Omega-TI

I'll be on it again today off and on. The fog is not cooperating here at the beach so I'll be able to enjoy some extra TI time. I'll be sure to check into Heatwave BBS a few times today as well. What's really bumming me out is all this COVID garbage has some of the restaurants I wanted to try closed or for takeout or delivery only. Even though things have not worked out like I wanted, its sure great to have uninterrupted TI time.

I'll be in the MYTI99.COM chat room around 6:30 tonight on my portable TI.

Good to hear it was tongue in cheek! Actually, << this thread >> may be a good thing for another reason as well. There are some out there that appear to not want to know what users would like in new devices or improvements in current software or hardware... especially in their threads. This thread will give some the opportunity to avoid and ignore what they don't want to see, while giving others the freedom to finally let it all out without fear of getting jumped.

One thing I really like about the brilliant design of the TIPI/32K sidecar is the super easy access to the SD card, especially with the recent upgrade situation. On my P-Box TIPI, I've never had to remove the micro SD card until now, but man, I'm not looking forward to it. With that in mind, I've been toying around with getting one of those SD card extenders for around 6 months now, so I figured it was time to finally press CLICK, because pulling the card on the P-Box version is a tedious chore at best. So, I was finally able to justify it! 😁

I saw something sadly telling of a (nameless) individual today. Taken in the context of where it appeared, it seemed rather snarky, demeaning, and displayed much ego. Maybe the individual who posted it thought so too because they removed it, or maybe figured it already hit it's target and was no longer necessary, but did not want others to see and judge? Who knows?

The SAMS is an underused card, and I had a germination of an idea that I thought might give some a use, and was potentially thinking of a suite of possible applications, mostly of a small size. Lately though I've gotten a little reticent to mention specific programs or goals, because I sometimes get jumped by some individuals who take issue with me questioning anything. I'll take your "No" as my answer, because the tone of your last sentence leads me to think it's no longer worth the effort.

Oh! 🤪

Well, if this thread crashes & burns, at least I can say I tried.

Not bad for an old abandoned classic computer! We currently have 95 followers for new postings in the main TI area.

In an effort to keep the main listing of thread clean and tidy, and devoid of countless similar posts, based on a suggestion by @InsaneMultitasker, I'm starting this thread as a catch all for people posting ideas for the TI. So, if you have an idea for a new product, program or exploit, maybe you'll consider posting it in this thread. So, GO FOR IT! You never know, the idea you have today could be something many of us use in the future, after all, it's happened many times in the past.

Nope.

That sounds pretty slick, but I would never learn how things interact or understand what is happening.

@jedimatt42 since you are the expert on Force Command and @RXB seems to know a lot about the SAMS, I have a question... Is it theoretically possible to use Force Command to load a small program that could be placed into a specific spot in the SAMS card that could be accessed as an overlay while Force Command is running in main memory? Then using a combination of keys as a 'hook' bring the program into active use when needed, and toggled back when not?

I see @arcadeshopper already beat me to it. Besides being able to save a chess game, it also makes play easier with the inclusion of joystick routines.

That is not a bad idea! If people want to "toss an idea out there" it would not clutter up the rest of the main forum, and if people are not interested, they could even choose to ignore the topic. Over the years though, some people have seen some of these ideas and decided, "Yeah that sounds pretty good", the result is some of the stuff we all use now.

I understand this point of view. I also realize some of these things are getting a little bit more complicated to implement (at first), so in that respect I thought having a package to get people up and running a little bit easier might be beneficial. It would then of course be up to the user to update with new versions once they get "the hang of things", and if they decide the want to retain and use the software. Having choices can be a good thing too, especially if it encourages more people to try something new. Of course the choice would be up to the individual.

If you treat it as simply a storage device at first and start putting things onto it (after setting up the WiFi), you'll find it's easier to use than you thought. When it really starts to get interesting is when you add other devices and programs into the mix. There is one program out there that is weaved together with a bunch of other things to perform the required task. To operate as designed it REQUIRES a FinalGROM and TIPI, it also requires Extended BASIC on the FinalGROM and it's files in a specific directory on the TIPI. If that were not enough, it can be combined with other programs. One recent entry does all that I just mentioned, but it also adds the F18A and Harry Wilhelm's T80XB into the mix. It took me a minute to wrap my head around that configuration.

As the utility and usefulness of the TIPI grows, we are finding that there is some really specialized software coming onto the scene that uses it. Some of this software requires specific hardware, settings and even specific storage locations on our SD cards. The idea of this thread is to have "PACKAGE ZIP FILES". Each "PACK" would have... 1) All the correct programs and files in the proper sub directory to move to the TIPI. 2) Any necessary or linked files like scripts (with directions on where to put the associated files). 3) Instructions on use and installation. For example there is a really nice program that was recently updated and enhanced by Vorticon that uses the TIPI, FG99, F18A and the T80XB utilities. If everything needed was bundled together in one ZIP file (including the FG99 files), in this case Extended BASIC, it would probably make things easier for those interested to try it out and find that they really like it.

Truths: the FinalGROM has a massive amount of storage space. the TIPI also has a massive amount of storage space. So the question is, on which device you store most of your games? While the poll is anonymous, please feel free to tell us WHY you have one preference over another.

Really? It's only a 4.91mb imbedded MP4 not linked to another site. Weird.

Fair enough. I'll mess with the P-Box TIPI after I get back from vacation next week. I dunno when I'll get around to hacking the case and purchasing another power supply, let alone figuring out where I'm going to plug it in as I currently have three power strips maxed out. It very well could be the FG99, I dunno. I'll make do with the old Control F12 button combo until then, besides it's the only thing I'm having an issue with, everything else works fine.

I have multiple parasitic devices sucking power from the TI. I have a Tursi designed keyboard adapter, and an F18A in addition to the TIPI, RPi and wireless mouse.

When it comes to "Good Engineering", Scotty offers good advice! Good Engineering.mp4

Now it's taken to blue screening me on exit back to Force Command, while nothing has changed. I'm beginning to wonder if the power it's getting from the TI is stable or at borderline levels. When I get back from vacation I might have to contact J-Data where he ordered the angle adapter from. Then I suppose I'll have to get the Dremel out.