Dingoo-scene.com now redirects you … here!

Howdy all.  From today, and until further notice, www.dingoo-scene.com will automatically redirect you here, saving you the trouble of typing “blogspot”.  And you can now contact me at larry@dingoo-scene.com .

Yes, we’re here to “serve”!

Guitar … err … Dpad Hero for Dingoo

Check out this homebrew NES guitar hero clone …

Download it here.

Dingoo Cradle by Gpeter7!

Gpeter7 has applied his modding skilz again towards a great DIY Dingoo cradle:



Props, Gpeter7!

Sinman posts Dingoo LCD Drivers

Looks like Sinman at the Spanish GP2x forums has uncovered something useful unfortunately not too useful (see booboo’s message in comments), but still, here it is:

Sinman: I have found driver for of LCD but I have not been able it to unload in rar, although they have the source available and I have done copy&paste of here: http://read.pudn.com/downloads138/so...li932x.h__.htm http://read.pudn.com/downloads138/so...9325fb.c__.htm http://read.pudn.com/downloads138/so...li9325.c__.htm I hope that it serves as something: P Attached archives ili932x.h (5,6 KB, 0 visits) ili9325.c (19,0 KB, 0 visits) ili9325fb.c (6,2 KB, 0 visits)

Update (1 May 2009): Read more about the LCD drivers … and the problem with Dingoo-digital not releasing any information, here!  We’re right behind you booboo! Please keep trying.

Shockslayer’s Y/B Button fix for Dingoo!

Shockslayer has come up with a shocking, slaying way to resolve the Dingoo Y/B button issue.  The less adventurous might prefer to wait for a firmware solution:

Update (2 May 2009):

This is the hack’s circuit diagram, for those keen to try:

jorgehj posts Dingoo Wonderswan code!

Read about it and find it here!

Dingoo Tx/Rx points hacked by booboo; firmware boot sequence dumped

Hats off to booboo at the Spanish GP32x forums, for this masterful (and very neat looking!) hack to access the Tx/Rx connections under the Dingoo’s LCD screen.

booboo: The operating system is, almost with complete certainty, uCOS-II. It is a system multitask in quite basic real time. Surely the messages that are seen during the starting are almost all of bootloader, that is the code that is in charge to load in memory and to landar the operating system. The grace of this micro ones is that it has an internal ROM that allows to load what you want in the ram (cache) via USB. That is to say, you can completely be loaded all the content of the flash and the system is recoverable (first load in Ram-cache a code that initializes the SDRAM, soon load in the SDRAM another code that already serves to initialize and to record the flash). < - > Bond, to see if now it lets to me put the connections to which I have made to accede to the console: Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3648x2736. Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3648x2736. Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3648x2736. Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3648x2736. Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3648x2736. Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3064x2480.

This enabled booboo to establish the following (fans of Battlestar Galactica will notice that Dingoo creates a faster than light hyperdrive field every time you turn it on):

booboo: Good… already I have the finished invention and I have captured output of the starting of firmware that comes from factory, now to trastear with linux. I will already put connections to the photos and all that as soon as it has 10 messages (it is what must be new): NAND Booting… ECD755B6. to loader size = 0x00051670 .00000114:1. OK NAND Loading… get ccpmp_config ok! ccpmp_config.firmware_name = A320.HXF ccpmp_config.update_key = 123, ccpmp_config.lcm.width = 320, ccpmp_config.lcm.height = 240. to loader normal mode… Creating ftl device… you go: EC D7 55 B6 78 you go: 00 00 00 00 00 you go: 00 00 00 00 00 you go: 00 00 00 00 00 OK. usb_connect = 0 into lcd_init. to loader -- into lcd_init. into init_lcd_gpio. out init_lcd_gpio. to loader -- init_lcd_gpio ok. into Init_LCM_MOUDLE_ILI9325! out Init_LCM_MOUDLE_ILI9325! to loader -- to init_lcd_register ok. to loader -- out lcd_init. Start decode… OK 153602. out lcd_init. get_lcd_brightness -- VALUE = 3. D31 00001550:1.00002: is 1.len 0x 500000 23a078 os_len = 0x. checksum = 0x0a232c05. 1 - ret = 0 2 - ret = 1 Run image… c_main to enter------! kseg init OK! new to loader, system config ok! intc init OK! intc lib OK! the you is start

And he explains more here:

