thelastpsion

thelastpsion, 1 year ago to random

Did you write code for #Psion machines in the #80s and #90s?

We're calling for you to open source your code!

I'm working with a group of enthusiasts, building a library of information about the SIBO/EPOC16 platform. Your old code could give valuable insight, as well as encourage people to write new code.

We're especially interested in old C and #x86 #assembly.

Upload it to your public repository of choice, and set it free!

#retrocomputing #retrodev #16bit #pda #laptop #epoc16 #sibo #oldcode

NanoRaptor, 3 months ago to random

Vantabeige.

thelastpsion, 7 months ago to retrocomputing

Absolutely blown away by @quazarsamcoupe's work on the #samcoupe. Developing hardware, software and a monthly magazine!

#RetroComputing #RCF2023

thelastpsion, 1 year ago to linux

The last maintainer of the #OpenPsion project is looking for someone to take over the maintenance of this #Linux distro for #Psion Series 5mx.

If anyone is able to help Adrian out, please get in touch.

#Debian #ARM #ARM710 #EPOC32 #KludgedLinux #KernelHacking #LinuxKernel

https://community.arm.com/support-forums/f/architectures-and-processors-forum/53718/can-anyone-help-me-to-compile-a-modern-kernel-for-the-psion-5mx

thelastpsion, 9 months ago to retrocomputing

HIVE MIND: Can you give me some examples of good #retrocomputing documentation websites? Or any doc websites about an entire computing platform.

I'm looking for examples on which to model the #Psion #Documentation Project (https://doc.psion.info/). I want to give it a proper clean-up, formalise the structure somehow, and have some guidelines.

thelastpsion, 9 months ago to retrocomputing

Of course, if you want truly era-appropriate, genuine #Psion artwork, look no further than these gems.

#RetroComputing #Psion3 #Art

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thelastpsion, 6 months ago to retrocomputing

My musings from last night about the #Psion Siena SSD Drive, plus a couple of pics of the #PsiDrive.

I know this is a long shot as there aren't many former Psion employees here. But if anyone has the schematic for the Siena drive (or any other information, such as the 3a schematic, or information on the Condor chip), please get in touch.

#RetroComputing #VintageComputing #RetroDev #16bit #RaspberryPiPico #RP2040 #OldTech

https://hackaday.io/project/186446-psidrive-a-usb-psion-ssd-drive/log/225072-the-psidrive-and-thoughts-on-the-siena-ssd-drive

thelastpsion, 7 months ago (edited 7 months ago) to retrocomputing

Are you into old computers? Can you make it to Cambridge next weekend?

Come see @rc2014, @DosFox, @quazarsamcoupe, and others... AND ME!

This is not only the first time I'll be exhibiting my little #Psion collection, but it's actually my first #retrocomputing gathering. I'm quite excited!

I'll be bringing an array of Psion goodies, including an MC400 laptop.

Saturday 4th November: https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/71266/Retro-Computer-Festival-2023-Saturday-4th-November/

Sunday 5th November: https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/71325/Retro-Computer-Festival-2023-Sunday-5th-November/

#vintagecomputing

thelastpsion, 7 months ago to retrocomputing

So, this is pretty.

#Microwriter #retrocomputing #80s #oldtech #portable #pocket #vintagecomputing #beige

The PCB of the Microwriter MW4, showing the CDP1802ACE microprocessor.
The top parts of the MW4. On the left is the separate microswitch keyboard module. On the right is the top half of the case.

thelastpsion, 9 months ago to retrocomputing

OK, Fediverse. This is a long shot.

I am looking for the missing parts of the #Psion SIBO C #SDK.

The screenshot (and alt text) shows a breakdown of what I already have, scraped together from the internet and scans from people who still have paper copies.

I'm sure there are newer versions of some of these docs, especially 2-05 and 3-01.

I'm also looking for v1 of the SDK, covering the MC200 and MC400.

Can you help?

#retrocomputing #16bit #90s #programming #dev #digipres #vintagecomputing

thelastpsion, 7 months ago to markdown

#Pandoc HIVE MIND

Is there a way of getting Pandoc to detect a style or font in a DOCX file?

I'm specifically thinking of in-line preformatted text, so converting (say) a Source Code character style in Word to backticks for #Markdown or #AsciiDoc. Or a different paragraph style to a triple-backtick (or [source] for AsciiDoc) block.

Could this be scripted with Pandoc's Lua engine?

Or is there a better tool to do DOCX to AsciiDoc than pandoc?

#DIgiPres #Documentation

thelastpsion, 2 months ago to retrocomputing

Someone has replaced the backlight in their #Psion 5mx, with one from a Huawei Mate Nova Y6 2018!

Full details of how he did it in the link below.

I've not tried this, but I'm really tempted.

https://www.hpcfactor.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=21343

#retrocomputing

thelastpsion, 1 month ago to retrocomputing

I've spent so much time working on Psion stuff recently that I've neglected to actually use my 3mx.

