Tmex-Sinclair

z80rockerz — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:47:04 +0000

Type Home computer
Released July, 1982
Discontinued 1983
Processor Zilog Z80A @ 3.25 MHz
Memory 2 KB
Operating system Sinclair BASIC

The Timex Sinclair 1000 (TS1000) was the first computer produced by Timex Sinclair, a joint-venture between Timex Corporation and Sinclair Research. It was launched in July 1982.

The TS1000 was a slightly modified Sinclair ZX81 with an NTSC RF modulator instead of a UK PAL (Units sold in Portugal have a PAL RF modulator) device and the onboard RAM doubled to two KBs. The TS1000′s casing had slightly more internal shielding but remained the same as Sinclair’s, including the membrane keyboard. It had black & white graphics, and no sound. It was followed by an improved version, the Timex Sinclair 1500.

Like the Sinclair ZX81, the TS1000 used a form of BASIC as its primary interface and programming language. To make the membrane keyboard less cumbersome for program entry, the TS1000 used a shortcut system of one-letter “keywords” for most commands (i.e. pressing Shift-”P” would generate the keyword “PRINT”). Some keywords required a short sequence of keystrokes (e.g. SHIFT-ENTER S would generate the keyword “LPRINT”). The TS1000 clued the user in on what to expect by changing the cursor to reflect the current input mode. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Video game music or chiptune

z80rockerz — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:39:12 +0000

“A chiptune, or chip music, is music written in sound formats where all the sounds are synthesized in realtime by a computer or video game console sound chip, instead of using sample-based synthesis. The “golden age” of chiptunes was the mid 1980s to early 1990s, when such sound chips were the most common method for creating music on computers. In their desire to create a more complex arrangement that the restrictions posed by the medium apparently allowed, composers developed creative approaches when developing their own electronic sounds. This is due to the early computer sound chips having only simple tone and noise generators imposing limitations on the complexity of the sound. The resultant chiptunes sometimes seem harsh or squeaky to the unaccustomed listener. Chiptunes are closely related to video game music. The term has also been recently applied to more recent compositions that attempt to recreate the chiptune sound, albeit with more complex technology.” (information from wikipedia).

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* “VORC” (recommendable site):

“VORC is a news site dedicated to oldschool video game music and chiptunes, launched in 2001. Provide latest informations covering from Commodore 64 to little-known Japanese computers from day to day, under the slogan of ’8-bit/16-bit music not just for nostalgia”.

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- Some computers and consoles with z80 or clone inside:

TRS-80
Sinclair ZX80 ZX81
ZX Spectrum
Amstrad CPC
MicroBee
MSX
Spectravideo SV-318 SV-328
Jupiter Ace
ABC80 ABC800
Commodore 128
Game Boy
Game Boy Color
Game Boy Advance

Zilog z80

z80rockerz — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:26:34 +0000

The Zilog Z80 is an 8-bit microprocessor designed and sold by Zilog from July 1976 embedded computer designs as well as for military purposes. The Z80 and its derivatives and clones make up one of the most commonly used CPU families of all time, and, along with the MOS Technology 6502

onwards. It was widely used both in desktop and family, dominated the 8-bit microcomputer market from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s.

Although Zilog made early attempts with advanced mini-computer like versions of the Z80-architecture (Z800 and Z280), these chips never caught on. The company was also trying hard in the workstation market with its Z8000 and 32-bit Z80000 (both unrelated to Z80). In recent decades Zilog has refocused on the ever-growing market for embedded systems (for which the original Z80 and the Z180 were designed) and the most recent Z80-compatible microcontroller family, the fully pipelined 24-bit eZ80 with a linear 16 MB Z180 and Z80 products. address range, has been successfully introduced alongside the simpler

Zilog licensed the Z80 core to any company wishing to make the device royalty free, though many East European and Russian manufacturers made unlicensed copies. This enabled a small company’s product to gain acceptance in the world market since second sources from far larger companies such as Toshiba started to manufacture the device. Consequently Zilog has made less than 50% of the Z80s since its conception.