To see if they serve these to you: Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3648x2736. Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3648x2736. Esta imagen ha sido reducida. Pincha aquí para ampliarla. La imagen original es de 3648x2736. It is happened to me that perhaps what you want to see is by where I have removed the cablecillos from behind display. I have not made photos of that because I needed hands. My display behind has THREE bands of gomaespuma sticky that you can see in the photo: it arrives, down and by the side by where it is connected. I have removed to the cables on the other side indeed because there is no band of gomaespuma. That means that they have left right by the side in opposition to where had placed the connector, reason why if you pay attention well to some of the photos that I have put it sees as the cables pass until the other side reasoning between the plate and the housing. He wanted to have removed threads by the same side by where display is connected, closely together from the edge inferior, and I have even cleared a small piece of band of gomaespuma with that aim, but in the end he is that it was almost impossible that the cables remained in their site while becomes to mount everything. Removing them by I have removed where them I have even had to use a pair of very small drops of loctite to maintain stuck them to the circuit printed behind the LCD. By the way, if you are going away to put to it, you are going to have to use VERY fine cables because there is VERY little site behind display. I was going to use cable of wrapping of 0,45mm but in the end I have used copper enameled of 0,30mm that was what had by hand. I prefer the plastic isolation to the enameling, but 0,45mm was too heavy, and 0,30mm is thus thus… < - >   Originally Written by Ruxy Very interesting the images, furthermore, and so habeis saying, we can hope that in too much time it is not possible to be made work some version of linux in the aparatito? and if one is able to make work, that podria to get itself to do with linux in this maquinita? to bring ports of other emulators. Greetings, and luck to which stays investigating with the aparatito. booboo’s answer: An operating system like uCOS-II is than sufficient more for a console of games or a PMP, that do not need all the functionalities outposts of linux. In addition uCOS-II is more compact and consumes less resources. The question is that in fact there are resources very well (as much flash as ram) and to put linux contributes a ONLY great advantage: it provides surroundings of development known for that already many emulators are written and applications whose carried he would be very simple. In the operating systems of high level for computers there is always a barrier defined between kernel of the operating system and the applications very well. Kernel has an entry point through what it provides all the services to All the applications. However in the systems “embedded” and with operating systems in real time type uCOS-II this usually is not thus. The operating system and “the main” application that runs in the apparatus form a monolithic image that is what there are been calling “firmware”, and is the manufacturer of firmware the one that decides if it provides an entry point for other applications and the API that uses. It is why although we know that the operating system is uCOS-II in fact with that we did not gain anything, since we do not know the API of firmware of chinachip. However, bookstores S2D exist that Dingoo provides for which IF that is a public API, so that at the time of programming it is necessary to fit itself UNIQUE to the API that provides these bookstores. Obvious as uCOS-II does not implement a way “protected” (I do not know clearly if it wants that it can in this CPU) any application that we do can accede directly to hardware immediately than writing in the opportune directions of memory. Nevertheless, it will be being been making of concurrent form to the operating system and therefore the results are unpredictable, as I believe that already it has verified somebody with the subject of overclocking.

Absolute respect to your fantastic work, booboo!

Update: Read a less detailed, “native” English version of this news here.

Jorgehj updates his Dingoo development blog

Jorgehj has updated his development blog with 2 useful looking posts:

 

To unload and to install the SDK of Dingoo A320” http://blog.tipesoft.com/?p=824 Dingoo A-320: Hello world in C++ with Line of vision Studio 2008” http://blog.tipesoft.com/?p=827

 

Dingoo with different RAM Chips and possibly other innards emerges

Uncanny over at the Spanish GP32 forums has discovered his Dingoo is different inside than mine.  The main difference appears to be a single 4GB NAND chip, and faster RAM chips @ 166mhz, not 133mhz.  Uncanny has also provided an educated guess as to the hardware details of the Dingoo’s acreen, and provided a link to internal pictures of his Dingoo at the bottom of his post (I can’t seem to download them though – I get a "javascript error).

