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Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3352

Posted: 02:07pm 25 Mar 2026

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Peter has released the latest version of the PicoMite firmware V6.02.01.

This can be downloaded from https://geoffg.net/picomite.html (scroll to the bottom of the page). It includes the updated user manual and additional specialised manuals (see the Extra Documentation folder in the firmware zip).

This release includes many bug fixes and enhancements. Also included are five new commands and support for the PicoCalc. Below is listed the full change log.

Geoff

Quote Changes from V6.02.00

All versions
File names on the A: drive are now no longer case sensitive and behave like the B: drive
Minor internal bug fixes and code restructuring
Fixes bug in GPS parsing
Fixes bug where Text is setting tiles incorrectly when the output exceeds the screen width
Fixes bug in the editor when the marked text exceeds the buffer size
Editor now correctly colour codes string literals and comments split across continuation lines
Blank lines are now allowed in TYPE declarations
Corrects behaviour when the A: drive is formatted but the current directory is not at root level
F10 in the editor when in mark mode is no longer limited by the buffer size. This allows the user to mark any amount of text and save it to a file.
The editor now correctly restores non-default foreground and background colours on exit.
Fixes bugs in Structures when assigning from an array element which is a structure to a structure
Attempting to use a single element array in a structure now gives an error
Major rework of PLAY TONE and PLAY SOUND to reduce the overhead in the interrupt routine and improve action of volume changes.
Fixes BLIT Framebuffer to work in modes 4 and 5 on HDMI versions and Mode 3 on VGA RP2350 and HDMI versions
Fixes bug in FLASH LIST n when n does not contain a program
Fixes bug in SPRITE SCROLL when MM.HRES not 320
SPRITE(B function now properly supports all orientations of the sprite
KEYDOWN function now supports PS2 keyboards.
mm.info(PWM SLICE gpno) This returns the PWM slice for a given pin

Adds new commands
SAVE DATA fname$, address, nbytes
LOAD DATA fname$, address
TILEMAP
BLIT RESIZE
ONESHOT

All RP2350 versions
Fixes bug in PORT command and function when pins > GP31 are used
Tweaks to flash and param timings to improve reliability.
Reduced memory footprint of using png files - still big but not as big
SPRITE LOADPNG is modified as follows. Previously pixels under the cutoff threshold were transparent BUT black pixels were also transparent (assuming the default transparent = black). Now you can set the transparent colour to a negative value (-1 to -15) this causes black pixels to be replaced with the positive value of the negative value. So:
SPRITE LOADPNG 1,"mypng.png",-2 will replace black pixels with myrtle avoiding holes in the sprite.
load png and sprite load png now process mode 3 png files (colour map included in the file)
Various enhancements to STEPPER command and PEEK(STEPPER function
New Command PLAY SAMPLE
Implements optional hidden line removal for 3D wireframe models

the LOCATION command can now optionally return the sidereal time
Adds FRAME command

RP2350 only and not WebMiteRP2350
Max CPU speed for PicoMite(USB)RP2350 now 420MHz
Fixes bug in BLIT FRAMEBUFFER for buffered LCD drivers
Fixes bug in scrolling for buffered LCD drivers
Adds RAY command and function

PicoMiteRP2040 and PicoMiteRP2040USB
reduces firmware image size by 16Kbyte with concommitant increase in size of A: drive.

All PicoMite and WebMite versions
N5110 driver now correctly uses INVERT in the option setting

WebMite RP2350 version
The WebMiteR2350 should now support the Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 W. This board uses the RP2350B and includes PSRAM.

PicoCalc
The standard PicoMite, PicoMiteRP2350, WebMite and WebMiteRP2350 versions should all support the PicoCalc. To use this nuke the current firmware on your PicoCalc and install the relevant version from the download. The code will automatically detect it is running on a PicoCalc and configure itself. You must be running a version of the bios that supports returning the battery level. I've been loaned a PicoCalc and tested with BIOS 1.5 and 1.6.

Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net

terekgabor
Newbie

Joined: 02/01/2026
Location: Hungary
Posts: 22

Posted: 03:52pm 25 Mar 2026

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Congratulations!
I like to use it very much on my Picocalc!
👍

Fede
Newbie

Joined: 09/03/2026
Location: Spain
Posts: 8

Posted: 04:11pm 25 Mar 2026

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Guaaauuuu.

Thank you so much.

I'm going to try it right now on the Pico Calc.

stanleyella

Guru

Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2795

Posted: 09:05pm 25 Mar 2026

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@Geoffg thank you. installed with rpi 400. picomite usb hdmi working and usb keyboard. go to set options to test mmedit on rpi400

homa

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Joined: 05/11/2021
Location: Germany
Posts: 551

Posted: 09:16pm 25 Mar 2026

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First of all, thank you so much for all your hard work!

Special thanks to Peter for creating all the PicoMite versions. And to you too, Geoff, for the excellent manual.
(I’d like to have the doc for the German translation again ;-)

I do have one question, though. What led to the change of heart regarding the PicoCalc? Up until now, your statement about the developer and the background had put me off buying it. I had also pinned my hopes on Peter’s hardware development. However, I am currently considering ordering the ver2 for myself. It would be great to have a gadget like this for mmbasic in my pocket. Is support now guaranteed? I’d really appreciate a brief explanation.

Matthias

matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 11108

Posted: 09:52pm 25 Mar 2026

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I wrote about this previously. Although I strongly dislike the vendor's business practices, the reality is that multiple hobbiests just like TBS members bought the thing. A PicoCalc forum member Ernst did a great job of pulling together the various mods to the PicoMite firmware that were needed to run the PicoCalc AND sorted the crappy keyboard "BIOS". I therefore decided to incorporate these together with some additional code that automatically configures the PicoCalc if the PicoMite firmware sees it is running on a PicoCalc. This means that MMBasic runs fully supported on the PicoCalc. What I won't do is compromise MMBasic to run when launched from one of various mechanisms that load binaries from SDCard that are available in the PicoCalc world.
I borrowed a PicoCalc to get the firmware working and my view of it FWIW is, looks nice, but unusable keyboard and too small screen. Over-complicated hardware design and use of many Chinese components with no English datasheets and a screen that uses a controller chip which is not specified. Strange and compromised serial port. Not open source despite including multiple open source software components. Nice toy but pretty useless in practice. Your view may vary.

toml_12953
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Joined: 13/02/2015
Location: United States
Posts: 573

Posted: 10:21pm 25 Mar 2026

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matherp said
I borrowed a PicoCalc to get the firmware working and my view of it FWIW is, looks nice, but unusable keyboard and too small screen.

Speaking of screen size how big is the screen on your Palm Pico? Also, how's it coming along? Will we see Gerbers and a BOM soon? Until it arrives, the PicoCalc is just about the only all-in-one handheld for MMBasic available.

homa

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Joined: 05/11/2021
Location: Germany
Posts: 551

Posted: 10:39pm 25 Mar 2026

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Peter, thank you very much for the detailed explanation — it was extremely helpful. I really appreciate your perspective on open-source philosophy and your assessment of the components used in this context. Sometimes, though, compromises have to be made. I don’t think it’s completely useless in terms of my vision for the project. My absolute dream would be for it to have touch functionality, but yes...
I’m also really looking forward to your project, and I hope I’ll be able to build the replica.
Matthias

stanleyella

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Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2795

Posted: 11:20pm 25 Mar 2026

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This version doesn't work with mmedit-mmcc. the terminal goes red highlight text and no keyboard, All working before
PicoMiteHDMI MMBasic USB RP2350A Edition V6.01.00b11
OPTION SERIAL CONSOLE COM2,GP20,GP21
OPTION FLASH SIZE 4194304
OPTION COLOURCODE ON
OPTION KEYBOARD UK, 0, 0, 600, 150
OPTION RESOLUTION 640x480 @ 315000KHz
OPTION DISPLAY 20, 40
OPTION SDCARD GP2, GP6, GP7, GP4
OPTION AUDIO GP0,GP1', ON PWM CHANNEL 0
OPTION DEFAULT FONT 3, 1
I don't know why and only know mmedit not xterm
regards, stan

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