 Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me. |
Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : uMite Project: Propeller Mini Computer
  Page 2 of 5   |
|||||
| Author | Message | ||||
Oldbitcollector Senior Member  Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
The final product with measure 4"x4" I'll setup pre-order ability on our forums sometime next week for folks who already have Micromites to get theirs first. Most of our gang has already purchased their Micromites so I'll do a "limited" kit version for those first. On our second Batch, I'll do complete kits. (Unless I get enough interest in a regular kit without the Micromite.) Some more goodies on our list: * Expanded features for the Sprite Editor. (single command animation, etc.) * A tile editor (based on the Sprite Editor) * Background control (scrolling, etc) * Palette control and editing. * A music/tune editor. * An Xmodem to PC transfer mode. * Games! I'm getting ready port my Propeller "Loadrunner" game over next. I'm really pleased with the current status of this project, as I was able to spend most of my time in actual MMBASIC coding to get that demo done. (This is an excellent sign!) The only update I had to make to our mode4 firmware was a palette adjustment to make it match the sprite editor's current settings. My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9588 |
I've just finished watching your latest vid - very cool. Keep up the good work. If I did not already have so much on my plate, I would be interested in tinkering with one. But I will be watching!  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| Oldbitcollector Senior Member Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
Another video update from this week on the Micromite Companion project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCLBVuHI0qw Watch Joshua teach me that the only winning move is not to play... My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9588 |
Another great video. Congratulations on filling your pre-order process - there is obviously lots of interest in the project.(and rightly so) I guess you are using the console serial port on the MicroMite for the XMODEM file transfers, and you have already mentioned that you use the I2C to talk from the MicroMite chip back to the Propeller chip. What speed are you running the console and I2C at? Just curious...... 12:51AM - sleepy - "Homer sleep now."  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| plasma Guru  Joined: 08/04/2012 Location: GermanyPosts: 437 |
Loadrunner ? I need to build your project , Loadrunner is great ! ;) Btw : it looks like a lot of fun . |
||||
| Oldbitcollector Senior Member Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
Just a really quick video update. This time we're moving 10 animated sprites, controlled from MMBASIC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0VSf2jlRCI We've stolen some concepts from the old Game Maker program with frames which can be controlled and movement direction controls. I actually fixed the silly text bug (our I2C text displayer was getting jammed up) before the video was finished uploading. :) My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
| Oldbitcollector Senior Member Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
I can't believe how far we've come with this project so fast.. The Micromite Companion is now a product kit with it's own special PCB that combines both the Micromite and the Propeller to create a unique mini-computer. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Geoff Graham and Chip Gracey for the creation of these two amazing chips. It feels like mixing fuel & oxidizer together and lighting the match. By someone's posting a small link on Slashdot (thank you!), thebackshed has spawned another group of Micromite users here in the US. There is a small group of us now, but hopefully we'll grow and be able to contribute programs and ideas back. Thanks to someone here (I'll wait for him to step up before I mention a name) for being part our pre-order run which allowed us the create a larger order of PCBs. The software is still being hammered away on, (I've got a long list of features we are working toward adding) and it sounds like at the pace Geoff is going, we'll have to run to keep up. Jeff 
My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2932 |
I can confirm that I am the proud owner of one of the first MicroMite Companions. They are a fantastic creation with a huge potential ahead of them. 
I have been playing with it for three days now with a MX170 4.5D installed and love it to bits. It really is like using an 80s home computer with lots of I/O capability. I haven't played with all the graphics features that it offers - I'm just loving having a colour MicroMite! @oldbitcollector - Do you need a 28-pin MX170 to try still? PM me to let me know! For anyone else interested in an MX170 for their MicroMite Companion then please contact me as I have them available. The MX170 provides you with over double the memory capacity so are a worthwhile upgrade. I recommend people take a look at Jeff's videos he has posted to give you an understanding of it's graphics capabilities. Think of the MicroMite Companion as a MaxiMite with much improved graphics capabilities. Nice work Jeff - and an excellent use of Geoff's brilliant MicroMite. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED . . . . WW |
||||
| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9588 |
I would buy one to play with, but US$71 for postage?! 
...and this is stated as USPS - United States Postal Service - STANDARD POST! Can't you offer a cheaper international postage option? Seventy-one bucks for non-courier service is just plain - ouch..... 
