As the title says: Do you want an ABCDE keyboard on the calc (somewhere, likely bottom), or just a regular Alpha lock?

Consider how your daily usage may be affected, selling point, familiarity, and rules and regulations for tests.
Happy voting!

As the title says, vote on either having a 2.5 mm or 3.5 mm link cable!

Consider the options carefully.
2.5 mm = good old cable, also very small, TI-8x compatible, needs adapters for sound
3.5 mm = good cable, not TI-8x compatible, can have headphones = sound

Happy voting!

Since I saw some great OTZ80 software ideas in the hardware section, I've decided to make a new topic here dedicated to software discussion.
Please remember to not bash anyone for their ideas, and that your suggested ideas are not final. They are also subject to hardware limitations as well.
With that said, discuss the OTZ80 OS/software features here!

A couple of ideas moved from the hardware topic:
- Preloaded with Axe and math programs
- Calculus support (??) (Note: Derivatives, etc. maybe?)
- 3D graphing (??)

Feel free to elaborate on these or build on those ideas.

Here are the suggested features that we (both Cemetech and Omnimaga) will be voting on:

- Wifi POSTED POLL
- Backlight
- Mini USB or regular USB POSTED POLL
- 2.5 mm link cable or 3.5 mm link cable POSTED POLL
- SD card POSTED POLL
- ABCDE keyboard or old Alpha lock? POSTED POLL
- Screen size/resolution - old 96x64, or higher? POSTED POLL
  -> But with same actual dimensions, but better pixel density.
  -> Suggested high resolutions: 192x128, 240x160, 320x240
  -> Aiming at a 3:2 aspect ratio
- Memory size (need to do a bit of research before deciding on options, this is top priority)
  -> RAM, Flash ROM
  -> Note that eZ80 can only address up to 16 MB, any more needs swapping
  -> GOOD Flash chips, something that lasts for a VERY long time
- Sound? (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)
- Linking: FAT filesystem emulation for easy, simple transfers (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)
- Grayscale screen INCLUDED AS SCREEN FEATURE
- Internal rechargeable battery, AA battery or AAA battery POSTED POLL

Newly added ideas/features:
- Better keys/durability IMPROVEMENT, NOT FEATURE
- Backlit screen with ability to turn off the light POSTED POLL
- If going with the 3.5 mm headphone jack, it shouldn't be advertised as a headphone jack, but sound should be supported by the OS and will be easy to put in programs. (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)
- Batteries charge when plugged into the computer (AA rechargeable ones, that is, plus a setting if battery type is unknown) (This is both hardware and software)
- Don't look too much like the TI-8x series (but enough for usability for students and compatibility with teachers) (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)
- Touch pad vs arrow keys vs arrow keys with a small, flat joystick in the center POSTED POLL
- Battery indicator light POSTED POLL
- Low cost hardware (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)

I will NOT be looking into the original thread for suggested features. It's kind of long, isn't it?
That means if you still have features to suggest, suggest them in the feature discussion topic.
Suggestions will close this Friday. (August 13th) Why? School is about to start VERY soon (for some, it already has), and
we really need a solid foundation before people start becoming busy and such.
Suggestions are closed. Voting will begin very soon.

Please do not post in this topic. This topic is meant for tracking features only.
If you want to discuss features, please go here: http://ourl.ca/6594

UPDATE: This poll will end tonight. If you haven't already voted, please do so now! (8/9/2010 is the end date!)
UPDATE: Majority says eZ80 50 MHZ, underclockable to 20 MHZ! Voting is now closed. This is now a final feature in OTZ80!

[This is a separate topic to help keep things organized.]

What will the CPU be? It seems everybody has agreed to eZ80, so we'll use that.

What clock speed will we use?
There's only 2 choices here AFAIK (from http://digikey.com/PTM/PTMPartList.page?site=us&lang=en&ptm=6200&WT.z_ptm_structured=Buy%20Now%20Button): 20 mhz or 50 mhz?

So VOTE: eZ80 20 mhz or 50 mhz?
(Ignore the specs about memory for now. We'll decide on them in a later poll.)

It seems that some people want to build a graphing calculator, so here we go...

A couple of things that will be used:**
- Linux, really powerful stuff there
- Color screen, with decent size
- Lots and lots of buttons!
- Sophisticated FOSS math core (existing ones, and/or ones we create)
- Easy to use GUI (NO geeky stuff, just simple math, apps, prgms, etc.)
- BeagleBoard XM (maybe, maybe not)

And of course, submitted to the testing guys for approval of use.

Of course, this is all just imagination and dreaming (could be reality!!), but it's something worth thinking about.
Feel free to suggest other ideas and such. If anyone is good at hardware/C/ASM, that's a good plus.

** Cookie for those who can find something wrong/ironic in my list!

(Ironically, this idea kinda relates to the big fiasco that occurred recently. I won't say what, but it happened in IRC, and those who know will know what I mean...
Also, it so happens that this was posted on July 24th, when the next release of Axe Parser is released. Ignore that also!)

I had a quirky idea - to have an online simulator where you can submit programs and apps!

Now, why is that useful, even if you have your own calculator?

1) You can test your programs/apps on other calcs for compatibility.
2) Emulators can be buggy, and don't really 100% represent real hardware.
3) No need for borrowing calcs - you have them available online, and you get FULL CONTROL.
4) Did you leave a calc at home? No worries - you can test programs (and even develop them) online!
5) You feel like a control freak since you're controlling someone's physical calculator.

