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Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => Topic started by: SysAdmin on May 08, 2014, 08:39:18 AM
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Many of you still haven't heard about this great Amiga clone in development. Read up and donated to make this a reality in 2014!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/armiga-project
From the Indiegogo Campaign
Wouldn't it be great to be able to use all those aging Amiga disks again?
Maybe the original Amiga is a bit big and video quality not so good... A smaller version, with modern connections would be awesome, isn't it?. That's what we've done: take modern technology and make it work with good old floppies.
The machine, which we call, the Armiga, is a beautiful piece of modern technology.
It's built around a modern Dual Core ARM CPU, that plays together with our custom made floppy controller. This is the key of the machine: We've developed our own controller, able of reading Amiga disks, decode them and make them available for executing. Sounds simple, right? ;)
The base Armiga aims to emulate the original Amiga 500 with 1MB of RAM as close as possible to the original one. And for you not to get your hands dirty, an fully legal copy of Kickstart 1.3 is provided with every Armiga! :O
Features:
We really want this to be an awesome product!. But for that we'll need your help. Lots of functionalities are in the backlog, waiting for the needed funds. However, your Armiga will come with these features built in:
- Full Amiga 500 emulation: The target machine is the iconic Amiga 500 and right now 90% of the disks are running!
- Boot to Android: Armiga supports Dual Boot and comes loaded with Android 4.2.2, so when you're not playing you can have all the power of Android!.
- Automatic disk load: Like in the original Amiga; insert the disk and off you go!.
- Disk dump: Create ADF images of your favorite games and keep them safe on the SD.
- ADF support: Bring your own ADF images on a pendrive or SD card and enjoy!
- Disk swap: Just insert the disk and it will be dumped. When time comes to change disks, just select the right ADF. Ain't it easy?.
- FTP server: No need to take the SD off to manage the ADFs; just do it from your computer!.
- Graphical menu: Simple and elegant, with usability as main focus.
- Game save: Save your game and resume later.
- Autosave: Forgot to save?. We do it for you!
- Screenshot: Wanna share your joy?. Give our screenshot feature a try.
Apart from our custom software that lets you play physical disks and images, the Armiga comes loaded with Android 4.2.2, so you can have access to a huge world of Apps and games:
- Surf the web
- Check your email
- Watch your movies
- Keep in touch with social networks
- ...
(https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/458182/files/20140325032117-Android.png?1395742877)With Android built in, opportunities are endless!
However, we would really love to increase the functionalities way further, so funding goals have been defined!
The rewards
We want everyone to have a taste of Armiga!. From the low budgets that can proudly show their support wearing an Armiga t-shirt to the enthusiasts that want to be part of the final development stage of the product and join our beta-program.
For those that just want to get the final retail Armiga, we have two options:
- The Armiga: If you already have an SD card, a power source and HDMI cable around, this is for you!. You'll get a brand new Armiga to plug all that stuff to and start traveling back in time :D. We'll provide all the software in our webpage.
- The Armiga Deluxe Edition: For those that don't want to mess around, but just want everything in the box, this fits like a glove. In addition to the Armiga, you get a fast SD card with our software loaded, the power connector and all the cables, plus an exclusive t-shirt :O
And for the Enthusiasts:
- The Armiga Beta Edition: However, if you are a real enthusiast and want to be part of this milestone in history (sort of ;D), our beta program is for you. You'll get everything in the Armiga Deluxe Edition, plus a micro-controller programmer, so you get everything you need. In addition, you'll get early access to all software updates before they are released and feedback submission straight to the development team, for 1 whole year!
- The Armiga controller: If you are tight on budget or just want to play around with some hardware, you can also purchase the Armiga controller. Here is where the magic happens: our own custom-made piece of hardware that understands the Amiga disks. This controller is compatible with all kind of systems that have a serial port, but is specially suited for the Raspberry Pi, which has been our first prototype platform. We'll provide software for:
- Raspberry Pi: Just plug it in the GPIO header.
- PC-Linux: You'll most likely need a USB-to-TTL converter.
- OSX: As in Linux, USB-to-TTL converter may be needed.