Uncanny: With respect to the hardware of the Dingoo, I have had been to a surprise when abrir the mine today, is that I do not have the same Chips of ram nor of NAND Flash MLC, is more of NAND Flash I only have a single chip, of 4 GB, but not 2 of 2 GB as they are seen in the photos of blog of Scene-Dingoo, are Samsung also but he is not the same. Ram units, if, I have 2 but they are of another manufacturer and after resisting the typical of the Elpida it has been intriguing… you see to me: Ram memory: - Total Amount: 32 MIB - Units: 2x 16 MIB - Manufacturer: Hynix - Model (Part Number): HY57V281620FTP-6 - Characteristic (Organization): 128 Mbit (4 Bank x 2M Word x 16 bits Synchronous DRAM) - Interface: LVTTL - Maximum Frequency of clock: 166 MHz - General Info: Databook, Device Operation Documentation, etc. - Technical Info: Datasheet Memory NAND Flash: - Total Amount: 4,13 3,84 GB/GiB - Units: 1x - Manufacturer: Samsung - Model (Part Number): K9LBG08U0M-PCB00 NAND Flash MLC - General Info: Samsung K9LBG08U0M The technical difference enters according to datasheets between ram units that appear in the photos Scene-Dingoo, Elpida µPD45128163G5-A75-9JF and those of my Dingoo A320, Hynix HY57V281620FTP-6, is that the maximum frequency of clock of the 133 Elpida is of MHz, whereas the one of the 166 Hynix is of maximum MHz. Of the NAND chip Flash of Samsung that takes my A320 either I have not found technical information detailed, like datasheet, simply the concise information that it gives Samsung in its Web. With respect to screen LCD and to the possible one to driver IC ILI925 that uses, when disassembling the Dingoo I have determined the number of the LCD model that comes serigrafiado FTP280P04N-01, I have not obtained to much info on this safe in the Web of the Chinese manufacturer of LCDs Shengbite, concretely in an Excel leaf that can be unloaded its catalogue of LCDs in which the characteristics come from each LCD that makes. Catalogue Shengbite de LCDs Concretely model FTP280P04N if it comes, but not like FTP280P04N-01 its FPC, unique the FTP280P04N-00 (registry 523), but by the characteristics seems to agree in all the others, including the ILI9325 like CI controller of the LCD. These are the gone away and translated data (partly thanks to Google Language Tools): Screen LCD: - Model: FTP280P04N - Model FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit): FPC-FTP280P04N-01 - Length of pliege FPC: 27.80 - Driver IC: ILI9325 - Crystal TFT: THE GIP P4928QC1-1.0 - So large of screen: 2.8 " - Retroiluminación (Backlight): White, 4 LED Chips in parallel - Description: In the base of 280C05 for IC and LCD - I number of pixels: 240RGBx320 - I number of Pins: 37 - Type of Interface (): 16 - Definition of the Pin Nº 1: DB0 - Way and colors of screen (display): 262K TFT/Transmissive - Perspective of the direction: 12:00 - Dimensions: 69.2 xs 50,0 xs 2.75 - Active area: 57.6 xs 43.2 As I say not it has because to be correct, and plus details (like the one of the type of interface = 16, not to that one talks about), but it seems to agree enough. I have done photos, I will raise account to them of Mediafire soon whoever to see the hardware of a Dingoo A320 different from the one from Scene-Dingoo. Booboo, if tomorrow you disassemble your Dingoo or you told us if it is looked the interior like mine or to the one of Scene-Dingoo (or to none of the two xD). Update: Raised the photos of the hardware of the Dingoo A320, for those who tengais curiosity podeis to unload “pack” of 48 MIB 40 photos from here.

Great detective work!

ZodTTD to work on MAME!

ZodTTD has announced on the A320 freeforums that he will be working an MAME for the Dingoo:

…. I'm planning on placing my port of MAME which uses strictly C interpreters (so no worry of ARM assembly being an issue) to the A320. Just waiting for the A320 to arrive.

ZodTTD has some great credentials across the GP32, Ipod touch and Pandora scenes, so this is a fantastic piece of news.  Pop over to his site here, and throw him some shekels to show your support! (While in shekel throwing mode, throw some shekels this way too, if you like, to … um … show your support for my support).

But how will he manage to do this without Dingoo-Digital’s assistance? We have managed to find some exclusive footage of ZodTTD’s plan to invade the Dingoo inner sanctum, and to pillage it for the commercial secret:

Oh my!

Dingoo Pocketgamer review!

As kinda foreshadowed by Craigx in the post below, Pocketgamer.co.uk has posted a new Dingoo review! Information wise, there is nothing new in it which readers of the various dingoo forums or this blog won't recognise, but it's nice to see the Dingoo pop up on a site like Pocketgamer! The review is here: http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Various/Dingoo+A-320/hardware_review.asp?c=12910

As a bonus, you'll get to find out Craigx's second name.