I get chips from Microchip Direct via DHL courier for only around US$20 or so.... LOVE the product, but the postage costs are gonna put A-LOT of people off. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2932 |
@Grogs - The $71 comprises of $59 for the MicroMite Companion + $12 for worldwide shipping. That is a BARGAIN for what you are getting. . . . So to clarify - it is NOT $71 for shipping alone 
WW edit: equates to about AU$75 landed |
||||
| Oldbitcollector Senior Member Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
Looks like we need to expand the explanation on that page. Yes, it's $59.00+shipping. $12.00 shipping world wide / $4.00 us. Jeff My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
| hitsware Guru Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
Say one wanted each 'cog' to be a voice of an audio synth. (just a pwm channel to start) Coming out the audio of the Prop .... Anyone have a clue ? It appears the Prop is used for graphics and not much else ? (Could easily be my limited understanding) |
||||
| Oldbitcollector Senior Member Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
Actually, that's what we've done in two of the modes.. We have one cog use a tiny version of SIDcog for playing music. The Propeller is used in the following ways... VGA video Keyboard Interface Audio Out SD storage via Xmodem The connection between the Micromite and the Propeller is a dual console/I2C connection. When we request a file loaded from the SD card, the Propeller uses Xmodem over the console lines to send the file to the Micromite. (We simply automate the process.) Audio connection is tied to the Propeller, but also accessible for PWM use in the breadboard area. We've created a special I2C interface to tie the Propeller to the Micromite so you can control it from MMBASIC. Jeff My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
| hitsware Guru Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
> We've created a special I2C interface to tie the Propeller > to the Micromite so you can control it from MMBASIC. But the messages have to be in Spin ? or ? How would I program a piece of music with SIDcog ? |
||||
| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9588 |
OH - I SEE!!!!! The page read to me like it was $52 for the product, plus another $71 for USPS delivery - that's how I read it, anyway. Looking at that page again now, I can see that, but yesterday.... My bad.
THANK YOU for the clarification - I will have to get one at that price then! EDIT: I have purchased one.  I'm impressed with the graphics capabilities of this thing, based on the videos posted here. I was not going to get one as I have enough other stuff to do without learning another platform, but there you go!!!! Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| Oldbitcollector Senior Member Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
@hitsaware Currently I'm working getting the 4 modes we have already created to "perfect" condition before I start the creation of more. :) There are still items we want to add to mode 4 (vertical & horizontal background scrolling which is supported by the PGE object we are using) and I'm also working on mode2 to make the Atari/Commodore style a bit more intuitive. Once I've got those to a point where I'm happy with them, then I'll start working on adding more styles and capabilities. I think a SIDcog addition to an 80x30 mode would be awesome and it's on my list. All of the Propeller control is executed by using I2C commands in MMBASIC so you can simply create a SUBroutine and take off with them. We've made room for 250 more modes in our last revision. I'm also thinking of doing a "speech" mode using the Propeller's ability to speak and sing, but first things first. :) Jeff My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
| Oldbitcollector Senior Member Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
@Grogster Totally my fault! If you misunderstood it's because I wasn't clear enough. :) If you get a chance will you take a second look at that page and see if the line I added to the bottom clears it up? Your order should go out next week. Jeff My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
| hitsware Guru Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
Something like the 'sys' utility mentioned here would be up my alley. |
||||
| Oldbitcollector Senior Member Joined: 16/05/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 172 |
@hitsaware You've just really tempted me into moving the SIDcog mode up higher on my list. SIDcog uses almost identical controls as a real SID chip. I'm betting we could very easily convert that program to run in MMBASIC by replacing the SYS command with an I2C subroutine. Must stay focused... Must not get distracted by neat project... tempted.. On our forums we'd say that a squirrel just ran by... :) Jeff My Propeller/Micromite mini-computer project. |
||||
| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9588 |
I've looked at the page again, and it makes perfect sence now. To be honest, it was more my fault then anything else - I was not interpreting the text correctly.
I am guessing that you will be releasing new firmware for the Propeller side of things in due course - how would one go about updating the firmware on YOUR side of things? Naturally, I don't need to do this yet, but I am just curious as to what is involved. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| Page 2 of 5 |
|||||
 Print this page |
 |
The Back Shed's forum code is written, and hosted, in Australia. | © JAQ Software 2025 |
