store

This release addresses the problem with Android 7+ preventing apps from reading root folder and many other folders. Previously, that confused File Selector leading to empty file lists with nowhere else to go. The new version will simply refuse to go into such folders. I have also added the "Change Folder" option that should let you "jump" to a different folder without having to navigate there. See below for all the changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added "Change Folder" option to the File Selector.
* Fixed File Selector getting stuck at unreadable folders.
* Fixed several crashes reported in Google Play console.
* Fixed native crash when processing initial commands sent by Java side.
* Fixed crash when loading an invalid skin bitmap file.
* Hopefully fixed a crash in the native startup code.
* Hopefully fixed two native crashes when drawing screen.
* Fixed the order of calls in onPause() / onStop() / onDestroy().

Enjoy!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have just published Speccy 4.5 for Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe -- full version
http://garageresearch.aptoide.com/ -- on Aptoide
http://android.oms.apps.opera.com/en...ndor_id=199556 -- in Opera Store

Starting with this release, saving states should work for files located on write-protected storage. In other words, even if Android will not let you save to that external SD card, Speccy will stll save your gameplay to the /sdcard/Speccy folder in the internal storage. This feature worked in my other emulators, but not in Speccy. It has been fixed now. I have also fixed screenshots in the World Of Spectrum browser and added the "Change Folder" option to the File Selector. If you ever get stuck in an unreadable folder, use the "Change Folder" to go where you need to go. See below for all the changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed screenshots in the World Of Spectrum browser.
* Fixed state saves for files located on write-protected card.
* Made states/screenshots deletion more reliable.
* "Emulation | Color Palette" will retain the last set value.
* Added "Change Folder" option to the File Selector for jumping between folders.
* Reenabled ability to navigate through unreadable folders, unless it is root folder.
* Made folder listing error a bit less threatening, since it has become the new normal in Android 7+.
* Fixed hangup on exit where Java code waits for non-existent native thread.
* Removed outdated features from the EMULib code.

Enjoy!

[fms]

A little update:

I have found a problem in Speccy 4.5, corrupting saved .Z80 files, and fixed it. The new Speccy 4.5.1 is now online:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.fms.speccy -- free version
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe -- full version
http://garageresearch.aptoide.com/ -- on Aptoide
http://android.oms.apps.opera.com/en...ndor_id=199556 -- in Opera Store

As an additional bonus, it will now save the machine model and other hardware options selected in "Settings | Emulation". Please, update ASAP.

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed crash when saving .Z80 files found in version 4.5.
* Spectrum model and other options will now be saved.

Sorry for trouble this bug might have caused.

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have published Speccy 4.5 tonight, a new version of my universal Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator for Windows and Linux:

http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/ -- homepage
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy45-Windows-bin.zip -- free Windows version
http://fms.komkon.org/Speccy/Speccy4...tu-x86-bin.tgz -- free Linux version

The latest Speccy adds support for multiple monitors and optimizes full-screen mode detection on Windows. I have also fixed flicker that plagued Win10 users after a recent system update. The Linux version now uses PulseAudio for sound, so you won't need to mess with /dev/dsp emulation any more. Finally, I have moved disk drive options to the "Hardware" menu on Windows.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added multiple monitor support to Speccy-Windows.
* Fixed disappearing window in Speccy-Windows.
* Fixed best full-screen mode detection in Speccy-Windows.
* Fixed window flicker that appeared after recent Win10 updates.
* Moved disk options to "Hardware" menu in Speccy-Windows.
* Switched Speccy-Linux to using PulseAudio sound.
* Updated old PulseAudio driver for 64bit Linux.

For interested parties, Speccy Deluxe for Android is currently on sale for $1.99 and will stay that way for the next few days:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe

Have fun!