Craigx promises to work hard next week!

In the past couple of hours, Craigx of Gbax.com – who has some cred, to say the least – has laid these nuggets over at the GP32x forums:

 

Question from Polossatik: Craigix, are these dingoo thingy''s now in stock? Craigx: They are and black ones on the way, I''m going to do a newsletter about the dingoo and post my video review.I know two big tech sites are going to do Dingoo reviews too, seems this little device is getting a decent following. Question from MJLink: This info initially appeared on GBAX.com & has been included on the marketing info from Dingoo themselves. Who is working on these ports officially? Any timeframe on progress/release? Peace Link CraigX answer #1: I''m busy seeing who wants free A320s, Zod is already getting ready to port MAME, I''ll be sending more units out to people this weekend. Craigx answer #2: I''m going to put some serious effort in to the Dingoo from next week, so you should start hearing things then.

Well, talk is free as in beer and air, but full marks Craigx for actually answering questions!

Speaking of which, anyone want to answer these questions?  C’mon, they’re not that stupid, are they?

Dingoo bites!

A wave of negative sentiment seems to be emerging around Dingoo Digital Company’s approach to a few things, here:

http://a320.freeforums.org/they-ve-now-known-about-the-y-b-button-issue-for-3-months-t191.html

and here:

http://a320.freeforums.org/i-am-beginning-to-dislike-dingoo-ethics-t192.html

… to which I say that Dingoo Digital has indeed been rather silent on things like development information and the X/B button bug, which is a shame. Jim and Sofia, it would be nice to hear from you about these issues!

Shenzhen Dingoo Digital Product Co.Ltd: “We are working on getting MAME, Amiga and Atari”

Or to put it another way, “All you MAME, Amiga and Atari are belong to Dingoo!”.

This link: http://dingoo888.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008830369453/pdtl/Handheld-game/1011934759/Handheld-Emulator-Device.htm , which a month ago had no mention of these further emulators, now contains the above words (see the 3rd bullet point under “Key Specifications/Special Features”). Look:

Key Specifications/Special Features: The A320 is a cool little mini open handheld which is especially good for emulating classic systems such as GBA, NES, Neo-Geo, CPS, and Sega It can be thought of as a faster, smaller GP2X We are working on getting MAME, Amiga and Atari 430MHz MIPS CPU 64MB RAM Supports SD/SDHC up to 32GB Open source/SDK available Digital pad, 2 shoulder, 4 face, start, and select Li-ion battery giving 7 hours (included)

The specs have also been upped to 430mhz!

Remember that Jim from Dingoo Digital said this on March 13:

Will more emulators will be made for Dingoo(for example, C64, MAME, PCEngine?) For A320 , will not make more emulators.

… so the above about Amiga and Atari is a great statement from a site which seems more official than most.

Before you go dusting off that collection of 720k 3.5inch floppies from under the cathode ray TV, in anticipation of Dingoo throwing official resources at these emulators, the Dingoo company’s announcement seems to sound suspiciously like a cut and paste from Gbax.com:

The A320 is a cool little mini open handheld which is especially good for emulating classic systems such as GBA, NES, Neo-Geo, CPS, Sega etc. It can be thought of as a faster, smaller GP2X, the manufacturer is hoping it will have a similar following. We are working on getting MAME, Amiga and Atari working, together with setting up a developing scene for this device. 430Mhz MIPS CPU 64MB RAM Support for SD / SDHC upto 32GB Open Source /SDK avilable Digital Dpad, 2 shoulder, 4 face, Start & Select. Li-ion Battery giving ~7hours (Included)

…. or is it the other way around? Who’s doing what, for who?

SDL Port for Dingoo attempted

These guys have been discussing porting SDL to Dingoo. SDL stands for Simple Direct Media Layer, and from the SDL Wiki:

Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) is a cross-platform, free and open source software multimedia library written in C that presents a simple interface to various platforms' graphics, sound, and input devices. It is used by developers to write computer games or other multimedia applications that can run on many operating systems including Linux, Syllable, Haiku/BeOS, OpenVMS, Windows, Mac OS X, AmigaOS and its clone MorphOS. It manages video, events, digital audio, CD-ROM, sound, threads, shared object loading, networking and timers.

This post from the GP32x forums suggests that Dosbox is possible if SDL is ported.

Chip starts Dingoo A320 wiki

A new Dingoo A320 wiki can be found here: http://a320.bluwiki.com

Create, edit and share!

