DreamShell 4.0.0 RC3 Released

http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/dreamshell/877.html

Core (eng)
• Improved startup speed
• Improved apps loading speed
• Fixed some graphic artifacts
• Auto stop spinning the GD-ROM if it not used
• Updated and fixed FAT file system
• Increased speed of G1-ATA(IDE) devices in DMA mode on FAT file system
• Fixed errors with write in SPI and SD Card drivers.
• Fixed some errors for dropdown console
• Increased sensetivity of GUI cursor for Dreamcast Mouse
• Some other optimizations and fixes
• The code compiled on GCC 4.9.1 with Newlib 2.0.0 and latest version of KallistiOS


Applications (eng)
Main (Desktop)
• Added support for second format of script icons (BMP)
File Manager
• Added support for copy directory (press B button or right mouse button for select directory)
• Some minor fixes and optimizations
Bios Flasher
• Fixed BIOS backup saving on G1-ATA(IDE) devices
• Some minor XML and GUI optimizations
GD Ripper
• Fixed some errors
Speedtest
• Improvements in GUI
• Fixed some errors and improved logic
ISO Loader
• Support for new isoldr module
• Added more pre-installed memory addresses
• Rewrited UI for emu async setting
• Displays the game title on the cover
• Increased size for some icons
• Display app version
• Rewrited and fixed support for presets. Now you can share it for other peoples
• Auto adjustment of some params for different BIOS types
• Auto adjustment of some params on the choice of the user in the settings


Modules (eng)
• Added new module PPP for Modem and Serial connection to internet
• Updated module SDL_net
• Updated module luaSocket
• Updated module http
• Updated module ffmpeg
• Updated module luaKOS
• Updated module luaSDL
• Updated module vkb. Now resources for keyboard loaded on the first call by a user, not during the initialization.
• Updated module OpenGL. Replaced library to new OpenGL API by PH3NOM
• Updated module isofs. Improved LBA detection algorithm. Improved data reading. Added function for getting info about CDDA tracks in CDI images
• Updated module isoldr. Improved algorithm for getting executable name. Added new arguments for console command and changed some old arguments.
• All modules compiled on new GCC and works some faster than in previous version


Firmware (eng)
Boot Loader
• Improved work speed
• By default menu doesn't displayed, if the user doesn't press START button at startup
BIOS
• Updated all BIOSes. Holly protection still not hacked
ISO loaders
• More compact and faster code
• Improved GD-ROM syscalls emulation. Now it's works as original syscalls
• Added experimental support for other syscalls. It's activated when you use memory 0x8c000100 for the loader
• Added experimental support for CDDA audio playback. Supported RAW and WAV tracks with format PCM/ADPCM 4/8/16bit 22/44kHz mono/stereo. Also support for playback CDDA in CDI images
• Fixed IP.BIN boot mode, now you can use it for any game on any BIOS
• Added new boot mode from truncated IP.BIN. You can place the loader at 0x8c004000 in this mode, that increased compatibility for sd_loader_with.bios. Also you can use IP.BIN boot mode + 0x8c000100 in some cases. All of this makes compatibility for sd_loader_with.bios similar to the original BIOS!
• Increased speed for memory operations
• Increased speed of startup
• Improved DMA support in games for G1-ATA(IDE) and GD-ROM. Now with DMA works much more games (~50%, maybe more)
• Added support for true async DMA on G1-ATA(IDE) and GD-ROM devices for optimized GDI and ISO images. It's activated if you switch on DMA, disabled emu async and use image with sector size 2048. The games in this mode runs very smooth as from GD-ROM (and faster of course)
• Added support for pseudo-async on SD Card. It's activated if you use emu async and use image with sector size 2048. Now the data from SD requested once and then reads frame-by-frame some part of data, instead of request+read on every frame. This functions used and for CDDA playback.
• Increased reading speed for SD Card by discarting CRC checking. This is +8-10% to speed, that you can see in the app Speedtest for your SD Card
• Improved emu async support. Now it's temporary disabled if the game request more than 100 sectors. This is can help increased loading speed of games if you use small count of sectors at emulating.
• Improved support for run games from GD-ROM (or hardware GD emulator)
• Added support for homebrew scrambled binary. Auto detect for binary type activated if you setup OS type as Homebrew in settings
• Improved support for CSO images
• Improved compatibility for games. Now in 90% cases, if game doesn't boot, then it's used MMU (not only WinCE used it), other 10% it's exceptional cases.
As soon as I manage to solve the problem with the MMU, the overall compatibility will be at the level of 95-99%. But, unfortunately, the problem with an MMU still exists, since I basically have not yet engaged in the solution.


