dingoo-scene

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”!

Check out this homebrew NES guitar hero clone … Download it here .

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

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 tr...

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:

Read about it and find it here !

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 acc...

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  

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: ...

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!

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.

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 se...

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!

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) ...

T hese 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.

A new Dingoo A320 wiki can be found here: http://a320.bluwiki.com Create, edit and share!

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 noth...

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, 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...

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

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!

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!

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

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, 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...

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!

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.

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.

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

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.)

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!

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

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 ...

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!

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 Dp...

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.

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 .

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

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.

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...