Anyone have information on the Dingoo LCD and GPIO of the JZ4732?

Over at the Spanish GP2x forums, booboo made this observation:

booboo Definitively better to carry rockbox. In the FTP of Ingenic there is port of uCOS-II for the JZ4740, so it would not have to be very complicated. Nevertheless, also there is port of linux, so it is, at least, EQUAL of complicated. Positions to invest effort, better to do it with linux, since there is much more developer and software that uCOS-II stops. Kernel of linux certainly occupies more ram than the one of uCOS-II, but with 32M total I do not believe that the difference is significant. I already have datasheet of all the integrated of dingoo, with the exception of the energy management (conversion and load of battery). The unique thing that is needed is that, the information of the LCD and configuration GPIO of the CPU. This last one can be found out by means of reverse engineer, and the LCD controller I suspect that it is a ILI9325, than nothing by the name the file more (and text chains in the interior) that comes with the application from unbricking.

Doug made the same observation about the LCD screen in a comment on this post on March 23:

 

Anonymous said... Hi, Gadgetmiser. Here is Doug again. Currently I am looking for more detailed information about Gemei X760+ LCD and Dingoo A320 LCD, like manufacturer, model, framerate, etc. If you, or any blog visitor can help me with this information, I am grateful. PS. Your blog is great. You are making a excellent work. Congratulations... :) March 23, 2009 2:50 PM

Translation to a non-Tecchy like me: if information on the LCD controller and GPIO of the CPU can be found, we will be that much closer to Linux on the Dingoo. I reckon, at least as close as Carpathia was to Titanic!

Another Dingoo d-pad mod – save $2.32!

Gpeter7 strikes again, with this mod to improve d-pad responsiveness, and it saves you $2.32, if you don’t fancy this solution.  He also makes some interesting observations about the DS d-pad and buttons, compared with the Dingoo’s – they are basically the same!

Thanks, Gpeter7!  Don’t forget to let us know how you did the on-off button mod, when you have a moment! 

Junyees provides newest A320 BBE firmware

Junyees, the author of the BBE firmware, has provided the following (from the comments in original BBE firmware post).  Thank you Junyees!

Anonymous said...

Well this is starting to become long and confusing but I wanted to update everyone since Junyees was kind enough to email me and answer some questions as well as sending me the newest firmware which is both overclocked to 380mhz and contains bbe. Here is what Junyees had to say.
"I have sent the firmware to you,This firmware source from http://www.dingoo888.com/manage/download/A320-V1.03.rar  (The web of Dingoo ).
In its foundation（ver 1.03）, I made a few changes。
1; The 3DGame 's directory is A:\game\3d
2; Add the BBE，
3;Changed the four theme
4;Delete the firmware which is useless,make the system disk as small as possible.
The Attach is the firmware is using the overclocking feature 380mhz,I'm not sure it can be step up the Mediaplayer's performance.In my opinion,more or less,The System running speed will be enhanced.
If you need the firmware that run in default frequency，you can visit my web-disk site.
http://scjs.ys168.com
I am uploading this firmware and will post a link shortly. Thank you to Junyees for taking the time to email me and for his continued efforts on the bbe firmware.

April 19, 2009 7:44 AM

Anonymous said...

Here is the newest overclocked firmware sent to me by Junyees. I have tested it and it works good. No password...
http://www.mediafire.com/?zaznnmqldni

April 19, 2009 7:59 AM

Anonymous said...

A little more info on the new firmware:
"The BBE sound have three gear.
that it is:
BBE Normal --- Vocal
BBE Treble --- Treble
BBE Bass --- BASS
(Chinese)
BBE 普通 ＝人声
BBE 高音 ＝高音
BBE 低音 ＝低音
you can press "A" key to switch them.Of cause ,you may changed them at the music setup menu.
I advice the 3D audio settings-Bass choose "Weak" or "Medium"."
Thanks again Junyees.

April 19, 2009 8:40 AM

Everything your Dingoo needs is here

Courtesy of the A320 free forums, you can call me a parrot.

Guyfawkes’ Dingoo FAQ WIP

Guyfawkes has produced a Dingoo FAQ (WIP) over at http://www.emuboards.com/invision/index.php?showtopic=31006 .  It’s a nice place to find just about everything which has emerged so far on Dingoo in one spot.  As it’s a WIP, keep watching it!