There's probably more reasons, but I'll leave it to you for suggestions and thoughts.

So what is needed before I (or anyone else) starts?

- Axe Parser features to be implemented:
   - Linking with other calcs
   - Linking with computer and communicating with it
     (This would also mean a client program on the computer that can send data and such, in which
     Axe Parser can receive as a string. This is actually the feature I need - the first one is a stepping
     stone for it.)
   - Screenshoting the calculator - maybe a hook?
     If possible, also when ASM programs are running?
     (Or I might be missing a way to screenshot without TI Connect or TiLP...)

So how does it work?
It starts with a person plugging in his/her calculator into their computer. Then, they install software on both
the computer and calculator to allow remote control. Then they sync with each other. When the person
is using the calculator, there's no way to get in. Control will only work when the person runs the app, and
the program on the computer syncs with it.

The computer software then connects to a specific server to say that a person allows their calc to become
a testing ground. The server handles all the requests for testings and such. The server will have a webpage
for requests for testing.

A person wants to test, say, HELLOWRD.8Xp, their very interesting program.
They would file a request, and if approved, be allowed to schedule a time.
At the specified time, the person would first upload the program/app, and then
go to the main page for control. The program/app would be downloaded by the
client program on the donor's PC, and then sent to the calc. The app running would accept
it, save it, and then run it.

From there, the controller clicks keys, which submit commands to the server.
The clients receives commands from the server, which then gets sent to the calculator,
which the calc app receives and emulates the requested key.

Whew! That was confusing, wasn't it? Prepared to be a LOT more confused.

There are 2 ways of communicating between client and server: HTTP and direct.

HTTP:
__________                                                                                             __________
|  Client  | GET http://server.com/calc_ctrl.php?id=123&command=getcomm                                |          |
|    PC    |  ------------------------------------------------------------------------->               | Server   |
|__________|                                                                                           |__________|


Direct:
__________                                                                                             ___________
|          | Connect to 77.77.77.777:4567 with raw TCP: "KEY_UP"                                       |  Client   |
|  Server  |  ------------------------------------------------------------------------->               |    PC     |
|__________|                                                                                           |___________|


Now we're done! Let's go to the FAQ:

FAQ
1) OMG!!! THIS PROGRAM WILL GIVE ME VIRUSES!!!?!!!
No, it won't. A hacker would have to first figure out who to connect to, bypass all the logins,
THEN bypass the PHP security (for the file that sends commands), and THEN bypass program
security. Python will be used for the program, since it's cross platform (Windows, Mac, Linux),
and it's very secure.

2) Can people kill my calculator?
Yes... they can. However, there's 3 things for defense:
 - Real, valid information (name, phone #, etc.) must be provided, and it is verified so the person can't escape from
   punishment if they try destroying your calc.
 - Pressing the ON key will stop the app completely. If they are doing something crazy, you can disconnect.
 - Disconnecting the USB cable will obviously stop remote control.

3) Why Axe Parser?
Because:
 - Basic really sucks for communication. It's slow and really doesn't work while in loops.
   Not mentioning that Basic can't really communicate with the PC.
 - I don't know ASM (well enough), so obviously I can't write it in that way.
 - Axe Parser is a very nice language!
 - The developer of Axe Parser is on this forum!

4) (More to come if asked)

The Future
WOW... the future? Yup.
If you haven't realized it, if this works, that calc can connect to the internet!
Of course, on a USB tether, but otherwise, it works.
I recall someone attempting this, but it never went anywhere. (Some famous app had it... Not too sure)
I'm hoping that if this, or at least parts of this suggestion are implemented,
we'll have a nice connection with the TI and the internet!

This would be the topic on Axe Parser.

Anyway:

1) Brief comments:
This is an amazing application. I never thought that someone could make an efficient, usable, basic to ASM compiler.
Although this really isn't basic, it still allows many features of basic to be used, and more. Of course, I still haven't been able
to compile a useful program, so I have yet to enjoy Axe Parser to its fullest... (Not mentioning other programs that has been
released on this forum, in which I do enjoy and am amazed by!)

2) Questions:
-a) Is it possible to create a mini MP3 player with AXE? Now, I'm not saying actual MP3, which require quite a bit of decoding, in which isn't available on the TI-8x series (as in too slow). I'm just saying music files in general that are non-MIDI. I have a great idea in using AXE to play back music, but wanted to make sure it's feasible and that it would work.
-b) Is it possible for Axe to be able to use standard basic syntax, and just compile with that? I'm not saying that I won't bother to edit the program myself, but with the current state of Axe, it's really hard to understand what has gone wrong, and what commands aren't available. There is a potential feature request about this (see, I have been reading the forums! ), but I think it would be a good idea to implement. Possibly a switch to compile in a specific mode may help.

3) More comments...
I really enjoy Axe... when it compiles nicely. However, I was wondering if Axe coding can
be done on a computer, with a syntax checker for Axe.

I could design the program editor if needed, but I would definitely need to know the logic
and how Axe parses the program.

If it was done on a computer, anyone can code faster for Axe, since they would know
which line has the error, and a possible explanation of the error.

And finally, could you (Axe Parser dev Quigibo) open source the application? I would like to take a peek at
how it works, and such. I do some ASM coding myself, but hate it, and still stick to
BASIC for regular programming. It would be great if I have an example to refer to.
No pressure though - if you don't want to release the source code, you don't have to.

That's all!