Acorn Arcade forums: STD Release RISC OS compatible Hardware MP3 player

STD Release RISC OS compatible Hardware MP3 player

Not a snappy title, but accurate. Stuart Tyrrell Developments have announced that they are now selling a hardware MP3 player, and it comes with RISC OS and Windows software. Just attach it to your USB port, upload your favourite music onto the 64MB flash memory provided, and go dancing to the shops. Or whatever. Ahem. And all for just £79.95 including VAT and P&P, with headphones and neck loop.

Of course, the really cool thing about this is the following: "A full filing system is supplied and the device can be used for storage of important files, transfer of files over to a PC or to other machine equipped with a Simtec's USB podule." Can we say the first proper USB mass storage device for RISC OS, anyone?

The not so cool bit is that STD state that the IYONIX is not supported - and, as stated, you require the Simtec USB podule - the Castle one not being supported. What with the IYONIX being the current flagship RISC OS machine, the situation is clearly ridiculous, and one can only hope a solution to this mess is found soon.

Still, the pics of it in action have made me want one. Badly.

Source: Stuart Tyrrell Developments

STD Release RISC OS compatible Hardware MP3 player

(16:49 1/4/2003)
  stdevel (17:18 1/4/2003)
    fwibbler (21:55 1/4/2003)
      stdevel (22:16 1/4/2003)
        epistaxsis@work:( (08:38 2/4/2003)
          JWCR (08:56 2/4/2003)
            monkeyson2 (09:03 2/4/2003)
              thegman (09:14 2/4/2003)
                JWCR (09:17 2/4/2003)
                  fwibbler (10:24 2/4/2003)
                    rich (10:44 2/4/2003)

The Doctor

Message #91985, posted at 16:49, 1/4/2003

Unregistered user

Yes, the situation is totally ridiculous.
I firmly believe it is also having an adverse effect on development of USB products.
Notice also the Simtec USB card costs £99 and Castles costs only £59.
I wonder if there are many who are not buying USB cards because of this silly situation?

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Stuart Tyrrell

Message #91986, posted by stdevel at 17:18, 1/4/2003, in reply to message #91985

www.stdevel.co.uk
Posts: 279

Point of fact - The Castle card costs UKP89 plus carriage (ie more than the Simtec one), and has what drivers working for it?

The UKP59 Castle deal was only available as part of their scanner pack (which has a Simtec equivalent). Could have this been an attempt to have us devalue the Simtec card and make it unsustainable? I know for a fact that no Castle packs had shipped three months after the deal was announced (and I had customers move orders). Perhaps some of shipped by now?

We put a lot of effort into ensuring that driver development would be sustainable. What's silly about the situation is ill-hidden attempts to debunk a sustainable market model because you think your new machine will encourage people to settle for whatever you happen to provide.

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fwibbler

Message #91987, posted by fwibbler at 21:55, 1/4/2003, in reply to message #91986

Posts: 320

Every now and then this happens. I put fingers to
keyboard without putting my brain into gear.
Typically my ISP started having some problems after
I'd posted. If only they'd happened 10mins
sooner!

Humble pie time.

Point of fact - The Castle card costs UKP89
plus carriage (ie more than the Simtec one), and has
what drivers working for it?

So it does. I was looking at the wrong part of their
website. Sorry.

The UKP59 Castle deal was only available as part
of their scanner pack (which has a Simtec equivalent).
Could have this been an attempt to have us devalue the
Simtec card and make it unsustainable? I know for a
fact that no Castle packs had shipped three months
after the deal was announced (and I had customers move
orders). Perhaps some of shipped by now?

<fx:Glum look>This does sound rather underhand doesn't
it.

We put a lot of effort into ensuring that
driver development would be sustainable. What's silly
about the situation is ill-hidden attempts to debunk a
sustainable market model because you think your new
machine will encourage people to settle for whatever
you happen to provide.

I quite agree. I'd much rather have Castle support the
Simtec API rather than the companies supporting the
Simtec API switch to the Castle one. From what I've
read (and yes, the brain's in gear now) the Simtec API
seems to be better suited to desktop machine usage
(and also has wider support).

However, if I may ask the question (rather than
stating it as fact), do you feel that RISC OS USB
development has been and is being stiffled by the two
competing APIs?

Sorry about the original negative post.
Cheers!

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Stuart Tyrrell

Message #91988, posted by stdevel at 22:16, 1/4/2003, in reply to message #91987

www.stdevel.co.uk
Posts: 279

Thanks for the comments,

However, if I may ask the question (rather than
stating it as fact), do you feel that RISC OS USB
development has been and is being stiffled by the two
competing APIs?

Yes, it's a sorry state of affairs. Castle originally announced they were to use the Simtec API (indeed there are press releases from Castle in AU about this). As far as I understand it, the co-operation went quiet at about the time Simtec were offered the Pace API. Simtec rejected the opportunity to use this API as they were suspicious of the source of the code they were offered, and as a DeviceFS implementation it didn't offer the flexibility required to implement drivers sensibly.

It's worth bearing in mind that the Simtec API is used by companies who can buy and sell the whole RISC OS market (heck, given recent antics they could probably buy and sell Pace!). It's not a niche product.....

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keith dunlop

Message #91989, posted by epistaxsis@work:( at 08:38, 2/4/2003, in reply to message #91988

Member
Posts: 7

wonder what it would take to make the Simtec podule work in an iyonix podule slot...

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John Campbell Rees

Message #91990, posted by JWCR at 08:56, 2/4/2003, in reply to message #91989

Member
Posts: 6

Yes, I have still got my Betamax video recorder, was about to sign up to the original BSB before it became part of Ripper Murdoch's evil empire. So looks like I have made the wrong choice again. Unless of course, the Castle USB card can be reflashed with the Simtec USB API.

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Phil Mellor

Message #91991, posted by monkeyson2 at 09:03, 2/4/2003, in reply to message #91990

Please don't let them make me be a monkey butler

monkeyson.info

Posts: 12380

Would you go for an Omega or an Iyonix? Please tell me so I can buy the alternative. :)

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Garry Taylor

Message #91992, posted by thegman at 09:14, 2/4/2003, in reply to message #91991

Member
Posts: 65

How about iconbar.com run a poll, see how many people have Iyonix/Castle USB ad how many have Simtec? Then maybe we could see about uniting around one, maybe see if the existing ROMs can be reflashed or whatever.

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John Campbell Rees

Message #91993, posted by JWCR at 09:17, 2/4/2003, in reply to message #91992

Member
Posts: 6

I really want a brand spanking new Omega. This is why the Omega has failled to materialise :-)

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fwibbler

Message #91994, posted by fwibbler at 10:24, 2/4/2003, in reply to message #91993

Posts: 320

Betamax rather than VHS, 3DO rather than Playstation and be warned, I've recently bought a DVD+R recorder, so that formats going down the pan soon.
Maybe for the good of the market I should buy a Castle USB card?
Cheers!

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Richard Goodwin

Message #91995, posted by rich at 10:44, 2/4/2003, in reply to message #91994

Dictator for life
Posts: 6828

Betamax rather than VHS, 3DO rather than Playstation and be warned, I've recently bought a DVD+R recorder, so that formats going down the pan soon.
Maybe for the good of the market I should buy a Castle USB card?

I got a DVD-R/RAM drive, and have the Simtec podule, so please, with your track record get a Castle card ;)

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