How to install Dingoo A320 SDK

Deivid3g has posted a video on how to install the Dingoo SDK.  It’s in Spanish Brazilian Portuguese, but if there’s one thing the Dingoo does well, it is in creating an appreciation among us English speakers that Mandarin and Spanish Portuguese are the 1st and 6th most spoken languages in the world!

Here is a link to the Youtube page.  You can find the SDK here: http://dingoo-scene.blogspot.com/2009/04/definitive-source-for-a320-sdk-and.html

Gracias Obrigado, Deivid3g!

Neo-geo Pocket Emulator for Dingoo

A neo-geo pocket emulator which works on the Dingoo has surfaced!  Originally for the Gemei 760. Get it here.

A320 firmware with BBE support – from Chinese website: use at your own risk, but it seems OK!

An anonymous poster from 2 posts below seems to have found alternative firmware with BBE support.   Grab it here: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yynjmzfxt3y – although I don’t know what it will do to your Dingoo!

If anyone has the megalos gamyas to try this and report back, we will bow to you! At least two posters have megalos Gamyas, bow , bow :)!

UPDATE (see comments):

Ok, I have the newest archive and the password is "junyees" without the quotation marks.
Here is the file.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?jnmqwkyoq0z

Further update:

Anonymous said...

I have flashed this as well now and it does work. I don't see any specific settings for bbe but the audio does sound better. It isn't nearly as fast as the overclocked 400mhz firmware that is available though.

April 18, 2009 8:59 AM

Yet another update:

Best for you all to read the comments:)!  Cheers, Larry.

Jorgehj starts coverage of Dingoo development on his blog

Jorgehj, a Spanish developer has commenced work on Dingoo development on his blog at http://blog.tipesoft.com/ .  Click here for an English translation. Jorgehj says:

As new user of the Dingoo (this already in Spain but days in arriving to me would take), would want to contribute something to the knowledge of this forum, mainly in the part of development. I hope to be able to help in the programming for this apparatus.
In blog.tipesoft.com podeis to unload the sources of first examples the commented SDK to help its understanding (there am addition to understand as they are used and it has not been to me especially difficult).
Good I hope that me as far as possible ayudeis in the creation of a first simple game. There will already be time for some more complex.

Jorgehj has some sample C++ code on his blog. Wish I knew what it all meant, but it can only be good for the homebrew scene.  Thanks Jorgehj! PS Jorgehj, if you have time, could you answer these questions?

Yi-Chi King Fighter - Great little native “3D” .app Dingoo Shooter!

This nice playing shooter, “Yi-Chi King Fighter” is a native .app Dingoo shooter!  I believe it was originally written for the Gemei 760, but it runs beautifully on the Dingoo.

The game reminds me of a late 90’s shoot em up.  Nicely, you start with some pretty decent firepower, and then it gets better.

Grab it here.  Put it in the “3d” folder of “Game”, and off you go blasting then!

Improve d-pad responsiveness with PSP button accessory

One complaint I do have about the Dingoo is that the d-pad is quite low set into the case.  There is not always enough “travel” or movement on the d-pad, which makes diagonals or quick movements in games difficult to pull off.

I mentioned using these things to fix the problem here.

Well, mind came in the mail the other day.  It’s black, but my Dingoo is white; ah well, never mind.  Black is cool.

I installed it – the back of the button has some sort of sticky pad which simply sticks on - and it looks like this:

  

 

As you can see, this “raises” the d-pad.  It really works, too!  I find all games easier to control.  And the button extender has stayed on so far as well; that sticky pad is something special!  I recommend this without reservation, if you find the d-pad too low.

Custom firmware updated to 1.03TD2

You can grab it here.  No new features, just a bugfix:

15 April 2009: BUG : Unable to play SWF files     http://dingoo-digital.com/forums/support-area/bug-unable-play-swf-files     Moved /system/code back to default hidden memory locatio as the software is trying to launch the flash player from there. Changed partly translated flashing tool with a fully translated one.

Seagal posts new Centipede/Millipede emulator 0.1b for Dingoo!

Get it here! Thanks Seagal, we’re all grateful.  Seagal, would you mind answering these questions, if you have time?

Small fruit video optimized version of firmware A320!