Whatever reward you choose, please "buy energy drinks" for our developers!. They are struggling to develop the most amazing pieces of software and help make the Armiga an even greater breakthrough.
(https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/442009/files/20140318073727-Armiga_cotas_a_mano_2.jpg?1395153447) (https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/442024/files/20140318074446-ArmigaPrototypeInternals.jpg?1395153886)
(https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/442025/files/20140318074458-ArmigaPrototype.jpg?1395153898) (https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/442012/files/20140318073839-Controller_1.jpg?1395153519)
(https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/442013/files/20140318073847-Controller_2.jpg?1395153527) (https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/474288/files/20140331145647-IMG-20140331-WA0002.jpg?1396303007)
(https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/410806/files/20140304143525-Goals.png?1393972525)Project goals
Armiga is already a great machine, but we can make it even better with your help!
Take it in account that this is a hardware and manufacture intensive project and over 70% of the budget is already gone in components and then comes the taxes, so there's very little margin for improving what we already have.
However, we have some great ideas we want to bring into the Armiga and to help achieve this, we kindly invite you to "buy some energy drinks" for the development team (please see the rewards).
(https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/417152/files/20140307030623-EnergyBar.png?1394190383)
Most of these goals require lots of investigation and testing, so please don't take them for granted. We'll do our best to achieve them and funding amounts are just for presenting the relative complexity of them. But one this is for sure: if we made it to $1 Million (wishful thinking, hey), everything will be OpenSource and OpenHardware!
(https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/410822/files/20140304144023-SideNotes.png?1393972823) Side Notes
Armiga is nice, right?. However, nothing in this world is perfect and, at least, we want to be 100% transparent, so here are the side notes about the product:
- Currently, Armiga does only read and dump unprotected/cracked games. Copy protection was quite an art in the times of the Amiga and it's difficult to overcome. However, one of our funding goals is focused on this.
- We are extremely happy on how the Armiga performs and it's been solidly able to read more than 90% of the disks that we tested and worked in a real Amiga 500, but keep in mind some games, which are less than 10%, may not work straight from your disk :(. However, we'll keep on pushing the envelope and trying to make these figures better before the product is shipped :D
- Manufacturing a product outside China is expensive...; really expensive. And selling them worldwide is not cheaper, so please understand delivery rates, import fees and any other expense are not included in the price. That's not money for the project, but for the postal service and/or local authorities.
Disclaimer: This project is not related in any way to Commodore or Amiga. Commodore, Amiga, Kickstart, Amiga Forever, Atari, Atari ST, Megadrive, NeoGeo, Raspberry, Raspberry Pi, OSX and any other trademarks named in this campaign are copyrighted by their respective owners.
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How about they edit their image to read "A1200 AGA Support " instead of "A120 AGA Support"
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Nice try, don't think so :-)
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I struggle to see the market for this in 2014. If you want to emulate an Amiga 500 just about any Laptop, tablet, smartphone and loads of other devices will do a good job of it. If you've got a floppy disk collection of original games the Armiga wont play them because of copy protection and if it's a pirate collection you're likely to just download from the net anyway. Who wants to faff around with 3.5" floppy disks these days? Then you've got to find a USB keyboard, mouse and joystick to plug in to it plus a hub if you want all 3 plugged in at once. Surely you'd be better off saving yourself the money and getting a second had A600 instead if you want a great looking small device to play floppy disks.
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I struggle to see the market for this in 2014. If you want to emulate an Amiga 500 just about any Laptop, tablet, smartphone and loads of other devices will do a good job of it. If you've got a floppy disk collection of original games the Armiga wont play them because of copy protection and if it's a pirate collection you're likely to just download from the net anyway. Who wants to faff around with 3.5" floppy disks these days? Then you've got to find a USB keyboard, mouse and joystick to plug in to it plus a hub if you want all 3 plugged in at once. Surely you'd be better off saving yourself the money and getting a second had A600 instead if you want a great looking small device to play floppy disks.
Anybody with a Web Browser can emulator an Amiga 500 now...
http://scriptedamigaemulator.net
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Yeah but it looks so cute.