A lovely evening, so it feels right to do some writing in the garden.

#amwriting #Psion #retrocomputing

thelastpsion, 9 months ago to retrocomputing

Wrote up a summary of the past year on Hackaday IO (@hackaday) because it was rattling around in my brain.

OK, now I'm going to rest.

#psion #retrocomputing #EDisAsm #sibolib #mame #PsiDrive #epoc16 #pda #vintagecomputing #retrodev #retrospective

https://hackaday.io/project/161291-the-last-psion/log/222163-a-long-overdue-update-pcbs-emulators-and-more

thelastpsion, 10 months ago to retrocomputing

Anyone remember the Graphic Adventure Creator?

Originally made for the #Amstrad #CPC, my experience of it was from a #YourSinclair covertape.

Anyway, it's been on my list to attempt porting it to #Psion #EPOC16 for ages. It's not top priority, but the machine is perfectly designed for playing #textadventure games (see @root42's escapades with #Infocom).

Be great if it could decompile and play old games, too.

#retrocomputing #Psion3 #adventure

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_Adventure_Creator
https://gac.interface1.net/

thelastpsion, 10 months ago to retrocomputing

Every so often, this post gains a bit of traction and I gain a handful more followers. It's currently happening again, so... #introduction time!

Welcome! I love old #Psion kit (especially the #16bit ones, like the Series 3 range) and I'm trying to make more stuff to drag them into the 21st Century.

I'm also very happy when other people unearth old code and docs, or start working on new projects.

These old machines deserve more love and should be used.

#retrocomputing

https://bitbang.social/@thelastpsion/110003883673850146

thelastpsion, 7 months ago to retrocomputing

#RetroComputing tool alert!

#deark is a great little utility for extracting information from old files.

In the #Psion world, it will extract resources (such as pictures) from .APP and .OPA/OPO files, and it will convert three-colour .PIC files to PNG!

It also handles #Acorn sprites, #Amiga icons, #MacPaint, #PalmOS bitmaps, #WMF...

It compiles on Windows, #Linux, macOS and #BSD. And, as of about 5 minutes ago, there's a #HaikuOS recipe in HaikuPorts. 'Cos I made it.

https://github.com/jsummers/deark/

thelastpsion, 2 months ago to neovim

Thoughts on 3 months of #ObjectPascal #FreePascal usage (in #NeoVim):

• Easy to pick up and read
• Good libraries
• Generics
• No closures
• Binaries aren't small
• LSP (pasls) isn't complete, but better than nothing; #Treesitter + #Periscope really help
• Docs are frustrating
• Good forums/community
• Targets SO MANY platforms (#HaikuOS, 32-bit #DOS, #Amiga, #Z80, #baremetal)! More than Rust, Go
• A lot of historic books and projects

Would I use #Pascal again? Absolutely yes, without doubt.

thelastpsion, 3 months ago to random

#HaikuOS people: Anyone know where I can get a Haiku sticker to replace the Windows 7 stickers on my Haiku desktop and laptop?

thelastpsion, 1 month ago to foss

I'm in the mood to try to get more old #Psion software open sourced. If you can think of any old apps that you used on your Series 3a (or Series 5/Revo, but you all know I'm more of a SIBO/EPOC16 fan) that you remember fondly, I'll see if I can track the developer(s) down.

#FOSS #retrocomputing

thelastpsion, 6 months ago to random

Seen on eBay (not mine).

What I wouldn't have done to have this bundle in 2002!

To be honest, if it were cheaper I'd buy it now.

#Psion #PsionRevo #Nokia8210

thelastpsion, 7 months ago to random

Me: (announces to the world that he definitely can't and shouldn't start another project, because he has so many other unfinished projects and can't possibly--)

Also me: https://hackaday.io/project/193331-a-new-psion-epoc16-word-processor

#Psion

thelastpsion, 7 months ago to retrocomputing

A few photos from the Retro Computer Festival 2023 last weekend. Starting with @DosFox and @rc2014. #RCF2023 #RC2014 #RetroComputing

Another angle of DosFox's Lisa, showing the keyboard, perspex case with "Lisa" logo, various PCBs, PSU, and wires.
The RC2014 Pride Kit, sitting on top of an old CRT terminal.
Another photo of an RC2014 Pride Kit, this time on the main table.

thelastpsion, 10 months ago to Electronics

Anyone got any tips on monitoring every pin (CTS, DTR, etc) on an #RS232 connection when you only have a cheap Cypress #logicanalyser?

I'm guessing I'm going to need to get a handful of RS232 to #TTL converters so that I don't blow up the analyser with ±12V. But if anyone has a better solution, I'm all ears.

#electronics #RetroComputing #retroelectronics

thelastpsion, 1 month ago to retrocomputing

The "spares or repair" #Psion Series 5 had arrived.

It does not look good.

#RetroComputing