Yep, that’s right: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://a320home.co.cc/read.php%3Ftid%3D84

This alternative Custom Firmware (well, it predates the one just released by Teamdingoo, but appears somewhat less useful – for gaming - but not if you would like to start a recession garden, or win on The Biggest Loser) features the following:

1, using the latest firmware A320 V1.03 small fruit production
2，更新视频codec到歌美最新固件V1.31（real.dl和videos.dl) 2, video codec update to the latest firmware Gemei V1.31 (real.dl and videos.dl)
3，改原黑体字体为宋体字体 3, change the font for the original song in bold font
4，对固件进行了减肥优化（比官方固件小) 4, a weight loss of the firmware optimization (smaller than the official firmware)
5，改变一个主题桌面更适合电子书阅读 5, to change a theme more suited to desktop e-book reader

This is a screenshot:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(If anyone reads Chinese script, please provide a better translation.)

Dingoo PC Engine emulator …

Bingo83 at the A320 free forums has found a “native” Dingoo PCEngine Emulator here: http://a320.freeforums.org/pc-engine-emulator-found-wip-t124.html .  Well, I say native, as in native to the Gemei 760 (by the looks of the filename) which uses the same chipset, kinda, sorta.  The emulator itself happens to work as well as the native Gameboy Color emulator (whether this is a good or bad thing, install it and see for yourself:))! 

Emphasis on the W.I.P., I think! But thanks Bingo83!

Sega Master System giftwrapped for your Dingoo ….

Read this: http://a320.freeforums.org/sega-master-system-t77.html

Tips: How to get those CPS2 games running

Technorati Tags: dingoo cps2 roms fix tips

CPS2 games don’t seem to run at all on Dingoo – unlike CPS1 games.  Or so it seems!  Bingo83 over at the A320 freeforums has worked out why, and how to fix this.  Thanks Bingo83!

Having a problem with CPS2 Roms? Look Here

by Bingo83 on Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:38 am

Hi All,
I was having a problem getting some of my fav CPS2 roms working via the Dingoo A320 emu. After a bit of digging I found that the emulator that is coded for the Dingoo is an old version of a CPS2 emu and that it needs XOR files in the roms for them to work properly.
XOR files are the decryption tables that will allow the game to run. Unfortunately most of the CPS2 roms that are available to download no longer have the XOR files included so you will need to put them in the ZIP Rom file yourself.
You can get all the XOR files you will need HERE, scroll down past the Emulator to find CPS2 XOR Decryption Tables. Select the game you need the XOR file for and you will get a ZIP file with the files you need. Download and open it, it will include two or three files, just drag and drop these files onto your game ZIP file to merge them.
Once you have done that you should run your newly merged ROM file through the CPS2 convertor to output the .CP2 file to copy to your Dingoo.
Your games should now run on the DIngoo

Bingo83

Worthy Dingoo mods

Gpeter7 has modded his Dingoo in some interesting ways …

And here’s an even more useful mod, which makes changing volume in emulators that much easier:

Nicely done, Gpeter7.  If you can provide some how to pictures and instuctions, we will gladly host them here – or send us a link!

Game 800 eats your Dingoo, Ipod and attempts to emulate Simon

Thanks to Richard from this post, we can report yet another Dingoo wannabe – or perhaps it’s an Ipod wannabe … I’m not too sure!

It plays music, video, and has a camera:

… and apparently emulates NES, FC, GB, GBC, and MD.  The lack of GBA emulation means we miss out on the GBA Homebrew workarounds – and of course, no Neo Geo or CPS1/2.  I must say that despite its poorer value when compared with the A320, this device, if the emulation works, is strangely compelling – a bit like watching Ugly Betty.

Yes, you may have noticed the immediate challenge confronting gamers is the interestingly placed directional controls.  Some have suggested the machine should be held at a 45 degree angle, for maximum playability.  Does it have a tilt sensor to adjust the screen orientation when this is done?  I suspect the large red button doubles as a proper d-pad.  No one could fail Industrial Design 101 that badly now, could they?

If the red button is not a Dpad, then the inevitable conclusion must be that this is its spiritual ancestor:

…. and that it offers gameplay to match.

You can buy one here, for $79.99, from the unfortunately named Chinagrabber (check out their logo, which inspires confidence that they only have YOUR best interest at heart!).

Notably, this vile, hideous, pretender has managed to generate its fair share of interest on the large gadget sites, such as:

Endgadget: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/02/game-800-all-in-one-handheld-tries-out-a-new-control-scheme/

Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/5192261/the-game+800-a-fatty-pocket-emulator

Slashgear: http://www.slashgear.com/game-800-pmp-retro-game-emulator-3139565/

and

Boingboing gadgets: http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/03/31/game800-has-camera-m.html , which at least has the decency to point out that the Dingoo has a proper d-pad!