And any news/action is good.
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So another phone in a box?
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From the looks of it, it appears to be an almost finished product.
Will take a look at my finances when I get home and will probably snag one.
Curtis
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Are you going to use a Raspberry Pi or a Cubieboard finally?
Cheers from a Lagunero.
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Don't like it - appears to be nothing more than an ARM running somthing like UAE, with a small board that can rip a disk to adf.. Which can then be used to run in the emulation.
I think Mike at FPGA could do with a case like this, and floppy support.
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Love the case design! Don't need one myself otherwise I'd be sorely tempted...
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I'd like to buy the case since it looks great and have for own projects, to bad there is no option for that :(
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Doesn't look to be much more than an add on for a Cubieboard and a disk interface. Can even see the Cubieboard markings on the board in the one pic. What makes this any different than running an emulator? I understand the floppy interface is a neat concept, as is the custom enclosure, but why re-invent the wheel where there is proven hardware like the minimig that likely does it better.. The fact it can also run Android isn't a perk, to me.
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Yeah, emulation doesn't do it for me... To bad it isn't an fpga.
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Good luck and I hope it works well for Armiga.
edit:
Aros for arm?
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I hate to say it, but I really hope this doesn't get off the ground.
It's nothing more than an emulation, either win UAE or the alternatives.. It won't be like using a real amiga. Better off supporting a custom case project for fpga arcade.
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Personally, I hope they make this and get it 100% A500 compatible. I'm looking for a way to let my sons easily explore what Amiga was. Emulation and other systems are fine for me but I think this with the automatic ADF system might just be the ticket.
Personally, I understand why so many Amigans avoid new unproven projects but I don't understand actively trying to keep something from happening. It doesn't look like this would hurt our community in any way. In fact if anything it might encourage those who are a little less technically inclined to consider giving retro gaming on an Amiga a try.
I'd consider picking one up if they were on the market but I'm leery of committing funds to a non-shipping product myself.
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So they're hoping to make something that my Minimig has been able to do for years (apart from having a real floppy drive)?
Nice case though.
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So they're hoping to make something that my Minimig has been able to do for years (apart from having a real floppy drive)?
Nice case though.
Well yes but with HDMI, Ethernet(FTP), USB(thumb drive ADF support and other USB devices), floppy with auto ADF(as you mention and non-copyprotected right now), and for my sons Android which they both enjoy using as well. Finally as you mention a nicely designed case that has a great retro feel to it.
I certainly understand this isn't for everyone but I'm always surprised by how some, not specifically you Darrin, don't want to see products come out. It sounds like they actually have working units already as opposed to being a vaporware project.
I for one am happy to see anything that might bring others to enjoy our great Retro hobby. Who knows someone might be inspired to go on and change technology to bring back the spark that I think is missing today.
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Well yes but with HDMI, Ethernet(FTP), USB(thumb drive ADF support and other USB devices), floppy with auto ADF(as you mention and non-copyprotected right now), and for my sons Android which they both enjoy using as well. Finally as you mention a nicely designed case that has a great retro feel to it.
I certainly understand this isn't for everyone but I'm always surprised by how some, not specifically you Darrin, don't want to see products come out. It sounds like they actually have working units already as opposed to being a vaporware project.
I for one am happy to see anything that might bring others to enjoy our great Retro hobby. Who knows someone might be inspired to go on and change technology to bring back the spark that I think is missing today.
It's not that I don't want this to come out, it just doesn't appeal to me because their initial goal seems to a games machine to mimic the A500 (which my Minimig and Chameleon do) and then the other stuff you mentioned will be covered by my FPGA Arcade with the daughter board (DVI-HDMI adapter required).
So, I'm left wondering where the market is. Good luck to them producing it, but I wouldn't donate to it as the other optioned I own managed to get into my hands with no pre-payment required.
I guess the fact that I have zero interest in AndroidOS doesn't help either. :)
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It's a moot point now. It hasn't a chance of being funded.
Primarily I think the fact that it was just emulation of an Amiga as opposed to an actual Amiga is what killed it.
We can emulate the Amiga on windows or in a browser. Nice case though...