Fun fact: the Famicom Disk System has a Y2024 problem!
The FDS stores the disk's manufacturing/rewrite date using a binary-coded decimal year in the Shōwa era (so 1926 is year $01, 1927 is year $02, 1935 is year $10, and so on).
This means that the last year which can be expressed in this system is 2024 - Shōwa 99; which is still out of bounds for the era itself, but acceptable by the Nintendo header standard.
In 2000, the WonderSwan received a web browser supporting a subset of HTML 3.2, tables, GIF files, reading Japanese text, bookmarks, and cookies - all on a handheld competing with the Game Boy Color.
From 2004, it no longer worked due to a missing gateway server. UNTIL TODAY.
I wrote a tutorial, so you can make it work again too, if you want!
WonderWitch status update! FreyaBIOS has proven fairly possible to reimplement based on public documentation alone, as it's primarily a thin wrapper for the WonderSwan hardware.
FreyaOS, the other element, is available to download for free from Qute's support website - but with no license.
(For context: FreyaBIOS is the hardware abstraction layer + diagnostics/software update "monitor". FreyaOS contains additional user-facing libraries - process, filesystem, etc. - an user interface, and a remote serial port shell.)
This doesn't stop anyone from using it, of course - the file is there, you can download it. You're just not allowed to use it (legally and/or morally, depending on your country and conscience) without purchasing a device last sold around 2008. (There are users and communities who care about this - please keep the "ooh like that's going to stop anyone" to yourself.)
This issue could be resolved by Qute Corporation - by broadening the licensing agreement on http://wonderwitch.qute.co.jp/WWPlayer/ - and the remaining components could be provided by the community, allowing for better preservation and accessibility of freeware WonderWitch software. (Whether they have all the necessary rights is another question, though.)
The FreyaBIOS reimplementation has been progressing fairly well, and the larger FreyaOS could be tackled next - but as it also contains the Meg shell/user interface, some element of interacting with the original device would remain inaccessible to non-collectors.
Either way, I'd also be happy with a way to purchase a digital version of the WonderWitch data, or to help with development of a digital version (developing an emulator, file transfer tool, etc) - but I have no avenue of reaching anyone who could make a decision in this manner.
Until then, or until I'm told to stop, I guess I'm just going to keep tinkering away at it.
WonderWitch status update! FreyaBIOS has proven fairly possible to reimplement based on public documentation alone, as it's primarily a thin wrapper for the WonderSwan hardware.
FreyaOS, the other element, is available to download for free from Qute's support website - but with no license.
(For context: FreyaBIOS is the hardware abstraction layer + diagnostics/software update "monitor". FreyaOS contains additional user-facing libraries - process, filesystem, etc. - an user interface, and a remote...
I've decided to spend a day or two polishing my Uxn/Varvara implementation for NDS - added a native 3DS port, as well as a new, suitable keyboard design; both are debuting in today's 0.4.0 release. I think it's feature-complete now...
Remember VNDS? The visual novel player for the DS? I'm sure some fans of that are following me... anyhow, I decided to remove GPL compliance issues and add DSi mode support. Not sure if the fork will catch on, but maybe it will be useful for someone:
Heads-up: Just because Nintendo is pulling the plug on releasing 3DS software, doesn't mean unofficial developers will. There's potential left in that system, though it's harder on a shoestring budget and a niche audience. I still want to port ZZT and make other things someday! <3
Do you, in 2023, think it is essential for a homebrew console toolchain to support 32-bit ARM as a host (not a target)? (Feel free to elaborate in comments.)
Someone mentioned this as a feature they care about, but it adds some hassle to maintenance + design limitations.
Anonymous poll
Poll
Yes
1
0%
No
0
0%
0 people voted. Voting ended 23 Feb 2023 at 17:35.
Introducing BootFriend: custom firmware for the WonderSwan Color/SwanCrystal!
- "multiboot" (load software to RAM via serial port),
- backup the IPL (boot ROM),
- manage game data & saves,
- flash cartridges without an external flasher!
Gregory's Server