I urge you all to logon to Boingboing, and to spread the gospel that the Dingoo is quite probably in a different league to this.

If you’re a developer for Dingoo, this is the place to be

The Spanish GP2x forum appears to be where hard core coders for the A320 hang, including Seagal and A600!  Click here for a Babelfish translation.  You can also find the source code for Seagal’s Millipede emulator, and A600’s overclocking utility there, among other things.

Black Dingoos now at Dealextreme!

For those of you who veer towards the dark side, black Dingoos are now available at Dealextreme!  They look tremendously cool (but shame the packaging company dude skipped his last Photoshop class and can’t quite get the background and foreground colours right on the box).

Basic black has the power to transform the merely pure pulse pounding kick ass awesomeness of something into total one bazillion percent Brahmin l33t pwnage. Judge for yourself: which one is cooler?

See?

Obviously, manufacturing in black is also cheaper, because the black Dingoos are $82.80 delivered, which is a massive $1.11 saving over the already bargain basement (after the recent price drop) white Dingoos.  As always, click here to buy a black one, and help this site (eventually) get a free piggy LCD flashlight from DX. If you can’t bring yourself to succumb to the darkness of pitch pure evil, click here for the white.

Anyone with a case fetish?

Cases for Dingoo seem to consume an inordinate amount of discussion time on the Dingoo scene.  If this tickles your fancy, I recommend this thread on the A320 forums: http://a320.freeforums.org/reccomended-cases-storage-for-the-dingoo-t107.html

Dingoo price drops at Dealextreme!

You heard it right!  Under pressure from Superufo, and the Chinavision pretenders, the Dingoo’s price has plummeted to …

$83.91 at DealExtreme, a saving of $1.09 from the $85 they were gouging out of us only a week ago!

At this rate, they’ll be $81.17 by November.

Dingoo accessory bargains from DealExtreme

What is a Dior gown without some Jimmy Choos?

Similarly, after owning a Dingoo for a while, there will be other things which you will need to make life with it just that little bit easier.  Fortunately, DealExtreme supplies everything you could ever need, for next to nothing. Here are a choice selection of must haves for the discerning Dingoo owner … (go ahead – you know you need them, and if you buy, I get DX points).

 

Lenspen us$3.73 Click here to buy	The Dingoo’s front in encased in a excellent strong, protective, and very easy to smudge screen.  Carry this lenspen with you, which contains a fibre brush for dust, and on the other end, a weird and wacky screen cleaning tip which dispenses a light solution that will dissolve any other smudges away. Pro photographers use these things to clean $4,000 Canon L-Lenses, so it’s safe for your Dingoo screen!
Microfiber cloths  us$1.80 Click here to buy	Or you might just want to wipe those smudges away.
Screen Protector US$1.29 Click here to buy	Cleaning smudges away is fine, but scratches are a much worse problem  Protect your Dingoo’s screen with these perfectly sized screen protectors, designed originally for the Nintendo DS – which has a screen size pretty close to Dingoo’s. NOTE: These are transparent – the tint comes from the backing
PSP enhancer caps US$2.32 Click here to buy	If you find the Dingoo’s d-pad lacking in travel, making Ryo that much harder to control in Street Fighter, try these enhancer caps, which simply glue onto the Dpad.  And they match the Dingoo’s colour t oo!
FiiO earphone volume amplifier US$6.49 Click here to buy	Dingoo’s maximum volume a little low for you, particularly while on noisy public transport? Try this AAA battery powered sound booster, which gets rave reviews!
Retractable cord headphones US$3.84 Click here to buy	I have earphone cords, which the laws of chaos dictate MUST get tangled the moment they are put away. Solve this problem, #1 on the list of life’s little irritations, by getting a pair of these nifty retractable cord headphones.  They are the “sound reducing” earbud type too, which fit snugly into your ear to maximise your Dingoo’s audio ambience!
AC USB wall Charger US$2.46 Click here to buy	Well, you might lost the one which comes with it!
White AC USB wall charger 1 US$3.41 Click here to buy	Or try a white one.
White USB charger 2 US$3.23 Click here to buy	Or want a white one which doesn’t have a retractable plug.

Buying all of the above will set you back less than $30!  Try to achieve this trick with official Apple Ipod Accessories!