Recommendations
• If you want to use CDDA on SD Card, then I recommend to convert original PCM tracks to ADPCM, to save FPS in games. But in some games, you might as well use the original PCM. To convert the tracks have new tools in the ISO Make pack v2.3
• To achieve maximum benefit from the use of G1-ATA device with a true async DMA or pseudo-async on SD Card, need use ISO or optimized GDI images. Otherwise if you use CDI or NOT optimized GDI, at reading the data to be used by the usual emu async

 

sorry to bug you but WTF is a optimized GDI.... I know a GDI is a GD rom dump from the dreamcast (most of the time). a CDI is normally a Selfboot image made from a GDI and in most cases is a lower quality version due to shrinking video res and audio quality. sorry for my ignorance... just want to know so if i should stay away from the SD serial adapter all together or not...

OH and awesome post thanks for the info

 

GDI are usually opmtimized while not all are but most are arranged how the system access the files. Selfboot images are made a lot if the time just alphabetically but not all especially older rips.

 

The normal GDI has ".bin" data tracks, it's a tracks with RAW sectors with subheader data (sector size is 2352). The games reading data without subheader from GD, so it really need only data part of sectors as in ISO image (sector size is 2048).
Optimized GDI it's just converted ".bin" tracks to ".iso", so just removed subheader for more easy continuous reading for really used data without additional operations.
For optimizing GDI images you can find special utility in ISO Make pack v2.2+.
This does not apply to downsampling or sorting files inside the image, everything is stay original and has not changed (it's still original image).
The CDI images have the same problem, it has sectors with subheader data, but little smaller (sector size is 2336).
Therefore, I recommend to use the ISO or optimized GDI images, so as it is faster and supports more features (such as true async DMA and pseudo-async for SD).
In fact, these recommendations are valid and for hardware emulators of GD-ROM too.

 

Optimized GDI iso file and we make iso file What made ​​the difference?

 

If short - the difference only in image size.
If the GDI has two data tracks instead one track03 (track01 not used in general, btw you can delete first two tracks) then it little slower than ISO, because lost some time for open/close files. But in reality it's not a significant difference.

 

so，No CDDA games, to produce their own iso is the best, Optimized GDI iso file is too big...

 

You can use CDDA with ISO images too, just put trackXX.XXX near with ISO image.

 

I know~

thank you ^_^~~

 

okie that is cool i can handle that... how well do GDIs run from the serial port? I heard people were having a hard enough time with CDIs

 

Been running Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 flawlessly the last few days from serial port. I can say this is by far the best build of DS yet. Loading times can be painful but gameplay is smooth.

 

can you load up a GDI of Skies of Arcadia and Grandia 2? only 2 games im super worried about

 

is there schematics for the G1-ATA with a part's list?

 

http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/hardware/874.html

No parts needed except wire, solder, and soldering iron

 

I guess I'll have to have board printed then, I really don't want my DC to get messed up.

 

Skies of Arcadia runs perfect on the SD card I have done this many times myself. Dunno about Grandia TBH.

 

thanks for the reply... what SD card are you using? make sure I use the right one... because I keep hearing about audio stutters and and video skipping. I want 1-1 experience.

 

For 1-1 experience you need G1-ATA device.
But now and with SD card you can get not bad results if you will use *right* images and setup manually sectors count for emu async.
For SD card I recommended use class 6+ with maxumum cluster size for FAT32.

 

is there a option that doesn't require me having to solder onto my dreamcast?

 

No one yet sells adapters as far as I know.